Scottish Gossip: Saints consider plastic pitch, Chinese target Hemmings

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

St Johnstone chairman Steve Brown reveals that laying a 4G or hybrid pitch at McDiarmid Park is "something we're thinking about". Manager Tommy Wright and striker Steven MacLean have been vocal critics of artificial surfaces. (Sun on Sunday)

Celtic manager Ronny Deila insists that he expects to keep his job if he leads the team to the Premiership title. (Various)

Dundee's 23-year-old striker Kane Hemmings is a signing target for Chinese second-tier side Beijing Renhe, the club which has just signed Nikica Jelavic for £2m. (Sunday Express)

Alan Stubbs calls on his Hibernian players to produce Championship wins over Alloa and Morton this week as the club begins what he believes is a crucial period in the team's season, with a Scottish Cup quarter final and a League Cup final to follow. (Mail on Sunday)

Striker Kane Hemmings has been a prolific scorer for Dundee this season

Rangers manager Mark Warburton will not decide on his out-of-contract players such as Nicky Law, Nicky Clark and Dean Shiels until the team secures promotion to the Premiership. (Sunday Mail)

Warburton is introducing more incentives into the Ibrox pay structure to get the players to drive towards promotion. (Sunday Express, Scotland on Sunday)

The Rangers boss believes young players should only be offered short contracts so that they remain hungry to do well. (Sunday Herald)

Former Celtic player Vidar Riseth calls the club's board "cowards" for not backing his fellow Norwegian Ronny Deila. (Sunday Mail, Sun on Sunday)

Deila praises young players Scott Allan, Ryan Christie and Patrick Roberts for their contributions from the bench in the 3-0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle. (Sunday Express)

Former Aberdeen defender Russell Anderson, now the club's business development manager, says it is too early to say the Dons' title challenge is over, despite Celtic being six points clear and enjoying a vastly superior goal difference. (Sun on Sunday)

Celtic defender Dedryck Boyata warns that if the Champions League becomes a carve-up between Europe's big five leagues, it will make Scotland a less attractive destination for players. (Scotland on Sunday)

OTHER GOSSIP

After winning the 3,000m at the Glasgow Grand Prix at the Emirates on Saturday, Mo Farah says he was determined to finish first after being beaten into second place at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country race in January. (Mail on Sunday)

Glasgow Warriors' loss could be Scotland's gain if number eight Josh Strauss is rewarded for his man-of-the-match performance in the win over Munster on Friday with an international call-up for the Six Nations match against Italy in Rome on Saturday. Glasgow are away to Newport Gwent Dragons on Thursday. (Sun on Sunday)

Scotland loosehead prop Al Dickinson is confident that "the wins will come" for the national side and says the players are doing all they can to make them happen. (Scotland on Sunday)

Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend reiterates his approval of artificial pitches, saying the surface at Kilmarnock's Rugby Park, where they played Munster, suits his team's quick play. (Sunday Herald)