Rumour Mill: Barry Ferguson eyes St Mirren job | Stokes Euro hopes

Is Barry Ferguson ready for a crack at managing in the Scottish Championship? Picture: Ian Georgeson

Ferguson favourite for St Mirren post

FORMER Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson has been installed as the favourite to take the reins at St Mirren.

Currently at Clyde, the ex-Scotland international has won praise for his leadership and could succeed Ian Murray, who quit on Saturday.

Ferguson could face competition from fellow ex-Ger Alex Rae. (Various)

Greek boss throws hat into ring for Buddies job

EXPERIENCED Greek coach Savvas Pantelidis has confirmed he has applied for the vacant post at St Mirren Park, after caretaker boss Alex Miller made it clear he wasn’t in the running.

Pantelidis, a former defender, is currently manager of Levadiakos, but is believed to be interested in managing in Scotland.

He has also taken the reins at PAS Giannina, Panthrakikos, Ethnikos Piraeus and Thrasyvoulos. (The Scotsman)

Stokes ‘still has chance’ of making Ireland Euro squad

MARTIN O’Neill has hinted at Anthony Stokes having the slimmest of chances of making Ireland’s Euro 2016 squad.

The 27-year-old striker has become the forgotten man at Celtic, and was suspended after comments he made on Twitter - although the club said the suspension had been down to many factors.

O’Neill said: “I don’t know where [Stokes] is but is there time for people to make a bit of an impact yet? Absolutely. We’ve got games coming up in March, one or two players who have been in or around the scene will have the chance to go and stake a claim.” (Various)

Seagulls join Stewart chase

BRIGHTON could swoop for Dundee striker Greg Stewart in January, amid reported interest from Rangers.

The English Championship toppers had the striker watched in Motherwell’s 3-1 win over Dundee and could move for the ex-Cowdenbeath hitman in January.

Mark Warburton yesterday denied interest in Stewart but conceded he was a ‘talented boy’. (Scottish Sun)

Hibs to appeal McGinn red card

HIBS will appeal the red card shown to John McGinn during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Falkirk.

The feisty midfielder was sent off in the first half for an industrial challenge on Mark Kerr, but Alan Stubbs has confirmed the Easter Road side will attempt to overturn the decision. (Evening News)

Stubbs unhappy over Stevenson head knock

ALAN Stubbs has expressed disappointment with how Lewis Stevenson’s head knock was treated on Saturday. The left back left the field, leaving Hibs with just nine men on the park, but referee Kevin Clancy refused to allow the Hibernian doctor onto the field of play to examine the 27-year-old defender. But Stubbs revealed: “There’s a protocol - we asked for our doctor to go on and I can categorically say we asked and he wasn’t allowed on.” (Evening News)

Hibs eyeing striker and defender

HIBS boss Alan Stubbs is expecting a relatively quiet January transfer window, saying he is hopeful of signing a striker and a right-sided defender.

Stubbs said: “It won’t be like an August window – it won’t be one of them, it will be just one or two and we’ll try and pick the right one or two.

“I’d like to bring in a defensive player, just for cover, probably more towards David Gray’s side just in case.” (Evening News)

Neilson defends McGhee after horror handball

ROBBIE Neilson and Sam Nicholson have both defended Jordan McGhee after the defender’s deliberate handball handed Aberdeen the three points at Pittodrie in Saturday’s early kick-off.

Neilson said: “I spoke to Jordan because I’ve done that myself. I did it years ago when I was younger. I’m sure he’ll learn from it and he won’t do it again.

“It’s happened and it’s something we just deal with and move on. As a young player, you’re learning all the time and that’s what Jordan’s doing.

Team-mate Nicholson added that even Barcelona striker Lionel Messi makes mistakes. (Evening News)

Rumour Mill: Barry Ferguson eyes St Mirren job | Stokes Euro hopes | Brighton chase Stewart