Wednesday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Mark Wotte walked away from his role as Scottish FA performance director after failing to receive the backing he wanted in a meeting with chief executive Stewart Regan, who had come under pressure from the Scottish Professional Football League's top clubs to force the Dutchman out of the door.(Daily Record)

The fact the Scottish FA has yet to state whether Mark Wotte will be replaced after three years as performance director has led to speculation that a squeeze on budgets demanded by the Professional Game Board may have helped in the Dutchman's departure. (The Scotsman)

Former Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Hibernian assistant Maurice Malpas has accused former SFA performance director Mark Wotte of bullying clubs to back his vision for youth football by giving them £10,000 handouts. (The Sun, print edition)

Scotland Under-21 striker Tony Watt insists he has learned more in two months working under Guy Luzon, who resigned this week as Standard Liege manager after a poor start to the season, than he did in his final two years with Celtic. (The Herald)

Celtic goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska had to train with two black eyes on Tuesday after a clash with two rival players during a night out in Glasgow's Ashton Lane early the previous morning.(Daily Record)

Astra Giurgiu, Celtic's Europa League opponents on Thursday, were delayed on their way to Scotland last night amid claims that their flight had not been paid for. (The Scotsman)

Astra Giurgiu's preparations for their Europa League tie with Celtic are in disarray after the Romanian club were forced to leave first-team players Kehinde Fatai and Seidu Yahaya behind because they did not have appropriate visas to board their flight to Scotland. (Daily Record, print edition)

Former Celtic, Hibernian and Scotland forward Derek Riordan has two more games left at a trialist to win a contract with Brechin City after playing 13 minutes of their 2-1 defeat by Stranraer. (Daily Express, print edition)

Kieron Dyer says Graeme Souness offered to fight him and Lee Bowyer after the players were sent off

Captain Manuel Pascali has dismissed suggestions that the Kilmarnock squad are considering strike action on Sunday against Celtic as a row over team bonuses continues at Rugby Park. (The Sun, print edition)

Dave King on Tuesday continued his talks with the Rangers board aimed at him ploughing a possible £16m into the cash-strapped club and the businessman is scheduled to return to South Africa on Thursday after taking in tonight's Champions League encounter between Liverpool and Real Madrid at Anfield. (Daily Record)

Former Rangers director David King intends to make a statement on the progress of a bail-out offer to the Glasgow club's board before his planned return to South Africa on Thursday.(Daily Telegraph)

Rangers manager Ally McCoist will have words with Richard Foster after the defender became involved in an angry exchange with supporters during last night's Petrofac Training Cup quarter-final win over East Fife. (The Sun, print edition)

Graeme Souness offered to fight both Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer after the Newcastle United team-mates were sent off for trading blows during the Scotsman's time as manager. (Daily Mail)

Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted that David Moyes' failure at Manchester United was not his fault and that the slow style of play his successor introduced was alien to his players. (The Guardian)

Sir Alex Ferguson says Davie Moyes struggled to cope with the size of Manchester United during his fellow Scot's doomed 10 months in charge and insists he was not solely responsible for the appointment of his successor as manager.(Daily Express)

OTHER GOSSIP

Craig Lee, David Drysdale, Peter Whiteford, James McLeary, Alastair Forsyth and Jack Doherty require good performances this week at the Perth International in Australia to retain their European Tour cards for next season. (The Sun, print edition)

Just 24 hours after being left out of Vern Cotter's Scotland squad for the ­autumn Test series, Glasgow Warriors forward Al Kellock received a call-up by the Barbarians for their match against England at Twickenham on 1 November. (The Scotsman)