Rumour Mill: Kris Commons | Hamilton

Commons is out of contract at the end of the season and no new agreement has been reached for the 31-year-old to extend his stay. Picture: TSPL

Celtic set to offer Kris Commons a coaching role as part of a new deal

The Parkhead ace is out of contract at the end of the season and no new agreement has been reached for the 31-year-old to extend his stay.

But Ronny Deila is adamant both the club and individual want to continue their working relationship. And the Norwegian revealed offering a first step on the coaching ladder may be used as an added incentive to convince Commons to remain in Glasgow beyond next summer.

The Hoops boss said: “We have a good dialogue now about this and that is going forward all the time. Kris wants to stay and we want to keep him and that is what’s most important so things will be arranged. We also have to be happy he wants to stay.“ (Daily Record)

Hamilton chairman Les Gray dreaming of top six finish

Hamilton Academical chairman Les Gray admits the club may have to reassess their season target after a blistering start to the campaign.

The newly-promoted Accies are top of the Scottish Premiership after a first victory at Celtic Park in 76 years. Gray said: “I don’t think it gets better than this for us to be honest, We started the season looking to stay in the league, that is our priority, top six would be beyond our dreams.”

Alex Neil’s men, who came through a penalty shoot-out in May’s play-off final, have lost just once this term - on the opening day against Inverness.

“I think the boys should enjoy it while it lasts,” added Gray. “They’ve worked very hard and Alex has done a terrific job with a young group who have a lot of potential. If we’re to aim for a top six position and get the budget that goes with that, then that allows us to get more money to plough into our youth set-up.” (Various)

Ronny Deila says Tom Rogic still has future at Celtic

CELTIC’S injury-cursed midfielder Tom Rogic still has a future at the club says Ronny Deila - if he can recover to prove himself on the park. The Australian was rocked by a second operation in a matter of months to try and correct an adductor problem that has hampered his progression as one of his country’s top talents.

Rogic’s injury woes on the other side of the world have left him low on Celtic manager Deila’s radar, with the Norwegian admitting he’s seen little of his forgotten man.

But he has spoken to his player about his return from injury and insisted he will wait until the Aussie is back to full fitness before judging him.

Deila said: “He’s had a new operation so it will take time to heal. He’ll not be playing again this year. I haven’t seen him play so much, we’ll need to wait until he’s back but that will take some months. We’ve spoken as he’s training with us, but it’s on the pitch I have to see him.” (Evening Times)

Roy Keane reveals he turned down Celtic job because they failed to make him feel ‘wanted’

Roy Keane has revealed he turned down the chance to succeed Neil Lennon as Celtic manager in the summer because the Parkhead club failed to make him feel wanted enough.

The former Manchester United midfielder was left disappointed by a take it or leave it contract offer packed full of unappealing clauses that ‘failed to rock my boat’.

The inflexible and cut-price nature of the negotiations over the manager’s job with the Scottish champions reminded Keane of the club playing on his affections when negotiating his deal to sign as a player in 2005.

Meanwhile Keane has revealed that he came to blows with goalkeeper and team-mate Peter Schmeichel on a pre-season tour.

Keane, 43, said Schmeichel was left with a black eye after the fight in Hong Kong in 1998 which followed simmering tension between the pair.

Keane said: “He said: ‘I’ve had enough of you. It’s time we sorted this out.’ So I said: ‘OK’ and we had a fight.” (Various)

Jackie McNamara can’t hide frustration over Kilmarnock defeat

The fact Jackie McNamara was openly critical of them after Friday’s defeat at Kilmarnock shows how far below par Dundee United were. United were undone by a two-goal burst near the mid-point of the second half but long before that the writing was on the wall. McNamara can’t hide his disappointment, he said: “It was half an hour before we got into the game at all and we just didn’t do enough, So many passes went astray that we looked more like a team near the bottom of the table than one at the top.”

He refused to use Kilmarnock’s new synthetic pitch as a reason for what, to many, was a shock defeat.

“I wouldn’t make it an excuse. It’s a surface where you should be able to pass the ball well and, in that sense, it should suit us.” (Evening Telegraph)

News in brief:

• Manchester City have made an official enquiry for Borussia Dortmund’s German midfielder Marco Reus, 25, and have asked for updates over his availability. (Daily Express)

• Watford manager Billy McKinlay is set to leave his job on Tuesday, just eight days after replacing Oscar Garcia. (Daily Mail)

Rumour Mill: Kris Commons | Hamilton | Roy Keane