The Scottish Football thread

[Starvinho]

And I nearly watched the Celtic game instead...

[Lineker]

So much for Helicopter Sunday - looks like it won't even have to take off!

[The Kraig]

So much for Helicopter Sunday - looks like it won't even have to take off!

I just said the same thing on Twitter! Get it on the next bus to Kilmarnock!

[DJ Ice]

KILLIE THREW THE GAME

[Lineker]

Fucking hell! Hat-trick for Lafferty, 5-0 Rangers. 52 minutes gone. Could be cricket score here.

[The Kraig]

We want 10! We want 10! We want 10!

Oh, Killie's arse must be screaming in pain right now!

lol @ the Kilmarnock goal.

Kilmarnock 1-5 Rangers, for anyone wondering what's happening.

[Lineker]

Well most cricket games do have at least one wicket

[The Kraig]

Well most cricket games do have at least one wicket

And zero Scotsmen.

I'll miss Walter. :')

[King Ellis]

Up yours, Kaney!

[Lineker]

Well done to Rangers. Celtic will come back strong next year though.

[ADG]

Rangers came out of the blocks all guns blazing and were just too quick and creative for Killie in the opening ten minutes. They really needed to score before Celtic to keep their composure, if news came through that Celtic were winning and it was 0-0 at Rugby Park nervousness could have creeped in and mistakes could have been made. Instead they went at it from the first second and caught Killie off guard, much as Man Utd did against Chelsea a couple of weeks back. Well done Walter!

Edited May 15, 2011 by ADG

[Kaney]

Well done to the Gers, but we'll be getting it back next season

It was always going to be an uphill struggle hoping for Kilmarnock to even get a draw, but it was obvious Rangers were fired up for it right from the off. Lafferty getting a hat trick is a kick in the balls, but you guys obviously wanted it more. I just wonder how different the season would have been if we'd have been gelled from the start, if we had Commons, didn't always pick fucking Samaras, or if you lot had kept Miller. I doubt it'd have gone right down to the last day.

[Cadj]

Or if Kevin Kyle stayed fit

[Lineker]

A Celtic Park tribute match for retired defender John Kennedy has been postponed following recent security fears surrounding manager Neil Lennon.

The match was to feature the current first team playing against members of the Celtic side that reached the 2003 Uefa Cup final under Martin O'Neill.

It had been scheduled for Sunday but will now be played at a later, unspecified date.

Kennedy was forced to retire in 2006 because of a persistent knee injury.

He picked up the cruciate ligament injury while playing for Scotland against Romania but was forced to give up the game after a series of operations and attempted comebacks.

The match in his honour was due to take place the day after the Scottish Cup final against Motherwell.

But the testimonial committee felt it would be inappropriate to play the game following a turbulent few months for their manager.

Lennon has been targeted with suspected parcel bombs, was the subject of an alleged assault at Tynecastle last week, and has been sent bullets through the post, resulting in him receiving constant police and private security protection.

A representative of the testimonial committee told Celtic's official website: "The committee is very sensitive to everything that has gone on around the club and, in particular, the manager in recent weeks.

"Therefore, we felt it would be best to reschedule the match for a more appropriate time.

"We thank the many supporters who have already committed to the game and sincerely apologise for any inconvenience. Please be assured the club will provide full refunds.

"We hope the Celtic support will understand this was a difficult decision, but we feel it's the correct one for all concerned in the current circumstances.

"We look forward to announcing the new details in due course and staging the match when we can celebrate the great contribution to Celtic made by John Kennedy, Martin O'Neill and a host of Celtic legends."

Police were called to Scottish club Cowdenbeath on Monday after a suspicious package was delivered.

Officers went to Cowdenbeath's Central Park ground but were later stood down.

A Fife Constabulary spokesman said the package had been addressed to club chairman Donald Findlay QC - one of Scotland's top lawyers.

The spokesman said the item did not contain a bomb but was designed to alarm Mr Findlay - a former Rangers vice-chairman.

He confirmed a police presence had been required. He added: "Initial police resources at the scene have now been stood down."

The club said it would not be commenting at this time.

Cowdenbeath FC were recently relegated to the Scottish Football League Second Division.

Alloa Athletic are expected to announce Paul Hartley as their new player/manager on Tuesday.

Edited May 16, 2011 by DaLinEk

[Lineker]

Rangers are opting out of the third weekend of next season to host a friendly with Chelsea on 6 August.

The Scottish Premier League kicks off again on 23 July, the earliest ever start for the top flight.

However, a "one-off compromise" protocol allows clubs to compete in friendly matches by postponing a game.

The ruling stems from Celtic arranging to play in the Dublin Super Cup over the weekend of 30 and 31 July before the SPL start date was announced.

