Rumour Mill: Deila feared Dons might win title | Rangers close to signing EPL player

Ronny Deila admitted he feared Aberdeen may have pipped Celtic to the title. Picture: John Devlin

Ronny Deila feared Aberdeen might pip Celtic to the title

Ronny Deila has admitted he was worried this season that Aberdeen may have pipped Celtic for the title.

In the end he needn’t have, the Glasgow club effectively won their fifth successive Championship last weekend with a 3-1 win over Hearts at Tynecastle, but Deila has accepted that he was made to sweat as Celtic headed towards the finish line.

Ronny said: “They have had a good season, they have pushed us, maybe more than they did last year as well even though it was quite close although in the end we had 17 more points. Hopefully we will again get a lot of points ahead between now and the end so it’s important to win on Sunday.

“When you are a coach you are always worried. You don’t think ‘they have no chance’, of course they have a chance. The players, everybody, knows that. But in Celtic you have everything to lose and nothing to win and that’s a very difficult situation to be in. But I think the boys have handled that well.” (Various)

Interview: Ian McCall on his Rangers run-ins with Souness

Rangers close to signing Liverpool midfielder Jordan Rossiter

The Daily Record are reporting that Rangers are close to signing Liverpool youngster Jordan Rossiter for a fee reported to be around £250,000.

The 19-year-old midfielder is reportedly out of contract at the end of the season but the Glasgow club will have to pay the nominal fee in compensation to the Merseyside club. (Daily Record)

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Warburton urges his team to stop 10-in-a-row

Rangers manager Mark Warburton says his team have ‘smashed’ the Championship, now he wants them to step up and stop Celtic’s 10-in-a-row charge.

The Englishmen has already begun his preparation for Rangers return to the top flight next season.

“The first target was to smash the Championship. We look to be the best we can be next season, if we can add four or five players that I think we need then I believe we will do well.” (Daily Record)

Alan Stubbs hits back at Ray McKinnon’s ‘mind games’

The Hibs manager has accused Ray McKinnon of playing mind games to avoid discussing the Dundee United job.

Stubbs then said that the Raith manager is the one losing the plot and dismissed remarks that the Edinburgh club are feeling the pressure.

Stubbs said: “Why do you think he said all that? It’s so you don’t talk about the Dundee United stuff.”

Then responding to McKinnon’s jibe that he was feeling the pressure, Stubbs added: “Does it look like I feel it? I’m relaxed - as I have been throughout the tie.” (Various)

NEWS IN BRIEF:

• Patrick Roberts collected the Ladbrokes Player of the Month award for April and said he felt the season ended to soon for him because he wants to play more games for Celtic. (Various)

• Motherwell say they will ban any fans who enter the pitch at full time today. Board members say the practice, which has become almost a ritual at Fir Park for young fans, would cost the club too much in SPFL fines. (Express)

• Moussa Dembele has been given a six-game ban for his eye gouge on Diego Costa. (Mirror)

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Rumour Mill: Deila feared Dons might win title | Rangers close to signing EPL player | Stubbs blast at McKinnon