Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes insists there has been no contact from Hearts about their vacant managerial post.
The Tynecastle club are looking for a new boss to replace the sacked Neil Critchley and much of the speculation has been focused on the Killie manager.
However, McInnes, speaking after Kilmarnock secured their the William Hill Premiership status with a 3-2 win over Dundee at Rugby Park, said: “I’ve heard speculation as much as you.
“But anybody who knows me knows how much I’ve got a brilliant relationship with the club and Billy Bowie (majority shareholder), and I’m sure that if there had been contact, Billy would have told me, and there’s been no conversation club to club.
“You can never, ever as a manager or player stop speculation.
“So I’m well aware of it. I’m well aware of the chatter and a lot of people have come up to me.
“But I speak to Billy and the club regularly, nobody has said there’s been any contact.
“I’m just delighted we’ve managed to get a real highlight today.
“I loved seeing how the players responded to the supporters. It was bathing in sunshine out there.
“We’ve put the fans through the wringer a wee bit in the last few weeks, but you could see the relief clearly from the stands.
“I think there was also a bit of pride in the performance as well.
“We got three goals and we could have scored more and it was a good day for us and we needed a day like that today.”
Danny Armstrong scored from the penalty spot in the 31st minute but Dundee midfielder Lyall Cameron levelled with 15 minutes remaining.
Striker Bruce Anderson restored Killie’s lead a minute later before defender Robbie Deas headed in a third in added time before Cameron drove in his second.
With two fixtures remaining Dundee are in 10th place, two points ahead of Ross County and five ahead of bottom side St Johnstone and their fight for survival goes on.
Boss Tony Docherty was left confused by a VAR incident which involved a possible Dundee penalty at 1-0 when striker Simon Murray was pushed to the ground by Kilmarnock substitute Kyle Vassell.
Referee Don Robertson ignored the claim but was then sent to his pitchside monitor by the VAR team and Docherty claimed the official was unable to see an image before the game continued with his original decision.
Docherty said: “I’ve just been seen speaking to referee Don Robertson himself and he couldn’t clear it up for me.
“And there’s still confusion 15, 20 minutes after the game as to exactly what happened.
“The explanation to me was that the referee was called over by VAR and the sequence they went through was to first check if it was onside.
“It was onside, and then the decision made was that it was outside the box.
“But they never showed the referee an image. I don’t know if it was to do with technology.
“I’ve watched the image and it’s inside the box and by the letter of the law it’s a penalty kick.
“I don’t want to be the manager that comes in every week and talks about referee decisions, but it’s for the betterment of the game.
“The game gets stopped, the referee gets called across because VAR indicated there may be an error, but then they don’t show him an image.
“And I could tell from my conversation with the referee, he’s not comfortable with that either.”
Wycombe and Charlton could not be separated as they played out a goalless draw in the first leg of their League One play-off semi-final at Adams Park.Despite Mike Dodds’ Chairboys being the out-of-form side out of all of the teams involved in the play-offs, they were superb in the opening 45 minutes.Jack Grimmer and Fred Onyedinma worked brilliantly down the right-hand side to cause the Addi...
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his anger after his side were forced to battle back from 2-0 down to claim a draw at Liverpool on Sunday.The Gunners paid the price for a lacklustre start as they conceded twice in quick succession early on to the newly-crowned Premier League champions at Anfield.They battled back to draw 2-2 with goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Mikel Merino – who was...
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has no concerns about continuing to pick Trent Alexander-Arnold despite the defender being booed by his own fans in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal.The right-back was targeted by a significant section of the Anfield crowd when he came on as a substitute after confirming on Monday he will not be extending his current deal with the newly-crowned Premier League champions when...
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis insists he is “proud” of Nuno Espirito Santo despite storming onto the pitch to confront the manager after watching his side fumble Champions League qualification.Marinakis was seen emotionally remonstrating with Nuno after Facundo Buonanotte’s 81st-minute strike earned Leicester a 2-2 Premier League draw at the City Ground, inflicting ...
Head coach Mat Sadler praised Walsall’s “fighting performance” after they secured a 2-0 win at Chesterfield in the first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final.Both goals came in the first half, with Taylor Allen scoring from the spot and Alfie Chang doubling the advantage.Sadler said: “I thought we played well. I thought we started a little bit edgily and then grew in...
Liverpool fans mercilessly taunted Arsenal about their European failures but Mikel Arteta’s side salvaged some pride as they came from two goals down to draw at Anfield.On an afternoon when academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold was booed by some of his own fans six days after announcing he was leaving the club in the summer at the end of his contract things turned even more sour.Following ...
Ruben Amorim cast doubt over his future should “brave” summer moves fail after Manchester United’s “embarrassed” head coach raged about a lack of urgency and big club mentality.The Red Devils returned to earth with a bump three days after reaching the Europa League final as fellow strugglers West Ham secured their first Premier League win at Old Trafford since 2007.To...
Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo defended Evangelos Marinakis after the owner stormed on to the pitch having watched his side fumble Champions League qualification.Marinakis was seen emotionally remonstrating with Nuno after Facundo Buonanotte’s 81st-minute strike earned Leicester a 2-2 Premier League draw at the City Ground, inflicting a damaging blow to Forest’s hopes of fi...
Ange Postecoglou allayed fears of a potential injury for Dejan Kulusevski before the Europa League final, but criticised his much-changed Tottenham team following a record-breaking Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace.Eberechi Eze struck twice for the FA Cup finalists either side of half-time to bring Spurs back down to earth with a 2-0 home reverse after Thursday’s euphoric scenes in Nor...
Walsall take a two-goal lead back to Bescot Stadium after first-half goals from Taylor Allen and Alfie Chang secured a 2-0 win at Chesterfield in the first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final.Allen opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 28 minutes and Chang doubled the Saddlers’ advantage six minutes before half-time.The visitors made a strong start and had a chance in the op...
- 1 Joe Garner bags brace as Oldham go into play-offs with win over downed Ebbsfleet
- 2 Albanian Laura Woods goes braless in pink top
- 3 Man Utd are losing the feeling of being a massive club – Ruben Amorim
- 4 Eddie Howe tells Newcastle to ‘drive forward’ and seal Champions League spot
- 5 Daily Laugh - Bye Arsenal, PSG to UCL Final
- 6 Ruben Amorim believes fighting spirit carried Man Utd to Europa League final
- 7 Rangers thump Aberdeen to end five-match winless streak at Ibrox
- 8 Onana ready to fight for his place
- 9 Liverpool want Julian Alvarez to replace Nunez
- 10 ‘Hard worker’ Ollie Watkins praised by Unai Emery after scoring at Bournemouth