Rumour Mill: Derek McInnes hits back | ‘Rangers still on course’

Mark Warburton believes Rangers are still on course. Picture: SNS

Derek McInnes hits back at Ronny Deila

Derek McInnes insists he has no problem with Celtic manager Ronny Deila writing off their challenge for the title.

Norwegian Deila claimed he’s not concerned that the Dons currently lead the Premiership by five points.

McInnes responded by claiming he understands why Deila is confident.

The Dons manager admitted he would feel the same if he had the same financial superiority Celtic have over every other side in the Premiership.

McInnes said: “I know he (Deila) said they’ll win five in a row. But any manager in our league would be confident in saying something like that given the level of finances Celtic have when the rest of us are working on budgets of between £1m and £2m, and they’re working with £20m.

“I’ve got no problems with that. Every manager has to concentrate on their own team and we’re no different. We just concentrate on ourselves and doing what’s needed to win as many games as we can.” (Various)

Mark Warburton says ‘Rangers are still on course’

The Ibrox boss is not for changing his plans and has expressed faith in his players and his football philosophy and admitted to surprise at the reaction to their League Cup exit to St Johnstone.

The defensive frailties of his expansive, high-line style were brutally exposed by the Premiership outfit, the first top-flight opposition they have faced all season, forcing even the most optimistic Rangers fan into a bout of navel gazing of the true standing of their side in the grand scheme, despite a thrilling start to the season that had yielded 11 wins from 11 matches played.

Rangers now head to Morton and a ground tighter than Kim Kardashian’s corsets but Warburton will not be ripping up his blueprint or packing 10 players behind the ball to protect a confidence he insists has barely been dented.

He has belief enough in his young squad to learn from their Saints setback and continue on a course he is convinced will soon take Rangers back to their true standing in the Scottish game. (Record)

Mark Warburton: Rangers not miles away from Celtic

When it was suggested that Tuesday’s result suggests that Rangers are a long, long way from being able to compete with Ronny Deila’s side, he could not have disagreed more.

“I wouldn’t agree with the use of five ‘longs’ – and I don’t mean that in a sarcastic way,” he said. “You can say we are miles away from them. I don’t think so. I’ve just been asked [by the broadcast media] whether I can restore our confidence and belief.

“We’d won eleven out of eleven before Tuesday and we’re now top of the league so I don’t think that confidence is something that needs to be restored. (Scotsman)

Ronny Deila says the treble is still Celtic’s aim

Ronny Deila has admitted Celtic’s ambition must be to ALWAYS aim at winning the Treble.

The Hoops picked up the Premiership title and the League Cup last season, but missed out on a domestic clean sweep after losing to Inverness Caley Thistle in highly controversial circumstances in the Scottish Cup semi-final.

And Deila point-blank refuses to aim low during the campaign because he reckons that sends out the wrong psychological signal to his players.

He said: “I haven’t changed. I will always say that’s our goal at a club like this.

“I’ll always say we are going to win the league. Because if you say you are going to be number two, you will be number two.

“I always set high goals and there is no changing that. But you saw last year just how close we were to the Treble and it was small details that ruined it. (Various)

Motherwell manager latest

Stephen Craigan ‘too busy to consider Motherwell job on a permanent basis’

Interim Motherwell manager Stephen Craigan has insisted that he hasn’t had the time to consider whether he wants the job on a permanent basis following a whirlwind few days since Ian Baraclough’s departure.

He said: “I haven’t thought about it, there’s been so much going on in the last two days. When I joined in July I didn’t see myself being a first-team manager. I came in to work with the under-20s, which has been great.

“This has been sprung upon me. I genuinely haven’t thought about it – I’d a good life balance, I was enjoying what I was doing media-wise. I’m sure come Sunday or Monday there’ll be conversations somewhere along the line.” (Herald)

Former Mothwerwell favourite Simo Valakari says he’d love the job

The fomrer star has admitted he’d be ‘honoured’ to be given the chance to manage his old club.

He said: “It would be an honour to have the chance to coach them.” (Sun)