Hearts sack manager Rix

Hearts have sacked head coach Graham Rix.

The former Arsenal midfielder was a surprise appointment in November following the departure of George Burley, who had steered the Edinburgh club to the top of the Scottish Premier League.

But with Hearts now trailing league leaders Celtic by 14 points, controversial chairman Roman Romanov has terminated Rix’s contract “with immediate effect”.

Romanov said: “We have been disappointed with the performance of the team. Results were not what they should have been.”

Valdas Ivanauskas has been appointed interim first-team coach until the end of the season.