Rumour Mill: Celtic | Rangers | McCoist

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, left, and chairman Iain Bankier. Picture: SNS

SFA angry at Old Firm for ‘time-wasting’ over Rory Bremner jibe

The Scottish Football Association has dismissed Rangers’ complaint about a joke made by Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell over the Ibrox club’s status, with SFA president Campbell Ogilvie criticising both clubs for wasting the governing body’s time.

Rangers reported Lawwell to SFA compliance officer Vincent Lunny for his cryptic comment regarding the Ibrox club’s assertion that their history remained unbroken following the liquidation of the original company last year.

In a statement, Ogilvie said: “The compliance officer has informed both clubs that there is no actionable breach of the rules. None the less, I am compelled to convey my disappointment that we find ourselves in this position, as a result of an apparent erosion of mutual respect between two of our oldest rivals.” (Scotsman)

Terry Butcher can take to dug-out for Hibs game

Terry Butcher will be in the dug-out for his first game in charge of Hibs after all, with the Easter Road club confirming they had appealed his touchline ban.

Butcher was handed a £1,000 fine and a two-match ban – one game of which is suspended until the end of the season – by a Scottish Football Association disciplinary tribunal on Thursday.

But following the appeal, he is now free to take his place in the technical area in Paisley as he starts his Leith career with an away fixture against St Mirren. (Scotsman)

Lennon warns Brown to start showing ‘self control’

Neil Lennon has warned Scott Brown, his captain, to exercise a degree of “self-control” in order to avoid a repeat of the petulance that has been a feature of his game recently.

While the Celtic manager believes that Brown’s offences have been  exaggerated, and that it would be a mistake to curb the player’s passion, he would rather there were no more of the controversies that have surrounded him at club and international level.

Lennon said: “It is unnecessary and that is something he has to learn himself,” said Lennon. “I can tell him a hundred thousand times not to do it, but he has to find that self-control. He doesn’t need to do it because he is playing so well. (Scotsman)

Ally McCoist: Opposing Ibrox board would be ‘suicide’

RANGERS manager Ally McCoist has admitted he would effectively be handing in his resignation if he chose to vote against the club’s current board at next month’s annual general meeting.

McCoist has still not decided which side he will publicly endorse, but is in a situation which makes it highly unlikely he would oppose his current employers.

“That would be committing suicide, to be honest with you,” said McCoist. “I haven’t made up my mind yet how I’m going to vote. It doesn’t put me in an uncomfortable position at all, because the one thing I will certainly do, and have always attempted to do, is to do the right thing for the club. It’s something I will think about nearer the time. (Scotsman)

Kris Boyd glad to be part of Scotland squad again

Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd has spoken of his readiness to play for his country again after his inclusion in the Scotland squad that beat Norway 1-0 on Wednesday. Despite spending the game on the bench, Boyd saw his presence in Strachan’s plans as a positive move forward.

“It was good to be back involved with Scotland”, said Boyd. “It’s a giant step towards being back involved on a regular basis in the international set-up. There’s a long way to go and I’ve said I want to be named in the original squad: that’s what I’m working towards. It’s a challenge I’ve put upon myself between now and the end of the season to maintain this form.” (Daily Mail)

Scott Robertson ready to become shooting star for Hibs

Scott Robertson knows all about the way which Terry Butcher likes football to be played. He still carries the scars from a chastening afternoon at Tannadice in August 2010, when Butcher’s newly promoted Inverness Caledonian Thistle side arrived and promptly handed out a 4-0 thrashing.

“That was an absolute howler of a game but I’ve already seen signs in training this week that he wants a similar style from us,” said Robertson yesterday as he prepared for Hibs’ first outing under Butcher against St Mirren this afternoon.

He added: “He is very positive in his instructions about getting shots away when you get the chance and they scored three absolute screamers that day [at Tannadice],” he said. “He told us there’s no point in trying to play that threaded pass if it gets cut out – you might as well have a shot if you’re in a decent position.” (Scotsman)

Comment: Outrage over Lawwell remark misplaced

“In the present climate at Ibrox, a fevered reaction among the club’s more hysterical followers to Peter Lawell’s response to a question from the floor during Celtic’s AGM could hardly be considered a surprise. Nor could the decision by the directors to make an official complaint in writing to the SFA over Lawwell, even if their action would strike anyone with a grown-up’s fully matured brain as laughable.” READ MORE >>

Rumour Mill: Celtic | Rangers | McCoist | Brown