Fury grows at sex offender past of new Hearts' coach

A HEARTS fans chief today blasted the appointment of a convicted sex offender as the club's new manager.

John Borthwick, secretary of the Federation of Hearts Supporters Clubs, said it was "inappropriate" to appoint former Arsenal and England player Graham Rix to lead a family club.

Rix, who was jailed in 1999 for unlawful sex with a 15-year-old girl and indecent assault, was set to be unveiled as the new Tynecastle boss today.

He met the first-team squad for the first time at their Riccarton academy last night and was expected to take his first training session today. But as he has been put on the Sex Offenders Register for ten years, he is banned from working with any children, including Hearts' Under-16 side.

Mr Borthwick said today: "Given that we are a family club, I don't think his past indiscretions have been taken into account. From that point of view it is an inappropriate appointment.