The Herald

Advisory Role Would Suit Monty Just Fine

As the European Ryder Cup baton was passed yesterday from Celtic Manor to Gleneagles, Colin Montgomerie said Scotland had four years to get the date right and assured that he would be available to help and advise in any way he could. The 47-year-old Scot was up at dawn yesterday with the Ryder Cup that survived an adventurous night for a breakfast television slot from the Celtic Manor Hotel lobby before chewing the fat with a handful of golf writers.

Whittaker Up for Another Difficult Exam

THE cliche is that big games need big players. But the marquee matches can also offer the opportunity for footballers to grow in stature. Steven Whittaker seems certain to be handed the left-back position for Scotland against the Czech Republic on Friday night, but the 26-year-old does not seem disturbed at facing a torrid evening in the Synot Tip arena or confronting the world champions at Hampden just days later.

Adam Mixes It with the Best Ahead of Czech Challenge

Charlie Adam will go into Scotland's match with the Czech Republic on a high after being named in the Barclays Premier League's team of the week. The former Rangers midfielder earned his place among the stars after netting Blackpool's opening goal from the penalty spot in their stunning 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Maloney Must Be Ready If Called Upon

INTERNATIONAL dates had become a social rather than a professional occasion for Shaun Maloney. "I watched the Lithuania and Liechtenstein games with friends in the pub," he said at Scotland's team hotel in Erskine this week. He will be closer to the action as Craig Levein's side take on the Czech Republic and Spain.

Jordan: Class of 73 Can Inspire Levein's Men

HAMPDEN. September 26, 1973. It was the night Leeds United striker Joe Jordan netted a towering header 15 minutes from time against the old Czechoslovakia to send an incredible 95,786 Scotland fans into delirium and the country on their way to the World Cup for the first time since 1958. The former striker, now first-team coach under Harry Redknapp at Tottenham Hotspur, is hoping Craig Levein's men can take a step closer to experiencing such joy in Prague on Friday night as they attempt to en...

Scotland Quartet Must Err On the Side of Caution

Four Scotland players will walk a disciplinary tightrope against the Czech Republic on Friday, in the hope of coming through unscathed to secure a date with World and European champions Spain. Scott Brown, Barry Robson, Alan Hutton and Allan McGregor will all need to tread a fine line if they are involved in the Euro 2012 qualifier in Prague.

Czech This Out

* Squad Contains two Barclays Premier League performers in Petr Cech, the Chelsea goalkeeper, and Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosiscky. Anderlecht midfielder Jan Polak, with 51 caps, will also provide strength and experience in the holding midfield role. Milan Baros, the former Liverpool striker, has been ruled out of the game through injury.

Czech Republic Try to Revive a Faded Sense of Accomplishment ; Four Rising Stars

The golden generation played for the top European sides and grew alongside the best. Now only Cech and Rosicky are in the upper-most floor of European soccer The state of the decline was established in 15 minutes, but that was two years ago and now nobody can be certain how it will end. For a time, under the shrewd, patrician-like leadership of Karel Bruckner, the Czech Republic were second in the Fifa rankings behind Brazil, but their last result was a 1-0 defeat to Lithuania.

Moving Down and Stepping Up ; Interview Don Cowie's Transfer From Inverness to Watford has Changed His Life. Stuart Hodge Reports

I T wasn't the most auspicious start to an international career but that mattered little to Don Cowie. Just receiving a Scotland summons was satisfaction enough for the unassuming Highlander. Drunk on the success of his debut season in the Championship with Watford, the midfielder had established himself as a firm favourite at Vicarage Road, his versatility making him a crucial part of Malky Mackay's plans. Even being engulfed in the misery of George Burley's final days as national coach coul...

