Respect for Sauzee lures Wiss to Hibs

JARKKO Wiss, the Finnish international, spoke yesterday of how Franck Sauzee’s presence at Easter Road influenced his decision to leave Stockport County and sign a two-and-a-half-year deal with Hibernian.

Out of favour with the Nationwide Division 1 club, who paid £350,000 for his services last year, the Finnish midfield player’s knowledge of the Scottish scene was limited, but he was well enough acquainted with the Frenchman’s reputation.

“Franck as is well known in Finland, as he is everywhere else in Europe, and if he felt Hibs was the right club for him then it must be a good football club and a good organisation.”

Apart from being impressed by Sauzee, Wiss, 29, made a point of speaking to a couple of his fellow countrymen before putting pen to paper. “Before I made up my mind to come to Edinburgh I spoke to Tommi Gronlund, who is with Hearts, and Mixu Paatelainen.

“Both players had a good opinion of the city and the club, so that helped me to reach a decision.”

Wiss had fallen out with Carlton Palmer, the Stockport manager, and the dispute,between player and club allowed Hibs to step in and sign their new man without any fee changing hands.

Given that Hibs have a variety of injury problems, Wiss may yet find himself added to the squad for tonight’s home game against Aberdeen. Sauzee is keeping his fingers crossed that goalkeeper Nick Colgan recovers from injury, but captain John O’Neil will again miss out.

For Aberdeen, defender Russell Anderson has been ruled out with a groin injury, while captain Derek Whyte faces a late fitness test on a back injury.

Thomas Solberg returns to the squad for what could be his last appearance before returning to Norway on 1 March. Kevin Rutkiewicz also returns to the squad.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen fans want to award Rangers defender Lorenzo Amoruso a fair play trophy as the first step towards defusing the poisonous atmosphere that exists between them and the Ibrox club.

The Association of AFC Supporters’ Clubs will discuss plans at their next meeting to make a presentation to the Italian for his attempt to act as peacemaker when trouble started at Pittodrie on Saturday.

Rangers are in action for the third time in five days tonight when they travel to take on Dunfermline Athletic at East End Park, and manager Alex McLeish is expected to make changes after the lacklustre cup replay win over Berwick.

Arthur Numan will not be one of them, however. The Dutchman is making progress, but won’t return in time.
Dunfermline should have captain Ian Ferguson back.

Motherwell manager Eric Black will give late fitness tests to defender Eric Deloumeaux and striker Stuart Elliott before finalising his team to take on Kilmarnock. Dirk Lehmann is set to make his home debut.

Dundee manager Ivano Bonetti says a fixture pile-up is playing havoc with his team, and he is poised to rest Beto Carranza for their clash with Livingston at Dens Park. Gavin Beith and Dave Mackay come into the reckoning.

Bonetti also confirmed yesterday that the FC Zurich midfielder Gocha Jamarauli will not be joining Dundee at the end of the season.

Livingston have added Paul McLaughlin to the squad, with Max Caputo likely to drop out.

Taken from the Scotsman