Critchley couldn't 'make his mark' on Hearts - McGowan

Former Hearts defender Ryan McGowan thinks Neil Critchley was dismissed as head coach due to fears about getting sucked into a relegation play-off.

The Tynecastle club parted ways with the Englishman on Saturday following a 1-0 defeat by Dundee in their first post-split game.

The result leaves Hearts five points clear of Ross County in 11th with four matches of the season to play.

"I was surprised," McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I don't think he would have been there at the start of next season, but I was slightly surprised that they did decide to do it on Saturday night.

"I do think the club's slightly worried, after this weekend coming up, if results don't go their way, then it can really, really be tricky in terms of getting sucked into that play-off spot.

"For a club the size of Hearts, it shouldn't even be an issue in terms of getting sucked into that play-off spot. So I think that's why the club's acted."

Critchley took over from Steven Naismith back in October with the Edinburgh outfit bottom of the Premiership table.

Fans questioned Critchley's ability to win high-stakes matches and McGowan says that can be traced back as far as December when they exited the Conference League.

Hearts drew 2-2 with Moldovan minnows Petrocub, who were bottom of the competition table, a result which put them out of Europe on goals scored.

"The European campaign, going into the last game of that round to qualify against the worst team in that league and not coming away with a victory was the first sign of him not grasping the big games and being able to make his mark on the team," McGowan said.

"Albeit he came in and sort of steadied the ship, but I kind of believed whoever came in would have probably steadied the ship at that point.

"I just think too many times this season he's maybe changed the team and changed the personnel. I'm not even sure he knows who his best 11 is or what formation that would be, he's kind of stumbled across it throughout the season."