Kelty Hearts to take on Rangers

FIFE JUNIORS Kelty Hearts are set to take onAlly McCoist’s new-look Rangers in one of the fallen Glasgow giants’ first pre-season fixtures, it has emerged, writes Craig Smith.

The Central Park side, who finished fifth in the East Super League last season, have been lined up to face the Ibrox club next Wednesday to mark Kelty stalwart Stefan Winiarski’s decade of service to the west Fife outfit.

While the Rangers stars may have been used to going to grounds like Celtic Park in the past, Winiarski’s testimonial will be played at the 3,000-capacity Central Park in a game that is sure to give the demoted Gers a taste of things to come.

Such is expected to be the interest in the fixture, Kelty have had to make the match all-ticket on police advice.

Club treasurer George Mctrusty said the game had been organised some time ago but had taken on added significance in the past week or so.

“It looks like it will be the new Rangers’ first game so needless to say everybody and their granny is wanting tickets,” he said.

“We thought it might just have been a young team they sent but now it looks like it could be quite a strong team they are going to put out. They won’t have many games before they start the season for real so it should be a great game for us and the supporters.

“It’ll be a night to remember for Stefan, who’s a local lad and deserves it.”

It is also understood Sky Sports News are interested in filming the game and showing highlights, with Kelty having to construct a camera gantry to accommodate their request.

The Hearts, who were formed in 1975 and turned junior five years later, play their home games at Central Park, which so far has had a highest attendance of 2,450 for a Scottish Junior Cup quarter final against Montrose Roselea in 1999.

Winiarski, who was born and bred in Kelty, was capped for Scotland under 14s and signed for St Johnstone at 16 before being loaned to his hometown club.

He went on to have spells with East Fife, Montrose and Hill of Beath throughout his career but has returned to Kelty a number of times, with his proudest moment in the maroon of Kelty Hearts coming in 2003 when they lifted the Fife League title.

Now the 34-year-old is preparing to pit his wits against players who were regularly playing SPL football last season but have found themselves facing games in the lowest tier of the senior setup this term.

Charles Green’s newco Rangers may have been accepted into Division Three last week but uncertainty still surrounds the club’s future as SFA still need to agree on sanctions imposed on Rangers before they can take their place in the league.

Nevertheless, both parties are optimistic a consensus can be reached.

The SFA said: “We aim to meet with the club this week with the intention of achieving a satisfactory outcome for all parties so that we can focus on football in time for the new campaign.”

If the game does go ahead, tickets can be bought in person fromThe Lyndsey Tavern in Kelty and from the Kelty Hearts Social Club which is open Friday to Sunday this week.

Winiarski and Kelty have decided to donate a percentage of the gate money from next week’s testimonial to the Rangers Fans Fighting Fund. THE SFA will seek more information from Sevco Scotland on the identity and propriety of their investors and directors as talks continue on their application to take over Rangers’membership.

Sevco board members including chairman Malcolm Murray are meeting the SFA to discuss issues surrounding their application, including the possibility of accepting sanctions such as a transfer embargo.

The SFA received an information pack from Sevco on June 29, seven days after the company submitted a letter of application to take the place of Rangers after buying the stricken club’s assets for £5.5 million. But they are still looking for answers.

In a Q&A session posted on its website, the SFA tackled the issue surrounding the fit and proper person report for the new owners and the identity of the main investors and directors.

The governing body said: “The Scottish FA has received private and confidential documentation from Sevco Scotland Ltd relating to the above. We have asked Sevco to provide further supplementary information and will consider that information this week.

“Under new Scottish FA rules, it is a requirement of the outgoing club directors to conduct a full investigation under the fit and proper guidelines.

“Given Rangers FC’s insolvency event, it has been incumbent on the administrators, Duff and Phelps, to carry out the necessary checks on the proposed new directors, as well as our own investigations.”

Charles Green, chief executive of the Rangers newco, will not attend the meeting as he has set off to meet UEFA officials in an attempt to agree a repayment settlement for the old club’s football debts of about £3 million.

Stefan Winiarski.