Fashanu sacked by Hearts after trying to sell scandal lies

IAN PAUL

11 Feb 1994

CONTROVERSIAL striker Justin Fashanu, who has made the front page more often than the back, will not play for Hearts again.

The Tynecastle club announced last night that his contract would not be renewed at the end of the season, nor would he be chosen for the side in the interim.

Chairman Wallace Mercer, on one of his flying visits from France, discussed the publicity surrounding the extrovert forward and, after the original verdict to fine the player and suspend him for missing training, concluded that it was time the club and Fashanu parted company.

The decision comes after revelations by Fashanu that he had concocted scandals and tried to sell them to English tabloid newspapers, revelations that made him front page news yet again.

"The player has been reported as telling lies for financial gain," manager Sandy Clark said, "and that is unbecoming conduct for a professional in any walk of life.

Justin has mentioned several times recently that he wants to retire from the game, and we will be in touch with the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association."

Fashanu was suspended after missing training, according to Scottish League rules, but is understood to have gone on holiday for two weeks and still has not appeared at the ground.

The 33-year-old has been a Hearts player for only six months since he left Airdrie and signed a one-year contract with the Edinburgh club.

He began his Hearts spell with 14 top-team appearances in the first 15 games, scoring once, but a recurring leg injury and the arrival of Maurice Johnston last October reduced his chances of regaining his position.

His last first-team show was as a substitute against St Johnstone in December.

There will be other, more vital names missing from the Hearts line-up to meet Celtic at Tynecastle tomorrow.

Neil Berry is out after being sent off last week against Motherwell, while John Millar completes a four-game suspension and John Colquhoun has the second of his two-match ban to serve.

City rivals Hibernian, Hearts' opponents in the cup, are in perhaps worse fettle for their championship confrontation with Rangers at Ibrox.

They will have to do without the 20-goal striking partnership of Keith Wright and Darren Jackson, both of whom are suspended.

It is a severe dent in Alex Miller's plans, but does not necessarily mean that Danny Lennon, the star of last week's winning show against Aberdeen, is guaranteed a place.

"Danny was brought in for a specific purpose," Miller said, "and I was delighted with the way he played.

But Rangers are a different proposition, and it may be that he will be left out for a specific purpose.

That is what a squad is all about."

Both Hibs and Hearts are unbeaten this year, and in the case of the Easter Road team, who are only three points behind leaders Rangers, maintaining that record could be especially significant in the coming weeks.

Taken from the Herald