I HAD TO LEAVE HEARTS FOR A FRESH START

DUNFERMLINE new boy Stephen Simmons joined the Pars because he felt like an outsider looking in on Hearts' title challenge.

The CIS Cup finalists yesterday completed a quadruple swoop to land Simmons, former England Under-21 striker Andy Campbell from Cardiff, ex-Hibs winger Frederic Dacquin and Aberdeen midfielder Scott Muirhead.

All four will remain at East End Park until the end of the season and go straight into the squad for today's game with Motherwell.

Simmons admits he's still coming to terms with the fact he won't be at Easter Road for an Edinburgh derby against Hibs.

The 23-year-old came off the bench to score for the Jambos in a 4-0 win at Easter Road earlier this season but insists he had to move on after falling down the pecking order at Tynecastle.

Simmons, who featured just three times under current boss Graham Rix, said: "George Burley was a total breath of fresh air when he took over at Hearts. The players loved him and everything was prof essional under him.

"I was involved in the first team while he was still at the club and I even scored against Hibs.

"I was as high as a kite after that goal and even though I didn't start many games under Burley he told me he wanted me to stay.

"But when he was sacked and the new manager came in there were changes as he brought in new faces. I knew the writing was on the wall for me.

"I was out of the first-team picture but Rix was great with me when I spoke to him. I asked to leave and he agreed to let me go if I found another club.

"Mr Romanov clearly has his own ideas and is very ambitious for Hearts. But I'm ambitious too which is why I decided to move to Dunfermline.

"I could easily have stayed at Tynecastle until the end of the season and picked up my wages for doing virtually nothing but I want to play first-team football.

"Even when I was on the bench and Hearts were winning I wasn't happy. I was happy for the club and the lads as they celebrated in the dressing room but I didn't feel I'd played a part in their success.

"That is why I decided it would be best for me to leave the club. I wanted to feel part of a first team.

"I was sad to leave Hearts as I had been at Tynecastle since I was 16 but I've had enough of being on the outside looking in.

"I'll still look out for their results every week.

"I signed for the club in 1998 - the year they won the Scottish Cup - and played in the UEFA Cup a couple of seasons ago against Bordeaux. But at 23 I felt I was going stale.

"Hopefully Dunfermline can freshen me up a bit. I'm certainly looking forward to the challenge and we've got some important games coming up."

One important game Simmons won't be involved in is the CIS Cup Final against Celtic or Motherwell as he's cup-tied after turning out for the Jambos against Queen's Park and Livingston in the earlier rounds.

Meanwhile, Dacquin is delighted to get another crack at Scottish football after playing just four games for Hibs before being released by former boss Bobby Williamson in 2003.

The Frenchman, who played alongside former Arsenal striker

Nicolas Anelka and Fulham midfielder Phillipe Christenvall at youth international level, had spells with Rouen and Cannes before being offered a second crack at the SPL.

Dacquin said: "I am delighted to be back in Scotland and I hope to get the chance to show off my skills this time and make more of an impact.

"I was disappointed how things turned out at Hibs but I will do my best for Dunfermline."

Pars boss Jim Leishman is delighted with his new faces and insists they're arrival has nothing to do with Wednesday's victory over Livingston.

He said: "The board agreed to sanction these deals before the semi-final.

"They add freshness to the dressing room and they're all of a good age, of good quality and everyone has something to prove.

"Andy has played at the top with Middlesbrough but he wants to pit his wits against Rangers and Celtic.

"Frederic is getting a second opportunity and Stephen was a great prospect at Hearts but the revolution there meant he was put to one side.

"And Scott Muirhead gives us an extra option on the left which is great considering Scott Morrison is out injured."

Taken from the Daily Record