Thomson Believes Bell Can Be a Regular in Scotland Squad

BILLY Thomson has backed Cammy Bell, the Kilmarnock goalkeeper, to become just as successful as Allan McGregor, his former protege. Bell has been drafted into the Scotland squad for the first time for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Spain after Blackpool's Matt Gilks pulled out. Kilmarnock goalkeeping coach Thomson worked with McGregor at Ibrox and believes that Bell possesses the same attributes as the Rangers No.1.

One Last Push for Scotland's Youngsters

AFTER a season in which he was cast aside at club level yet integral on the international scene, Chris Maguire is used to mixed fortunes, but the positives have been plentiful in recent times. Since his return to Aberdeen from a loan spell at Kilmarnock, he has become a vital component for Mark McGhee's side, with his form winning him the Clydesdale Bank Young Player of the Month award. At international level, his last-minute strike that secured victory over Austria in Scotland's Under 21 Eur...

Deadline Set to Pass with No Resolution at Dundee

DUNDEE are lurching towards administration after no resolution appeared in sight during their ongoing dispute with the Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs. The Dens Park club owe HMRC pound(s)365,000 in unpaid taxes relating to a four-month period earlier this year and were recently issued with a final demand for payment in full. The deadline for paying that sum is believed to pass today and the club had hoped by drafting in financial expert Blair Nimmo, of liquidation experts KPMG, he would be a...

Last Night Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Round 2 * North Section... [Derived Headline]

LAST NIGHT Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Round 2

Petrie: New Manager Will Have Full Financial Backing

Having been warned off from making an approach for Michael O'Neill, Hibernian's search for a successor to John Hughes has already become a source of angst. O'Neill is considered such a strong candidate for the position at his former club that Jonathan Roache, the Shamrock Rovers chairman, announced that "we wouldn't appreciate interest from anyone". O'Neill has led the Dublin side to the verge of their first title in 16 years, and the club want him to extend his contract, but in an interview ...

Celtic Deny Kayal Will Be Out for Three Months Celtic... [Derived Headline]

Celtic deny Kayal will be out for three months Celtic have played down reports that Israeli midfielder Beram Kayal will be out of action for three months after the recurrence of a hernia problem.

Choosing Play-Offs Over Portugal Easy for Vidarsson

PORTUGUESE superstars Ronaldo, Nani and Carvalho or Scottish sensations Caddis, Wilson and Bannan. Bjarni Vidarsson, the Iceland under-21 captain, faced the biggest dilemma of his career. The KV Mechelen midfielder revealed there was only one choice he was going to make. Vidarsson was one of seven members of the under-21 squad in line to face Portugal in a full Euro 2012 qualifier next Tuesday. Instead, he will play in both legs of European Championship play- off with Scotland as Iceland atte...

Bowls Men. Pairs * Gp a Northern Ireland 1 1/2... [Derived Headline]

bowls men. Pairs

Scotland's Chances of Reaching the Semi-Final Stages of the Women's... [Derived Headline]

Scotland's chances of reaching the semi-final stages of the women's competition at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi foundered as they went down 2-1 to South Africa in their second pool match. The Scots were immediately under pressure from their lively opponents and were fortunate not to go behind early on as South Africa had the ball in the net on two occasions, only to be disallowed by the umpire.

Copland and Mcintosh Hold Their Nerve to Secure a Bronze Medal

THE massive red ramparts of Tughlaqabad Fort are steeped in history. They were built by the Tughlaq dynasty to keep the Mogul hordes at bay, and saw many a battle. Now they dominate southern Delhi, and look out over the Dr Karni Singh range where Kay Copland and Jen McIntosh claimed a bit of history of their own yesterday.

Haroon Khan Takes Giant Step in Proving Critics Wrong with Huge Stoppage Win

boxing Haroon Khan is relying on some motivational advice from his world champion brother Amir as he bids to make his mark for Pakistan after being rejected by England selectors for the Commonwealth Games. The 19-year-old Haroon made his competitive debut for Pakistan with an impressive 12-1 third-round stoppage win over Sunday Elias of Tanzania in a 52kg category bout.