Rumour Mill: Conchita | Hibs

Samaras is ‘double’ of bearded Eurovision winner

Twitter was awash yesterday with pictures comparing Celtic striker Georgios Samaras with transexual Eurovision Song Contest winner Conchita Wurst.

The departing Celtic forward, as picture above shows, has striking facial similarities to the Austrian drag queen.

Georgios Samaras celebrates winning the title with Celtic but has revealed he didn't want to leave. Picture: SNS

• Celtic forward Georgios Samaras has claimed that leaving Celtic Park was not his choice, as he hit out at chief executive Peter Lawwell for not offering him a new deal.

Despite scoring the second goal from the penalty spot in the Hoops’ 3-1 win over Dundee United, the Greek international told BBC Scotland: “I never had an offer from the club. I never had an offer from Peter Lawwell. I’ve been seven years at the club and I’d have loved to stay. I had a chat with the manager. He would have loved me to stay and I was happy to stay, but me and the gaffer don’t make the decisions – there are people higher up. I’ve not spoken to any other club. I was waiting to the end to see if they offered me anything, but that is the end.

“We are the champions and that’s what counts in the end. I am very happy for my team-mates and the coaching staff and wish them all the best.”

Samaras made 252 appearances for Celtic, scoring 74 times in the process and winning seven major honours. (The Scotsman)

Dismal season but fans need to back team, says Petrie

HIBS chief Rod Petrie has begged fans to back under-fire manager Terry Butcher after furious supporters turned their wrath on the outgoing chief executive following the 1-0 loss to Kilmarnock that consigns the club to the play-offs.

A statement issued following the match called on fans to continue backing the club as they seek to secure Premiership football for next season.

He added: “Eleventh in the table is a dismal outcome – well below what the club expects and well below the capabilities of the management team and the players. We are sorry not to have achieved better results. In ten days we have a play-off to win over two legs. The players and the manager need your support to make sure we take care of business on the field and finally put this season behind us.

“I have to ask for your patience and for your support for the team both on and off the pitch.”

And manager Terry Butcher, who has seen his side score just once in 10 matches, added: “I’m devastated because we put a lot of effort into the game [against Kilmarnock] and made chances and just haven’t put the ball in the back of the net. It’s just the way things have gone.

“There’s been a lot of gloom and doom. We’ve two games left against fresh opposition. We’ve got to pick ourselves up. We know our problems, we know our faults, we will work at that, but we have two opportunities to rectify a lot of the wrongs we have had this year. But it’s something we have to do because we are fighting for survival.” (Various)

Ref should be ‘embarrassed’, rages McInnes

SHELLSHOCKED Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes has blasted referee Steven McLean after Motherwell’s last-gasp winner at Pittodrie.

Craig Reid stabbed the ball home after a stramash in the box, but McInnes believes ‘keeper Jamie Langfield was fouled in the lead-up to the goal.

“It’s stonewall, a terrible challenge. It’s a free kick on my goalkeeper every day of the week and I think if [the referee] sees it again he’ll be embarrassed,” McInnes told BBC Scotland.

McInnes congratulated Motherwell but added: “They’ve won today on the back of a poor refereeing decision.”

Aberdeen had further call to be aggrieved after Peter Pawlett was wrongly flagged offside after rounding ‘Well goalie Lee Hollis.

The three points for Motherwell meant they leapfrogged the Dons into second in the table. (BBC Scotland)

Rangers to play Bournemouth in summer friendly

RANGERS are to take on Bournemouth in a pre-season friendly at the end of July, it’s been announced.

The Gers will travel to the south coast in between a Ramsdens Cup clash and a League Cup match.

The club are also expected to confirm a pre-season trip of the USA in the near future. (Daily Record)

Hearts players back Locke as club faces fresh start

DALE Carrick has become the latest Hearts player to throw his support behind manager Gary Locke ahead of the club’s Championship campaign.

Carrick, who netted the equaliser as Hearts drew 1-1 with St Mirren in the final game of the season, told The Scotsman: “We’d be grateful for the manager to stay. He’s done great with us. He’s turned a new leaf with us and we’re starting to progress, so it would be great for him to be here next season.

“It would be a major factor us losing him. He has talked us through everything, so the communication between the manager and the team would be lost. We’ve all grown as a team together. We’ve all learned from our mistakes, and that has started to be proved with the results we’ve had. We’re learning a lot quicker now.”

Carrick also admitted he ‘can’t wait’ for the club’s next chapter after a turbulent season culminating in Ann Budge’s takeover of the club. (The Scotsman)

News in brief

• James Forrest is out of the Scotland squad for the friendly against Nigeria after undergoing surgery on his troublesome groin. The winger - a target for Everton - has endured a stop-start campaign thanks to various injuries

• Ex-Morton winger Marko Rajamaki has been linked with the club’s vacant managerial position

SPFL ON YOUTUBE

Aberdeen v Motherwell

Motherwell scored a controversial winner with just seconds remaining to snatch second place from Aberdeen’s hands in a sensational climax to the SPFL Scottish Premiership season. Craig Reid scrambled the ball home with almost the last kick of the game to send the travelling fans wild and send the home fans home devastated.

Celtic v Dundee United

Georgios Samaras marked his final appearance for Celtic with a goal as the champions celebrated trophy day with a 3-1 win over Dundee United at Celtic Park in the SPFL Scottish Premiership. Anthony Stokes and Kris Commons were also on target while Filp Twardzik’s own goal got United on the scoreboard.

Inverness CT v St. Johnstone

Inverness CT ensured that they would finish above St Johnstone in the SPFL Scottish Premiership table as they beat Tommy Wright’s cup finalists 2-0 at the Caledonian Stadium. Ryan Christie and Greg Tansey scored the goals to send the hosts into the summer break on a high.

St. Mirren v Hearts

Hearts bowed out of the Scottish Premiership with a battling 1-1 draw against St Mirren at St Mirren Park in the SPFL Scottish Premiership. Conor Newton opened the scoring for Danny Lennon’s men in the first half but Dale Carrick equalised after the break.

Partick Thistle v Ross County

Ross County finished the season in style by beating Partick Thistle 3-2 in a thriller at Firhill Stadium in the SPFL Scottish Premiership. Jordan Slew, Yoann Arquin and Melvin De Leeuw all scored for the visitors while Thistle countered with strikes from Lyle Taylor and George Moncur.

Hibernian v Kilmarnock

Kris Boyd scored his 22nd goal of the season as Kilmarnock beat Hibernian 1-0 at Easter Road, ensuring their Scottish Premiership survival but condemning the hosts to the relegation playoffs.

Premiership Goal Rush

All the goals from all the games played on the incredible final weekend of the regular season in the SPFL Scottish Premiership, featuring strikes from Kris Boyd, Jordan Slew, Yoann Arquin, Lyle Taylor, George Moncur, Melvin De Leeuw, Conor Newton, Dale Carrick, Craig Reid, Ryan Christie, Greg Tansey, Anthony Stokes, Georgios Samaras, Kris Commons and an own goal from Filip Twardzik.

Rumour Mill: Conchita | Hibs | Aberdeen