Rumour Mill: Beer at Celtic | PFA Awards

Celtic manager Neil Lennon is unhappy at the PFA awards shortlist. Picture: SNS

Celtic want to bring beer back to stadium

Celtic could launch a bid to bring beer back to Parkhead, with chief executive Peter Lawwell keen to trial a return.

Alcohol sales have been banned at Scottish football grounds for over 30 years, and Lawwell says that it is time to reassess the situation.

Lawwell said: “If people come into the stadium to have a drink they are drinking in a controlled, policed, stewarded environment and they are strolling in at different times.

“The alternative is you go to the pub... and come rushing to the ground at 2:45pm.”

Limited alcohol sales are permitted at English stadiums and in corporate hospitality boxes across the UK, and Scottish rugby fans can take their drinks to their seats at Murrayfield and Scotstoun. (Record)

PFA Awards fall-out: Lennon to boycott ceremony, rubbishes shortlist, players ‘may leave union’; Kenny Shiels calls Celtic ‘paranoid’, Lennon ‘egotistical’; ‘7-way split to blame’ says Wishart

• Neil Lennon is to boycott the PFA Awards ceremony in protest at none of his players making the shortlist for the main Player of the Year award. (Various)

• Lennon raised the stakes somewhat by saying that none of the shortlisted four - selected by SPL players - are good enough for him. He said: “None of them would get in my team. That’s not having a go at them, but I’ve got a very good team.” (The Sun)

• The Sun also reports that a number of Celtic players are considering leaving the union altogether in protest at missing out on nominations. (The Sun)

• Kilmarnock boss Kenny Shiels has upped the ante in the awards row, and attacked both Celtic and manager Neil Lennon. Shiels said: “Celtic make a song and dance about everything, don’t they? Paranoid FC.

“I wouldn’t get all paranoid about it. It’s the players’ thing, they deserve credit for how they vote.” (Various)

• Shiels also said that Lennon’s comments were based on his own ego, and backed the four shortlisted players. (The Sun)

• PFA chief Fraser Wishart says seven Celtic players split each other’s vote to the point that none of them finished higher than fifth in the results. (Mail)

Rangers’ director Imran Ahmad ‘in trouble over online posts’

The Daily Record report that Rangers director Imran Ahmad is in trouble over a series of posts on a fans’ messageboard. Ahmad is accused of posting confidential information and personal attacks on fellow board members.

Ahmad reportedly used a pseudonym to attempt to discredit Malcolm Murray, Walter Smith and manager Ally McCoist. The username linked to Ahmad is also responsible for posts on boardroom developments and potential share sales. (Record)

Fenlon responds to ‘Bomber’ Brown comments

Pat Fenlon has broken his silence on John Brown’s claim that his Hibs side has given up on the SPL, telling the Dundee boss that he has enough on his plate without sticking his nose in the Edinburgh side’s business.

Fenlon said: “I find this job, managing one club, hard enough but he seems to be able to manage three. So, good luck to him if he is able to do that because I find this job very difficult myself.” (Herald)

Lennon wants Wanyama contract talks

Celtic boss Neil Lennon is keen to find out exactly how long Victor Wanyama is willing to stay at the club on his current contract.

Wanyama has said that he is intent on staying at the club, and now Lennon is looking to negotiate a new deal with the Kenyan international.

Lennon said: “We need to speak to his agent and see what it will take for him to stay. Once we get that sort of figure or figures then we can get to thrashing out a contract. He’s never intimated that he wants to leave... that he doesn’t like it here.” (Herald)

Klinsmann to Bocanegra: ‘Don’t go back to Rangers’

USA national coach Jurgen Klinsmann has warned Carlos Bocanegra that his international career will be in serious jeopardy if he returns to Rangers from his loan spell in Spain.

Klinsmann has already dropped the defender from his squad, and has warned of the “consequences” of a return to Ibrox.

The German legend said: “Next year, Rangers are in the third highest division in Scotland.

“I’m not sure if that’s where you want to be.” (Herald)

Dundee United: McNamara tells Russell to focus on rehab, Mackay-Steven says ‘I’m staying’

Dundee United boss Jackie McNamara has told Johnny Russell to take his mind of transfer talk and focus on his broken leg.

McNamara said: “I’ve spoken with Johnny and I’ve told him not to get drawn into anything.

“There’s speculation there but that’s part and parcel of football and you just have to deal with it.”

And some good news for United fans, as Gary Mackay-Steven has stated that he has no desire to leave Tannadice.

Mackay-Steven’s teammate Russell has been subject of multiple bids from Serie A side Catania, but the cautionary tales of former United stars David Goodwillie and Scott Allan have put the winger off thoughts of a move.

“The main thing is to be happy,” he said, “which I am at United. The grass isn’t always greener elsewhere.” (Courier/P&J)

• Graeme Shinnie has found a replacement for brother Andrew when he leaves Inverness - a dog. Graeme plans to give boxer Oscar his brother’s room in their house when he leaves for Birmingham at the end of the season. (The Sun)

• Aleksander Tonev is undecided on a move to Celtic. The Lech Poznan winger has been linked to Celtic and Fiorentina, but a lack of concrete offers have left the Bulgarian feeling that “there is no point in thinking about a transfer right now.” (Record)

Rumour Mill: Beer at Celtic | PFA Awards | Rangers