Rumour Mill: McCoist | Rangers | Celtic

Ally McCoist has hinted at never managing another club. Picture: SNS

McCoist: I’ll never manage another team

ALLY McCoist watched his team defeat Livingston thanks to a Lewis Macleod goal and hinted that he could never manage another club.

The Rangers boss said after the Championship clash: “I think anybody in this country knows where my allegiances lie. I’m 100 per cent with this club.

“For me, Rangers are the only club that exists anywhere, never mind in this country.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of people, top managers who have worked at the Old Firm, and every one of them has said that it’s a different job elsewhere. It’s easier to handle than here.” (Sunday Mail)

Five arrested after Gers crowd trouble

UGLY scenes marred Rangers’ victory over Livingston, with five supporters arrested inside the ground following a scuffle between visiting fans and police and stewards.

And there were further reports of disturbances outside the ground after the match, with mounted police called in to restore order.

Livi safety officer Alan Scott confirmed the arrests, adding: “There were five people arrested. The stewards and police assisted each other in dealing with the matter and no police or stewards were injured.”

Ally McCoist added: “I did see it and it looked pretty unsavoury but until I get a report on it, I would be loath to comment other than to say we can do without incidents like that.” (Scotland on Sunday)

Boyd drought not a worry

KRIS Boyd’s lack of goals are not overly concerning Ally McCoist, who backed the former Kilmarnock striker to break his duck following another blank at Almondvale.

Boyd missed a sitter from six yards and is yet to score in the Championship after netting 22 goals for the Rugby Park side last season.

But McCoist reckons things will take a turn for the better for the forward.

“Obviously Kris needs a goal, there’s no doubt about that,” McCoist admitted. “The fact he’s getting chances would indicate the other side of his game is fine.

“I’d have a bigger concern if there was nothing coming his way at all.” (Various)

Stokes’s weight loss is Celtic’s gain

ANTHONY Stokes didn’t end his European goal drought on Thursday night - but the newly-trim striker has given Celtic an extra dimension in attack, as the former Hibs striker looks to have embraced Ronny Deila’s fitness regime.

Praised by Deila - who said after the 1-0 win: “He has a very good attitude but he’s only 70 per cent of what he can be fitness-wise in my opinion. His skills are unbelievable.” - Stokes doesn’t have a problem with the change in attitudes to fitness.

The Irishman said: “I’m probably down five kilos since I came back for pre-season.

“I still probably have another couple of kilos to get to the weight that he wants but I don’t mind that.

“If I can get to my prime body weight, that’s only going to help me.” (Scotland on Sunday)

Deila uncertainty over Europa points tally

RONNY Deila told Celtic last week to aim for 10 points in their Europa League group - now he reckons the Hoops could need more than that.

The Norwegian boss fears Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb will take maximum points off Romanian side Astra and conceded that Celtic were lucky to take four points from their opening two matches.

“It could be that we need more points than I thought before we started. You never know.

“If we beat Astra home and away there are going to be three teams fighting for it.” (Various)

Saturday’s match reports

Dundee 2-3 Aberdeen: Goodwillie grabs winner in five-goal thriller

Hibs 1-1 Raith Rovers: Nade earns point for Raith as Hibs stutter after Ibrox heroics

Livingston 0-1 Rangers: Macleod acrobatics enough for Gers Queen of the South 0-3 Hearts: Jambos maintain top spot in Championship

Partick Thistle 3-1 Motherwell: Steelmen slip to seventh loss in nine games

News in brief

• Christian Nade earned Raith a point away to Hibs yesterday and was only too happy to cop a booking for ripping his shirt off to hit back at years of taunts from the Hibs fans

• Ex-Hibs and Celtic boss Tony Mowbray could be in line to replace Dougie Freedman as Bolton boss

• Queen’s Park club photographer Fraser Marr ended up acting as a linesman in the Spiders’ 1-0 win over Gretna 2008 in the Scottish Cup yesterday following an injury to referee Mike Taylor

• East Fife put seven past Threave Rovers in the Cup yesterday - but Gary Naysmith blasted his side for being sloppy

Rumour Mill: McCoist | Rangers | Celtic | Stokes