Ex-Dons winger Smith close to Toronto deal

Published on Saturday 6 June 2009 22:42

FORMER Aberdeen and Scotland winger Jamie Smith is on the verge of sealing a move to Major League Soccer in North America after impressing on trial at Toronto FC.

Smith, 28, left Pittodrie at the end of the season after failing to win a new deal following an injury-ravaged season. He headed to Canada for a four-day trial at Toronto whose new head coach Chris Cummins will formally offer Smith a deal.

Aberdeen captain Scott Severin, whose contract has also expired at Pittodrie, is still looking for a new club.

Former Celtic and Scotland defender Malky Mackay has emerged as a surprise candidate to replace Mixu Paatelainen as manager of Hibernian. The 37-year-old is currently first-team coach at Championship club Watford but is keen to move into management. He had five matches as caretaker manager of the Hornets after Aidy Boothroyd was sacked last season but the club opted to appoint Reading's youth coach Brendan Rodgers instead.

Last week, Rodgers quit his post to replace Steve Coppell as Reading's boss and Mackay is on a short-list of candidates for the main job at Vicarage Road. However, he is interested in returning to Scotland.

Rangers captain David Weir is confident a new deal will be thrashed out without any problems. Manager Walter Smith revealed last week that he was keen for the 39-year-old defender to remain at Ibrox for another year.

"I don't think there will be any problem agreeing a new deal," Weir said.