Geech to be made a sir

Published on Wednesday 23 December 2009 22:04

ARISE 'Sir Geech'. The Daily Mirror revealed Scottish rugby legend Ian McGeechan is to receive a knighthood in the New Year's Honours list.

A full 19 years after being awarded with an OBE for coaching Scotland to an unforgettable Grand Slam triumph over England at Murrayfield, McGeechan is, according to the newspaper, to be honoured for a lifetime of achievement within the game.

Meanwhile, Belarus defender Dmitry Verkhovtsov is the man Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has earmarked to plug his leaky defence according to the Sun.

The 23-year-old plays in his homeland for Naftan Novopolotsk and has been capped 12 times. The newspaper claims Verkhovtsov could be had for around 500,000.

With Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo also in the market for new faces, striker Izale McLeod, who arrives at the club next week in order to undergo a trial, is confident he can end the club's search for a reliable goalscorer. "If I sign for Hearts I'm sure I can get the goals that will help the club climb up the league table," the Daily Record reported him as saying.