The Herald

No Hazard-Free Europa League Draw, but Celtic Should Advance

SOME consolation prizes are better than others. Celtic's forthcoming Europa League play-off against Utrecht of Holland could begin a run of winning form which would rebuild the team's credibility, assistant manager Johan Mjallby claimed last night. Utrecht stand between Celtic and the group stage while Dundee United will have to overcome AEK Athens of Greece and Motherwell must negotiate a way past Danish club Odense. All three of the draws made yesterday are unglamourous but reasonably hazar...

Jelavic Still Very Much On Smith's Radar

WALTER SMITH remains hopeful that Nikica Jelavic, the Rapid Vienna striker, will join Rangers next week in a pound(s)3.5m deal. Martin Bain, the chief executive of Rangers, is in talks with the Austrian club as Rangers seek to add to a depleted squad that was further weakened by the news yesterday that John Fleck, the 18-year- old forward, will be out of action for six weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in the friendly against Clyde this week.

No Hazard-Free Europa League Draw, but Celtic Should Advance

SOME consolation prizes are better than others. Celtic's forthcoming Europa League play-off against Utrecht of Holland could begin a run of winning form which would rebuild the team's credibility, assistant manager Johan Mjallby claimed last night. Utrecht stand between Celtic and the group stage while Dundee United will have to overcome AEK Athens of Greece and Motherwell must negotiate a way past Danish club Odense. All three of the draws made yesterday are unglamourous but reasonably hazar...

Jelavic Still Very Much On Smith's Radar

WALTER SMITH remains hopeful that Nikica Jelavic, the Rapid Vienna striker, will join Rangers next week in a pound(s)3.5m deal. Martin Bain, the chief executive of Rangers, is in talks with the Austrian club as Rangers seek to add to a depleted squad that was further weakened by the news yesterday that John Fleck, the 18-year- old forward, will be out of action for six weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in the friendly against Clyde this week.

Weir at the Ready for a Further Tour of Duty

HE has seen it all. His battered and bruised legs will testify he has done much of it, too. However, David Weir, at 40, still has miles to run and experience to gain.

Gallows Humour, but Smith Lacks an Audience

THE humour remains, though it may be of the gallows variety. Asked what the successful capture of Nikica Jelavic, the Rapid Vienna striker, would mean to him, Walter Smith yesterday replied: "Another player."

Lennon Riled by Critical Appraisal

NEIL LENNON, the Celtic manager, has hit back at those former players who he believes have unfairly criticised his side for the way they were knocked out of the Champions League by Braga. Former Parkhead forward Andy Walker was the most vociferous in his condemnation, accusing Lennon of not having watched the same game after the manager praised his players. Pierre van Hooijdonk, another former striker, also chipped in with his own negative review of the display, despite Celtic winning 2-1 on ...

Mcgeady Holds Key to the Money Box

C ELTIC will have to declare their hand by the middle of Monday morning. Uefa's deadline for registering players for the fourth and final qualifying round of the Europa League will be a snapshot of Neil Lennon's resources. Will Aiden McGeady be one of the names submitted or will he belong to someone else by then? Will there be a new centre-half to shore up a struggling back four? The transfer window will still be open for three more weeks but that won't matter for the ties against Utrecht on ...

Wouters Plays Down Dutch Hopes

Jan Wouters, the Utrecht assistant coach, fears his young team may freeze at Celtic Park in the first leg of their Europa League play-off. Neil Lennon's side dropped out of the Champions League after an aggregate defeat at the hands of Braga. However, the stadium is sure to be packed when the Dutch side travel to Glasgow for the August 19 encounter ahead of the return leg a week later.

Mols' Heart Says Utrecht but Head Goes for Celtic

MICHAEL MOLS is in mischievous mood as he answers the call he has been expecting since FC Utrecht popped out of the Europa League qualifying draw alongside Celtic. "Let me guess, my views on Utrecht?," laughs the former Rangers striker. "I'll need to think about it." In reality, the Dutchman would happily speak about Utrecht all day. Mols represented seven clubs during his long career, yet retains an unshakable affinity towards this particular former employer, a club which finished seventh in...

Hearts Name Zaliukas Captain Despite Contract Uncertainty

Jim Jefferies, the Hearts manager, has made Marius Zaliukas his captain for the season - despite the centre-back's contract expiring in December. The Lithuanian internationalist takes over from Michael Stewart, who joined Turkish club Genclerbirligi this summer. Zaliukas, who faced competition from Lee Wallace and Eggert Jonsson, led the side out in the midfielder's absence last season.

Southern Knowledge Could Prove St Johnstone's Salvation

DEREK McINNES believes his acute knowledge of the English game paid dividends as he looked to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season. The St Johnstone manager spent time south of the border as a player, and has delved into the English market in search of new acquisitions. Among those signed are Sam Parkin, Cleveland Taylor and Scott Dobie, while Marcus Haber has arrived on loan from West Bromwich Albion. And McInnes enthused about their quality.

Ross County Have a Chance to Be Cup Shock Troops Again This Year

Scottish Cup finalists Ross County have been handed another chance to take a top-flight scalp after being drawn at home against St Mirren in the second round of the Co-operative Insurance Cup. County, who beat Clydesdale Bank Premier League sides Hamilton, Hibernian and Celtic in cup competition last season, face Danny Lennon's new-look side at Victoria Park later this month.

De Graaf Generates Goals but Pulls the Plug On Comeback

EDWIN DE GRAAF scored twice on his Easter Road debut but left regretting the ones that got away. The Dutch midfielder's double could not prevent Hibernian losing 6-2 on aggregate to NK Maribor of Slovenia, and afterwards he looked back on two chances that came his way at 0-0, when an early goal for the home side could have kick- started a dramatic comeback. The former NAC Breda midfielder pushed his 12th-minute shot wide and five minutes later struck a drive on the turn straight at Marko Prid...

Redknapp: We Won't Take Young Boys Lightly

HARRY REDKNAPP last night urged caution despite Tottenham landing the best possible draw in the play-offs for a place in the group stage of the Champions League. Spurs' first European Cup match for almost half a century will be against Young Boys, who finished second in the Swiss league last season and are without a win after three games of the new season, which began on July 17 . Spurs avoided tougher ties against Sampdoria, Dynamo Kiev, Auxerre and Braga, but Redknapp, the Tottenham manager...

Europa Momentum has Humphrey Homing in On Hibs

MOTHERWELL and Hibernian had wildly differing fortunes in Europe this week, but Chris Humphrey insists a heavy defeat by Maribor will not make the Edinburgh club any less dangerous when they go to Fir Park in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League a week today. The Motherwell winger does believe that his own side's run to the play-off stage of the Europa League has given them momentum, but warned against judging Hibs by their early exit in that competition.

Delight for Dixon As United Receive 'Once in a Lifetime Opportunity'

PETER HOUSTON, the Dundee United manager, will enlist the help of Walter Smith as he endeavours to plot a path beyond AEK Athens in the Europa League. The Tannadice side were drawn against the Greek club in the final qualifying round before the group stages of the competition and will play them at home on August 19.

First Division ; Second Division Third Division

* The prize on offer is considerable but achieving it is anything but straightforward. With a place in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League to be won, it is little wonder this is frequently said to be the most fiercely contested league in the country. It is a road to riches cluttered by obstacles and one which Jocky Scott has travelled on many occasions. He believes there is no clear favourite for the title, with four or five clubs likely to be involved in the race, and Falkirk, relegated from ...

Broadwood

The story of the Clyde today is of a march towards a football revolution. It is only 12 months since the football club were quietly celebrating taking a step back from the abyss. They are skint but stable. It is a humble but enviable position in modern football. Clyde can look to the future, but they have learned the lessons of the past. This is a club that is determined to go back to basics. The revolution has turned the full circle. "We had to recognise the reality of football," says John A...

Davies Digs Deep to Get Frugal Forest Out of the Woods Again

BILLY DAVIES has built a reputation as one of the most talented managers in the brief history of the Championship. Invariably on inferior budgets, the Scot has secured four play- off berths with three different teams: Preston North End, Derby County - who he took up to the Barclays Premier League - and Nottingham Forest.