Thursday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes wants midfielder Ryan Jack, who has 18 months to go on his current contract, to sign a new long-term deal. (Daily Express)

McInnes says Dons winger Niall McGinn will escape a club fine after being photographed in among the Celtic fans at the recent match at Kilmarnock. McInnes believes it is nothing but an attempt by Celtic fans to wind-up rival fans. (Daily Record)

Norwich hope to sign Hamilton Accies player-manager Alex Neil as their new boss in a £250,000 move. (Various)

Hamilton player-manager Alex Neil looks bound for Norwich

Neil tips Hamilton centre-half Martin Canning to replace him as manager if he leaves. (Daily Record)

Accies forward Dougie Imrie says he cannot see how Neil can refuse the move to Norwich, though it would be a blow to the Accies if he left. (Daily Express)

Neil's former manager at the Lanarkshire club, Billy Reid, has backed him to do well wherever he goes. "He makes good decisions...because he knows what he is doing," suggests Reid. (Daily Mail)

The Accies manager could quadruple his wages by moving to the Canaries. (The Sun)

Celtic assistant manager John Collins urges the club to be patient with manager Ronny Deila and backs him to deliver an attractive, winning team. (Various)

New Dundee United signing Simon Murray reveals that the last time he was at Tannadice it was to service the club's boilers. The 22-year-old has joined from Arbroath. (Various)

United have rejected a bid for winger Gary Mackay-Steven from Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough, while Celtic are also thought to be keen on the player. (Daily Mail)

Celtic are interested in three Dundee United players - Nadir Ciftci and Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven and they think they can land the latter for a modest six-figure sum. (The Sun)

Valencia coach Ian Cathro is said to be attracting Rangers

On-loan Raith Rovers winger Barrie McKay, 20, admits he is concerned about his future at Rangers after being told he is not needed at Ibrox in the second half of the season. (The Sun, Daily Record)

Hibernian will contest the one-match Jason Cummings received for making an offensive gesture after scoring against Edinburgh rivals Hearts - he is reported to have written on his Twitter account: "Match ban for celebrating your goal. Bore off. The game's gone!" (Daily Express, The Scotsman)

Rangers have stepped up their interest in making Valencia assistant coach Ian Cathro their new manager. (The Sun)

Glasgow Warriors lock Tim Swinson is in no mood to drop more Pro 12 points on Friday

Rangers insist they have made no approach for 28-year-old Cathro, the former Dundee United youth coach. (Daily Record)

More than 10,000 Rangers fans have signed the Sons of Struth "Not a Penny More" campaign aimed at starving the current regime of cash. (Daily Record)

Marley Watkins' agent says there is strong signing interest in the Inverness Caledonian Thistle midfielder from a club in Poland, thought to be Slask Wroclaw, and from clubs in England and Scotland. (Daily Express)

Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton feels that he has become a stronger person after a groin injury sustained while playing for Israel followed by Neil Lennon's departure left him having to prove himself to new manager Ronny Deila. (Daily Express)

OTHER GOSSIP

Glasgow Warriors "lineout giant" Tim Swinson calls Friday's Pro 12 match against Scarlets at Scotstoun a "must-win game" after their defeat by Edinburgh last week. (The Sun)

Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend says the sell-out at Scotstoun and the 16,000 at Murrayfield for the 1872 Cup matches against Edinburgh show there is a growing appetite for professional rugby in Scotland. (The Scotsman)