Johnston free if contract is settled

IAN PAUL

31 Dec 1994

HEARTS chairman Chris Robinson yesterday made his club's position on Maurice Johnston's future clear, writes Ian Paul.

The former Celtic and Rangers striker who has been languishing in the reserves for most of the season will be allowed to go any time he wishes before the end of his contract as a free-transfer man.

"But we will not be paying the remains of his contract," added the chairman.

He went on: "There has been so much speculation about Johnston that I want to set the record straight.

With appropriate bonuses, etc, the remaining 18 months of his contract amounts to just under £200,000 but we will not be paying that if he goes.

"We have been asked by his agent to pay it off, but there is no way we will be involved in that.

But if any club wishes to come in for him, he will be allowed to go without a fee."

Johnston has played only five times since Tommy McLean took over from Sandy Clark as manager and, at 31, he will not be keen to wait until June 1996, when his contract finishes, to end his exile from first-team football.

One man who is at the other end of his career with Hearts is David Hagen, who joined them recently from Rangers.

Hagen has a slight hamstring pull but manager Tommy McLean is hopeful he will be fit to play against Aberdeen at Pittodrie.

If he makes it, McLean would be able to field the team that finished against Partick Thistle, which he is keen to do.

"David needs games to build up his confdience after such a long time at Ibrox." said the manager, who faces a stiff weekend with games against Aberdeen and then Hibs on Monday.

Aberdeen will have Duncan Shearer in their front line and that leaves Eoin Jess fighting to regain his place in the top team.

Said assistant manager Roy Aitken: "It is up to Jess to fight his way back into the side.

He is just like everyone else -- merit will decide his place."

Brian Irvine and Ray McKinnon are added to an Aberdeen squad badly needing points.

As defender John Inglis put it: "We are looking for six points in our two games against Hearts and Dundee United, and there will be something wrong if we don't get them."

Hibs have to meet Dundee United first but even they are not expecting to repeat their opening-day performance, a 5-0 win over United.

They have a full-back problem as Graeme Love, who has played 11 times this season in the absence of Graham Mitchell, may need to have a hernia operation as a result of a groin strain.

With another first-team full back, Willie Miller, out through suffering from a similar injury, manager Alex Miller has some thinking to do.

United have had a setback, too.

Billy McKinlay, trying to get himself fit after a hamstring injury suffered in Athens with Scotland, pushed a bit too hard and is out of the running for the game in Edinburgh.

Alan McLaren, Paddy Connolly, and Jerren Nixon are in the squad.

Taken from the Herald