Rumour Mill: Dundee United want John Hughes

John Hughes is the reigning manager of the year. Picture: John Devlin

Dundee United want John Hughes as next boss

DUNDEE UNITED have placed John Hughes at the top of their wish list as they hunt for the right man to replace departed manager Jackie McNamara.

Chairman Stephen Thompson has been impressed with Hughes’ work with Inverness. The former Hibs and Falkirk boss took the Highland club to third place in the Scottish Premiership last season and delivered them their first ever piece of major silverware following triumph in the Scottish Cup final.

Compensation could be a stumbling block as ICT will not let their coach go without a fight. (Daily Record)

Gordon Strachan not thinking of Scotland future

SCOTLAND boss Gordon Strachan wants to concentrate on the final Euro 2016 qualification double-header before considering his position as head coach of the national team.

Strachan’s contract comes to an end after next year’s championships and he has indicated he would like to stay in his current role.

“I have never thought about it,” said Strachan. “My whole career has been like that. I never plan ahead. I live for the day. I just want to focus on this. I am going to look forward to the game.

“I am enjoying what I do. I am enjoying the people I work with. You enjoy it when you make people happy, no matter what job you are in.” (The Herald)

Cartlon Cole’s Celtic switch in doubt after injury

CARTLON COLE’S move to Celtic could be in jeopardy after the striker suffered a calf injury following a surprise return to Lennoxtown.

There were rumours yesterday that Cole was waiting on either a lucrative move to Qatar or a return to the English leagues.

However, he remains in discussions with Peter Lawwell about a move to Celtic Park, though his prospective club will likely wait to hear the full extent of the injury before progressing with the talks. (The Scottish Sun)

Lee Erwin seeking loan move from Leeds United

FORMER Motherwell striker Lee Erwin is set to go out on loan after a frustrating start to his Leeds United career.

The 21-year-old made the switch this summer after playing a pivotal role in the Steelmen defeating Rangers in the play-off final to remain in the Scottish top flight.

However, he’s yet to make an appearance in a Leeds shirt, having been forced to watch on as an unused substitute on five occasions, and he feels it would be beneficial for his development to get more first-team opportunities on loan. (The Herald)

Lazar Markovic out of Celtic Park trip

FENERBAHCE winger Lazar Markovic has been ruled out of Thursday’s clash with Celtic in the Europa League.

The 21-year-old is on loan from Liverpool and has so far impressed with the Turkish heavyweights.

His injury will be a boost to Celtic as Ronny Deila’s men aim to continue their promising start to the Europa League campaign following a draw in Amsterdam two weeks ago. (Evening Times)

McNamara fee-share contract ‘a mistake’ - Thompson

DUNDEE UNITED chairman Steven Thompson has admitted it was a mistake to offer their former manager Jackie McNamara a contract which entitled him to a share of player transfer fees.

The club and manager suffered a serious backlash when the information was leaked to the supporters earlier this year, after key assets Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven were sold to Celtic.

The man who took control at the beginning of 2013 is said to have earned bonus payments following the sale of the club’s former stars and, despite the assurance that such contracts were commonplace down south and McNamara earning a lower basic wage than his predecessor, the fact the club won only four of the 24 Premiership games played since this January’s departures simply exacerbated the issue and put the management team under increased pressure. (The Scotsman)

Jackie McNamara sacking was in pipeline - Thompson

STANDING in a corridor at McDiarmid Park, Stephen Thompson looked Jackie McNamara in the eye as he handed him the letter which effectively ended his reign as Dundee United manager.

Speaking yesterday, the Tannadice chairman took pride in his face-to-face approach, but he also revealed that the board had been discussing his position “for quite some time” and the letter had been prepared long before the match with St Johnstone turned against them.

“There is no right or wrong way – I’ve seen managers sacked with a phone call to their agent. The one thing I did do was look him in the eye and spoke to him as I handed the letter over.” (The Scotsman)

Hubbard tells Waghorn: Ignore any penalty advice

WHEN Rangers’ penalty king past met the club’s penalty king present at Ibrox yesterday the advice dispensed was of the refreshing variety. Martyn Waghorn, who boasts a faultless record from seven spot-kicks this season, was the perfect current performer to help launch the autobiography of Johnny Hubbard, the 1950s Rangers winger who notched 60 goals from 63 penalty attempts.

The 25-year-old Englishman was reverential about the record from 12 yards that belongs to the 84-year-old South African whose tome, entitled The  Penalty King, has a foreword written by Alex Ferguson in which he describes a goal the forward scored against Celtic as “easily the best I’ve ever seen”. (The Scotsman)

Rumour Mill: Dundee United want John Hughes | Carlton Cole injury