Former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri hopes to be named manager of Hearts on Monday.
The Italian, who was axed by Valencia earlier this year after just eight months in charge has held talks with owner Vladimir Romanov about replacing George Burley.
Ranieri said: "I confirm that I was in Scotland to talk with the directors of Hearts. They are interested in contracting me.
"We spoke a lot about projects and sporting questions but didn't finalise anything.
"I know that they have other candidates but according to what they have told me their response won't be past Monday."
But despite insisting he did not want more influence on the dressing room, Romanov has revealed he issued a rallying call to the players before the midweek win over Kilmarnock.
He said: "I talked to them several times.
"I was told: 'it is a stupid idea, don't do it'. There was a kind of
revolution there.
"But I just decided: 'Let's ignore the warnings and I will go and talk to them'.
"It wasn't very easy because the players said to me later they are not used to such sessions with the owner.
"I said: 'What you are doing is fantastic now and if you keep winning it will give me time to make a good choice of new coach and to set up a new system', because I don't think the old one works properly."
