Austin MacPhee (right) will remain as Michael O'Neill's assistant coach in the NI set-up.

Austin MacPhee will continue his coaching roles with Northern Ireland and Hearts after turning down a big money offer to become manager of Indian Super League side Pune City.

MacPhee was offered a reputed £350,000 per year to take charge of Pune but feels it is not the right time to make such a move.

It means the 38-year-old will remain a key figure of Michael O'Neill's backroom staff in his position of assistant coach and stay No.2 to Craig Levein at Hearts.

"It was an interesting offer from the Indian Super League side and one I thought very seriously about," said MacPhee, tipped as a future Hearts boss. However at this moment in time it is probably not the right opportunity for me and I am delighted to be continuing my work at Hearts.

“There is a lot to feel positive about as we head into the new season and I’m very much looking forward to the campaign ahead."

MacPhee, of course, is working with a few Northern Irish players at Tynecastle, with Aaron Hughes, Michael Smith and Kyle Lafferty this summer joined by NI U21 international Bobby Burns, who moved to Hearts from Glenavon.

Belfast Telegraph