Rumour Mill: Neilson | Deila | Aird | Anderson

ROBBIE Neilson claims Livingston’s Jason Talbot has shamed the game in Scotland after lunge on Sam Nicholson; Ronny Deila vows to repay the Celtic board for their support with a treble; Rangers’ Fraser Aird relishes a chance to make Celtic eat their words, plus the rest of today’s football news and gossip

Hearts' head coach Robbie Neilson. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Neilson slams X-rated tackle

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson claims Livingston defender Jason Talbot’s high-legged lunge at Sam Nicholson - which went viral on social media last week - has shamed Scottish football.

Neilson insisted: “It was a reckless challenge and, with it ending up on social media, it was put out all over the world.” He added: “That reflected very badly on the Scottish game.” (The Sun)

Deila vows treble win to repay board

Celtic gaffer Ronny Deila has vowed to win the treble to repay the Celtic board for backing his tenure as manager at a crucial part of the campaign.

Deila reportedly asked the board in January not to sell Kris Commons and Virgil van Dijk while also highlighting Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven as key future signings. The Celtic board followed the manager’s advice on all counts and now Deila wants to deliver silverware to repay their trust. (The Daily Record)

Fraser Aird: We’ll make Celtic pay

Rangers midfielder Fraser Aird is hoping for another Old Firm showdown this year so the Ibrox side can put an end to Celtic midfielder Scott Brown’s gloating. Preparing for their Scottish Cup tie with Raith Rovers, he says the prospect of drawing Celtic again is the perfect incentive to secure a win on Sunday.

Aird was rattled by Brown’s post-match comments claiming Hoops keeper Craig Gordon was “bored” because the Rangers performance in their Scottish League Cup tie had left him nothing to do. (The Daily Record)

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Joining Hearts was written in the stars

New Hearts signing Kenny Anderson believes he was destined to join the Tynecastle side after realising the dream of his late grandfather - a lifelong supporter of the Edinburgh club.

Dutchman Anderson, 22, is half Scottish with a Dundonian father. His grandfather Jim broke ranks with the Dundee United fans in the family to support the Jambos - something Anderson wasn’t aware of until his deadline-day move.

He said: “My grandad on my mother’s side was an RKC Waalwijk supporter and I played there too. So I think this was meant to be.” (The Daily Record)

St Mirren Youth Team get a kicking

Saints midfielder Sean Kelly has revealed that St Mirren’s youth team still take some hard knocks from the top-team stars to toughen them up.

Kelly, 22, lifted the lid on moving through the ranks, saying: “When you are in the youth team and coming through, its brutal. It’s close to bullying.”

He added: “There are a lot of hard knocks. When you’re in the changing room alone and you see a couple of boys walking in then you know there’s a doing coming.” (The Sun)

NEW IN BRIEF

• Paul Murray warns the Rangers board that they could end up in court if the club goes back into administration (The Sun)

• Ronny Deila has told John Guidetti that the only way to end his goal drought is to forget he has one. (Daily Mail)

• Inverness Caley Thistle has been blacked out in the television picks for the Scottish Cup quarter-finals (Daily Express)

• Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted his obsession for the FA Cup has cost the Gunners potential Champions League titles (Daily Mirror)