Thursday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

The Scottish Football Association faces a £700,000 bill if it sacks Craig Levein, Scotland's highest-paid national boss in history, after deciding against releasing him for nothing following the failure to qualify for the Euro 2012 finals.

Full story: Daily Mail

Scotland are heading for pot five in the seedings for Euro 2016, making it even more difficult to reach the finals, following their poor start to the current World Cup qualifying campaign.

Full story: Daily Record

Scotland will slip to 71st in the Fifa rankings when the latest world listings are released next month, a drop of 15 places.

Full story: The Sun

Craig Levein has a 33 per cent win rate after 15 competitive games as Scotland coach and his three victories in 12 qualifiers makes him statistically the worst full-time manager of the national team since Andy Beattie in 1954.

Full story: Daily Record

A fifth successive competitive game without a win means Scotland are on their second worst run, which came during a seven-game run during the Euro 1984 campaign.

Full story: Daily Record

Belgium defender Thomas Varmaelen thinks Scotland coach Craig Levein got his tactics wrong in Brussels, being intent on defending when his side needed a win to retain hopes of qualifying from World Cup Group A.

Full story: Daily Record

Croatia coach Igor Stimac is hoping to switch his side's World Cup qualifier against Scotland to the 22,000 capacity Gradski Stadium after being impressed by the atmosphere at the Osijek venue for their win over Wales this week.

Full story: Daily Record

Scotland could benefit in World Cup qualifying Group A should Uefa impose a ban on Serbia following allegations of racial abuse aimed at England's Under-21 side - if European football's governing body asks world rulers Fifa to extend the suspension worldwide.

Full story: The Herald

Scottish referee Craig Thomson has been criticised by Romania coach Victor Piturca, who claims that the Netherlands received a soft penalty and an offside fourth goal during their 4-1 World Cup qualifying win.

Full story: The Sun

Hearts are poised to be hit with a Scottish Premier League points deduction after failing to pay manager John McGlynn and several first-team players for a second month running.

Full story: The Sun

Bolton Wanderers have held talks with former Rangers boss Graeme Souness and former Celtic defender Mick McCarthy as they search for a new manager to replace the sacked Owen Coyle.

Full story: The Times

Scotland forward David Goodwillie has cut short his loan spell with Crystal Palace and returned to Blackburn Rovers after failing to make an impression with the London club.

Full story: The Scotsman

Alloa Athletic have made moves to terminate the contract of David Cox after an alleged breach of club discipline by the striker.

Full story: Daily Express

OTHER GOSSIP

Former British welterweight champion Kevin McIntyre has given up boxing to become a referee.

Full story: The Herald

Scottish golfers Craig Lee (118th), Alastair Forsyth (128th) and George Murray (150th) go into the ISPS Hand Perth Invitational hoping for a high enough finish as they seek a place in the top 115 and retention of their European Tour cards for next season with two events left.

Full story: The Sun