Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay says Robbie Neilson's sacking wasn't a "knee-jerk" reaction - nor was it an easy decision to come to.
The Jambos brought Neilson's second spell to an end after defeat to St Mirren saw them tumble out of third place. Five defeats on the spin have allowed their rivals to gain ground when it seemed like it would be a formality for Hearts just a few weeks ago and now Steven Naismith has been tasked with turning the tables on Aberdeen. But McKinlay insists it was a decision weeks in the making with their defeat at home to Saints just the final straw for Neilson.
He said: "It was a really difficult decision. There was a lot of discussion around if it was the right decision and we want to give ourselves the best position in those last seven games of finishing third. We know what comes with that and it's very important to us.
