FOOTBALL GOSSIP
Scott McDonald will be staying put at Motherwell after a possible move to Australia collapsed. McDonald had been mulling over the offer of a two-year deal with Western Sydney Wanderers, but Motherwell blocked the move by demanding a transfer fee for the striker. (Daily Record)
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers admits he wants to strengthen his squad before the European signing deadline at midnight tonight ahead of a Champions League meeting with Astana in Kazakhstan next week. (The Herald)
Rodgers says Celtic must raise their game to overcome the massive hurdles that lie in wait against Astana. (Daily Star)
Mark Warburton insists Rangers will not be dragged into an auction they will lose as he steps up his hunt for a centre-half. Warburton has made nine signings this summer but still wants to add a central defender and a striker. (Scottish Sun)
Neil Doncaster claimed Celtic and Rangers have brought the “showbusiness” back to Scottish football, and insisted he will make the cash-rich broadcasters pay for it. The SPFL chief executive hinted that talks with TV giants Sky and BT Sport have already taken place behind the scenes even though both companies are locked into cut-price deals until 2020. (Daily Record)
Doncaster believes the prospect of Scottish clubs being denied access to any revamped Champions League would “damage the very fabric of football in this country”. (The Herald)
Hibernian manager Neil Lennon claims UEFA have left him unable to do his job properly after they hit him with a dugout ban for tonight’s Europa League visit to Brondby. (Daily Express)
Tony Watt insists his loan move to Hearts can reignite his nomadic career. The ex-Celtic striker has moved to Tynecastle from Charlton until the end of the season. (Daily Record)
Jamie Walker has branded early exits for Scottish clubs from Europe an embarrassment, and says Hearts will not suffer the same humiliation tonight against Maltese outfit Birkirkara. (Scottish Sun)
Scotland international Grant Hanley is reportedly set to sign for Newcastle United from Blackburn Rovers. A fee of £5.5m is believed to have been agreed for the defender. (The Herald)
Gary Locke is ‘very hopeful’ that Raith Rovers can seal a deal to sign former Hearts star Rudi Skacel in the next 48 hours. (Daily Star)
Lee Miller insists Will Vaulks has what it takes to step up to the English Championship but he would dearly love the midfielder to stay at Falkirk. (The Scotsman)
OTHER GOSSIP
Scotland Sevens captain Scott Wight was delighted to see his close friend and team-mate Mark Robertson selected for the Olympics, and believes he can make a real impact for Team GB in Rio. (The Scotsman)
Chris O’Hare says his Olympic debut will mean nothing if he fails to make the 1500m final in Rio. (The National)