"I don't think there will be a whole lot of disruption - I think the solution we've come up with is a fair compromise for everyone," said SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster on 1 March when announcing the unprecedented option of cancelling one match to accommodate a friendly.

SPL champions Rangers last faced Chelsea at Ibrox ahead of the 2007/8 campaign, with Filip Sebo and Nacho Novo on target in a 2-0 win.

Rangers have removed chairman Alastair Johnston from his position on the board, the club has announced.

Also leaving is director Paul Murray, who led a late bid to rival Craig Whyte's successful takeover of Sir David Murray's majority shareholding.

BBC Scotland's information is that both men were asked to resign and refused, leading to their removal.

Chief executive Martin Bain and finance director Donald McIntyre have been suspended pending an internal inquiry.

New appointments to the Ibrox board are likely to be made within the next two or three weeks.

However, it is understood John McClelland and John Greig will not be asked to resign their positions.

A statement to the stock exchange read: "The board announces that on 23 May 2011 Alastair Johnston and Paul Murray were removed as directors of The Rangers Football Club P.L.C."

Johnston had indicated previously that he would step down on 16 May. That was later delayed with the agreement of Whyte, pending the disclosure of more details about the buyout to shareholders.

That information is due on or before 6 June.

A spokesman for Whyte said: "Craig has no comment to make on what is an internal matter for Rangers."

Meanwhile, another statement to the stock exchange read: "The board announces that Cairn Financial Advisers LLP has been appointed PLUS corporate adviser to the company with immediate effect."

Edited May 24, 2011 by Macho Man LinSavage

[Lineker]

Hearts will be seeded in the third qualifying round of the forthcoming Europa League draw following results across Europe over the weekend.

Jim Jefferies' side will avoid Atletico Madrid, Red Star Belgrade and Palermo when the draw is made on 15 July.

Potential opponents for the Tynecastle outfit include Republic of Ireland's Sligo Rovers, Hajduk Split of Croatia, and Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia.

Ties are scheduled to be played on 28 July and 4 August.

[Cadj]

We'll still get beat by any of those 3 teams.

Omonia would be nice, get to see Bruno and Karipidis again, also a nice away trip for the fans.

[Lineker]

Aberdeen have confirmed that goalkeeper Jamie Langfield is recovering in hospital having suffered a seizure.

Langfield, 31, is in a stable condition in Glasgow's Southern General Hospital.

Dons chief executive Duncan Fraser said: "Obviously this is an extremely worrying time for Jamie.

"He had a comfortable night, there have been no further setbacks. Until the results of the tests he has undergone are known, we are not in a position to comment further."

Fraser also said that the thoughts of everyone at Aberdeen were with Langfield's wife Louise and his daughters.

Langfield signed for Aberdeen from Dunfermline in 2005 and recently committed his future to the club by signing a new contract that runs until the end of next season.

A proposed move to a 10-team Scottish Premier League is now dead, according to newly promoted Dunfermline Athletic's chairman John Yorkston.

It follows a meeting of representatives from eight of the current 12 clubs at Tynecastle to discuss the way forward for the top flight.

Only Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen and Hibernian were not represented.

"There was a unanimous decision in favour of re-investigating a league of 14," Yorkston told BBC Scotland.

"A 14 reflects the wishes of the fans and would allow the development of players without the fear factor.

"The SPL have been notified of this and we'll see how things move forward.

"I think it's safe to say that, after today's discussions, a league of 10 is now dead."

The 10-club proposal was the result of a SPL working party containing directors from Aberdeen, Celtic, Hibernian, Motherwell, Rangers and St Mirren.

Hamilton Academical chairman Ronnie McDonald also voiced his support for the proposal before the Lanarkshire club's relegation.

Aberdeen continue to back a smaller division and a club spokesman told BBC Scotland: "The 10-club proposal is the only one that is financially viable.

"We have yet to see any other model which is workable financially.

"A top tier of 10 with another tier of 10 clubs below is the one which we have publicly backed and is the only one that stacks up."

SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster, claiming there was broad support for the proposals, had also warned that a 10-club set-up was the only one that was financially viable.

But a proposed vote on change has been delayed on three occasions when it became clear that the required 11-1 majority would not be achieved.

Kilmarnock, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Dundee United and Motherwell have been vocal in their opposition to aspects of the plan.

A 10-club top-flight was only one of a number of proposed reforms, including a a merger with the Scottish Football League leading to pyramid structure in Scottish football, relegation play-offs and a redustribution of money away from the top two positions in the league and reallocating it to the other eight clubs.

Doncaster was adamant that those other measures could only be agreed along with a reduction to 10 clubs in the SPL.

However, he also said it was up to clubs opposing the plan to come up with alternatives.

[Starvinho]

"Celtic boss Neil Lennon agrees a new 12-month rolling contract."

From BBC Sport.

[Lineker]

Anti-sectarianism bill delayed.