Prunier booked in a quiet debut on trial with Hearts

Rob Robertson
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30 Jan 1998

FORMER French international defender William Prunier played his first game for Hearts yesterday, and picked up his first booking in Scottish football in the process, writes Rob Robertson. Prunier, who was recently released by Napoli and came through the ranks at Auxerre with Eric Cantona, will have talks with manager Jim Jefferies today to decide whether he is given a contract with the Tynecastle club after the trial match. Prunier was never seriously troubled during a dreary 0-0 draw with Hibernian. Prunier, who was booked for a foul after 86 minutes, said the pace of the match had been much faster than he had been used to. ''It was certainly a different game to what I am used to playing in,'' said the 30-year-old. ''The pace was very fast, but I tried to do my best and was pleased with my performance, despite the fact that I had not played for six weeks.'' One other problem for Prunier was the fact that he speaks no English. Speaking through interpreter, Hearts goalkeeper Gilles Rousset, Prunier said that referee David Doig had tried to explain to him why he had been booked but he had not understood a word he was saying. Hearts manager Jim Jefferies said: ''William played all right. Whether it is enough to get into the first-team, we will just have to wait and see.'' Hibernian's Jim Duffy and Billy McNeill sat side by side in the stand watching their reserve side, which included former first team players like Paul Tosh, Lee Power and goalkeeper Olafur Gottskalksson. In a match of few chances it was unlikely that either manager saw performances from their players that would merit call-ups to the relative first team squads. Off the field, the Hibs Shareholders Association are among the groups trying to arrange a public meeting to discuss the poor showing of the team and the general situation at Easter Road. Shareholders Association chairman Brian Monteith said he wanted an open discussion with members of the board rather than a confrontation, and has invited club owner Tom Farmer and the rest of the Hibs board to attend at a date still to be finalised. qHEARTS utility player Stephen Frail looks set for a #100,000 move to English first division strugglers Tranmere Rovers, where the Fife-based 28-year-old travelled yesterday to discuss personal terms, the clubs having already agreed the fee.

Taken from the Herald