Maarten Martens one of four managers Hearts are 'interviewing': 'I've been hearing...'
Hearts currently have a shortlist of four options to become their next manager.
That is according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that former AZ Alkmaar boss Maarten Martens is not the favourite for the role at the moment.
This comes after reports that the 41-year-old has been called in for talks with the hierarchy at Tynecastle, as they work to replace Derek McInnes.
Wyness is adamant that Martens is not the only option for the Jambos at this stage of their search, and added that all candidates will be scrutinised heavily by Tony Bloom and Jamestown Analytics.
The likes of former Monaco boss Sebastien Pocognoli and Robbie Keane have also been linked with the vacant position in recent days.
Hearts are desperate to get the right man to lead the next stage of their project and help them continue to close the gap to the Old Firm duo.
Keith Wyness: Hearts to focus on 'personal chemistry'
Aberdeen's former chief Wyness - who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004 and now runs a consultancy business advising elite clubs - believes that Hearts will not make an "underwhelming appointment" for their next manager.
The former boardroom man made it clear that expectations have changed at Tynecastle after their title push last term, and he expects the club to go big.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness emphasised that "personal chemistry" could be the deciding factor in the board's final decision.
"I think he (Martens) is just one of a shortlist and I've been hearing through the grapevine, there are three or four that are being interviewed as well," he said.
"Hearts fans don't need to get too alarmed right now; they need to let Tony Bloom and the board do their work and come up with the right manager.
"I've done it quite a few times now in terms of managing how to pick new managers and selecting them. And a lot will come down to those interviews in terms of the interaction that you feel, because when you hire a manager, you're going to be speaking to them day in, day out.
"You've really got to get on with those people, and so the personality fit is pretty crucial. They'll be very clear, I'm sure, with the analytics study on the people and the style of play they've got. But I think, particularly at Hearts, it's going to be important about the personality.
"It's going to be an interesting position as to where they go with this because expectations are pretty high now for Hearts fans. And the board will know that. I don't think it'll be an underwhelming appointment.
"I don't think it'll be Martens, I think it'll be somebody else. And I think it'll be down to the personal chemistry in the end."
Sebastien Pocognoli in the mix for Hearts appointment
Wyness told Football Insider last week that Pocognoli was the "favourite" to take over at Hearts at the time.
The 38-year-old is out of work after being sacked by Monaco at the start of June, having led them to a seventh-placed finish in Ligue 1.
Pocognoli is hugely familiar to Bloom, having previously managed Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise, who he helped win their first league title in 90 years back in 2025.
It remains to be seen whether Pocognoli has made it to the interview stage of the process at Hearts, but he has certainly been on their radar.