Changing room chat: Links Market denies Rovers flag day

Published on Wednesday 17 June 2009 23:30

RAITH Rovers have been denied a Championship flag day curtain-raiser to the 2009/10 season – as a result of next year's Links Market.

The Kirkcaldy side would have hoped to raise the Second Division flag at Stark's Park on the opening day of the campaign. But the Scottish Football League insist it was impossible to accommodate Rovers' wishes mainly due to the fact they must play away when Europe's largest street market takes place in Kirkcaldy next April.

A spokesperson for the SFL explained: "We would normally schedule the Second Division winners to be at home on the opening day of the new season for the flag presentation, however we are unable to do so because of the sequence we have to use for setting up fixtures at the beginning and end of a season and the impact of the Links Market at Kirkcaldy on April 24 next year.

"To ensure fairness, all clubs have to start their opening three fixtures as either a home game followed by an away game followed by a home game or alternatively an away match followed by a home match followed by an away match. At the end of the season clubs must play in the reverse order."

Maradona stirs up an old rivalry

DIEGO Maradona enjoyed a fierce rivalry with River Plate when he played for Boca Juniors and it seems old habits die hard.

The Argentina coach angered River by calling the pitch at their Monumental stadium a 'quagmire' after it hosted the national team's 1-0 win over Colombia. Now the club have retaliated with a letter to the Argentine FA demanding to see Maradona's contract as national coach and his medical tests.

"Given he's the national team coach, we thought his remarks out of place," club vice president Julio Macci said. "It's bad for Argentina's image in the world."

Don't ignore the warning signs

PLAYERS teeing up for the first round of the US Open today can't say they weren't warned if they end up ten over par for the day.

A sign behind the first tee of The Black Course at Bethpage State Park reads: "Warning. The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers."

Henrik Stenson found that unusual at first, but after playing his first practice round, he acknowledged:

"Might be a little bit of seriousness in there, as well."

Tiger should be fine, at least.

TALES FROM THE TABS

GATTUSO'S IBROX THANKS

AC Milan midfielder Rino Gattuso, who is considering an 8million move to Chelsea, says that his time at Rangers has prepared him for life in the English Premier League.

Speaking to the Sun, the Italian said: "Playing under Walter Smith made a big impression on me. It was a good time and I have a lot to thank Rangers for. The thing I remember most is the atmosphere."

Gattuso also hinted that he is keen for a move away from Serie A. "I like the Premier League," he added. "I like Scotland and England and I like the fact that when you finish playing the game it's finished. In Italy it's not the same because the game isn't finished after 90 minutes. Not even after one day, two days, three days. If a referee makes a wrong decision we speak too much."

The Daily Express, meanwhile, reported that Rangers face a fight with Lazio and Genoa to sign Sporting Lisbon defender Tonel in a 2.5million deal. The 29-year-old's agent, who confirmed Rangers were interested in the player in January, said: "Tonel is away on holiday but we will see what develops in the weeks ahead."