SEE YOU RUDI

RUDI SKACEL fired Hearts to cup glory in a Hampden nailbiter against Gretna I yesterday - then dropped a bombshell by revealing it was his final farewell.

The Czech shot the Jambos into the lead then pulled off his shirt to reveal a message that said: "I will never forget. Thanks Jambos."

His goal should have opened the floodgates but the 1 Second Divisions champions battled back after the I break to take the game to penalties thanks to Ryan McGuffie's leveller.

However, Hearts held their nerve in the shoot-out as Derek Townsley and Gavin Skelton missed for Gretna.

And Skacel stunned the fans later by claiming the t-shirt message was his way of saying goodbye. He said: "I wanted to say thank you to the supporters. Was is it thank you and goodbye? We'll see but probably. I am very sad to leave because it has been a fantastic year.

"We have a fantastic dressing-room, fantastic supporters and Edinburgh is a nice city.

"But some things in the last four months have changed it for me.

"I signed for a Scottish team, I signed for George Burley. But the things I have seen in the last four months make me unhappy.

"I don't want to speak about it now because this is a time to celebrate but my friends in the team know why I want to leave.

"I want to thank everyone because I love the Jambos and I hope the fans will see this as the perfect way to say goodbye.

"I am 27 and it is vital for me to have stability over the next few years.

"I'm sad I must change clubs - but those who know me realise why I must go."

Taken from the Sunday Mail