Hearts confirm signing of Neil Alexander

HEARTS have made Neil Alexander their fourth signing of the close season.

Neil Alexander, during his time with Rangers. Picture: PA

The 36-year-old goalkeeper has agreed to join the Gorgie side as a player-coach when his contract with Crystal Palace expires on July 1.

The former Rangers ‘keeper said he was ‘delighted’ to join the club he supported as a boy, telling heartsfc.co.uk: “With the coaching side of it as well, this is a fantastic opportunity for me.

“I’ll be signing on July 1. I’m excited at the challenge ahead, am raring to go and delighted to be back in Scotland.

“At 36, I need to start looking to the future and want to get involved in coaching.

“The club has given me a great chance to get a foot on the ladder and it’s an opportunity I just couldn’t turn down.

“We have a young squad and if I can help bring on these kids, hopefully it will work well for us all.”

Hearts begin the new season with a trip to Ibrox to face Alexander’s former club, and the ex-Scotland international is hopeful of being involved.

He added: “It’s a really exciting start for us and I definitely want to be involved [against Rangers].

“This club has fantastic supporters and their backing has been phenomenal. Hopefully we can give them something to cheer about after what has been a very difficult 12 months for everyone at the club.

“If we can get a good team on the pitch and season tickets keep going well, hopefully we can bring a lot of success to Hearts.”

Alexander joins fellow new signings James Keatings, Morgaro Gomis and Soufian El Hassnaoui.