Friday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic manager Ronny Deila insists his side are still targeting a run to the Europa League final after reaching the last 32 despite their 3-1 defeat at home to Salzburg. (Various)

And Deila believes his side are unlikely to face a better team than Salzburg in the knockout phase. (Daily Record)

Deila says reaching the last 32 of the Europa League is his greatest achievement as a manger. (Herald)

Midfielder Stefan Johansen, who scored Celtic's goal against the Austrians on Thursday night, also reckons the Scottish champions can make a real impact on the last 32. (Various)

Charlie Nicholas is convinced Kris Commons will leave Celtic in January and John Guidetti will follow him out the exit door when his loan spell ends in the summer, despite the club's attempts to snap up the Swede on a permanent contract. (Star)

Derek McInnes is wary of Dundee front man David Clarkson who has scored seven goals in seven games

Mark Wotte is a shock candidate for the director of football role at Rangers, after leaving his post as SFA performance director. (Scottish Sun)

Ally McCoist reveals he has been contacted over the possibility of appearing in court as a witness in proceedings against Craig Whyte and others relating to the takeover of Rangers, and the Ibrox manager would be happy to have his say. (Daily Record)

McCoist is convinced his team can respond to the flak they have received this week by beating Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup on Sunday. (Daily Record)

Barry Ferguson insists Rangers losing to Kilmarnock is "unthinkable" following another turbulent week on and off the pitch at Ibrox. (Daily Record)

Ex-Motherwell manager Stuart McCall believes Rangers will still win the Championship this season, and reckons they would do it even if flop former boss Paul Le Guen was in charge. (Daily Record)

Nacho Novo is backing Rangers striker Kris Boyd to start banging in the goals soon, despite his recent form slump. (Daily Record)

St Mirren manager Tommy Craig refuses to get too downbeat despite his side's struggles

Rangers could miss out on future involvement in Europe because of shareholder Mike Ashley's involvement with them and Newcastle United. (Herald)

St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright is desperate to lead his side to a second Scottish Cup win on the spin, as his team prepare for a meeting with Ross County in the competition this weekend. (Daily Record)

Hearts' Adam Eckersley insists Rangers striker Jon Daly was wrong to suggest the Tynecastle men were going down "like they had been shot by snipers" when the sides meet at the weekend, and reckons some of the challenges from the Ibrox team were "disgraceful". (Daily Record)

Tosh McKinlay says the 7-0 hammering Celtic dished out to Hearts in the Scottish Cup in 2013 has made the Tynecastle outfit better, as his former sides prepare to meet in the competition again this weekend. (Daily Record)

Hibernian manager Alan Stubbs insists his side's Scottish Cup jinx has to end some time, and he is desperate to be the man to finally lead the Easter Road men to glory in the competition. (Daily Record)

Alan Archibald believes his Partick Thistle outfit have a great chance to go far in the Scottish Cup if they can see off Hamilton on Saturday, because the number of all-Premiership ties means a lot of big names will be knocked out of the competition this weekend. (Various)

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes, who freed striker David Clarkson when he was boss of Bristol City, hopes the in-form Dundee forward does not gain his revenge when the Dons meet Dee in the Scottish Cup. (Daily Mail)

St Mirren manager Tommy Craig has urged angry fans to give him stick rather than his players. (Daily Record)

Manchester United and Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher is a target for Steve Bruce's Hull City

And Craig still feels like "the luckiest man in the world" because he works in football, despite coming under pressure in the St Mirren hotseat. (Herald)

Buddies chairman Stewart Gilmour has revealed his frustration at not being able to sell the Paisley club, which has been on the market for a number of years. (Scottish Sun)

Dunfermline youngster Ryan Williamson faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after dislocating his knee cap. (Daily Record)

Falkirk winger Alex Cooper, whose dad Neale won the Scottish Cup four times with Aberdeen, is desperate to follow in his father's footsteps by lifting the trophy this season with the Bairns. (Scottish Sun)

Cowdenbeath boss Jimmy Nicholl has signed former Aberdeen and Motherwell left-back Jordan Halsman. (Daily Mail)

Hull City hope to sign Manchester United's Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher should he quit Old Trafford in January. (Daily Mail)

OTHER GOSSIP

The Scottish cricket community has joined those paying tribute to Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, who died after being struck by a ball. (Daily Record)