Scottish Gossip: Celtic director angers fans, Izaguirre given Ciftci apology

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Thousands of Celtic fans are calling for club director Ian Paul Livingston, the former BT chief who carries the title Lord Livingston of Parkhead in the House of Lords, to be booted off the Scottish champions' board for voting in the Lords to cut tax credits for the lowest-paid people. (Daily Record)

Emilio Izaguirre insists he does not hold a grudge against Celtic team-mate Nadir Ciftci after the training ground incident that left the Honduras left-back requiring stitches to an ear wound and that the Turkish striker had apologised immediately afterwards. (Daily Express, print edition)

Celtic manager Ronny Deila faces an anxious wait to discover whether his captain, Scott Brown, will be fit to play any part in the club's crucial meetings with Aberdeen and Molde in the next seven days after the 30-year-old midfielder injured his knee in the warm-up prior to the League Cup quarter-final victory over Hearts. (The Herald)

Manager Ronny Deila hailed Leigh Griffiths after the forward's opening goal helped put Celtic in the League Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Hearts. (Daily Record)

Garry O'Connor has made a surprise move into management with Selkirk

Hearts have opened talks with Osman Sow about a new contract with the 25-year-old Swedish striker, one of eight first-team players whose present deals expire next summer. (Edinburgh Evening News)

Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths says his goal celebration, for which he was booked, in front of the Hearts fans in the League Cup quarter-final win was planned as he always receives extra abuse from the Tynecastle fans for formerly playing for their city rivals, Hibernian. (Daily Mail, print edition)

Former Aberdeen defender and manager Willie Miller says the whole of Scottish football is relying on his former club to deny Celtic a fourth straight Premiership title to prevent it becoming a one-horse race. (Daily Record)

Shay Logan admits he might have to end his spell with Aberdeen when his contract ends next summer because the 27-year-old right-back's family, including his children, remain based in England. (Press and Journal)

Kilmarnock are trying to extend the contracts of striker Rory McKenzie, midfielders Craig Slater and Greg Kiltie and defender Contrad Balatoni. (Daily Express, print edition)

Two recent incidents in Scottish football - involving fans of Celtic and Rangers - have brought back into focus the "hate-crime" legislation that many fans are unhappy with. (The Herald)

Ross Wallace was praised for his goal and performance in Sheffield Wednesday's win over Arsenal

Rangers chairman Dave King has been warned that the Scottish Championship leaders have virtually no chance of reaching an amicable agreement with shareholder Mike Ashley and his Sports Direct company over what the South Africa-based businessman believes is an "onerous" seven-year merchandising contract. (The Herald)

Sheffield Wednesday's Lee Bullen says Ross Wallace's performance and goal in the 3-0 Capital One Cup win over Arsenal shows that the winger deserves a Scotland call-up, but the assistant manager thinks the former Celtic player's age - 30 - may count against him. (Daily Record)

Former Hibernian and Scotland striker Garry O'Connor, 32, has been named caretaker manager of part-time outfit Selkirk after they dismissed Steve Forrest with the side currently sitting in seventh place in the Lowland League. (The Scotsman)

Celtic midfielder Liam Henderson, currently on loan with Hibernian, has already earned a title medal, the 19-year-old having spent three months on loan to Rosenborg, who have just secured the Norwegian championship. (Daily Express, print edition)

OTHER GOSSIP

Judy Murray's wish for more tennis facilities in the East End of Glasgow looks set to come true as plans for four new courts have been confirmed at Garrowhill Park and Glasgow Club Easterhouse by Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council. (The Scotsman)

Andy Young, who coaches world championship 1500m finalist Laura Muir, has received a coaching excellence award from European Athletics. (The Sun, print edition)