Heart of Midlothian chief executive Andrew McKinlay has confirmed the club will appoint a new manager externally as he explained his decision to sack Steven Naismith.

The Tynecastle chief has revealed interim boss Liam Fox is not a contender for the role with the coach aware that Hearts are seeking an appointment from outwith the club.

CEO McKinlay explained in a club interview: "I spoke to Liam on Sunday afternoon. First and foremost I am thankful to Liam and his guys for stepping in at this difficult time.

"I think he was the right person to bring forward given the work he has done with the B team but also he has his European Pro Licence, he has experience having managed a team at Premiership level, so I think he is the right person for this interim period.

"I have spoken to him about, not so much targets, but this is an interim period, and he will give it his best shot. He knows that we need to start winning games and I know him and his guys will do that. 

"He is also aware that we are looking externally for the longer term and he fully understands that and appreciates the reasons why we are going that.

"I have the utmost respect for Liam, I think he is a very good football coach and I think he will do well for us for so long as he is in this role."

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McKinlay's decision to relieve Naismith, Gordon Forrest and Frankie McAvoy of their positions at the club came after setting a target for four points in matches against St Mirren and Ross County.

The Hearts chief admitted a spirited performance in defeat may have altered his thinking but the manner of the loss to St Mirren left him in little doubt of the need for change in the dugout.

He said: "These times are never pleasant, and it has been difficult. I think we know that the football over the last few weeks has been difficult.

"I think we have all been hoping, the fan base, all of us, that we could turn this round but it became evident to me and to others at the weekend that we just weren't seeing signs of it turning round.

"I went into these two fixtures - St Mirren and Ross County - feeling that at the very least we probably needed four points and hopefully six.

"Having said that, if we had lost 2-1 at the weekend but we'd had a second-half performance which was unlucky or really spirited or we just didn't get the rub of the green then it might have made me think slightly differently.

"But we didn't. We had a very, very average second-half performance and unfortunately left me in no doubt that we had to look at making a change."