Changing room chat: Kingston a wanted man in Russia

Published on Thursday 29 July 2010 14:29

LARYEA Kingston could be heading back to Russia and the strife-torn region of Dagestan, according to reports in Moscow.

The 29-year-old Ghanaian was released by Hearts at the end of the season and is wanted by Russian top division side Anzhy Makhachkala, now 11th in the league. The club's manager, Gadzhi Gadzhiev, said yesterday: "Yes, we are interested in signing him. I believe that this midfielder is up to the level of our premier league."

Before joining Hearts in 2007, Kingston spent several years in Russia playing for Krylia Sovetov Samara, Terek Grozny and Lokomotiv Moscow. Gadzhiev had already had an experience working with him in Samara.

Dagestan has now succeeded Chechnya as the chief terrorism trouble spot in the south of Russia following a succession of bombing incidents that have left police and civilians dead.

When Rangers were drawn against Anzhy in the Uefa Cup first round in season 2001-2, Uefa ordered that the tie be played as a one-off in neutral Warsaw after lobbying from the Foreign Office who deemed the area unsafe. Rangers won the match 1-0 with Bert Konterman scoring.

Memorial match at Brechin for Will

BRECHIN City will host Aberdeen at Glebe Park on Tuesday in a memorial match for former chairman David Will.

Will, a local lawyer who became one of world football's leading administrators, died last September at the age of 72. He was a former president of the SFA and a vice-president of Fifa.

A club spokesperson said: "We hope for a healthy attendance in recognition of Mr Will's dedication and service to Brechin City as well as Scottish and international football."

Admission is 8 for adults and 4 for concessions.

Strip tease for Falkirk fans

FALKIRK were forced to cancel their official team photo-shoot for the new season yesterday - after their new strips were left stranded in Turkey.

Steven Pressley's men were set to be dressed to impress for the cameras, only for a kit production delay to scupper the club's plans.

The new strips, said to be a style mix of old and new to appeal to all supporters, are stuck in Turkey where they are being manufactured by Puma.

Pressley said: "I hope the Falkirk fans will like it because it does have a traditional feel."

Celtic's Stipe dream

IT was a pretty lean day for back page exclusives, with Celtic's European capitulation in Braga dominating the back pages. "Hoopless" declared the Sun. Few would disagree.

Elsewhere, the Daily Record linked the Parkhead club with a move for the Spartak Moscow goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa. With doubts emerging over David James' willingness to move to Scotland, Neil Lennon is said to have turned his attentions to the 6ft 4in Pletikosa.

The report claims the Croatia international would be available on a season-long loan deal with no fee required.

West Ham and Tottenham are also sniffing around but his agent is quoted as saying: "He knows all about Celtic and that would be something of real interest to him. But there has been no official offer made by Celtic to me."

The Mirror, meanwhile, claims that new Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has identified former Celtic midfielder Stiliyan Petrov as a replacement for wantaway midfielder Javier Mascherano.

Aston Villa would demand at least 7m for Petrov, claims the paper, who is one of manager Martin O'Neill's favourites.