Rumour Mill: Nicolas Anelka | Phil Brown | Rangers debt

Published on 08/02/2013 10:52

Juventus stay Nicolas Anelka says no Champions League pressure on Celtic, former Hull boss Phil Brown vows to lead Partick to top of Scottish football and Rangers says they will dispute a winding-up order against them.

Juventus striker Nicolas Anelka says no pressure on Celtic

On loan Juventus striker Nicolas Anelka says Juventus are wary of Celtic as they have no pressure on them to win the two teams meet on Tuesday.

He said: “For the team that nobody expects to win there is a freedom for the players in the way they approach the game and sometimes that is when you can play your best football.” (Various)

• Celtic defender Kelvin Wilson say he believes that Efe Ambrose will make it back in time to face Juventus in the last 16 of the Champopms League at Parkhead despite him playing in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations 48 hours before. (Sun)

Phil Brown vows to turn Partick Thistle onto third force of Scottish football

Former Hull City boss Phil Brown says he would lead Partick Thistle back into the top flight of Scottish football and that when there they would be pushing for a top three slot.

He said: “Partick challenging for the SPL has to be the way forward for me - you got to be talking top three or four.”

Brown is set to outline his vision to Partick’s board of directors. (Sun)

Rangers vow to fight debt claim

Rangers say they will “vigorously defend” any claim from finance firm Orlit after confirming they have been in dispute with the Singapore-based finance firm.

A statement from the Ibrox club read: “Clearly there has been a lot of misunderstanding in the media about this when all we have done is refuse to be forced into paying sums of money we do not owe. It is as simple as that. Who on earth would pay out when faced with a spurious request for money?”

Kenny Miller not keen on revenge against Wales

Scotland striker Kenny Miller insists vengeance should not be a motivating factor when they take on Wales in their World Cup qualifier at Hampden next month.

Scotland had a goal questionably chopped off when they were 1 - 0 up when the two sides met last year in Cardiff. Wales went on to win the match 2 - 1, a result which dealt a near fatal blow to the national side’s qualification hopes. (Scotsman)

• Christophe Berra believes Wales star forward Gareth Bale might have to be having an off-day if Scotland are to get their first points of their World Cup qualifying campaign. (Scotsman)

• Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels has called on the Scotland FA to consider Rugby Park as a venue for future national side matches

• Scotland are to rise five places in the FIFA world rankings on Thursday after beating Estonia

West Brom agree deal for Allan McGregor

Former Rangers keeper Allan McGregor is to move to West Brom in a move which will cut short his contract at Turkish side Besiktas.

A deal has been agreed that will see the 31-year-old Scotland cap move to the Premiership in the summer. (Herald)

IN BRIEF

• Falkirk have received a windfall of £215,000 after Fifa order Bradford City to pay compensation for the transfer of Mark Stewart in 2011

• Nottingham Forest have appointed Billy Davies as manager

• Russell Anderson has signed a one-year contract extension with Aberdeen

• Aberdeen have dismissed reports that Archie Knox will be retiring at the end of the season