Rumour Mill: Celtic | Ibrox boardroom | Inverness

Celtic say they were spurned on by the setting off of a fire alarm at their team hotel in Aberdeen, Charles Green will find out if he is to remain as a consultant on Tuesday and Terry Butcher counting on a jet-lagged Celtic team.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon. Picture: SNSCeltic manager Neil Lennon. Picture: SNS
Celtic manager Neil Lennon. Picture: SNS

Early morning fire alarm spurned Celtic on says Lennon

Celtic manager Neil Lennon says that his team was fired up to win after the fire alarm at their team hotel was set off in the early hours of the morning prior to their game with Aberdeen at Pittodrie. The name of the team’s hotel had been posted on Dons supporters’ websites. (Various)

• Celtic’s bid to replace striker Gary Hooper was hit by a further blow after it emerged that Werder Bremen forward Marko Arnautovic had rejected a move to Parkhead despite the clubs agreeing a £3.4m fee. The club made a second bid for Finnish striker Teemo Pukki on Friday who is currently at Schalke

Ally McCoist vows to stay out of Ibrox board battle

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Rangers manager Ally McCoist says he will stay out of the Rangers boardroom vote on Tuesday which will decide if Charles Green will remain as a consultant at the club.

McCoist has clashed with Green over comments made by the latter that Rangers had to be winning major trophies this season. (Scotland on Sunday)

• Sebastien Faure says he is looking forward to an extended run in the Rangers defence until Bilel Moshni’s eligibility kicks in. Faure has failed to establish himself in the Rangers side but is contracted until 2015 and says he is determined to prove himself (Sunday Mail)

Butcher has sights set on Celtic

Inverness manager Terry Butcher believes his side could capitalise from Celtic’s long haul Champions League adventures to Kazakhstan where they will take on Shakhter Karagandy on Tuesday. Butcher’s side take on what he hopes will be a jet-lagged Celtic side on Saturday.

He said: “We certainly wish them luck, I don’t normally wish them luck, but I certainly do this week because of the coefficient and the fact they are representing Scotland.”

Lennon calls for qualifier changes

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has called for a regionalisation Champions League qualifier after Scottish clubs were left having to charter planes to fly to far flung destinations to compete in European qualifiers. His side face a lengthy trip to Kazakhstan. (Sun)

• Beram Kayal says Tuesday’s test against Skakhter Karagandy is the club’s most important of the season and admits that he is unsure what type of team his side will face

• Neil Lennon will welcome back key players for his side’s Champions League qualifier against Shakhtar. Anthony Stokes and Amido Balde are back in contention with the Celtic manager hopeful on Derk Boerrigter and Tom Rogic. Virgil Van Dijk is also in contention despite nursing a foot injury.

McCoist wants more Rangers goals

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Rangers manager Ally McCoist says his side need to show more of a killer instinct and punish teams even when they push ahead early. His side went 3 - 0 against Stranraer within 30 minutes but didn’t score any more thereafter. (Scotland on Sunday)

IN BRIEF

• Nottingham Forest are preparing a third for Hearts’ Jason Holt

• Scotland striker Jordan Rhodes is set to stay with Blackburn with the club insisting he is not for sale despite interest from Newcastle

• Scotland and Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher is to return to action next month after being sidelined with injury since March