Sunday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic are considering a January move for St Mirren midfielder John McGinn, with the 20-year-old on a lengthy list of targets for manager Ronny Deila. (Sunday Mail)

Celtic manager Ronny Deila believes the mutual appreciation that exists between Virgil van Dijk and his Glasgow employers will ensure the defender stays put during the January transfer window despite reported interest from English clubs. (Scotland On Sunday)

Ronny Deila has compared Dundee United midfielder and reported Celtic target Stuart Armstrong to Germany's World Cup star, Thomas Muller, in his playing style. (Mail On Sunday, print edition)

Several Dundee United players could be under extra scrutiny today at Tannadice with Celtic manager Ronny Deila considering January offers for some his opponents' players. (Sunday Times, print edition)

Ally McCoist may have managed Rangers for the final time as shareholder Mike Ashley prepares a fresh injection of money that would pay for the Scot's removal. (Mail On Sunday)

Darren Fletcher (right) started against Aston Villa on Saturday but could leave Manchester United

Ally McCoist will hold talks with the Rangers board today to decide if he will attend the club's annual meeting on Monday, but fans have vowed to shield their manager from the flak that will be aimed at the board following further financial problems. (Sunday Mail)

After Saturday's win over Livingston, Ally McCoist avoided making an expected statement about whether he would attend Monday's annual meeting and insisted he has not yet been informed of his obligations by Rangers' board. (Sunday Herald)

While it was not the single most important cause of his resignation, there is no doubt that the redundancies of backroom staff at Rangers, including his loyal secretary, Laura Tarbet, contributed to manager Ally McCoist's controversial decision to hand in his notice. (Scotland On Sunday)

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has urged new chief executive Derek Llambias to sort out the future of 12 first-team players who are out of contract before he is. (Sunday Mail)

Hearts director of football Craig Levein says extra sales of season tickets this summer allowed head coach Robbie Neilson to sign two additional players. (Sunday Express, print edition)

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher could leave Old Trafford on loan in January in search of first-team starts in a bid to revive his Scotland career. (Mail On Sunday, print edition)

Liz McColgan-Nuttall has been hired by Qatar to find athletics stars of the future

Michael Carrick has taken over from fellow midfielder Darren Fletcher as Manchester United's vice-captain, with the Scot failing to hold down a regular place. (Mail On Sunday)

Fulham manager Kit Symons says Ross McCormack, who scored in a 4-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, is staying at Craven Cottage despite bieng linked with a transfer only months after arriving from Leeds United. (Daily Star On Sunday)

If new manager John Potter fails to lead Dunfermline Athletic to promotion this season, it could force a switch to part-time football at East End Park. (Sunday Mail, print edition)

OTHER GOSSIP

The Scottish ­Government has demanded that a larger slice of the funding set aside to back the elite of British sport is spent in Scotland as part of the revamp of UK Sport's strategy, which is expected in the New Year. (Sunday Herald)

An Edinburgh expert, Professor Allyson Pollock, has warned of child injuries playing rugby and her book "Tackling Rugby" could cause a revolution within the Scottish game. (Scotland On Sunday)

Treviso look likely to face a disciplinary hearing after Edinburgh lock Fraser McKenzie claimed he was poked in the eye with a pen by a member of the Italians' coaching staff amid a brawl during Friday's Guinness Pro12 match. (Mail On Sunday, print edition)

Former 10,000m world champion Liz McColgan-Nuttall has been hired by Qatar Athletics Federation to help the world's richest nation develop its endurance running talent. (The Observer)

Guy Learmonth emerged from the greatest two weeks of his career - when he finished sixth in the Commonwealth Games 800m final - to suffer the worst six months of his life through a series of personal heartaches in the second half of 2014. (Sunday Mail)

Ice skater Elise Christie secured bronze at the World Cup short-track event in Seoul. (Mail On Sunday)