Wouter Vrancken has explained why he has added Lee Wallace to his first team staff at Hearts and how he has restructured things behind the scenes since arriving.
The Belgian has the Jambos, who are the Premiership's top scorers, sitting third in the table after Saturday's 5-0 thumping of St Mirren. The capital club kick off their Europa Conference League proper at home to Nordsjaelland on Thursday before a first return to Celtic Park since the dramatic final day of last season's title race.
Wallace added to dugout
Former Tynecastle left back and Rangers skipper Wallace will be in the dugout alongside Vrancken and assistants Tim Smolders and Cederique Tulleners. Vrancken revealed that the Hearts coaching staff was split into first team, performance and goalkeeping at their Oriam training base when he walked in the door.
But now it's everyone in together and he can see the players reaping the benefits as well as the staff.
"It grew during the months, actually because I think it's very important that we are forming one staff, one unit," he told the Scottish Football Social Club podcast.
"We have to give the example when you want to bring it to the players, you have to show it as a staff member or a staff itself.
"Before I came here, there was different offices within the staff so me and my assistants were separate from the performance sport and the goalkeeping parts.
"One staff, one unit"
"So we've changed it so that everybody from the first team coaching staff is together. It's not like a Belgian and Scotland thing in there. It works well. We have great cooperation.
"We also have a lot of numbers in the group at the moment so we can go really individual and in units as much as possible.
"It's good that Lee is coming with us. I know Lee of course from the beginning and I know what he's capable of. He can add good value to the staff, also to the players individually and in units."
Ageu added to European squad
Vrancken also confirmed that Eduardo Ageu has been added to the European squad for Thursday night. The Belgian had a spot to fill following Blair Spittal's injury and it was between the fit again club record signing and centre back Malachi Fagan-Walcott, who returned to action at the weekend.
And Vrancken has revealed why he opted for the Brazilian.
"He's showing his potential," he said. "He got 55 minutes at the weekend. He has some progress to make after such a long time out and not playing a single game.
"You cannot expect him to be at the top level of his own capacity from the start so he has to grow.
"Malachi was also a possibility to play but otherwise we were thin on central midfielders.
"It's a pity for him because he played a great game. But for Eddie, but I hope he can focus on the joy in football, showing himself on the pitch and giving us what we want.
"The first game went well so let's hope he can progress like that."
