Scottish Gossip: Celtic track Slovakia midfielder, Pongolle's Dundee United trial

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic have joined clubs in England, Italy and Belgium in tracking the progress of Slovakia Under-21 midfielder Matus Bero, who could leave domestic champions Trencin in January despite the 20-year-old recently signing a new three-year contract.(The Sun)

Celtic have been described as a "high class" club after handing Belgian fourth tier outfit Royal Liege a development fee for Logan Bailly, the 29-year-old goalkeeper who switched from Leuven in the summer, that they had not yet requested. (Daily Record, print edition)

Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen is lining up a move for free agent Florent Sinama Pongolle after handing former Atletico Madrid and Liverpool striker a Tannadice trial following the 31-year-old's exit from Swiss outfit Lausanne in the summer.(Daily Record)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle have taken Crawley Town midfielder Conor Henderson on trial, with the 24-year-old former Republic of Ireland Under-21 cap hoping to win a deal when his contract expires with the English League Two outfit in January. (Crawley Observer)

Florent Sinama Pongolle was formerly with Liverpool, Atletico Madrid and Lausanne

Goalkeeping coach Ryan Esson, 35, hopes to win a new playing contract with Inverness Caledonian Thistle despite Owain Fon Williams claiming the first-team jersey in the absence of the injured Dean Brill.(Inverness Courier)

David Moyes has criticised Real Sociedad for his sacking last week, revealing that he turned down several English Premier League clubs in the summer to stay with the La Liga club, with Aston Villa, Sunderland and West Ham having sounded out the Scot. (The Guardian))

David Moyes is confident that Real Sociedad would have improved from their 16th position in La Liga under his guidance and says he achieved his remit of avoiding relegation last season by finishing 12th.(Daily Mail)

Former Scotland manager Alex McLeish has called on the country's senior clubs to have more respect for grassroots football and stop harvesting their players on industrial levels, suggesting that Club Academy Scotland is doing damage by "fighting with the boys clubs". (The Herald)

Peterhead manager Jim McInally claims that Club Academy Scotland is a job creation scheme for aspiring coaches, is destroying grassroots football in Scotland and has failed in its remit of providing our clubs, and the national team, with young players of a better quality than those available in 1995.(The Herald)

David Moyes issued his first statement since being sacked by Real Sociedad

Scotland Under-19 goalkeeper Robby McCrorie believes he is learning from a future England number one after Rangers team-mate Wes Foderingham took him under his wing. (The Scotsman)

Former Hibernian manager Colin Calderwood, who is assisting Chris Hughton at Brighton, says he would jump at the chance to take charge of a club on his own again. (The Sun, print edition)

St Johnstone striker Graham Cummins may be back in action in three weeks, with manager Tommy Wright revealing that scan results have confirmed what the Perth medical team suspected, with the hamstring injury nearer the less severe end of the scale than the more severe end. (The Courier)

OTHER GOSSIP

Andy Murray is ready to shoulder all the pressure in the Davis Cup final after British number two Aljaz Bedene was ruled out of facing the Belgians, the Lawn Tennis Association being left seething after the Slovenian-born player flew to Prague only to be told his final appeal will not be heard until next year.(Daily Record)

Former Scotland captain Kelly Brown, the 33-year-old Saracens forward, has admitted that his international days are as good as over after failing to make the country's Rugby World Cup squad this summer. (Daily Record, print edition)

Raymond van Barneveld is confident a new fitness regime will help him make an impact at the World Series of Darts Finals at Braehead Arena in Glasgow this weekend, the Dutchman having reached the Grand Slam semi-finals last weekend despite disappeared off the rankings radar this year.(Daily Record)

David Law, Paul Shields and Peter Whiteford have made the 72-hole cut in the European Q School Final at PGA Catalunya, but fellow Scots Ashley Chesters, Jack Doherty, Scott Henry, Ross Kellett, Jimmy Mullen, George Murray and Bradley Neil missed out. (Daily Express, print edition)

Scottish boxer Willie Limond, now 36, is in line for a guaranteed WBC light-welterweight title fight next year. (The Sun, print edition)