Walter Smith casts doubt over Andrew Ellis takeover bid

Rangers boss Walter Smith has cast doubts over Andrew Ellis's bid to buy the club from Sir David Murray.

Ellis issued a vague statement on Monday night to Sky Sports claiming that there will be serious developments in the next three or four weeks.

Also in the statement Ellis suggested: "Should I gain control if the club I intend to offer Walter a new contract as his experience and knowledge is invaluable both to me and the club."

That should have been good news for the veteran manager who has been working without a contract since the turn of the year and who is in the dark over next season's budget.

A meeting with club chairman Alastair Johnston is planned for Saturday to discuss the budget and the fate of six out of contract players including Kris Boyd and captain Davie Weir.

Smith has become clearly frustrated about being kept in the dark about the club's finances and wasn't overly excited about the latest soundbite coming from the Ellis camp.

 David Tanner, Sky Sports : "The potential new owner said some very positive things last night, including about yourself Walter, are you more optomistic about the future of Rangers now?

Walter Smith: "I don't know because in the end I've never spoken to the chap who has mentioned that, I don't know.

"He can say what he likes about me but I would be obliged if he would speak to me before he mentions anything else in the newspapers again.

"I agree with Sir David Murray, if somebody is going to come in and take over the club then do so instead of talking about it in newspapers."

David Tanner: "Walter, thank you."

On Monday Ellis told Sky Sports: "The bid includes all the club's debt and I'm optimistic there will be serious developments in the next three to four weeks.

"Should I gain control if the club I intend to offer Walter a new contract as his experience and knowledge is invaluable both to me and the club.

"It is only fitting that former chairman Sir David Murray should be offered the role of life president as what he has done for the club can never be forgotten."

Ellis statement to Sky Sports 

Video Celts on an end of season Bosman over HERE

Tommy McIntyre's disappointment at Glasgow Cup defeat

Academy boss Tommy McIntyre was disappointed but philosophical after tonight's Glasgow Cup Final defeat to Rangers.

A late goal from Curtis Jones couldn't prevent the Ibrox kids from lifting the trophy at Clyde's Broadwood Stadium.

The young Celts never really did themselves justice with only Belfast bhoy Paul George catching the eye.

After the match McIntyre said: "We started the game well, for 25 minutes we dominated but we needed to get the first goal. Unfortunately we lost a sloppy goal which was annoying because we had worked a lot on defending set plays. 

"Sometimes that can be the difference in a match. That goal really effected us, some heads dropped and we started chasing the match. Then we lost another bad goal after that with a bit of hesitancy in the box.

"What really matters is what happens at both ends, the bit in the middle is important but you need to be able to defend your penalty box and to attack in the other box. I don't think that we did enough of that tonight."

Celtic started with nine of the side that had beaten Hearts 2-0 at u-19 level on Friday with Marcus Fraser and John Herron coming in to replace Stephen O'Donnell at right-back and Islam Feruz in midfield.

George was causing Rangers problems on the left flank but there wasn't much activity in the penalty box to trouble the Rangers defence who were well marshalled by the commanding Kamil Wiktorski.

With 27 minutes gone Rangers opened the scoring when an inswinging free kick from the left by Adam Hunter was left by everyone and allowed to creep into the net at Robbie Thomson's far post.

Nine minutes later Celtic were left with a mountain to climb when Kyle McAusland caused panic in the Celtic defence before netting from 12 yards out.

Celtic failed to function properly as a team with the midfield unable to link effectively with the strikers and the back four looking uncomfortable under pressure.

There was no real pressure put on the Rangers goal until the double substitution of Mo Yaqub and Ryan Hutchison for Marcus Fraser and Callum McGregor.

Yaqub went to left-back with Filip Twardzik pushed into midfield where he had a greater influence on the game as Celtic adopted a more direct approach.

Filip Twardzik should have found the net from a cut-back by George in the 79th minute but sent his shot over the bar with brother Patrik striking the bar with an opportunist 25 yarder five minutes later.

