Hearts eye ex-Millwall and Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett | OneFootball

Gary Rowett has been out of management since leaving Birmingham but Hearts are keen on the ex-Millwall boss.

Former Millwall and Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett is in the frame for the managerial vacancy at Scottish side Hearts, alongside ex-Wales manager Rob Page.

That's according to Alan Nixon via Patreon, who is reporting that the pair are shock contenders to take over from Steven Naismith. He was sacked on 22nd September, along with his assistants McAvoy and Gordon Forrest.

Rowett was most-recently the interim boss at St. Andrew's, overseeing the final eight games amid Tony Mowbray's absence from the sidelines. However, he was unable to keep Birmingham City in the Championship as they were relegated to the third tier for the first time since 1995.

Prior to that, his four-year stint as Millwall boss was, for the most part, a resounding success. He brought stability following Neil Harris’ departure in 2019 and led the club to top-half finishes in each campaign.

Although he failed to mastermind a break into the play-offs during his time in the Millwall dugout, his appointment brought continuity and allowed the side to progress before he left the Lions by mutual consent in October 2023.

Following his time in caretaker charge with Birmingham, Rowett could now be set for a role with the Scottish Premiership side.

Hearts eye Gary Rowett and Rob Page

Hearts were sat bottom of the Scottish Premiership when they parted ways with Naismith, having collected only a solitary point from their first six league matches, and having lost their prior eight games in a row in all competitions.

Liam Fox is in interim charge, having been promoted from their B team in the meantime. He has overseen a draw, a win, and a defeat since Naismith's departure, but it appears as though they are stepping up in their attempts to appoint a successor.

Nixon is reporting that Page is interested in the role after leaving his role with Wales recently, whilst Rowett could be "tempted" north by a club who are about to bring Brighton owner Tony Bloom in as an investor.

Rowett has had recent success in the EFL after he also enjoyed a 60-game stint in the Pride Park dugout with Derby County between March 2017 and May 2018, with his final game in charge being the 2-0 defeat to Fulham in the second leg of the play-off semi-finals.

However, he had a less prosperous time after moving to Stoke City following their relegation from the Premier League. Results did not go well with Stoke, but Rowett had previously proven his worth as a manager with Derby and Birmingham, and during his subsequent role at the Den too.

After Birmingham were relegated, Rowett found work elsewhere. He is currently involved in broadcasting, as he has been a regular pundit on Sky Sports for the 2024/25 season, primarily for EFL matches or on the Soccer Saturday panel.

Gary Rowett's managerial pedigree

The 50-year-old’s time at Millwall came to an anticlimactic end, but his work with the Lions was impressive up until his departure. He led Millwall to eighth, 11th, ninth, and eighth place finishes, and should have finished sixth in his last full year but for a final-day collapse against Blackburn Rovers.

Given the financial limitations of Millwall compared to many of their Championship rivals, he proved that he can overperform the resources available to him. This stint showed he has the capability to stick with a team, after two much shorter spells at Stoke City and Derby County where he underwhelmed relative to expectations.

His style of football may not have been the most attractive in the Championship, but he can get results and you would back him to make an immediate impact. If Hearts don't get results now, they are only heading one way, but Rowett has a great chance of guiding them to survival.

He could be a manager to build on with a project in years to come, which is what Hearts will be hoping for through their next appointment. They have plenty of quality throughout their side, as showcased by their league finish last season.