Scottish Gossip: Pereira rejects Rangers, Celtic to miss target

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Rangers have failed in an attempt to secure Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira as their new manager, the 46-year-old deciding to remain with Greek club Olympiacos following talks with the Ibrox outfit. (The Times)

Former Brentford manager Mark Warburton has confirmed that Rangers are not his only suitors, with relegated Burnley likely to make an approach with their boss, Sean Dyche, favourite to fill the vacancy at Sunderland.(The Herald)

While Police Scotland is unlikely to take action against Motherwell after mounted police restrained fans after a pitch invasion against Rangers, the Scottish Professional Football League could impose sanctions on the host club.(Daily Telegraph)

Bilel Mohsni, now freed by Rangers and who intends leaving British football, could face a 20-match ban if the Scottish Football Association's judicial panel decides to take a hard-line stance against the defender for his brawl after Sunday's defeat by Motherwell. (Daily Express)

As he exited Rangers, Tunisian defender Bilel Mohsni has defended his violent post-match brawl with Lee Erwin and says that people are outraged at him instead of the former Motherwell striker because he a "foreigner".(Daily Record)

Olympiacos coach Vitor Pereira is being linked with the Rangers manager's job

Lee Erwin was not red carded for his part in the brawl with Bilel Mohsni, with the Scottish FA confirming that referee Craig Thomson only issued a yellow card to the Motherwell striker for shoving the Rangers defender and he will face no further punishment. (Daily Record)

Haris Vuckic, who was on loan with Rangers, has been dropped from the Slovenia squad, with head coach Srecko Katenec saying he was disappointed with the Newcastle United midfielder's form with the Ibrox club and the standard of the Scottish Championship. (Daily Record, print edition)

Former Finland coach Stuart Baxter has parted company with South African champions Kaizer Chiefs, the 61-year-old Scot blaming tension with the club hierarchy. (Kick-off.com)

Celtic target Zakaria Bakkali, who came close to joining the Glasgow club in January, has revealed he has 13 offers on the table to move from PSV Eindhoven, with the 19-year-old Belgian winger looking certain to accept a move to Valencia instead of the Scottish champions. (The Herald)

New Celtic signing Dedryck Boyata says John Guidetti sold him on move to the Scottish champions from Manchester City after the Swedish striker praised the club's fans during his loan spell from the English Premier League outfit. (Daily Record)

Norwich City's former Livingston midfielder, Wes Hoolahan, is a huge injury doubt for Republic of Ireland ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland.(The Herald)

Former Celtic midfielder Aiden McGeady says he has extra motivation to put one over on the country of his birth when Republic of Ireland host Scotland in Dublin as the Everton player was booed at Celtic park during the Scots' 1-0 win at Celtic Park in November. (The Herald)

Blackburn Rovers manager Gary Bowyer fears that Scotland striker Jordan Rhodes will be sold this summer, with English Championship rivals Derby County and Middlesbrough potential bidders for the 25-year-old.(Lancashire Telegraph)

Zakaria Bakkali is reportedly a target for Celtic as he is poised to leave PSV Eindhoven

English League One newcomers Burton Albion are attempting to beat Kilmarnock to the signing of striker Kallum Higginbotham, who has rejected a new contract with Partick Thistle, with Hibernian and Rochdale also interested. (Daily Express)

Greenock Morton goalkeeper Grant Adam has rejected approaches from Clyde and Yeovil Town. (Daily Record, print edition)

Dundee manager Paul Hartley is hoping to strike a deal with English Premier League club Crystal Palace to take talented young players on loan at Dens Park next season after a successful testimonial for former Dark Blues goalkeeper Julian Speroni. (The Herald)

Hibernian are among the Scottish Premiership and Championship clubs pursuing full-back Adam Eckersley after his release by Hearts. (The Sun, print edition)

Airdrieonians are involved in takeover talks, with businessman Tom Wotherspoon close to completing a deal to buy shares from the Ballantyne family that controls the Scottish League One club. (Daily Record, print edition)

OTHER GOSSIP

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter admits he is concerned for the rugby future of Dave Denton after the Edinburgh number eight suffered two lengthy spells on the sidelines with concussion during the last 12 months. (The Herald)

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has defended his inclusion of so-called "project players" Josh Strauss and WP Nel, both born in South Africa, in his Scotland squad for the Rugby World Cup, insisting that eligibility and the desire to represent the country were the only criteria he thought relevant. (The Herald)

Prop Euan Murray has signed a two-year contract with French club Pau after the 34-year-old left Glasgow Warriors and ended his Scotland career.(Sky Sports)

Forty years after his first Open, Tom Watson will end his Claret Jug joust at St Andrews having thought he had played his last competitive round there five years ago. (The Scotsman)