HEARTS continue to make news, off the football field at least. Last
night they confirmed the appointment of Sandy Clark as their permanent
manager, and also furiously denied a weekend report that they owed one
of their players money.
Clark briefly has been in interim control in the aftermath of Joe
Jordan's sacking eight days ago, and has clearly impressed Wallace
Mercer's board.
The former Rangers striker entered the fray with a head start,
however, having steered the group of young players in his charge for the
last three years to the BP Youth Cup and the Premier Reserve League
title.
Clark has already introduced four players to the first team since his
temporary appointment and chairman Mercer confirmed he had the unanimous
and wholehearted support of the Tynecastle board.
''Sandy Clark has been a tremendous success at youth and reserve-team
level,'' said Mercer. ''and this blend of youth and our eight existing
senior professionals who have internationalist caps will provide the
nucleus for the best Hearts squad for many years.''
However, Mercer is most unhappy about rumours suggesting dissident
supporters are attempting a possible take-over of Tynecastle, angrily
dismissing such talk, and even more upset at talk of possible player
unrest.
Yesterday, Mercer revealed: ''Hearts are making a substantial damages
claim against a Sunday newspaper over an allegation that a Hearts'
player was owed monies by the club.''
That allegation was countered by a statement from senior players Craig
Levein and Gary Mackay yesterday, insisting that there had been no
problems with any payments to the playing staff.
0 Mercer insists he is taking a break, recommended by his doctor,
after 20 years of stress in the property business.
Meanwhile, Clark flew back to Scotland last night after an overnight
meeting with his chairman in the South of France, and he will speak to
the media at Tynecastle today.
The Hearts story is not over yet . . .
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