Rumour Mill: Derby after Warburton | Delaney '˜too good for Celtic' | Championship title race '˜not over'

Mark Warburton is believed to be a target for Derby. Picture: John Devlin

Derby eye Warburton as next boss as the Rangers manager warns the Championship title race isn't over and Copenhagen ace told he can do better than Celtic

Derby eye Warburton

DERBY have reportedly lined up Rangers boss Mark Warburton after sacking manager Paul Clement earlier this month.

Rams chief Mel Morris gave Clement the boot after just 33 games, after Derby’s form dipped, and is understood to have been keen on Warburton for a while.

However, any move would come in the summer, with Derby academy chief Darren Wassall set to continue on a temporary basis until the end of the season. (Scottish Sun)

Delaney ‘too good for Celtic’

COPENHAGEN boss Stale Solbakken has told Thomas Delaney to ‘aim higher’ than Celtic.

The Irish-American midfielder, who plays for Denmark, was revealed to be a target for the Hoops, who had him watched in a friendly match against Rosenborg, with Dynamo Kiev also interested.

But Solbakken said: “Celtic is a club with great tradition, but Thomas has reached an age when he is not only looking towards Scotland when he leaves. It think he should look further south in Britain.” (Various)

Warburton warns title race ‘not over’

MARK Warburton has warned it would be ‘nonsense’ to assume the Championship title race is over following Hibernian’s 3-0 loss to Morton, adding: “There are more twists and turns to come.”

The Rangers boss has taken his team to eight points ahead of Hibs, but knows nothing is won just yet.

He added: ”There are still 11 games to go. So it’s not over. The players read the media, they get drawn into the hype They read people saying ‘can they get it done by April?’

“But all they have got to do is focus, come into training and be better than they were the day before and keep on doing that.” (The Scotsman)

Mackay-Steven eyeing Scotland recall

GARY Mackay-Steven believes he is ready for a recall to the Scotland squad after reclaiming his place in the Celtic team.

The winger has just one senior cap, appearing as a substitute for the last six minutes of the 0-0 draw with USA at Hampden in November 2013.

He said: “I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t my ambition to get into the Scotland set-up. I know that to get back I need to play every week and play well at Celtic.

“I’ve been in and around senior squads and got that one cap against USA. It would be great to get more chances and hopefully that will come.” (The Scotsman)

Deila dismisses Cole exit talk

RONNY Deila has dismissed reports that Carlton Cole could exit the club, with the striker having not featured for Celtic since January.

“That’s news to me. It’s hard to say. All of these things will come into consideration all the time.

“He is training but there is hard competition for him as well. We will see if he can take a new step and fight his way into the team.” (The Scotsman)

Dempster urges fans to invest in Hibs

HIBS chief executive Leeann Dempster has urged fans to invest in the club to raise funds for players as well as seeking to allay fears over head coach Alan Stubbs being linked with Celtic.

Dempster said: “Alan has signed a new deal. It might feel like a hundred years ago because there is so much happening at the club.

“We have put together a great team of people. There is something working at this club – working well. Alan and the guys are a massive part of it. The longer we can keep that as the case, the stronger we will become.” (Various)

Celtic starlet named in European XI

KIERAN Tierney has been named alongside the likes of Belgian wonderkid Youri Tielemans and 16-year-old Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in a ‘best XI’ of Europe’s youngsters.

Left-back Tierney, who has caught the eye while playing for Celtic this season, is in a defence alongside West Ham’s Reece Oxford; Joe Gomez of Liverpool and Apollon Limassol right back Cristian Manea, currently on loan at Royal Mouscron-Péruwelz. (Marca)

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Livingston and Raith Rovers are still locked in an argument about ‘Key-Gate’, the incident that saw last weekend’s match between the two sides delayed

• Ronny Deila has suggested he will ignore calls from fans to rotate his attacking midfield trio, and will likely stick with Stuart Armstrong, Stefan Johansen and Gary Mackay-Steven

• Mark Warburton has said he would be ‘staggered’ if Celtic got an artificial surface at Parkhead