I think its a brave move too, by Cathro. Two things strike me. First, no matter how good he is at coaching and analysis he has to work with the players his budget will allow and remember Neilson has already achieved a third place so the scope for improvement is limited unless The The implode again (oh please, please) or Rodgers leaves Septic sooner than expected.
Second, there is the Levein factor. I have now heard three pro/anti Cathro appointment discussions and one fact which emerged in all three, and not denied, is the degree of oversight Levein likes to exercise. In particular, during matches he likes to sit in the stand and pass down notes with "suggestions" at frequent intervals. The pro appointment guys saw this as a plus point, the anti side thought this was perhaps one of the reasons for Neilson departing Tynecastle at a speed that would have left Usain Bolt floundering in his wake on receipt of the first reasonable offer of alternative employment.
Two or three discussion participants said that the obvious man for the Hearts job was our Tommy. All were agreed that this would not have been acceptable to Tommy or Levein!