The Rumour Mill: Tuesday’s football news and gossip

Lennon warns against complacency

• Celtic manager Neil Lennon has warned his players not to be overawed by the prospect of taking on Barcelona in tonight’s Champions League clash at the Nou Camp: “People (players) do all this, ‘There he is, look at Xavi’ and it’s all ‘can I have your shirt after the game?’ But that’s not what it’s about. These guys are baby-faced assassins. They will eat you alive if you give them half a chance. They will rip you to shreds. They come across as really nice guys, but they are absolute animals.” (Scotsman)

• John Hartson, who scored Celtic’s goal in their 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp eight years ago, believes Lennon has the ideal weapon in his armoury to neutralise the threat posed by Lionel Messi tonight: “I don’t know if that will be Neil’s tactic on Tuesday night with Messi. Wanyama could do it. He’s big, strong and intercepts things. He has come on leaps and bounds recently.” (Scotsman)

• Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova is worried his makeshift defence will struggle against Celtic’s pace and aerial power: “We would like to improve on everything and score more and concede less and we will try to do that. But all Champions League games are complicated and I am worried because Celtic are very fast up front and they proved it against Spartak.” (Various)

• Miku believes Celtic can pull off what would be a shock win over Barcelona: “Celtic is a team who have to win our games in the Scottish Premier League. When we don’t it is terrible, I felt that the first day I came here. We will go into this game with the same mentality – to win, win, win.” (Scotsman)

• Efe Ambrose gave Lennon a scare when he turned up at Glasgow Airport without his passport for the flight to Barcelona. He was reunited with it 30 minutes before take-off. (Sun)

• Celtic could be given a boost if Messi is called away to a maternity ward today. His girlfriend, Antonella Roccuzzo, is due to give birth this week. (Various)

• According to the bookies, there is more chance of aliens existing (20/1) than Celtic beating Barcelona tonight. (Express)

SPL vote delayed

A motion to change the voting structure in the SPL from 11-1 to 9-3 has been delayed after Celtic and Aberdeen reportedly blocked the move. SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster said “further debate” was needed and the matter would be considered again on November 19. (Record)

Rangers chief sorry for ‘death threats’ interview

Rangers chief executive Charles Green has apologised to fans for revealing he received death threats in the early stages of his spell in control at Ibrox. In a newspaper interview, Green revealed he was forced to change his address week to week and was “physically intimidated on the streets of Glasgow”. However, he later released a statement apologising to supporters for any “upset” the article caused. (Various)

Hearts face second SPL hearing

Hearts will face a second SPL disciplinary hearing in the space of three days tomorrow over their failure to pay the salaries of coaching staff and players on time. The Tynecastle club were issued with a reprimand and warned with regard to future conduct yesterday after an SPL sub-committee considered their late payment of wages in September. The same sub-committee will now reconvene tomorrow to hear the same charge against Hearts for October. (Scotsman)

Swansea watch Aberdeen teenager

Swansea had a scout at Tannadice at the weekend to watch Aberdeen winger Ryan Fraser in action against Dundee United. The Premier League club will continue to monitor the progress of the 18-year-old, who was September’s SPL Young Player of the Month. (Sun)

• Aberdeen’s Andrew Considine is out for at least six weeks with a stress fracture in his right leg. (Mail)

IN BRIEF

• Falkirk boss Steven Pressley is in the frame for the Burnley job after Eddie Howe left the role earlier this month. (Record)

• First Division Dumbarton have parted company with manager Alan Adamson after a winless first quarter of the season. The club’s board have acted by sacking Adamson and placing his assistant manager Jack Ross in interim control of first-team affairs. (Various)

• Keith Knox was sacked as manager of Second Division Stranraer last night after a poor start to the season. (Record)

• Former Rangers star Barry Ferguson is set to quit Blackpool and could join Middlesborough or Birmingham on loan, after becoming frustrated with a lack of first-team action. (Sun)

• Dunfermline have recalled 18-year-old Allan Smith from his loan with Second Division Brechin. (Express)