Stevie Frail watched Hearts beat Dundee United 1-0 on Saturday and then claimed he has been given no assurances over his future at Tynecastle.A 1-0 win on Saturday kept the Jambos' hopes of a top-six finish in the SPL alive and must surely have pleased the big boss Vladimir Romanov.

Hearts announced on New Year's Day, at the same time Frail was installed as head coach with full managerial autonomy, that they had begun a search for a manager with experience of British football.

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee and United manager Craig Levein have been linked with the post although Frail, speaking after Laryea Kingston's goal gave the Tynecastle outfit all three points, insists the managerial situation was not a topic discussed with Romanov.

He said: "It was not mentioned. We just had a chat because he is over for the game. It was a 'hello' and getting my thoughts on the match.

"It was fine, it was just a catch-up.

"It was good of him to come over and see the players. We have always prided ourselves on being a tight family club and it's good he spoke to everyone, including the office staff at Tynecastle, and told them he was pleased with their work."

Kingston scored the only goal of the game against United in the 27th minute, placing Eggert Jonsson's pass beyond Lukasz Zaluska at his near post.

Frail added: "We managed to hold on and get three great points.

"I was just glad to win it, we have struggled against Dundee United in the last three games.

"They are a good side with good players. They are up there on merit and we hear Falkirk drew so it gives us a chance to get into the top six if we go and beat Kilmarnock."

United, whose hopes of finishing third have been dealt a blow, enjoyed spells of possession without creating any chances.

The visitors' frustrating afternoon was compounded at the death when Garry Kenneth was shown his second yellow card and substitute Danny Swanson was dealt a straight red for a late tackle.

Levein said: "I thought we controlled the first half possession-wise and we had a couple of chances.

"I thought Hearts' chances came against the run of play but I felt in the final third we did not do enough to cause them problems."

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