FOOTBALL GOSSIP
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers complains at so-called “trial by TV”, saying broadcaster BT Sport showed a challenge by his goalkeeper Craig Gordon on Alloa’s Greig Spence 14 times and one by Celtic defender Erik Sviatchenko on Inverness midfielder Ross Draper 26 times. (Various)
Rodgers plays down the issue of who is his number one goalkeeper – Dorus de Vries or Craig Gordon. The Northern Irishman says he simply wants two good, experienced goalkeepers for the Champions League. (Daily Mail)
Rangers and Celtic will meet for the second time this season when they contest the Betfred Cup semi-final on the weekend of 22-23 October. (Various)
Celtic midfielder Stuart Armstrong, paying tribute to Alloa who kept a clean sheet at Celtic Park until 10 minutes from the end on Wednesday, insists the team must be patient when opponents sit deep and defend. (Sun)
Ayrshire businessman Chris McMail has withdrawn an offer to invest £750,000 in Kilmarnock because club secretary Michael Johnston will not move aside. McMail speculates that Scotland’s oldest professional club could face administration if Billy Bowie decides to stop writing cheques to keep Killie afloat. (Daily Mail)
Aberdeen fans are planning a minute’s applause at Pittodrie on Sunday to welcome Rangers to the stadium for what they perceive to be the first time. They also plan to wear black armbands. (Daily Record)
The Dons’ Betfred Cup (the latest name for the League Cup) quarter-final win over St Johnstone on Thursday night made it 12 games unbeaten against the Perth side in the League Cup. (Daily Record)
Derek McInnes can surpass the achievements of Sir Alex Ferguson as Aberdeen manager if he can get past his old team Morton in the semi and then win the League Cup for a second time. (Daily Record)
McInnes is unhappy that his team have 48 hours fewer to prepare for Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off than opponents Rangers, who played Queen of the South at Ibrox on Tuesday evening. (Various)
St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright plays down a “bust-up” after the game at Pittodrie, where the Saints players, passing the home dressing room with music blaring and players celebrating, closed the door on their way to do their warm down. (Various)
Former Rangers, Everton and West Ham striker Nikica Jelavic says Chinese football is on the up and the Croat adds that he’s delighted to be playing for Beijing Renhe after six years in Britain. (Daily Record)
Former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson says “you don’t know what hatred feels like until you walk out at Pittodrie with a Rangers badge on your chest”. (Daily Record)
Ferguson’s one-time Ibrox team-mate Neil McCann warns Rangers that they will have to be at their “absolute best” to get anything against Aberdeen. (Sun)
Ex-Rangers striker Mark Hateley recalls “battering” stand-in Aberdeen goalkeeper Michael Watt in aerial challenges when the teams were playing a title decider at Ibrox in 1991, which Rangers won 2-0. Aberdeen needed only a draw to win the league. (Sun)
Hibs head coach Neil Lennon praises referee Nick Walsh for admitting he was wrong to send off Marvin Bartley against Ayr. Bartley is available to play against Queen of the South after compliance officer Tony McGlennan and Walsh downgraded the red card to a yellow. (Various)
Red Bull Leipzig manager Ralph Hasenhuttl describes £13m winger Oliver Burke as having “frightening quality”, despite him having not started a game yet for his new club. (Various)
Burnley manager Sean Dyche would not be drawn on the possibility of Joey Barton returning to Turf Moor, saying it was an issue for Rangers and the player. Dyche said Barton was “fantastic” for Burnley, “on and off the field”. (Daily Record)
Mark McGhee has compared his striker Louis Moult to Luis Suarez when he was at Liverpool – but only in terms of their relative importance to Motherwell and the Anfield side. (Daily Record)
Hearts goalscoring legend John Robertson thinks American international Perry Kitchen is the ideal person to appoint as club captain. “He’s strong, determined, hard-working in the middle of the park, leads by example, great attitude and speaks very well,” said Robertson of Alim Ozturk’s replacement. (Scotsman)
Scotland will bid to stage the Women’s European Under-17 or Under-19 Championship in 2019. (National)
OTHER GOSSIP
Stand-off Finn Russell will cope with anything that Ulster might throw at him on his return from injury to the Glasgow Warriors’ starting XV at Scotstoun in the Pro12 on Friday. (Daily Mail, Times)
Speaking to the Gay Times about his dad, double track cycling Olympic medallist Callum Skinner admits he was “always a little anxious about having a gay father” watching him from the stands. (Times)