Jones gave Celtic hope of forcing the game into extra time when he scored from close range after Rangers 'keeper Blair Currie parried a shot from Liam Madden but there was to be no further scoring.
McIntyre added: "We'll learn from this, we'll pick a lot from the match. The coaching staff and players will learn from this.

"The players will be hurt and disappointed. We'll dissect the match, look to see how we can improve and try to make sure that they do learn the lessons.

"They are young kids and you sometimes forget how young they are, the criticism has to be constructive. With every success you have to experience certain failures and they can learn from this."

CELTIC: Robbie Thomson; Marcus Fraser (Mo Yaqub 74), John Young, Curtis Jones, F Twardzik; John Herron, Liam Madden, Callum McGregor ( Ryan Hutchison 74); P Twardzik, Liam Gormley, Paul George SUBS James Wightman, Michael Fulton, Michael Devlin, Joe Chalmers, Jordan Moffat  

Video Celts is on the move to HERE

Lennon hands Smith a lesson in dignity

Neil Lennon handed out a lesson in dignity tonight after Rangers boss Walter Smith delivered a savage attack on Andreas Hinkel.

The mild mannered full-back's view that Celtic are a better team than Rangers had clearly got under the skin of the Ibrox boss who nursed his grudge until after tonight's defeat.

Amongst other things Smith suggested that there must be something wrong at Celtic if they hadn't won more than Rangers over the last two seasons and that the players must be a poor set of professionals.

Diplomatically Lennon replied saying: "That's not Walter's place. He's not the Celtic manager or affiliated with the club. Those comments should be best left for someone at the club to say.

"I asked the boys to prove me wrong (after the Ross County defeat) and they've gone a long way to doing that.

"I don't comment on Rangers, certainly not as a manager anyway. I've been quite gracious towards Rangers, their performances and the way that they've dealt with things. Their mentality this season.

"I don't think that it's Walter's place to criticise the Celtic players, leave that to people like myself."

Without any prompting and rather than praising his own players efforts over the season Smith launched into his attack on Hinkel.

Previewing the game the Celtic defender had claimed: "When you see the three games we have had against them this season, then think about it. Even the game we lost in the last minute, we deserved a draw. We were very unlucky.

"I can't say in a few words why we are the better team, but just watch the previous Old Firm games.

"I don't want to talk about the decisions in the Old Firm matches but you can see them. We are frustrated about all three games against Rangers."

Having experienced success at Stuttgart and Seville, two clubs that Rangers faced in Europe this season, Hinkel's comments are those of an experienced footballer who has sampled the game in three different countries as well as earning 21 international caps for Germany.

Furious Smith responded with: "Andreas Hinkel said in the paper the other day that Celtic are the better team.

"If he sits down and he analyses what he said then you've got to say why does he think they are a better team than Rangers when Rangers have won six trophies over a three-year period and reached a European final and Celtic have won two.

"He must feel then, that if they are the better team, something is wrong. It might be if they had shown the same attitude as they showed in the first half of the game tonight, they might have been in a far better position.

"He has got to ask himself that question. If he sits down and says that Celtic are a better team than Rangers, he should ask himself if he's proud of the way they have played over the last few seasons because I'm certainly proud of the way my team has played and my team has something tangible to show for it at the end.

"I can't understand why any professional doesn't take a good look at himself first before saying Celtic are a better team than Rangers because it's patently obvious that they are not and haven't been.

"Maybe it's simply because of their approach and their attitude to the game, that Neil Lennon is now bringing out in them.

"But if it takes a manager to bring it out in you, then you are looking at a poor set of professionals."

In this season's Champions League campaign Rangers became the first British club to lose all three home matches and fail to win a single match, in the Europa League Celtic recorded one win and three draws whilst losing at home to Hamburg and away to Hapoel Tel Aviv under former manager Tony Mowbray.

