Four Scotland-based Socceroos are waiting to discover who will be their new club coach after a fifth consecutive defeat persuaded Hearts to take the "extremely difficult decision" to sack manager Robbie Neilson.

Nathaniel Atkinson, Kye Rowles, Cammy Devlin and Garang Kuol - on loan from EPL side Newcastle - all ply their trade with the Edinburgh club, who have slipped to fourth place in the Scottish Premiership on the back of four-straight league losses.

The Tynecastle outfit also bowed out of the Scottish Cup in mid-March, losing 3-0 to Celtic.

The 42-year-old Neilson came under fierce criticism from supporters following Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by St Mirren that allowed Aberdeen to leapfrog Hearts into third place.

Rowles and Devlin both featured in that match, while 18-year-old Kuol was on the bench.

A club statement on Sunday confirmed the decision to change manager ahead of next weekend's Edinburgh derby against Hibernian at their city rivals' Easter Road ground.

"Robbie has been a key part of the club's ascent back to the upper echelons of Scottish football, delivering another Championship title, a third-place finish, two Scottish Cup finals and European group-stage football in the process," Hearts' statement said.

"This was an extremely difficult decision to reach, and we would like to thank Robbie for all of his efforts."

There was no immediate confirmation on the future of Neilson's assistants, Gordon Forrest and Lee McCulloch, who he brought with him from former club Dundee United.

Former Scotland striker Steven Naismith, also on the staff at Hearts, is expected to take charge of the team for the final seven matches of the season.

- with PA