Interim boss Liam Fox welled up with tears as he reflected on his “pride” at leading Hearts to four straight wins before departing his boyhood club as they prepare to confirm Derek McInnes as their new manager on Monday.
With McInnes set to bring his own backroom staff with him from Kilmarnock, it was announced on Saturday that Fox – a childhood Jambo who started both his playing and coaching career at Tynecastle – would leave the Edinburgh club after Sunday’s match at Killie.
The 41-year-old former Dundee United boss returned to Hearts as B team coach in 2023 before stepping up to become first-team coach under Neil Critchley and then taking the reins on an interim basis for the second time this season following the Englishman’s sacking last month.
Fox was humbled at having his name sung by supporters after Stephen Kingsley’s 89th-minute strike secured a 1-0 win over Killie at Rugby Park for his 10-man side, who had Yan Dhanda sent off in the first half for catching Stuart Findlay’s ankle with his studs.
“Huge pride,” he said when invited to sum up his emotions. “At this moment in time, I’m over the moon for the four victories. Obviously, my time here is coming to an end, so that’s naturally disappointing.
“But I think in life you’ve always got two ways to look at things. I can be really disappointed and really bitter, or I can be really, really thankful for the opportunity, for the learnings, for having the responsibility to lead the football club. I’m choosing to look at it in a positive frame.
“I’m delighted to be able to pass it to the next manager in hopefully a wee bit better place than it was three weeks ago.”
Asked if he was disappointed at not being part of the new managerial team at Tynecastle, Fox – who feels he has become a more “refined” operator since being sacked by Dundee United just over two years ago – said: “Listen, I’m disappointed to be leaving. But I feel I can add value to anybody.
“And instead of being disappointed and being bitter about it, we’ll move on, we’ll see what comes up. I’m excited to see what’s next, whatever that may be, wherever it may be.”
Talismanic Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland was given a standing ovation from supporters as he was substituted in the second half, with his future still undecided.
“I don’t want to answer questions on behalf of Lawrence,” Fox said. “What I will say is, if it is his last game, he’s been brilliant for this football club.”
As Fox’s final press conference was about to conclude, he paused momentarily as his emotions got the better of him, stopping him being able to fully express his sentiments before he left the Rugby Park media room.
“I’d just like to thank the supporters. I felt they helped us through. Massive thanks to them,” he said.
Killie under-18s coach Chris Burke stepped into the breach on Thursday after it was decided that McInnes would not take charge of the team against Hearts ahead of his move to Tynecastle.
The interim boss was disappointed his side were hit with a late “sucker punch”.
“I thought it was a 0-0 game,” he said. “I didn’t think it was a 1-0 game. I thought the sending-off killed it; it would have been a better game if it was 11 v 11.”
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