Rumour Mill: Sandy Easdale | Celtic at Murrayfield

Rangers shareholder Sandy Easdale. Picture: SNS

Easdale threatens to sue Rangers fans’ chief

SANDY Easdale has threatened to take Sons of Struth chairman Craig Houston to court over what he describes as “libellous comments”.

Easdale told the Record that he is taking the action against the fans’ leader after making several attempts to reach out, adding: “I don’t want to take any fan to court, but, on a personal level, I’m not having it any more.”

Houston told the paper: “To say I am shocked is an understatement.” (Record)

Champions League at Murrayfield for Celtic

CELTIC will take their Champions League qualifying ties down the M8 to Murrayfield, it was confirmed yesterday.

Providing Celtic win the SPFL Premiership, Celtic’s first two rounds of qualifying will be played at the home of Scottish Rugby in July and August.

Celtic Park will be out of action having hosted the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, but the stadium should be available for the final play-off qualifying round if Celtic progress to that stage. (Scotsman)

Locke admits ‘difficult year’ for Hearts

HEARTS manager Gary Locke has reflected on the “baptism of fire” that has been his first year in management.

Locke said: “When I took the job there’s no way I could have foreseen everything that’s happened. It’s been difficult mentally... but hopefully it has made me a better manager.”

Locke’s Hearts side are near-certain to be relegated, after the club were docked 15 points for going into administration last year. (Express)

Kris Commons ‘won’t make Scotland return’

CELTIC winger Kris Commons has reiterated that he has no plans to return to the national side, having retired from international football to spend more time with his young family.

Commons said: “Playing with Celtic and trying to get back in the Champions League, the amount of time you already spend away from your family is a lot without playing for Scotland as well.

“I have got three kids who are all wanting my time... international breaks are the perfect time to do that.”

Walter Smith backs McCoist after League One title

RANGERS legend Walter Smith has given his backing to manager Ally McCoist, saying the former striker “deserves enormous credit”.

Smith said: “They’ve won the league and they’re still in the Scottish Cup and have the Ramsdens Cup final to play. That’s not a bad effort.

“The problem seems to be that people have expectations of Rangers but forget that Alistair had to start from scratch... with virtually no players.” (Express)

SPFL video round-up: Clips from across the divisions

• Rangers clinch League 1

Rangers secured their second consecutive promotion with a 3-0 victory over Airdrie at Ibrox. The win means that the Gers have won the league with 8 games to go, and have only dropped two points all season.

• Cierzniak blunder sends Saints home

Out of the two Premiership matches on Wednesday, the only goal came from Stevie May. The Scotland Under-21 international was lucky, however, after his long range effort somehow bobbled past Dundee United’s Radoslaw Cierzniak. The Polish goalkeeper may not want to watch this again.

• Top Celebration

May earlier in the week cut his infamous long hair. Watch his “barbershop” celebration for his goal here.

• Classic Match - Aberdeen v ICT, 2008

This week’s classic match is inspired by this Sunday’s Scottish League Cup final between Aberdeen and Inverness CT. We look back at the 7-goal epic between the two sides from 2008, which the Dons edged thanks to a last minute goal from Chris Maguire.

• Top 5 Saves!

The latest in the “Top 5” series. We’ve picked our favourite saves from the Scottish football archives.

• SPFL Extra - Misses, free kicks

This week’s show is all about the worst misses in Scottish football. We also look back at some of the best chat online about last week’s topic on free kicks.