Celtic 2-1 Rangers BBC match highlights 

Video Celts on a Bosman transfer over HERE

Lennon looks for magic from Aiden McGeady

Neil Lennon has challenged Aiden McGeady to turn on the magic in tonight's final derby match of the season.

“I think that he's due a big performance against Rangers,” Lennon said after the midfielder had inspired Celtic to a 4-0 win over Motherwell on Saturday.

McGeady hasn't had much joy against Rangers over the last two years under Gordon Strachan and Tony Mowbray and was taunted by Nacho Novo on a video on the official Rangers website during the club's title celebrations.

Lennon understands the mindset of his former team-mate better than anyone and knows that an on-form McGeady can help deliver the win that will make his case to become permanent boss irresistible.

“I thought that Aiden was sloppy in the first half,” the caretaker boss admitted after the win over Motherwell. “But he was excellent in the second half.

“Maybe there was a wee bit of flatness about the occasion for him but I think that he'll be right up for it on Tuesday. I think that he's due a big performance against Rangers.

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"I want him to put in a big performance, not for me or for the fans, but for himself. He deserves a big performance. 

"That’s not throwing down the gauntlet, I just want to coax it out of him. It’s not that he’s not trying or anything like that. 

"The kid is a magnificent professional, he’s fantastic in training and wants to get better all the time. I just think he deserves a big performance to befit his talent.”

Lennon added: “We need to step it up on Tuesday, we need to tighten things up against a team of the quality of Rangers who can punish you.

“Each win has been a step in the right direction, the confidence in the squad is good and we have enough quality to give Rangers a good game.

“The players have to salvage something from the season, they have a good wee run going. They're in a positive frame of mind and are a lot more confident about themselves as a group and individually. They are looking forward to the game.”

Tonight's clash may be technically meaningless but with the manager's job at Celtic still vacant the game has an extra dimension for Lennon.

“Players are defined by it, managers are defined by it,” he admitted in reference to the game against Rangers with the caretaker manager playing a blinder against constant speculation about his prospects.

Lennon hasn't been shy to put himself forward for the job on a permanent basis but has stood back from making public demands of the Celtic board regarding the managers job.

Six SPL wins on the bounce has given his appointment momentum although the defeat to Ross County in the Scottish Cup stands out in the debit column.

Lennon will turn to Robbie Keane to shoot down Rangers with Saturday's extra-time goal against Motherwell taking the striker to the top of the Celtic scoring charts with 15 for the season.

Keane was kept on the bench for an hour on Saturday before helping to secure the win with three goals coming in the last 12 minutes following McGeady's opener.

As a player Lennon was never far from the action against Rangers with the two red cards of his Celtic career coming against the Ibrox side.

That same competitive attitude has been transferred into the dug-out with Lennon kicking every ball and contesting every decision from the side-lines.

Managing Celtic against Rangers with his job prospects on the line will be an incredible challenge for the former Celtic skipper who wears his heart on his sleeve in every match.

“Will I change? No, not at all,” Lennon admitted. “You have to be consistent and can't just change for one game.

"It is a bit unfair to say this match will decide if I get the job. I should be judged over the piece but I know this is probably a job interview.

“Old Firm games define your reputation because fans will always hark back to them. It will be my biggest game and it will be a cup final sort of atmosphere.

"For a lot of the players it will be their last game of the season - possibly their last for the club. So I'd like to think they will put on a show.”

Stephen McManus returns from Middlesbrough

Stephen McManus is returning to Celtic unsure of his future after ending his loan spell at Middlesbrough.

With Gordon Strachan cutting back the club's staff it seems highly unlikely that he will be able to take McManus to the Riverside Stadium on a permanent basis.

"I have no idea what happens, this is new to me," McManus told the 'Boro website. "I have never been on loan before, I don't know what the scenario is.

"But what I do know is that I have really enjoyed my time down here, it's really opened my eyes to life outside Glasgow. It's been first class. 

