Craig Thomson Suspended By Hearts.

Hearts have suspended defender Craig Thomson after being convicted of indecent behaviour regarding underage girls on the internet.

Thomson was also placed on the sex offenders register for his actions which have sparked outrage throughout Scottish football.

The Hearts board came to a decision to keep Thomson employed by the club despite his conviction but after various complaints were made by fans the board moved and quickly suspended him which will most likely see the end of his career in Edinburgh.


The club will be able to terminate the players contract if they wish because I think there is a sort of insurance policy in there that prevents the players getting money for the termination of contracts in events of convictions.


Sponsers have also terminated their deals with the club after their decision to defend Thomson.


I personally see this as the right move by the club despite it coming too late. The abuse he would get from the fans would be unreal aswell.


So,would you be happy to see a registered sex offender playing for your club or in your league?

Kenny Shiels - The Best Man For The Job?

Kenny Shiels and Jimmy Nicholl have been put in charge of Kilmarnock FC on a full time basis after taking over managing duties when Mixu Paatelainen took the chance to return to Finland and become the National team's manager.

Shiels has limited managerial experience after becoming the Coleraine manger in 2000 he has went on to manage Ballymena United, Carrick Rangers and Larne. He also spent a few years at Tranmere Rovers as the head of youth coaching before moving to rugby park.

In the 8 games Shiels took charge of his side won none and only managed to score 7 goals while conceding 19.

Obviously people could argue this means little towards the end of the season and that he will start a fresh in the new campaign but he took over a team that were playing some of the best football Kilmarnock fans have witnessed in a few years after some relegation battles.

Shiels will also have work to do in pre-season as he has already lost some members of his team with, Craig Bryson, Jamie Hamill and Mehdi Taouil all heading for the exit. Playmaker Alexei Eremenko who was on loan from Metalist Kharkiv for the season. It is unlikely that he will return to Scotland as it is rumoured his parent club want in the region of £1 million which Kilmarnock seem unwilling to pay.

So it will be a difficult task for the new management team and I personally feel they will be facing a relegation battle come May. 

What do you think?

 

SPL Fixtures Released!

Who will emerge victorious this season?

Today the SPL fixtures for the new season have been released with the season to start on 23rd July.

These are the games to be played for the first 2 weeks.

Saturday July 23, 2011
Aberdeen v St Johnstone
Dunfermline v St Mirren
Hibernian v Celtic
Motherwell v Inverness CT
Rangers v Hearts

Sunday July 24, 2011
Dundee United v Kilmarnock

Saturday July 30, 2011
Celtic P-P Dunfermline
Inverness CT v Hibernian
Kilmarnock v Motherwell
St Johnstone v Rangers
St Mirren v Aberdeen

Sunday July 31, 2011
Hearts v Dundee United


Rangers kickoff their defence of the title with a game against Hearts who finished in 3rd last season so it will be interesting to see that game.

This was just a quick post and I will bring you more news later.!

Hearts Summer Signings Continue.

Hearts have acted quickly in securing new signings for the return of the SPL season on July 23rd.

Former Kilmarnock midfielder Jamie Hamill has joined up with his former manager,Jim Jefferies on a free transfer.

Jefferies also managed to capture striker John Sutton who found the net 17 times last season.

St Johnstone defender Danny Grainger was the other to be enticed to Edinburgh after two years in Perth.

Another player who Jim Jefferies knows from his Kilmarnock days is Mehdi Taouil who has been signed on a three-year deal after his contract expired at Rugby Park.

So Jefferies has set about creating a new look squad ahead of the new season and hopefully they can push on in the league and also in the Europa League where they will enter at the third qualifiying stage.

Kyle Bartley To Return To Rangers?

Arsenal defender Kyle Bartley has revealed he would love the chance to return to Rangers after a successful loan spell in Glasgow.

“I’m a professional and Arsenal are my club,” he told the Scottish Sun.

“I’m under contract and it will be Arsene Wenger who decides what’s best for me.

“But it’s no secret that the idea of another loan spell at Rangers would be very attractive.”

“I was only at Rangers for a short while but I’ve got so many good memories,” he said.

Yesterday Arsenal confirmed the signing of defender Carl Jenkinson from Charlton which could spell the end of Bartley's career at the Emirates Stadium.

Dunfermline Athletic, Welcome To The SPL.

Club crest.

 Dunfermline Athletic will be preparing for a return to the Scottish Premier League after winning the first division in May. The Pars last played in the SPL in 2007 but were relegated after a poor season that saw them get to the Scottish Cup final and also qualify for the Uefa Cup.

On December 2007 the board appointed Jim McIntrye as caretaker-manager following the sacking of Stephen Kenny. McIntrye was appointed manager on  full time basis and was given a two and a half year contract.

In McIntyre's first full season as manager they finished third place,missing out on the title by 13 points. The Pars again started the 10/11 season well, they were unbeaten in their first six games and this time managed to win promotion with a 10 point lead over second place rivals Raith Rovers.

I look forward to seeing how Dunfermline prepare for the new season after a long time out of the SPL.

Good luck to the Pars!

East End Park, where Dunfermline play their home games.