Hearts double for New Year

PAUL SINCLAIR

1 Jan 1997

HEART of Midlothian have started the New Year with a new chairman, and effectively a new player.

Leslie Deans has stepped up from vice-chair to take control of the club from his colleague, Chris Robinson, and club captain Gary Locke has played his first match since he sustained a severe knee injury in the Scottish Cup final last May.

The boardroom changes do not represent anything untoward, rather the fulfilment of a plan.

When Deans and Robinson tookover at Tynecastle in 1994, they initially intended to rotate the chairmanship.

Instead, half way through their five-year plan for the club, they have decided to swap positions.

``The last two years have been eventful, mistakes have been made, but I am convinced that, overall, the club is beginning to make the progress we set out to achieve,'' outgoing chairman Robinson said last night.

The most immediate test of that progress will be today's Edinburgh derby against a Hibs side under the new management of Jim Duffy at Easter Road.

Meanwhile on the playing side of things, Gary Locke made his return for Hearts reserves against Motherwell yesterday and scored in the side's 3-0 win at Tynecastle.

He also made one of the goals during his 60-minute appearance, and looked just like his old self after having been sidelined for the last seven months with cruciate ligament damage.

A surging run down the right wing from the Scotland under-21 defender in 38 minutes set up the opener for John Colquhoun, but Locke saved the best until six minutes after the break.

Taking a Steve Frail pass, he cut inside a Motherwell defender to unleash a great drive from 22 yards low into the corner of the net to earn a standing ovation from the fans in the Tynecastle stand.

``It's great to be back, but it's only one game,'' said Locke.

``I was a bit nervous beforehand, but my biggest worry was that the game would be called off because of the weather.

``I'm glad it wasn't, but I don't think the groundsman is as pleased as I am.

``It's good to get this one out of the way, and the plan now is to get another couple of reserve games and, hopefully, be ready to challenge for a first team place in time for the Scottish Cup.

``I'm always getting stick that my left foot is just for standing on, so it was a nice bonus to score the goal with it.''

Taken from the Herald