Friday's Scottish Gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Terry Butcher is likely to miss Inverness Caledonian Thistle's meeting with Hibernian on Saturday as he edges closer to switching from the Highland outfit to Easter Road as manager.

Full story: The Sun (print edition)

Hearts manager Gary Locke fears that John Robertson, who is coaching on a voluntary basis at Tynecastle, will be lured back to Inverness Caledonian Thistle as manager should Butcher switch to Hibernian.

Full story: The Sun (print edition)

Locke has warned there will be no quick route out of administration despite a proposal being sent to creditors for a £2.5m takeover by the Foundation of Hearts.

Full story: The Scotsman

United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann has accused Scotland of "being on vacation" and "only wanting to have a good time" when his side won 5-1 in summer 2012, but he expects an entirely different proposition when the sides meet again at Hampden next Friday.

Full story: The Herald

Riordan last played in Scotland with St Johnstone

Derek Riordan, still looking for a club after leaving Bristol Rovers 11 months ago, is training with Alloa Athletic, but Dunfermline Athletic and Falkirk are also interested in the 30-year-old former Hibernian forward.

Full story: The Herald

Kilmarnock manager Allan Johnston is surprised that Nigeria have called up Gabriel Reuben for their international against Italy despite the 23-year-old having never kicked a ball for the Rugby Park club and not playing for a year because of injury.

Full story: Daily Record (print edition)

St Johnstone will be without Rory Fallon for matches against Kilmarnock and Inverness Caledonian Thistle because the striker has been called up by New Zealand for World Cup play-off games against Mexico.

Full story: Daily Mail (print edition)

Kilmarnock manager Allan Johnston has revealed he made a failed bid to sign striker Stevie May from Saturday's opponents St Johnstone while manager of Queen of the South at the end of last season.

Full story: The Sun (print edition)

On-loan Bolton Wanderers midfielder Gary Fraser is back in the Partick Thistle squad after serving a two-match suspension, but the 19-year-old could be handed a longer-term ban when he faces a disciplinary hearing next Thursday for allegedly punching and kicking Dunfermline Athletic's Chris Kane in an under-20s game.

Full story: The Sun (print edition)

Rangers forward Andy Little's surgery for a broken cheekbone suffered in Wednesday's win over Dunfermline Athletic has been postponed until Monday because the swelling is so bad.

Full story: The Sun (print edition)

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has verbally berated his players, admitting that he is "angry, disappointed and frustrated" at how badly they had let him down in their Champions League Group H defeat by Ajax on Wednesday.

Full story: Daily Record (print edition)

Celtic have had the least possession of any of the 32 teams in the Champions League group stage and, if they fail to score in Barcelona next month, it will be the first time they have failed to find the net in five consecutive European ties.

Full story: The Sun (print edition)

Former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli could sit out AC Milan's Champions League meeting with Celtic after being dropped by coach Massimiliano Allegri for Wednesday's 3-1 defeat by Barcelona.

Full story: Daily Record (print edition)

Glasgow City midfielder Jess Fishlock has been passed fit to face Arsenal in Saturday's Champions League tie against Arsenal despite the Wales international having a broken wrist in a cast and having been on crutches after the previous round's win over Standard Liege.

Full story: The Sun (print edition)

Highland League club Nairn County have launched a press campaign highlighting "the dangers of payday loans", with Citizens Advice Scotland contrasting the approach with clubs like Hearts who are sponsored by Wonga.

Full story: The Herald

OTHER GOSSIP

Edinburgh forward Dave Denton says reports of a switch to Leicester Tigers will not distract him from concentrating on beating Japan with Scotland.

Full story: Daily Record