Source: Team_Talk
Jefferies excited by Hearts return
Jefferies, 59, was back at the club he managed between 1995 and 2000 on Friday night barely two hours after Csaba Laszlo was given the boot.Laszlo was sacked after 18 months in charge when majority shareholder Romanov finally lost patience with the colourful and outspoken Hungarian.The controversial Romanov could hardly have acted more swiftly to replace him, prompting suspicions this move had been in the pipeline for a number of days.Jefferies, who left Kilmarnock less than three weeks ago, insisted he did not get the call until Friday afternoon, while he was out shopping in Edinburgh.And he was already planning to surpass Laszlo's record as Romanov's longest-serving boss."Anything connected with Hearts gets my juices flowing," said the lifelong Jambos fan, who also captained the club during his playing days."It has been my club."Everyone appreciates clubs like Kilmarnock, where I had a great time and the supporters were great to me."It is a major achievement to be at one club for eight years."But it does not happen too often, coming back - Walter Smith did it - but we just have to wait and see."I hope to be here for two or three years."It will take me a few days and weeks getting to know the players personally."I have a few ideas but I am looking forward to that challenge."Jefferies, who takes charge for this afternoon's Clydesdale Bank Premier League game at St Johnstone, hopes to add long-time assistant Billy Brown to his coaching staff, which will be firmed up over the weekend and early next week.Jefferies was the last manager to lead Hearts to a major trophy, masterminding their 1998 Scottish Cup triumph over Rangers.He also achieved four top-four finishes in the SPL in five years before moving to the English Premier League with Bradford.Jefferies, who captained the Jambos during his playing career, told the club's official website, www.heartsfc.co.uk: "It did not take me too long to have a chat with them as everyone knows I have supported, played and managed the club."I think over the years a lot of people have linked me with the job a couple of times and there was a groundswell of hope."It is like any job that you feel for a manager when he goes out. If I did not get it, someone else would."The discussions went well and I know how things work in the club and now we've got to a stage where it is just a fantastic feeling to be back involved at the club again."Hopefully people will be happy with that."Despite Hearts being around £30million in debt, Jefferies believes he is taking over at "a great time"."We're in the top half and we're in a cup semi-final. It is very positive," he said."It is not often a manager can come back and it has been nine years."Hopefully we can use the experience gained in that time."Although I am a bit older, the passion is still there for this club."Laszlo earlier became the eighth manager given the boot since Romanov took control of Hearts almost five years ago.The 45-year-old had the distinction of being the longest-serving by some distance, having been in charge for more than 18 months.He paid for his persistent criticism of the club's transfer policy and his propensity for touting himself around for other jobs. St. Johnstone v Hearts. Click here to bet.