After that, Fox, the previous manager of Dundee United, took over, and he managed to level the playing field to some extent.

The club’s latest setback this season was their loss to Aberdeen over the weekend, although the 40-year-old acknowledged he did see some bright spots at Pittodrie.

With the score level at two points apiece, Fox decided not to give the blame even though Ante Palaversa would go on to secure all three points when Jorge Grant was issued a red card.

Rather, he welcomed the Hearts midfielder’s apologies and wished to forget about what may have been his last game in the dugout as manager as the international break drew near.

Fox will learn Hearts future after international break

“We made a tonne of opportunities, some really excellent ones. That occurs in football, Fox acknowledged. “Hopefully, you would take them on a different day and the result would be different.

“There is no denying that the red card alters the game’s rhythm. Another noteworthy point is that the ball is actually still moving after a free-kick in the second [Aberdeen] goal.

“They go up the park score. After complaining about the ball moving, Jorge Grant is subsequently booked for dissent and sent off on a challenge.

“Yeah, there is dissatisfaction and resentment there. It hurts to accept that.

“I spoke with John [Beaton] right away. He simply stated that it was his decision. Jorge Grant has raised his hands and, above all, expressed his disappointment at having let the squad down.

“There is no denying that sending off alters the momentum and game flow. Football is that. We operate in an environment where margins are quite narrow, so I felt like those few factors worked against us today.

Fox is unsure of what will happen next, but he might be given additional time as manager until the full-time Naismith replacement shows up.

Whatever transpires, the club has “honoured” the manager of the B squad, who feels that his tenure was incomplete without a domestic triumph.

Hearts still searching for new boss after Steven Naismith

Fox claimed, “I’ll be back to work tomorrow, unless somebody from the club tells me differently. I’ve no idea.”

The club will likely have a little more time to go through the process—which I’m sure they’re already going through—because of the current international break.

“I’m simply unhappy that we didn’t take anything away from today; it’s been a privilege and an honour for me to do this duty, even in the short duration.

It would have been so simple to fall short, therefore I must give the players credit. The mood was fantastic today; Aberdeen had been on a high, but we seemed to pick up speed very rapidly.

“I felt we controlled the game, we passed the ball brilliantly, moved it well, pressed extremely well, and we created opportunities. Thus, while there are many good things to be grateful for, we have gained nothing. That’s the letdown.