4th June 2001
Yorke does not escape the Latapy factor 
Manchester United star being punted after drink session
(Stuart Crowther)

THE INCIDENT THAT SAW the final end of Russell Latapy's Easter Road career has had even further reaching effects for his best friend Dwight Yorke, who looks set to be moved on by Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson.

It was Yorke's arrival in Edinburgh last month that led to an all-day drinking session with his Trinidad and Tobago team-mate, who was subsequently arrested on an alleged drink-driving charge before being told by Hibernian that he would not play for the club again.  Yorke was subsequently dropped from the Manchester United squad for their last two Premiership games, before Sir Alex tried to move the striker to Newcastle United as part of a £20m bid for Kieron Dyer.  That fell through, but it has been made clear in Manchester that Yorke will be moved on when the English champions find a club willing to take him, with Chelsea and Aston Villa reported to be interested.

Latapy - friend Yorke is moving on (sns)

Latapy meanwhile still looks likely to join Bradford City, where Eoin Jess is this week expected to do an about-turn and sign a long term deal with Jim Jefferies side.  Bradford have come back to Jess with an improved deal, and the player linked with a move to Easter Road said: "I would hope to finalise things over the next couple of weeks.  It's great to hear the team will be able to stick together because we ended the season quite well."

Next seasons Scottish Cup competition has been moved forward by three weeks, with the final itself now set to take place on May 4th to ensure that their is no clash with the World Cup Finals.  The SPL have already announced that there will be no SPL Winter Break this season, and now the trail to Hampden will start with the qualifying cup competition in August, before the first round proper kicks off in November.  Hibernian will enter the competition at usual at the 3rd round stage, to be played on January 5th.  The Scottish League have also moved competition dates, with a kick off in August bringing the earliest ever end to a league campaign in April 2002.

Staff at Easter Road will be enjoying a well-earned rest this week, with the ticket office closed until June 8th, although customer service manager Gillian Coleman said: "People are welcome to continue to put in their season ticket applications, and we will arrange to have a drop off box in the Club store.  These applications will be processed from June 9th."  And while Alex McLeish and the playing staff are also on holiday, managing director Rod Petrie is expected to continue talks with existing out-of-contract players and likely signing targets.