Changing Room Chat: George Best returns to Easter Road

Published on Thursday 22 October 2009 23:35

GEORGE Best, who famously signed for Hibs in 1979, is making a return to Easter Road – after a painting of the football legend was bought by a former director and immediately donated to the Hibernian Historical Trust.

The painting of the late great Best was the first item snapped up at the annual Macmillan Cancer Support art sale following a preview evening this week. The work by artist Aine Devine was bought by ex-Hibs director Stephen Dunn and will now be displayed at Easter Road. Dunn donated 1,000 over the 1,500 asking price to Macmillan and said: "I knew that this stunning painting of George should be displayed at Easter Road for all fans to see. Whilst Best's glory years were behind him he created a lot of excitement for Scottish football during his short time at the club."

Real's No1 fan dies at age of 99

FELIX Perez Alvarez, Real Madrid's longest-serving registered fan, has died. He was 99. Alvarez, who died of natural causes, became a supporter of the football club in 1923 and remained a paying member for the next 86 years. During that time, Alvarez watched Madrid win 31 league titles and nine European Cups.

Real will wear black armbands against Sporting Gijon tomorrow to honour Alvarez, who was rewarded for being their "No 1 fan" with a gold insignia in 1992.

Diego defiant over TV tirade

DIEGO Maradona will not apologise for a profanity-filled tirade on live TV, which is being investigated by Fifa and could land the Argentina coach a five-game ban and $20,000 fine.

Maradona was defiant in a television interview on state-run Canal 7, defending his conduct last week following Argentina's 1-0 victory in Uruguay, which saw them qualify for next year's World Cup. "I apologise to the ladies, but not to those who talk about football on television," said Maradona. "I was getting it off my chest, and I don't regret it."

TALES FROM THE TABS

A TIME FOR CHANGE?

APOCALYPTIC talk of Scottish football's imminent death has been all the rage recently and the Sun stepped into the debate yesterday in a bid to point the way forward for our troubled game. And, it seems, the status quo is not acceptable.

Former strikers John Robertson and Billy Dodds were called upon to provide their blueprint for change, with Robertson appealing for a top flight of 14 sides, a split after 26 games and regionalisation of the leagues. Dodds, meanwhile, called for the return of the end-of-season SPL/First Division play-offs, a winter shutdown with the season extended to July, and insisted a way must be found to ensure the Old Firm have a long-term future in the SPL.

Away from the doom and gloom, a bright future was predicted for young Aberdeen midfielder Fraser Fyvie in the Daily Record. Dons legend Joe Harper, who played alongside the likes of Willie Miller and Alex McLeish, boldly stated that the 16-year-old will prove to be the best player the club has ever produced, and can be mentioned in the same breath as Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott.