The Herald

Funds Assurance From Whyte Camp

THE Rangers takeover saga will now slide into next week with anxious supporters last night being assured that a successful resolution would result in more transfer funds for Ally McCoist, the incoming manager, in the summer. Lawyers for Craig Whyte are still examining documents with a source close to the talks stating that the legal and administration work was "taking much longer than anticipated to resolve". The bid for Rangers is still believed to be worth pound(s)25m but there was speculat...

'It's No Longer Acceptable . . . They Shouldn't Do It,' Says Rangers Manager

WALTER SMITH last night admitted singing sectarian songs as a young fan as he urged Rangers supporters to halt the practice or face "dire consequences". The Rangers manager, speaking in response to the revelation that UEFA are investigating sectarian chants by supporters at the away leg of last month's Europa League tie with PSV Eindhoven, said: "I've sung songs. We've been there. I was on the terracings as a youngster. I've done that - but I certainly wouldn't put myself in a position to do ...

Lee Mcculloch Is On the Brink of Returning to The... [Derived Headline]

LEE McCULLOCH is on the brink of returning to the Rangers first- team. The 32-year-old midfielder has been missing from the side since undergoing an operation to remove a cyst from his knee in February. Now McCulloch could feature in tomorrow's match at Hamilton Academical. "He is back in training," said Walter Smith, the Rangers manager, yesterday. "I would hope that would mean that if we don't have him for Sunday's game we would be okay for Wednesday's match against Aberdeen."

Stop Songs or Rangers Face Dire Repercussions

WALTER SMITH last night said police action may be needed to stop sectarian singing among Ibrox supporters and warned defiant fans that they were putting the club's future at risk as he raised the spectre of Rangers being banned from Europe. In a wide-ranging interview at Murray Park, the Rangers manager addressed issues raised by the disclosure that the UEFA control and disciplinary body is investigating sectarian chanting at a Europa League tie in Eindhoven last month. The incidents during t...

Mensing Will Not Concede Just Yet

FEW at Hamilton Academical are likely to look back on this season with a great deal of affection. The club have made the Clydesdale Bank Premier League's relegation place their own in the past few months and will probably have added a few more homely touches by the time their return to the first division is ratified. Hamilton's dismal home record - they have yet to win a league match at New Douglas Park - represents an unsightly plook on an already blemished campaign, and the visit of Rangers...

Commons Hails Stellar Cast As Difference in Title Race ; No Drama As Celtic Focus On Final Act

WHILE Rangers continue to create headlines on both the front and back pages of the national press, Celtic, in contrast, have been left in relative peace to get on with the job of trying to win a league title. No takeover chat. No UEFA investigations. Not even a juicy soundbite from their usually quotable manager either, with Neil Lennon electing to continue his self-imposed media blackout for the time being. The tranquillity seems to suit them fine. Any lingering disappointment over their Co-...

Butcher Targets Treble Chance to Claim Place in the Top Half

Terry Butcher, the Inverness manager, has called on his side to win each of their three games before the Clydesdale Bank Premier League split and claim a place in the top half of the table. The Highlanders play at Kilmarnock today and then have home games with Celtic and Hearts before the SPL separates in two.

The Depth of Celtic's Squad As They Enter the Run-In... [Derived Headline]

THE depth of Celtic's squad as they enter the run-in was illustrated when they named seven full internationalists on the bench for their victory over Hibernian, with another three fit to play but left to watch the game from the stand. Thomas Rogne got on for the second half, having been called up to the Norway squad for the first time during the international break. Scotland's Kris Commons and Freddie Ljungberg, of Sweden, were late substitutes, leaving Ki Sung-Yueng of South Korea, Georgios ...

Job Security Is Next On Agenda for Paisley Players

THEIR Clydesdale Bank Premier League status virtually secured for another season after consecutive victories over Hamilton Academical and Aberdeen, St Mirren now turn their sights to an altogether more daunting challenge. You have to go back to April 1990 for the last time the Paisley club left Celtic Park with a win, the intervening period proving fairly fruitless for one team after another. Now enjoying a 12-point gap over Hamilton at the foot of the table, it will be securing their own fut...

Mcinnes Wants Players to Stake Claim for Semi-Final

ST JOHNSTONE manager Derek McInnes has urged his players to fight for a place in his plans ahead of the semi-final of the Scottish Cup - starting with tomorrow's clash against Dundee United. McInnes's side take on United and then Celtic in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, before switching the focus to their quest for silverware next weekend.

Confident Laird 'Only Seven Shots' Off Second

Rather than entertaining thoughts of having made the cut in his first Masters, Martin Laird studied the 18th hole Augusta National leader board and remarked he is only seven strokes away from second place, writes Bernie McGuire. Such is the confidence of the US-based Scot, who was winner of the recent Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Golden Goose

Luke Donald raised over pound(s)21,000 for the Japanese earthquake fund after surging up the Masters rankings. The Englishman, who is sponsored by Osaka-based company Mizuno, has agreed to donate $5000 for every birdie he makes at Augusta this week.

Couples Chases Second Title, 19 Years After First

A rejuvenated Fred Couples defied an ailing back injury that has plagued him for years and put himself in contention to become the oldest winner in Masters history. The 51-year-old American, who needs regular treatment on his troublesome spine just to get around the course, turned back the clock with a brilliant four-under-par 68 in the second round.

Golden Goose

Luke Donald raised over pound(s)21,000 for the Japanese earthquake fund after surging up the Masters rankings. The Englishman, who is sponsored by Osaka-based company Mizuno, has agreed to donate $5000 for every birdie he makes at Augusta this week.

By Stroke of Midnight

BY its nature, the Grand National is always an open race, but this year it seems to have more likely candidates than usual, and if all the main protagonists stay on their hooves, the John Smith- sponsored chase of chases promises to be very special. The chances of that are not great but perhaps enough fancied runners will survive to make it a finish to remember. On official ratings, Sir Alex Ferguson's What A Friend is the best-weighted runner in the race, as the handicapper reckons the horse...

Binocular May Lose Focus Over Extra Distance

THE Aintree spectacle might be headed by the Grand National but the supporting acts are worth seeing, too, writes Ian Paul. In the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle, the Champion Hurdle second, Peddler's Cross, third Oscar Whisky and fourth Thousand Stars meet again, with last year's Champion Hurdler, Binocular also in the field.

All the Talk Is of Scottish Horses, or Those With... [Derived Headline]

All the talk is of Scottish horses, or those with Tartan connections, ahead of this year's Grand National and if the trends are to be believed there is only one which has no chance of winning the race. That's bad news for Sir Alex Ferguson's What A Friend which has been backed in from 50/1 to 12s but good news for Silver By Nature, owned by Geoff Brown, the St Johnstone chairman, and another man with Perth connections Gordon Elliott, who has trained a number of winners at the Scottish course....

Mccall has Made His Players Fight for the Cause Like He Did

JIM JEFFERIES, the Hearts manager, is not surprised that Stuart McCall has added passion to his Motherwell side - he once had to stop a fight between the former Rangers midfielder and Bradford City team-mate. Jefferies recalls a famous altercation between McCall and Andy Myers during a derby match which Bradford lost 6-1 to Leeds United. The former Scotland player had to have stitches in a facial wound after Myers struck him just before half-time. McCall responded by aiming a head-butt at the...

County Update

JIMMY CALDERWOOD admits he will feel like an imposter when he leads Ross County out in the Alba Challenge Cup final, even if he will be leading the party if they win. Calderwood played no part in County's run to the final, with Derek Adams in charge for victories over Elgin City, Forfar, Morton and Partick.

Falkirk V Partick Thistle Today's Match Is the First Of... [Derived Headline]

Falkirk v Partick Thistle Today's match is the first of three meetings between these teams in seven games before the end of the season, with the second taking place at Firhill on Tuesday. Steven Pressley's side are unbeaten in five outings, but Partick have not lost in four away games.