NO forensic reading between the lines is required to gauge what those inside Tynecastle, at least on the football side of things, feel about Ian Cathro.

It’s no huge secret that the now former Hearts manager had a problem with flexibility in terms of his tactics philosophy, communication was not his strong points and the players, at least some of them, were left confused by what one insider described as “too much information” being given to them.

Cathro had to go and Jon Daly has been promoted from the under-20s to interim manager. His impact has been immediate.

Training is now described as fun, the morale has improved and Daly, for all his inexperience, will at least command respect.

Apparently, those who criticised Cathro are dinosaurs. Well, any football manager or head coach whose orders confuse a team which can’t win game is the one heading for extinction.

Daly hardly had a pop at Cathro but when yesterday directly asked about the man he’s replaced, the way the Irishman spoke gave the impression (and I might be wrong but don’t think I am) that Cathro’s approach to the job was, to be polite, chequered.

“Ian has his ideas and he sticks to those ideas,” said Daly. “For me, it can be a strength but also a weakness. You must be able to adapt and change when things aren’t working.

“There is no question, and I will echo what the club said, that Ian is a fantastic young coach.

“Some of his stuff he does you do learn from and think they’re good ideas. Other stuff you think you wouldn’t do that myself. But that could be said about any coach. I’m, sure if I watched Mourinho I’d pick some things up and other bits wouldn’t be for me.”

Cathro may have good ideas and football has changed from the days when every manager had to show their medals, but one thing stays the same and that is the man in charge must get the best out of his players.

If you don’t have the squad with you, and Cathro did not, then with the best will in the world you’re onto a loser.

As Day said: “I have learned from my experience as a player that you can’t always give players what they want. If you give them an inch the take a mile but if you don’t give them anything or are just constantly giving them information you want to give them, then it can feel relentless and players can switch off.

“The training has to have an element of fun and an element of competitiveness so that when it does come to match day, they know what to expect. Yes, the way you play is important but it comes down to results and what it takes to win games.

“It comes down to making sure that if we are going to get beat then we are not an easy pushover and that we work hard and make sure we are in the other team’s faces and all the other kind of stuff that you would expect from Hearts.”

It is difficult not to take from this that training hadn’t been fun, player discipline was a problem and, this one is obvious, when Hearts went down they went down without a fight.

Daly fronted up well yesterday, which is more than can be said about Craig Levein and Ann Budge. At least one, probably both, should have faced questions.

He admitted the week had been enjoyable because of the responsibility handed to him. Austin McPhee has stayed on and he, youth coach Liam Fox and Daly had a chance to stake their claim to be kept on permanently.

It’s only Celtic at Parkhead on Saturday so at least it’s an easy start.

Daly said: “If we beat Celtic I would honestly probably just pack in! Nah, look, we understand that it is a really difficult start and really difficult game but the players that have been brought into the club and the ones who were already here, there is a good core of experience and it is a good, good group.

“As I said to the players the other day, it is an opportunity for everyone, myself and the players, everyone at the club, to have a clean slate.”

But does this apply to Jamie Walker?

Rangers want the winger and this has caused the player to lose focus, according to Daly, who believes the 24-year-old is being badly advised.

Daly said: “If I was manager at another club and had £1m in my pocket then I would go and buy Jamie Walker.

“But when Jamie is in the headspace he is in at the minute, he is no use to anyone and no use to himself and he is not helping himself if nothing happens at Rangers, he has not helped himself with other clubs that might be watching.

“I don’t think that the information he is getting from his agent is helping.”

Listen to the Herald Sport podcast: For our Premiership season preview, we ask if anyone can stop Celtic, will Hearts continue to be mince, and are Hamilton Acces finally going to get relegated?

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