A club spokesman said: "We can confirm talks with various applicants, including both Ranieri and Robson. "That is in line with the type of pedigree that we are looking for and we are encouraged by the talks so far." Ranieri managed Chelsea from 2000 to 2004, taking them to second in the English Premiership, before he was replaced with Jose Mourhino. He has also managed at Fiorentina and Atletico Madrid and his second stint at Valencia ended in February after just eight months. Ranieri, who also steered Chelsea to a Champions League semi-final, told BBC Sport he was keen for a return to English football earlier this month.
The 53-year-old is currently living in Rome, doing occasional media work. Former England and Newcastle boss Robson is 20 years older than the Italian but is also being considered by ambitious Hearts. Hearts chairman George Foulkes said: "I would prefer not to talk about the individual arrangements because we don't want it all to take place in the media - but Bobby Robson is one of the people we are looking at, there's no doubt about that. "We've had well over 20 expressions of interest from top quality managers, household names with great experience which confirms what I said that this is a plum job.
"We're sounding out people, we're having informal discussions with people and it will take some time to do that. "Some of them are in other parts of the United Kingdom and some are overseas. Hungary coach Lothar Matthaus is thought to be interested in the post, along with ex-Parma boss Nevio Scala. Hearts are also keen to talk to sacked Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr. Anderton told the club website on Wednesday: "I am close to finalising a short-list and every one of them is a manager with top-class European pedigree. "My sole concern is to ensure the board are presented with a selection of managers that can deliver success."
Burley parted company with the SPL leaders following a disagreement with Vladimir Romanov, reportedly concerning the major shareholder's interference with team affairs. Interim boss John McGlynn has said he could be interested in the vacancy but is unlikely to have the public profile demanded by majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov. "I would not knock the job back," he said. "I'm not saying I am putting my hat into the ring but if I was offered it then it would be an honour and a privilege to take it."
Intresting news coming out from the Hearts board today and I would think that the Hearts fans would be pretty happy with either Sir Bobby or Ranieri. Alot of names have been thrown into the hat and there is alot of good ones in there. Hearts are doing superb this season so far and alot of that has to be credited to former Derby boss George Burley. I would think Hearts better get the whole situation pretty soon because they would want everything settled at the club pretty soon.
