BIG-HEARTED VLAD'S INVITE SUITS BROOKS

GRETNA owner Brooks Mileson is so gobsmacked at his invite to Lithuania he has vowed to buy a new suit.

Hearts chief Vladimir Romanov has asked his counterpart from Raydale Park over to Kaunas for the World Cup qualifier against Scotland in September.

It is a thank you to Mileson and Gretna for taking out an advert in a local newspaper in Edinburgh in praise of Hearts.

A strong bond of friendship has been formed between the clubs since last weekend's Scottish Cup Final.

Romanov said: "It was a really generous act of Brooks to praise our fans in this way.

"Gretna's fans were also absolutely superb, driving their team with such passion on to a fantastic performance.

"I will be in contact with Brooks to invite him to be my personal guest for the Lithuania v Scotland game. It will be an honour if he will accept my invitati on to join me in my home city of Kaunas."

Mileson said: "I'm overwhelmed and overjoyed at Mr Romanov's gesture - it shows he's a proper person, as we would say in Sunderland.

"I will definitely go to Lithuania and I'll even buy a new suit for the occasion.

"Nothing would stop me from attending the match -and I'll even sit in the directors' box if required."

Romanov also praised the Gretna team for their performance in the closely-fought final at the National Stadium.

He is already anticipating the day when the clubs will meet regularly in the SPL.

Romanov added: "Gretna are a fine team and I expect them to go on to more success.

"With the attitude Gretna brought to the Final I feel they have a very bright future."

Taken from the Daily Record