Excitement was very much the word of the day for new Hearts boss Neil Critchley as he introduced himself to the club’s supporters on Tuesday.

Yet, based on the overall reaction which has since greeted his unveiling at Tynecastle, it’s safe to say that the feeling hasn’t been mutual.

The Englishman will, of course, receive a warm reception this afternoon as he takes his spot in the dugout for the visit of St Mirren, but his arrival has done little to spark enthusiasm in a downbeat Hearts faithful in the build-up.

It’s certainly a little unfair on the 45-year-old. After all, he comes with the seal of approval from the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp ,having worked under the duo at Liverpool before venturing into his first management venture at Blackpool.

He sealed promotion to the Championship at the first time of asking with the Seasiders, and then kept them in the second tier with a bit to spare.

Neil Critchley was unveiled as Hearts’ new manager earlier this week

The former Blackpool boss (left) has already been on the training ground with his new side. Steven Naismith (right) was dismissed at Tynecastle following an eight-match losing run

The less said about his ill-fated spell at QPR the better, but a creditable eighth-placed finish in League One on his return to the Lancashire club last season was a more than decent return.

So why all the doom and gloom? Perhaps it could simply be put down to Hearts fans looking for a sexier name to get their flatlining pulses racing. 

Or maybe their lack of enthusiasm comes from seeing a long line of EFL managers land in Scotland with big ambitions, only to find themselves quickly hopping back over the border with their tail between their legs.

Just last year, former Sheffield United and Crystal Palace icon Neil Warnock found himself trying to rescue Aberdeen’s faltering campaign. His eight-game reign provided plenty of headlines.

Neil Warnock won just two of his eight games in charge last season at Aberdeen

Lee Johnson failed to build on an encouraging start at Hibs before being shown the door

Predictably, they were more to do with his colourful press conference rather than anything he was able to cobble together on the field. After notching just two wins, back down the road he went.

Lee Johnson — another man not shy in talking himself up — got a little over a season to show what he could do at Hibernian having arrived with a big reputation following spells at Bristol City and Sunderland.

He departed with the club rooted to the bottom of the table, with a wage bill the size of his ego his lasting legacy in Leith.

Paul Heckingbottom also suffered the same fate at Easter Road. He didn’t even get to celebrate a Christmas in green and white before being given his marching orders.

Others to swap the EFL for SPFL fared a little better. Graham Alexander largely exceeded expectations at Motherwell after earning his stripes at Scunthorpe United and Salford City.

Strangely enough, it was a dismal defeat to Sligo Rovers in the Europa Conference League qualifiers which sealed his fate, just months after securing an impressive fifth-place league finish.

Micky Mellon did enough to keep Dundee United in the top flight in his only season at the helm. 

Then he decided a speedy return to Tranmere Rovers was a more desirable option than sticking around at Tannadice.

It’s important to note, however, that Critchley has one significant advantage over those listed above. His new club may be winless, but they are a side — on paper at least — stacked with talent.

Lawrence Shankland’s form will have a big impact on whether Critchley will succeed at Hearts

In Craig Gordon, he has — as demonstrated once again on Scotland duty this week — an outstanding keeper between the sticks, while Lawrence Shankland remains a significant threat at the other end, despite his frustrating start to the campaign.

Add in the likes of Frankie Kent and Beni Banimgime there is a solid spine to work with. And if he can get summer arrivals Blair Spittal and Yan Dhanda replicating the kind of form shown at Motherwell and Ross County respectively, then there are real grounds for positivity going forward.

But the future can wait. For now, all that matters is picking up three points this weekend. Deliver that and excitement may just start to build after all in Gorgie.

St Johnstone fans forced to wait 

Fellow Premiership strugglers St Johnstone are also embarking on a fresh chapter under the tutelage of a new boss. But unfortunately for Saints fans, they’ll have to wait to see Simo Valakari in the dugout after work permit issues put his highly anticipated debut on ice.

Simo Valakari won’t be in the dugout for Saturday’s Premiership clash against Ross County

Underwhelmed by the football served up under Craig Levein, followers of the Perth side will be hoping the Finn can bring some much-needed positivity to the club as they look to avoid another campaign scrapping it out at the bottom of the table.

Fellow Scandanavian Jimmy Thelin could soon have a statue erected outside Pittodrie if Aberdeen can maintain their extraordinary start to the season. 

Valakari won’t be overseeing a run anything like that any time soon, but his appointment has certainly already captured the imagination at McDiarmid Park.

Livingston lurking under the radar

Falkirk and Ayr United have received much of the plaudits thanks to their excellent start to the Championship campaign. Both look well-placed to be in the mix for automatic promotion, with each having shown they can entertain and grind it out in equal measure.

Livingston will hope to extend their unbeaten Championship run at Ayr United this weekend

However, they aren’t the only ones catching the eye. Under David Martindale, Livingston are targeting an immediate return to the Premiership, and as one of just three sides in the country yet to taste defeat in the league, they travel to Somerset Park this afternoon hoping to extend that record and lay down a big marker to their much-heralded rivals.