14th June 2001
Hammers hammered for ignoring McLeish
De La Cruz set for weekend tour of Edinburgh before signing
(Stuart Crowther)

THE HAMMERS WERE BEING HAMMERED last night for ignoring Alex McLeish as their new boss, as Glenn Rodier was named as the new man in charge of West Ham United.  Paolo di Canio was furious that the English Premiership outfit chose not even to approach McLeish, although it is not something that many Hibs fans will be complaining about this morning!

The London club were not slow in the week before the Scottish Cup Final to discuss the possibility of McLeish becoming their new boss, but at no time did they ever make a formal approach and their bungling over the matter left the former Celtic star raging, as Di Canio said: "I read that Alex McLeish was vetoed by some of our younger players, it is scandalous - our young players should learn to sit back, work hard and keep their mouths shut.  They have no business deciding who the next manager is."  Hibs fans will be relieved that the threat of a move from West Ham has now been removed, although there was always a question mark over which way McLeish would have gone, with many insiders at Easter Road holding the view that the Hibs boss would not have been tempted to depart for London.

McLeish - ignored all the speculation (sns)

Russell Latapy meanwhile just can't keep out of the news, as he was once again involved with friends Dwight Yorke and former Hibs winger Tony Rougier in choosing not to join the T&T squad in Panama but staying instead in Trinidad.  While Latapy had permission to miss his countries friendly, Rougier and Yorke did not, and Latapy's own status in his home country is now falling rapidly as he has treated his national side with much the same attitude he demonstrated in his latter months at Easter Road.  A possible move to Celtic for Latapy could once again be in some doubt.

Ulisse de la Cruz meanwhile will arrive in Edinburgh on Friday, as exclusively revealed by Hibs.net last night.  The player however will look around the city over the weekend before meeting with Alex McLeish and Rod Petrie early next week, when the deal is expected to be completed at a press conference on Monday or Tuesday.  Hibs are still waiting however on Mixu Paatelainen, managing director Rod Petrie having contacted the players agent last week but still awaiting a response.  McLeish said today: "We spoke a few months before the Scottish Cup final and told Mixu and his agent what our intentions were but nothing has happened since then."  The Hibs boss also paid tribute to the now departed Stuart Lovell, saying: "I am sure Stuart will get another club.  He has a few other irons in the fire and has to do what is right for himself and his family."