Scottish Gossip: Henry link with Motherwell job, Green's Rangers demand

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Former Arsenal, Barcelona and France striker Thierry Henry has emerged as one of the leading contenders with some bookmakers to replace the sacked Ian Baraclough as Motherwell manager but appears an unlikely candidate given a multi-million pound contract as a Sky television pundit and his role as Arsenal Under-21 coach. (Daily Express)

Former Hibernian and Kilmarnock manager Mixu Paatelainen has confessed he would welcome a return to football with Motherwell, the 38-year-old having been out of work since being sacked by Finland in June following a fourth successive defeat as international head coach. (The Scotsman)

Former Motherwell midfielder Simo Valakari, presently head coach with Seinajoen Jalkapallokerho, is one of 60 candidates already to have applied to become the Fir Park club's new manager less than 24 hours after Ian Baraclough's departure. (The Herald)

Ian Baraclough thinks caretaker duo Stephen Craigan and Stephen Robertson should succeed him after his sacking as Motherwell manager. (The Sun, print edition)

Thierry Henry is high in the betting for the Motherwell manager's vacancy

Aberdeen left-back Graeme Shinnie is almost certain to be named in Gordon Strachan's Scotland squad for their crucial final Euro 2016 double header against Poland and Gibraltar. (Daily Record)

Aberdeen midfielder Willo Flood could be sidelined until November after picking up an ankle injury in the midweek League Cup defeat by Hibernian. (Daily Express, print edition)

Celtic manager Ronny Deila has declared he is indifferent towards Aberdeen's title challenge and remains certain Celtic will again prove superior to the Pittodrie side this season. (Daily Mail)

Celtic manager Ronny Deila has admitted to facing resistance from some of his players to the demands for improvement he has made of them since joining the club, the Norwegian revealing that he has clashed with every member of his squad at some point and that the response from some of them has disappointed him. (The Scotsman)

The old Rangers board signed a severance deal with Charles Green, who is accused of obtaining "many millions of pounds" through fraud during his time at Ibrox, agreeing to pay his legal costs if he was ever accused of being a criminal, the former chief executive has claimed as he seeks £500,000 from the club to fund his criminal defence. (Daily Record)

Rangers have vowed to fight Charles Green's attempts to make the club pay for their former chief executive's defence against criminal charges. (The Courier)

Rangers chairman Dave King has confirmed that he refused a request from former chief executive Charles Green to pay his legal costs prior to his arrest by Police Scotland. (Daily Record)

Former Motherwell midfielder Simo Valakari has reportedly applied to be the club's new manager

Diehard St Johnstone supporter Bill Cuthbert, who set up an online petition to block plans for a new road near McDiarmid Park, says his club has been left with "no choice" but to end their fight with Perth and Kinross Council. Saints say they could strike a settlement deal having previously claiming the road would result in the loss of a £100,000 training pitch crucial to the club's future. (The Courier)

New Kilmarnock goalkeeper Mark Ridgers has accused St Mirren manager Ian Murray of breaking promises made at the start of the season after losing his place to Jamie Langfield at the Championship club. (Daily Record, print edition)

Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald is hopeful the signing of Australian under-23 international Ryan Edwards will end the Glasgow side's run of only two goals in eight Premiership matches and tension on the training ground. (The Herald)

Hearts midfielder Sam Nicholson believes fans of both clubs want an Edinburgh derby to emerge from Monday's Scottish League Cup quarter-final draw after both the Tynecastle side and Hibernian booked their place in the last eight. (The Scotsman)

Former captain Rachel Corsie, the Scotland defender, is to rejoin Glasgow City on loan from Seattle ahead of two-leg Champions League last 32 meeting with Chelsea. (The National)

OTHER GOSSIP

Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg has revealed that team-mates have been winding up Finn Russell after the fly-half's starring role in the Rugby World Cup win over Japan on his 23rd birthday, describing him as "Mr Scotland" because of his relationship with newly-crowned Miss Scotland Mhairi Fergusson. (Daily Record)

Fly-half Finn Russell, who scored a try on his 23rd birthday against Japan, has revealed that the Scotland squad has been warned off coffee, never mind anything properly intoxicating, in case it interferes with the quality of their sleep in the three short days before taking the field against the USA at Elland Road. (The Scotsman)

Full-back Stuart Hogg thinks his side's win over Japan has "sent a message" to the rest of the Rugby World Cup teams that Scotland are now a force to be reckoned with. (Daily Mail)

New Scotland cap Josh Strauss insists Vern Cotter's men will not slump like Japan, who opened their campaign by beating South Africa, as they prepare for their second Rugby World Cup game in just five days. (The Courier)

While half of his Walker Cup team-mates have already joined the professional ranks, 19-year-old Ewen Ferguson is staying as an amateur for at least another year after ditching plans to try his luck at the European Tour Qualifying School. (The Scotsman)