Eighth club for nomad Johnston's exile over as he signs for Falkirk

JIM REYNOLDS

1 Mar 1995

Maurice Johnston yesterday ended his exile from premier division football by joining the fight to keep Falkirk in the top flight.

And the 31-year-old, now with his eighth senior club, claimed he had won his personal battle against Hearts.

Johnston moved from Tynecastle to Brockville on a free transfer and will be there until June next year at least.

He will make his debut against Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday, his first taste of premier division football since last September.

Since then, Johnston has been languishing in the Hearts reserve side, claiming the Edinburgh club was trying to push him out the door.

He was reputed to be on wages of £3000 a week, and with 16 months of his contract still to run that meant he could have stayed put and earned almost £200,000.

"I would have taken it right through to the end, if I hadn't got what I considered to be a just settlement," Johnston said yesterday.

"I'm a pretty stubborn guy, and no one was going to push me out the door.

When the manager, Tommy McLean, set out his stall, I set out mine.

"He thought he would beat me, but they got me on a free transfer from Everton and I only wanted a fair settlement."

There can be no doubting the nerve of a man who once played for Celtic and agreed to rejoin them before changing his mind and signing for Old Firm rivals Rangers.

"Tommy McLean hasn't spoken to me since last September," Johnston said yesterday.

"Nor has he ever told me why I would never play in the Hearts first team.

"He told me he was putting me on the transfer list and that he would listen to offers for me.

Eamonn Bannon would come and tell me I was down for reserve duty.

"I must say, however, that we never publicly fell out, even when I had to go and train with the kids.

"I rather enjoyed that, actually, although professionally it wasn't doing me much good.

I told the manager to go and take a hike and he said something similar.

But you hear that a lot of times on the training pitch or on the park.

"But I had done nothing wrong, so it was frustrating.

However, if that was the way he wanted to run his team, there was nothing I could do about it.

"I tried to come to an arrangement with the club in September, and it would have saved them a lot of money.

"I wasn't being greedy -- I didn't ask for anything like a full settlement.

But it has taken since then until now to get it sorted out.

"During that time, seven clubs have come in for me, offering to pay the same money as I was getting at Hearts.

"But there was no way I was moving until Hearts paid up.

I wanted to prove a point.

"I held out and got a settlement after a meeting with Hearts chairman Chris Robinson this morning -- I have the cheque in my top pocket.

"I don't regret my time at Hearts, and I wish everyone -- well almost everyone -- there all the best.

But it's all in the past now.

"At this stage of my career I need first-team football, and I'm grateful to the Falkirk chairman George Fulston and the manager Jim Jefferies for giving me the chance.

"If I had to stay out of the premier division for a year-and-a-half then I doubt if I could have come back.

"It's all about Falkirk now, and I just can't wait to train with the lads tomorrow and play on Saturday."

Johnston is the third player signed by the Brockville club in the last week, with Motherwell pair Paul McGrillen and Steve Kirk helping them beat Hibernian last Saturday.

Chairman Fulston revealed that Johnston would not be earning a penny more than any other senior player at the club.

He said: "To get a player of his quality and magnitude is a huge step forward.

He had a problem and it is now solved.

"Maurice got exactly what he wanted from Hearts and I got exactly what I wanted from Hearts -- the player.

"There is no question, however, that he will be paid at a rate above the other experienced players.

"He won't be getting a penny more, because I won't disturb the dressing room here for anything or any individual.

"Having said that, the attitude of everyone involved has been marvellous.

When the players heard of our interest in Maurice they realised he is just the kind of player we need in our fight for survival.

"Some of the lads came to me and to Jim Jefferies and told us to go and get him and not to worry about them.

"Of course he is entitled to a signing-on fee -- he was a free agent.

But he is delighted to stand by our wage structure."

Johnston's arrival ends days of hard bargaining for Jefferies.

"I've been looking for an experienced striker and I've got the best," he said.

"Maurice has always been my first choice, and I'm delighted to get him."

In a separate deal, Falkirk striker Colin Cramb, 20, has joined Hearts for a £50,000 fee.

Cramb, who also had spells with Hamilton and Southampton, has signed until the end of the season but could clinch a longer deal if he impresses Tommy McLean.

Cramb said: "This is a great move for me and I can't wait to start playing football again."

Taken from the Herald