The Herald

Romanovs May Have to Replace More Than Just Their Manager Uncertainty at Tynecastle Will Affect Players Sooner or Later

OFTHE many inponderables surrounding Hearts at the moment, there is one which is arguably more important than them all. How will the players respond to the off-field turmoil? Last weekend's derby defeat to Hibs owed as much to the Easter Road side's good performance than to any implosion on Hearts' behalf. With another week of machinations behind them, however, including the departure of chief executive Phil Anderton and chairman George Foulkes, Saturday's clash with Dundee United will provid...

Charlie, Our Mann Very Much On the Spot . . . Sports Diary

THERE is one man amid this mounting Hearts fiasco that I feel genuinely sorry for. It's not George Foulkes, and nor is it Phil Anderton, both of whom might be licking their wounds. No, the man I truly pity is Charlie Mann, spin doctor to Vladimir Romanov, who has suddenly acceded to the title of Man With The Most Difficult Job In Scotland Right Now.

Speirs has Fortnight to Convince County

GARDNER SPEIRS, Ross County's caretaker manager, has been given a fortnight to convince the board he can take the club to the SPL. Speirs, handed control after Saturday's 2-1win over St Johnstone when assistant manager Donald Park stepped down, is understood to have met with Peter Swanson, the chairman, to discuss the club's short-term aims.

Mowbray Expects Injured Trio to Return

TONY MOWBRAY, the Hibs manager, is confident of having injured trio Michael Stewart, Scott Brown and Chris Hogg available for Saturday's game at Livingston. All three are expected to report to training this morning. Hogg and Stewart were withdrawn from the weekend's 2-0 victory over Hearts after sustaining a dead leg and slight groin strain respectively. Brown complained of sore ribs.

Hughes Warned by Sfa Over Remarks

JOHN HUGHES, the Falkirk manager, last night escaped with a warning over his future conduct from the SFA after accusing referees of being biased against his team. Hughes appeared before an SFA general purposes committee at Hampden yesterday morning after remarks he made last month over the standard of officiating in the top flight.

Sevens to Add to Test Match Allure

MURRAYFIELD marketeers are set to get a welcome boost this week when a series sponsor is announced for Scotland's autumn Tests. A deal is in place for a major company to back the series of three matches as the SRU struggle to sell tickets.

Thompson Delighted to Make Fresh Start Striker Seeks to Restore Feel- Good Factor, Reveals Graham Spiers

STEVEN Thompson, in Bratislava the other night, wasn't just the first Scot in five years to score a goal in the Champions League. In so doing the Rangers striker, beyond doubt, also secured more time for Alex McLeish, his embattled manager, to try to redeem a stricken situation at Ibrox.

Former Rangers Goalkeeping Coach Backs Klos to Return

THE clamour for the reinstatement of Stefan Klos as Rangers custodian has reached fever pitch in the light of fresh evidence of fallibility on the part of Ronald Waterreus. The Dutchman, an immaculate performer until a recent spate of errors, was accountable for the concession of a second equaliser against Artmedia Bratislava on Tuesday; not necessarily for the failed clearance attempt after the ball spun awkwardly on a rutted pitch but for recklessly and needlessly vacating his penalty area.

Wenger Lets His Team Do the Talking

ARSENAL 3 SPARTA PRAGUE 0

Anderton Was Ready to Resign Before Sacking Robson Admits to Dismay at Chief Executive's Departure

ROMAN ROMANOV has revealed to Hearts supporters that Phil Anderton tendered his resignation last Saturday with a view to leaving at the end of the season. It was previously understood that Anderton had been sacked following a meeting on Monday afternoon, a decision which prompted the resignation of the chairman, George Foulkes, in protest.

Autumn Tests Fail to Entice Rugby Fans

WITH just over a week to go before Scotland's first Autumn Tests, tickets for all three games are still available. More than 30,000 tickets have been sold for the game against New Zealand on November 26 - still less than half the capacity of Murrayfield - but demand for the Argentina (Nov 12) and Samoa (Nov 20) matches has been significantly lower. The cheapest ticket prices range from GBP20 to GBP30, with premium seats costing double.

Murray Will Go On Backing Mcleish

DAVID MURRAY wants to give Alex McLeish the opportunity to lead Rangers into the last 16 of the Champions League following the team's 2-2 draw against Artmedia Bratislava on Tuesday night. Barring an irretrievable collapse in Rangers' domestic campaign, it would seem to rule out continuing rumours last night about McLeish's imminent sacking.

Harrison Predicts Hairy Time for 'Suicidal' Challenger Clean-Shaven Champion Bristling After Hussein Critique

THE closest Scott Harrison has come to stylistic change ahead of the latest defence of the WBO world title is the removal of his goatee. The new clean-cut appearance is designed to assist in the removal of an unwanted and, he maintains, unwarranted reputation outside the governance of Marquess of Queensberry rules.

Scott Is Happy to Be Class Act

ALLAN SCOTT, the highest ranked male athlete among the Scotland Commonwealth Games athletics team which will be announced in Edinburgh this morning, is already looking for his successor. The East Kilbride man, who believes he can take a medal in the 110 metres hurdles in Melbourne, was at Kirk o' Shotts Primary yesterday, leading a Spar Sprints Initiative masterclass to identify and nurture young talent.

New Blow for Leading Players

A RECORD entry of the highest quality for the most prestigious annual Scottish badminton event has rebounded on some of the country's leading players, writes Doug Gillon. Already reeling at their Commonwealth Games exclusion, it now emerges that some will also miss out on the Bank of Scotland International Championships which start in the Kelvin Hall three weeks today.