Confidentiality agreements 'not normal'

GEORGE FOULKES today insisted Hearts' decision to push departing employees into signing confidentiality agreements is "not normal".

With the Tynecastle team still continuing their policy of minimal co-operation with the media, it appears they are now also keen to gag those no longer with the club.
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John McGlynn, who ended an 11-year-association with the Jambos to become manager at Raith Rovers recently, was made to sign a legal document preventing him from speaking about club business.

That follows former head physio Oliver Finlay penning a similar contract and the revelation in yesterday's Evening News that the practice has now also been extended to players with Tiago Costa agreeing a deal.

Former Tynecastle chairman Foulkes, who resigned his position in protest at the decision to sack chief executive Phil Anderton, was not asked to sign such a document because he was not a paid employee of the club and therefore had no requirement to do so. But he admitted the latest developments are worrying.

"I can only imagine why the club are insisting on it but it's not normal is it?" he said.

When asked if he believed it was to prevent the manner in which the club is being run from being made public he responded: "That would seem to be the only explanation."

Meanwhile, Hearts' reserve match with Rangers, which was scheduled to be played at Clyde's Broadwood Stadium yesterday afternoon, was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

A new date has yet to be set for the rearranged fixture but it's likely to be into the New Year before the match now takes place.

Stephen Frail's side's next second string match isn't due to take place until next Tuesday when they face Inverness Caley Thistle at Forthbank.

The news will come as a blow to Hearts who have one of the largest squads in the SPL. Yesterday's postponement means that many players will have had next to no pitch time for around a fortnight.

Taken from the Scotsman