"Whether I go back to Celtic, somewhere else or I stay here I'll be playing with a spring in my step and it's because of this club."

McManus added: "The fans have been great. When I came down here some had commented on the fans, some positive, some negative but personally they have been great.

"Plymouth really opened my eyes about the Boro fans. It was just incredible how many we took down there, especially in the circumstances. Players really appreciate that kind of support.

"I don't think that enough people think about the men and women who work Monday to Friday and then pay good money to come and watch us. It's an incredible feeling for us to wear the strip to make them  proud."

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Boro website

Caldwell v Jan- the glamour of the Premiership

Two years ago Gary Caldwell and Jan Venegoor of Hesselink were driving Celtic to a third successive SPL title- at lunchtime today they could be face to face in one of the Premiership's least attractive fixtures.

Wigan Athletic against Hull City has all the attraction and appeal as the semi-finals of the Aberdeenshire Cup but dressed up by Sky as part of the Premiership package it will have a worldwide audience of millions looking in on the former Celts.

Earlier this season Wigan beat Hull 4-1 at home in an FA Cup Replay with just 5,335 fans bothering to turn up.

After picking up a serious looking head knock against Aston Villa big Jan is hoping to be back in the Hull side that will only beat the drop with two wins in their final matches alongside a defeat for West Ham and an unlikely goal swing of 22 against the Hammers.

Jan left Celtic at the end of his contract last summer and has scored three goals from 15 Premiership starts plus 14 substitute appearances.

Stephen Hunt is Hull's top scorer with just six goals with the club averaging less than a goal a game from a season that always seemed destined for relegation.

Since his January move to Wigan Caldwell has started 14 Premiership with his new club ensuring their Premiership survival in their last home outing when they came from behind to record an unlikely 3-2 win over Arsenal.

Adding to the Celtic connections in today's game will be the presence of James McCarthy in manager Roberto Martinez's side.

Both names were linked seperately with Celtic last summer before opting to move to Wigan.

McCarthy was also linked with a loan move during the January transfer window but has been a regular in the Wigan midfield since the new year despite being only 19-years-old.

Arsenal have been linked with a move for the former Hamilton midfielder who made his international debut in March for Ireland against Brazil.

Meanwhile Ronald Koeman has probably talked himself out of the running as the next Celtic manager.

The former Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Valencia and Benfica manager has told a Dutch newspaper that contact has been made with Celtic.

Going by previous 'changeovers' any candidate that goes public about discussions with Celtic are likely to be looking elsewhere for their next job.

Tough start to management for Henrik Larsson

Henrik Larsson's Landskrona BOIS went down to a 1-0 defeat at home to  Atvidabergs FF yesterday and sit fourth from bottom of the Superettan (Second Division) after four games.

LBoIS opened their season with a 1-0 win away to Degerfors but have scored just three goals in four games which must prove tempting for the King of Kings to put the boots back on.

As a player Larsson made a few u-turns going on to win titles for Manchester United and Barcelona after leaving Celtic as well as scoring in the 2006 World Cup having previously announced his international retirement.

Former Manchester United winger Jesper Blomqvist has made a return to playing with Hammerby after a break of almost five years interrupted only by a 10 game run due to an injury crisis at Enkoping SK in 2008.

Larsson's last match was in October last year for Helsingborg in the Allsvenskan (First Division) before deciding on making the move into management. 

Despite their disappointing start to the season LBoIS are only four points behind leaders Assyriska FF with their next match being on Wednesday away to second placed Orgryte

There will always be rumours and wishful thinking about Larsson making a return to Celtic as manager but he clearly intends to learn about the job out of the spotlight although the temptation to get on the park to help out his new club must be huge.

Meanwhile over in Denmark Morten Weighorst's FC Norsjaelland drew 1-1 at home with Randers.

FCN are sitting in seventh place in the twelve club division a comfortable ten points clear of the strangely named Yeovil Town who are occupying one of the two relegation places.

LBoIS website (Swedish)