David Ocloo has borne the brunt of the fans' frustrations for an uninspired showing against King Faisal FC and, unless a genuine miracle occurs between now and the end of the season, the caretaker manager will surely be yet another coach condemned to the scrapheap.
But any resurrection of this side must go deeper than the managerial fall–guy. Too many players are overpaid and underperforming, and the new boss—whoever that may be—will need to reconstruct a squad to challenge at home and abroad.
That will mean faces leaving, as well as entering, but with plenty of deadwood already on the roster, why wait until it's too late to make the cull?
I take a look at four players that Hearts should look to offload sooner rather than later.
Samuel Inkoom
Yes, really. The 33-year-old’s best days are behind him in a Hearts shirt, and Inkoom could leave to make way for some younger blood. He played an important role at right-back in his early days at the club but has endured a disastrous spell this season. Inkoom is no longer in the club's plans. A move beckons.
Kojo Obeng Jr
There's little doubt that Kojo Obeng Jr will be shipped out of Hearts after the season, but is it worth the two parting company even before then?
After a mini-resurgence when Samuel Boadu first took over, the man formerly known as Obeng has slipped back into his sluggish ways and has found the net two times in 22 games this term. All hope that the forward will resemble anything like the player he was two seasons ago has gone, and that sentiment also includes Obeng’s own faith in his ability.
He makes little impact either starting or coming off the bench, and the Phobians’ would arguably be better served in trying to farm him out now and replacing him with a striker who's even partially effective.
Isaac Mensah
Mensah has failed to make any real positive impression since joining in July 2020. His future does not lie at Hearts, but the question is: who would take him? The former Nkoranza Warriors man isn't - and never has been - good enough for Hearts.
So, it would make sense to offload him. Needs a team built around him and isn't good enough to warrant that status in a team with aspirations like this.
Yassan Ouatching
The Central African Republic international has never convinced since joining the Phobians. Ouatching has grown increasingly unpopular among the Hearts fans.
At 23 years of age, Ouatching is at a stage in his career where he needs regular minutes, which he simply won't get at Hearts. He needs to leave. He isn't getting enough football and Ocloo clearly doesn't trust him.
