Adams lines up Manchester City goalkeeper
height and they’ve obviously worked very hard on the training ground at set plays, so we’ll need to be on our toes.
“I know them really well and have a good relationship with them. I sat next to them at the Livingston game. I get on well with them and – although it’s different during the game – hopefully I can go in and enjoy a wee drink with them afterwards.”
If Locke has a wee drink at midnight tonight, it will be to bid a glad farewell to a year in which Hearts plunged into administration. The 30-day cooling-off period which followed last month’s Company Voluntary Arrangement vote has now passed as expected without any creditor or shareholder having second thoughts, but until a Lithuanian court allows former parent company Ubig to sell its 50 per cent shareholding to the Foundation of Hearts, the club will remain in limbo. A resolution could still be a couple of RoSS County manager Derek Adams is set to sign Manchester City goalkeeper Eirik Johansen and Greek defender Evangelos Ikonomou.
Johansen, who is set to join on loan, is listed in City’s elite development squad.
The 21-year-old Norwegian, who is 6ft 4in tall and has trained with his national team, went out on loan to Scunthorpe United last season.
He will battle for the goalkeeper’s jersey in Dingwall with Michael Fraser, who has started the last four games after ousting Adams’ previous first choice, Mark Brown.
Left-back Ikonomou joined County last January and played 18 games with the Dingwall side, losing just four times, before returning to his in the summer to League side Veria.
Adams, whose team host St Johnstone on Saturday after their New Year’s Day derby against Inverness, said: “We are working on a few things for the St Johnstone game.
“We are just waiting on international clearance for Johansen and for Ikonomou, who has been training with us for a few homeland join Super days. He’s a player that did well for us last season and hopefully he can do the same again.
“He’s 26 years old and good, solid defender.”
Adams, whose team sit in the Premiership play-off slot, added: “It gives us competition in that area. We have got Ben Gordon, who did well on Sunday against Aberdeen but Ben can play further forward as well so that gives us options on the left-hand side.”
he’s a months away, but a brighter future is at least now a realistic possibility.
“I hope next year is a far better one for the football club: 2013 is one we all want to forget,” Locke added.
“Hopefully things get sorted off the pitch. It will take a long time rebuilding, but the main thing is we’re still here, still fighting, and when we get things sorted off the pitch hopefully you will see a far better Heart of Midlothian in the future.”