Rumour Mill: Kenny Shiels | Thomas Rogne

Kenny Shiels has left his position with immediate effect. Picture: SNS

Kenny Shiels on way out of Kilmarnock

Outspoken Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels could be out of a job as early as this week, with Rugby Park chairman Michael Johnston believed to be unhappy at the Northern Irishman’s failure to meet contractual targets. Some papers are reporting that the father of Rangers striker Dean has already left the Ayrshire club, but nothing has been confirmed as yet.

Finishing in the bottom four could trigger a clause that would see Kilmarnock part company with Shiels, who has been in the Rugby Park hotseat since summer of 2011. It is widely thought that Shiels had been told to ensure a top eight finish for Killie.

The 57-year-old, who gained notoriety for his controversial and stark comments which saw him collect a series of bans, took Kilmarnock to League Cup success last year, as Celtic were beaten 1-0.

Thomas Rogne likely to leave Celtic

Thomas Rogne admits he is likely to leave Celtic this summer, after the 22-year-old turned down a new deal in February.

Signed from Stabaek in 2010, Rogne - who helped Norway Under-21s to a 3-1 win over England last night - admitted that his departure was likely, telling reporters: “I still have a month left on my contract so I haven’t left yet but it seems that way.

“I am just here to enjoy these Euros, play with my friends and then we will see what will happens afterwards.

“I am not sure about interest from Britain - my focus is on Norway and that is all I am thinking about.”

Neil Lennon: I’d stay at Celtic for life if Champions League football guaranteed

Neil Lennon has admitted that he’d stay at Celtic for the rest of his managerial career - if Champions League football was guaranteed each season.

Lennon has been linked with a host of jobs in the past few weeks including Everton, Stoke and Wigan but insisted that nothing could drag him from the east end of Glasgow if the club were playing in Europe’s elite competition each season.

Celtic have an extra round to get through before they begin next season’s assault on the Champions League, and the former Leicester and Celtic midfielder knows the Parkhead side aren’t guaranteed a spot in the group stages this year.

Lennon told the Sunday Mail: “I’d like to stay consistently in the Champions League. There is a big emotional element at this club for me, I’ve been ingrained in it for 13 years.

“It would be a massive wrench for me to go elsewhere.

“If you could guarantee me being in the Champions League every year with Celtic then I would have no aspirations to go anywhere else. There would be no better place to be and that would satisfy me, absolutely.”

Asked about the mountain Celtic will have to climb in Europe this year, he added: “This year the pressure is alleviated a bit because of what we did last season, but on the other side the expectation is higher.

“Getting to the group stages again would be a huge shot in the arm for our season.

In brief

• Kris Commons will shortly enter contract talks with Celtic. The midfielder’s contract runs out in summer 2014 but the former Derby winger, and his club, are keen to extend the 29-year-old’s stay at Parkhead for at least another year.

• The SFA will vote on Tuesday on a proposal that would see clubs hit with heavier fines and points deductions if their fans display racist or sectarian behaviour.

• A Lowland League proposal will also be voted on on Tuesday. Between 10 and 16 clubs would be involved, with the winners involved in a play-off with the Highland League champions, for the right to face the bottom side in SFL3 as part of a new pyramid system into the senior set-up

• Meanwhile, league reconstruction is rumoured to be close to getting the required 22 votes from the SFL clubs to pass the proposal at Tuesday’s annual meeting of all 30 SFL clubs.

Rumour Mill: Kenny Shiels | Thomas Rogne | Lennon