Wednesday's Scottish Gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

First Minister Alex Salmond, himself a Hearts fan, has contacted the Lithuanian ambassador to the United Kingdom in a bid to help the Scottish Premiership club complete their exit from administration.

Full story: The Scotsman

Celtic are weighing up a £2m move for Cameroon midfielder Raoul Loe before the World Cup in case the Osasuna 25-year-old's value soars during the tournament.

Full story: Daily Express

Celtic are keeping tabs on Osasuna midfielder Raoul Lee along with Burnley and Sunderland, but West Brom are already trying to complete a deal for the £2m-rated Camerooon international.

Full story: Daily Mirror (print edition)

Celtic have dismissed Osasuna midfielder Raoul Lee's suggestion that a £2m summer move to the Scottish champions is likely.

Full story: The Sun (print edition)

Lierse technical director Tomasz Radzinski says Tony Watt only has himself to blame for being demoted to the reserves after the on-loan Celtic striker criticised coach Stanley Menzo in two interviews last month.

Loe has been linked with Celtic as well as Burnley, Sunderland and West Brom

Full story: Daily Express (print edition)

Celtic will almost certainly be seeded in all three Champions League qualifying rounds next season, although the Scottish champions will have to negotiate the second and third qualifying rounds as well as the play-off round if they want to reach the group stage again.

Full story: The Herald

Dundee are in talks with Everton about becoming the English Premier League outfit's Scottish feeder club.

Full story: The Sun (print edition)

ScotRail says it hopes to provide special trains for fans of Dundee United and St Johnstone heading for the Scottish Cup final following fears of travel problems because of track maintenance planned for 17 May.

Full story: Evening Telegraph

The Scottish Professional Football League will rule on a claim by midfielder Danny Racchi for a five-figure sum from Kilmarnock at a Hampden hearing tomorrow, the Englishman having been sacked in a row over a post on social media site Twitter a year ago.

Full story: Daily Mail

Championship club Livingston have had to postpone plans for an artificial surface after failing to secure funding in time.

Full story: Daily Record (print edition)

Tuesday's Championship game between Raith Rovers and Queen of the South in Kirkcaldy was moments away from being abandoned after a diesel spill on the Forth Road Bridge caught many players in a traffic jam.

Full story: Daily Record (print edition)

Aston Villa have suspended two of Paul Lambert's backroom team - assistant boss Ian Culverhouse and head of football operations Gary Karsa - "pending an internal investigation", but the disciplinary action is not thought to be related to the team's recent poor performances, which have led to question marks about the Scottish manager's future.

Full story: The Scotsman

Sheffield United are ready to add to their Scottish contingent of players by signing former Aberdeen midfielder Fraser Fyvie from Wigan Athletic.

Full story: Daily Record (print edition)

Former East Stirlingshire players Kevin McGoldrick and Martin Hardie have emerged as early contenders to replace John Coughlin as head coach with the League Two club.

Full story: Daily Record (print edition)

Montrose caretaker manager George Shields hopes to emerge as a candidate for the post on a permanent basis next season but had not yet decided whether he wants the job.

Full story: Daily Record (print edition)

OTHER GOSSIP

Edinburgh coach Alan Solomons reckons his players are not well enough conditioned to be competitive on a weekly basis in the RaboDirect Pro12 - and the South African has vowed to put that right over the summer so that there can be no excuses for failing to produce the goods on a consistent basis next season.

Full story: The Scotsman

London Scottish have pulled off a major coup by securing the services of Stade Francais youngster Peter Lydon on a one-year contract, and chief executive Kenny Baillie has hinted that the utility back could be joined by more big-name signings.

Full story: The Scotsman