Diamond joy at Oldham deal after Tynecastle snub

Zander Diamond has completed his move to Oldham Athletic on a 12-month contract and insists his failed medical at Hearts was a blessing in disguise after becoming fed up with the SPL.

The centre-half has joined former Scotland striker Paul Dickov's English League One side as a free agent after his deal at Aberdeen expired at the end of last season. The 26-year-old seemed destined for Tynecastle until Hearts' cooled their interest in the defender over concerns on an ankle that was operated on two years ago.

But Diamond reckons a complete break from Scotland after nearly a decade of SPL football is the best move for his career. He said: "I cannot wait to get started. I spent nine years in the Scottish Premier League at Aberdeen and you can become stale. In hindsight, it (the failed medical) was probably a blessing in disguise as it has got me out of Scotland after nine years and given me the chance to play in England.

"I have played 65, 70 games since that injury without a problem.

"I cannot wait until the first day of the season. My immediate goal is to do well here and I am not one who likes to look years into the future. I want to take each day and training session as it comes and I intend to enjoy every minute of it."

The former Dons captain impressed Dickov on trial and the Latics manager said: "Zander is a player I have personally been aware of for a long time.

"We want to progress as a team and Zander is the sort of player who we believe will help us to do that as he is a big character, both on and off the pitch.

"He has also captained his club which shows he is also a leader."