Ex-footballer's medals stolen

Two medals belonging to a former footballer have been stolen during a break-in.

The items belong to Mark Venus, the former assistant manager at Hibs and Celtic, and are said to be of "tremendous sentimental value".

Lothian and Borders Police said they were taken from a house in the Morningside area of Edinburgh between midnight and 6am on Wednesday 29 December.

One of the gold medals was from the English Championship League season 2007-08 for West Bromwich Albion. The other was a gold player's medal from English Division 3 season 1989-90 for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Both medals are around 12mm in circumference and have been taken out of their presentation boxes.

A police spokesman said: "These items are of tremendous sentimental value, so I would appeal to anyone with any information to get in touch so we can reunite them with their owner.

"They are very unusual, distinctive pieces so I would ask people to stay alert if they are offered for sale."

Venus was hired as Hibernian assistant manager by his former Ipswich Town team-mate Tony Mowbray in 2004. Venus also registered as a player for Hibs, but took part in only one match before ending his playing career.

He returned to the West Midlands in October 2006, following Mowbray to West Bromwich Albion.

Venus was appointed Celtic assistant manager on 16 June 2009, again following Mowbray.

After Mowbray was sacked as Celtic manager in March 2010, Venus also left the club.

He was appointed assistant manager of Middlesbrough on 26 October 2010, again working with Mowbray.