Hearts will not follow Rangers by withdrawing their B team from the Lowland League next season.
Rangers pulled their ‘colts’ team out of the league and hit out at a lack of development for players aged 18-21 within the Scottish game.
The move came in the wake of opposition to a proposed Conference League that saw a controversial AGM vote pulled at the last minute by the Scottish FA last week.
However, Hearts will not copy Rangers’ exit from the set-up and will instead maintain their presence at the fifth-tier level of the pyramid.
It is understood former Dundee United manager Liam Fox is set to take up a coaching role at Hearts that includes managing the club’s B team next season.
And the Jambos are believed to see the Lowland League as a successful breeding ground for their promising younger players.
Meanwhile, Hearts will face Plymouth Argyle in a friendly next month during a warm-weather training camp in Spain.
New boss Steven Naismith will take his squad to the Costa del Sol for a week-long trip at the end of June and will take on the English Championship new-boys on July 6.
