Mark McGhee has backed Tony Bloom to find a manager that can be even BETTER for Hearts than Derek McInnes.
The Jambos are set to begin formal talks with candidates drawn up with the help of Bloom's Jamestown Analytics as soon as McInnes finalises his move to Rangers.
And former Brighton boss McGhee is convinced the Tynecastle club still have a big future despite the impending loss of their head coach hot on the heels of skipper and talisman Lawrence Shankland moving to Ibrox.
He says that's down to the influence of Brighton owner Bloom whose £9.86m investment in Hearts last summer also gave the Jambos access to his much-vaunted recruitment tool.
McInnes is on the verge of completing his move to Ibrox to replace Danny Rohl with a three-year deal agreed and Hearts in line for a compensation fee believed to be around £700,000.
Now the Jambos are set to put their succession plan into action as they look for a quick-fire appointment in time for players returning to pre-season training next Thursday.
Record Sport understands that plan has been ongoing in the background throughout the season regardless of McInnes' situation.
Candidates working abroad and in the UK will be spoken to. And McGhee, who led Brighton to promotion to the Championship in 2004, said: "I think with Tony Bloom's involvement in Hearts now, he won't miss a beat.
"That'll be fine, 'that's done, that's done', and he'll ramp up his algorithm and come out with someone that's going to lead Hearts into the future who will be equal or better than Derek McInnes.
"That's what Tony does. And as far as replacing Shankland, he'll do the same. Hearts, I think, have a big future."
McInnes led the Jam Tarts to within minutes of their first Scottish title in 66 years only to be pipped by Celtic in the 87th minute of the final day decider at Parkhead.
But after just 12 months in charge he is set to depart for Rangers, where he spent five years as a player and became a 9-in-a-row hero in 1997.
McGhee has backed the former Aberdeen and Kilmarnock boss to succeed at Ibrox. But he also reckons a big part of McInnes must have been tempted to stay at Hearts.
He told TalkSport: "I think Derek McInnes will do a fantastic job at Rangers. But looking back on my moves I made, sometimes I made moves that were mistakes.
"And I look at that a little bit and I think what's happening at Hearts is really quite exciting and I would have been tempted to stay at Hearts."
The Hearts board met on Sunday night to put an action plan in place following the Ibrox club's shock move for McInnes.
Informal talks have already been held with some candidates ahead of formal interviews beginning before the end of this week.
The new manager will face a huge summer as Hearts look to build on last season's stunning title tilt.
With Lawrence Shankland having left for Rangers and experienced campaigners Frankie Kent, Beni Baningime and Alan Forrest also departing Tynecastle there's a need for reinforcements to hit the ground running by the time the new season starts.
In addition veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon is expected to retire while key midfield man Cammy Devlin has yet to commit to a new contract with a bumper offer from MLS side Real Salt Lake on the table.
Hearts have already added Calvin Miller, Josh McPake, MJ Kamson-Kamara and Amadou Ba-Sy while deals for York City defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Versailles midfielder Tom Renaud are also expected to be concluded soon.
But there's less than six weeks to go until the Champions League qualifier against either Fenerbahce or Sturm Graz - with the draw for that tie taking place tomorrow (Wednesday).
Hearts return for pre-season training next Thursday and head out for a training camp in Spain on Saturday, June 28.
