McCann makes Hearts return

Heart of Midlothian FC

Former Hearts chairman Wallace Mercer has died at the age of 59 following a short illness. Mercer took over at Tynecastle in 1981 and spent 13 years in charge, causing controversy in 1990 when he suggested a merger with Edinburgh rivals Hibernian FC. During his tenure Hearts came within a whisker of the Scottish title in 1986, losing out to Celtic FC on goal difference on the final day of the season.

Across Edinburgh, Hibernian have signed Swiss defender Oumar Kondé on an 18-month contract from FC Hansa Rostock. The 26-year-old Swiss defender joins until summer 2007 following a successful trial.

Chinese defender Du Wei is on his way back to FC Shanghai Shenhua after failing to impress at Celtic. The 24-year-old signed a four-year deal at Parkhead last August, but the Scottish club have exercised a clause in his contract which allowed them to cancel the agreement if he failed to settle.

Ross McCormack, who scored a crucial equaliser for Rangers at FC Porto en route to qualification for the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds, has gone on loan to Doncaster Rovers FC in English football's third tier. The 19-year-old striker said: "I thought it was time to get some experience, but I'll be back at Ibrox."

Dutch Eredivisie side FC Twente have announced the capture of Icelandic international Arnar Vidarsson. The 27-year-old midfielder's contract with Belgian outfit KSC Lokeren OV was due to expire at the end of the season and, subject to a medical, he will ink a deal with Twente until summer 2009 after the clubs agreed an undisclosed fee. Twente will also sign 20-year-old Uruguayan Pablo Cáceres on a free transfer, the full-back having recently left Danubio FC in his homeland.

Striker Jonathan Soriano and midfielder Antonio Velamazán have left RCD Espanyol for Spanish second division team UD Almería. Jonathan, 20, has gone on loan until the season's end while the 28-year-old Velamazán has penned a two-year deal with his new club, having been out of contract at Espanyol since 31 December.

Polish top-flight newcomers Korona Kielce have strengthened their squad with the acquisition of 21-year-old midfielder Mariusz Zganiacz and 24-year-old defender Marcin Drzymont from MKS Odra Wodzisław Śląski. Both men have agreed four-year deals with the Ekstraklasa's third-placed team.

Meanwhile, bottom club KSP Polonia Warszawa have recruited much-travelled former Polish internationals Marek Citko and Maciej Terlecki. The 28-year-old Terlecki, who played for Polonia during the 1992/93 season, has penned a two-year contract, while the 31-year-old Citko has arrived on a 12-month deal. Citko, twice a title winner with Widzew Łodź, started the current campaign with Swiss club FC Yverdon-Sports.