Rumour Mill: Peter Lawwell | Rangers | Dundee United

PETER Lawwell warns fellow SPL chairmen that voting against league reconstruction could see their clubs lose money; Ally McCoist welcomes the investigation into Charles Green’s takeover at Ibrox whilst Dundee United midfielder Ryan Gauld has been likened to David Silva by his team-mates.

Vote against reconstruction and lose cash, warns Lawwell

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell has warned that voting against league reconstruction could have a disastrous effect on finances for the SPL clubs.

But the Celtic chief also explained that blocking a revamp of the Scottish game would hand the Parkhead side more money to spend.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Speaking in the Sunday Mail, Lawwell said that SFL clubs would benefit from the reconstruction, saying: “It gives a redistribution to the SFL and that transforms the majority of the SFL clubs in terms of finance.

“It goes from £70,000 to £400,000 for the winner and all the way down.”

The chief executive also believes fans will still turn out for important games, as shown by the 9000 crowd for the recent Partick Thistle-Morton match, and the 17,000 fans who St Mirren took to Hampden for their League Cup final win.

He added: “This new proposition is more attractive to fans, broadcasters and sponsors.”

When pressed on the benefits for Celtic, Lawwell said: “If it doesn’t go through, what will it mean for Celtic? Nothing, really.

“In fact we’ll get a few more bob to spend in the summer. It won’t affect us short-term but it’s unfortunate for re-establishing stability and for the longer-term interest of the game.”

Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor has suggested that he may vote against league reconstruction for footballing reasons, along with Buddies chairman Stewart Gilmour, but Lawwell believes MacGregor and Ross County should listen to the other SPL clubs because they ‘have been round the block many, many times’ in terms of reconstruction talks. (Sunday Mail)

McCoist welcomes Ibrox investigation into Green’s takeover

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has welcomed an investigation at Ibrox into Charles Green’s takeover last year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

McCoist, who declared earlier this week that he would never quit Rangers, feels the Ibrox fans deserve to know the truth about the takeover and any possible involvement with former owner Craig Whyte.

A section of fans at Ibrox yesterday for the club’s 2-0 win over Clyde chanted “Charlie, Charlie tell us the truth” towards the end of the match, and the Rangers boss has echoed their sentiment.

Green is currently facing a sweat after fresh claims emerged about the takeover process, along with an SFA investigation into comments of a ‘racist nature’ which saw him issued with a notice of complaint.

McCoist said that he felt the fans deserved to know what was happening behind the scenes.

“They’re getting frustrated that the whole thing is not out in the open and the truth is not there to see.

“I agree with them. I’m delighted that the board have appointed an independent commission to look into matters, which is the very least our fans deserve.” (Various)

Gauld can be our Silva, claims United midfielder Willo Flood

Dundee United’s Willo Flood has handed young team-mate Ryan Gauld a confidence boost by declaring that the teenager is the Tannadice club’s answer to Manchester City and Spain winger David Silva. Speaking ahead of his side’s Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Celtic, Flood enthused: “Ryan is a David Silva type player with a great attitude and that makes a big difference with the young lads.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“The wide pitch at Hampden will suit him but he’s so good he could play in a phone box.”

Flood added that he feels the Tayside club’s young stars are taking the occasion in their stride, with 17-year-old Gauld just one of a number of youngsters in the United side.

Yesterday’s seven-goal thriller at Hampden saw a Falkirk side with an average age of just 22 - with Darren Dods’ 37 years pushing that figure beyond 21 - give a Hibs side with 18-year-old Alex Harris and 19-year-old Danny Handling in its ranks a real scare, and Flood knows his experience will help add to United’s approach.

“We have a few older [players] who haven’t played at Hampden either. But the young lads are taking it in their stride and I don’t think we have anything to worry about from them,” the Irishman added. (Sunday Mail)

Walter Smith praises Celtic’s Champions League run for ‘saving Scottish football’

Former Rangers and Scotland manager Walter Smith believes Celtic’s run in the Champions League this season saved Scottish football. Smith reckons the Scottish game was in the doldrums until Celtic posted a number of impressive results in Europe, including a famous 2-1 win over Barcelona at Parkhead.

But Smith added that he felt their domestic campaign had suffered as a result, and that attendances were down due to the absence of Rangers.

Doyle eager to fire Hibs to cup glory

Hibs striker Eoin Doyle, who snatched an 83rd equaliser to take yesterday’s Scottish Cup semi-final clahs between Falkirk and the Easter Road side into extra time, wants to go one step further and lift the cup next month before he moves down south. The Irishman is linking up with former Sligo Rovers boss Paul Cook - Doyle’s gaffer before he made the switch to Edinburgh - and the 25-year-old has vowed to end Hibernian’s cup hoodoo before signing for Chesterfield.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Doyle said: “It is my fifth cup final in a row...but if I could win this then it would definitely be the best, especially as we will be parting ways.”

Efe Ambrose: I’ll break Celtic’s Hampden curse

Celtic defender Efe Ambrose wants to make it fourth time lucky for the Parkhead side at Hampden this afternoon by helping his team into the Scottish Cup final.

Ambrose is keen to ‘bring some luck’ into the team as they take on Dundee United, and added that his move to Celtic was the right choice.

“Moving to Celtic has been good for me as my football has improved. I have settled down well and the club has helped me a lot.”

Andreas Hinkel lands Stuttgart coaching role

Former Celtic defender Andreas Hinkel has snapped up a coaching role at Bundesliga club Stuttgart. The 31-year-old spent three years at Parkhead, before quitting the game last year due to injury.

Hinkel has signed on as the German side’s youth coach, returning to the club where he spent eight years prior to his time in Glasgow.

Hodgson can play England kids against Scotland, says Robson

Bryan Robson reckons England can field an inexperienced team against Scotland in the August 14th clash - because the Scots won’t be able to compete against the Auld Enemy.

Robson believes the number of kids coming through the Scotland ranks is worryingly low, and the former Manchester United star has rued the absence of a player in the mould of Kenny Dalglish or Alan Hansen.

Make it into Europe again, urges Lomas

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

St Johnstone boss Steve Lomas has urged fans to turn out in numbers to support the team as they look to book another European trip. The Perthshire side’s European adventure lasted a mere two games this season, with Turkish side Eskisehirspor knocking the Saints out.

Lomas is also keen for chairman Steve Brown to offer striker Stevie May a new deal. The youngster is currently on loan at Hamilton, and scored a hattrick yesterday.