Sunday Herald

Villa's Interest in Mcgeady Is Dropped

Aiden McGeady's hopes of moving to the Barclays Premier League with Aston Villa appear to be over. It is understood that Martin O'Neill, who gave the player his Celtic debut in 2004, will not be pursuing his long-standing interest in him.

Daly Says It's Time to Turn Up the Volume

JON Daly has called on Dundee United fans to do their bit and intimidate European opponents AEK Athens. United's new skipper is urging the Tannadice supporters to crank up the noise when they host the Greeks in the final qualifying round for the Europa League on August 19.

Rangers Turned Down the Opportunity to Sign Eidur Gudjohnsen On... [Derived Headline]

RANGERS turned down the opportunity to sign Eidur Gudjohnsen on loan as the Icelandic international's wage demands were too high. The striker is one of several players who have been offered to the Ibrox club during the summer, but his pound(s)40,000-a-week salary could not be accommodated.

Force of Habit Kicks in yet Again

Rangers continue to be dependable, and that in itself is a form of affirmation. The Ibrox side has become self-reliant, in the resilience of the players as much as in their ability; performances appear habitual, and they tend to be crisply effective. Newcastle were outplayed, and the result was evidence of the home side beginning to find their rhythm. With less than a week to go until the start of the season, the champions' only anxiety is the need to add reinforcements to the squad.

Ian Murray has Urged Sol Bamba to Get Over His... [Derived Headline]

Ian Murray has urged Sol Bamba to get over his World Cup heartache and renew his commitment to Hibernian if he wants to win a big-money move from the club. There is speculation the former Dunfermline defender could be on his way out of Easter Road as he enters the final season on his deal at the club.

Mcinnes Nears a Decision On Enckelman

DEREK McInnes might have spent a substantial chunk of yesterday afternoon up in the main stand at McDiarmid Park, deep in conversation with his chairman, Geoff Brown, but another convention between the two appears imminent. A hint of what will be discussed can be derived from the St Johnstone manager's pointed post-match observations. While references to a "depleted squad" and a precis of the summer's transfer dealings fell some way short of a plea for funds - the prudent Brown is the least l...

Top Six Warning

* ST Johnstone manager Derek McInnes says it would be foolish for Saints fans to take a top-six place for granted this season. Saints came close to landing an elite place at the split last season. Since then, McInnes has added Marcus Haber from West Brom on loan, strikers Scott Dobie and Sam Parkin and winger Cleveland Taylor.

Foran Arrives in the Nick of Time for Caley

Belgium's oldest football club, Royal Antwerp, could only draw with Scotland's newest as Inverness welcomed the eighth-best squad in the Belgian Second Division last term for an entertaining stalemate. The teams could muster only a quiet beginning, youngster Nick Ross looking lively and having the beating of his full-back.

Frail Hearts Given All-Clear

THE real stuff begins now for Hearts. Their pre-season programme has thrown up a mixed bag of results but they appear in decent fettle ahead of the start of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League campaign next weekend. This was a decent enough run-out against Blackburn Rovers, although Jim Jefferies' main concern would have been that those who featured got through the match without succumbing to injury.

Early Lesson From Those Who Know

IF there is one side that best understands the difficulties facing clubs looking to make an quick return to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, it is Dunfermline. They were relegated in 2007 and have struggled in vain since to make the step back up. Falkirk are the latest to attempt to go straight up again, but spent their first afternoon back in the First Division being reminded that it is not an easy place to escape. Of course, what made is worse was that the lesson was doled out by one of ...

Chisholm's Men Hold On Grimly

GORDON Chisholm, the Dundee manager, lauded the resilience of his side after they survived two late dismissals to secure this victory. The hosts won courtesy of a magical Gary Harkins free-kick but controversy erupted in the second half when Queens striker Derek Holmes missed a penalty then referee Stevie O'Reilly sent off Dundee's Netan Sansara and Nicky Riley.

Stirling Shut Up Shop

ALLAN Moore, the Morton manager, praised his former club for the defensive tactics that shut out the Greenock side in Stirling Albion's first match back in the First Division. Moore, who guided Stirling to the Second Division title before moving to Cappielow, said: " Stirling got what they came for with their 4-1-4-1 formation, but our boys did not produce enough quality.

County at the Double

IT is a long way from playing in front of an almost full house at a Scottish Cup final to turning out at Central Park, Cowdenbeath, in front of a crowd of less than 500, but that was the scenario Ross County found themselves in when they got the new Irn-Bru first division season started. However, Derek Adams, the Dingwall side's manager, warned his men they would not find life easy and that is how things panned out.

All Too Easy for Rovers

IT is unlikely Raith Rovers will find three points as straightforward to come by in their remaining 35 first-division fixtures, while as for Partick Thistle, things just have to get better. Mark Ferry's opener, a neat finish into the bottom right-hand corner, was added to after 30 minutes when Paddy Boyle was caught in possession, and it was left to John Baird to double the home side's advantage.

Livingston, One of the Title Favourites, Were Denied a Winning... [Derived Headline]

LIVINGSTON, one of the title favourites, were denied a winning start when Alloa snatched a 3-3 draw at Almondvale. The Third Division champions took the lead after only 90 seconds when Kyle Jacobs headed in his first senior goal and went 2-0 up in spectacular fashion in the 21st minute when Iain Russell caught out Alloa goalkeeper Steven Robertson with a 40- yard lob. Alloa fought back in the second half, Darren Smith reducing the deficit in the 55th minute and Bryan Prunty equalising four mi...

The League Season Started in Style for Arbroath, Who Were... [Derived Headline]

The league season started in style for Arbroath, who were 5-3 victors over a spirited Elgin City outfit. Arbroath lead 1-0 at the interval courtesy of Keith Gibson's long- range effort. Paul Miller levelled at the start of the second half but the lead was short-lived as goals from David McGowan and David Gibson gave the visitors a two-goal cushion.

Brora Rangers Produced the Shock of the Day After Coming... [Derived Headline]

Brora Rangers produced the shock of the day after coming from behind to beat champions Buckie Thistle by two goals to one. Craig MacMillan opened the scoring for Buckie on 16 minutes, but a brace from Scott Mackain either side of half-time secured the victory. Cove Rangers entertained Inverurie Locos and first half goals from Neil Gauld and Lewis Mackinnon put the visitors in the driving seat. After the break, Cove hit back and Ronnie Black completed a double in the final minute to rescue a p...

Mcghee Needs Players to Put Their Backs in It

If Mark McGhee is reluctant to make predictions over how his new- look Aberdeen squad will shape up in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this season, it is perfectly understandable. After all, his assertion on day one of his appointment at Pittodrie little over a year ago that a third-place finish would be his goal, began to look more misjudged the longer the season progressed until even the revised forecast of a top-six spot fell short of the mark.

With His Squad Stretched to the Limit, Manager Knows There Can Be No Resting On Laurels As an Era Draws to a Close at Ibrox, Writes Richard Wilson ; Smith Steeled for Closing Chapter

HOWEVER this season progresses, in all of its dramas and upheavals, Rangers are approaching the end of something. Walter Smith is to retire next summer, David Weir is likely to follow him, and several other players might find that their time at Ibrox reaches a natural end. This era at Rangers will be remembered as a time of survival, when ambition and authority somehow remained despite the club's financial woes. Two titles were won almost as an act of sheer bloodymindedness. We wonder now wha...

Unassuming Striker Will Gladly Overcome His Fear of Travelling by Plane If It Means Trips Abroad in the Europa League Group Stage, Discovers Phil Gordon ; Murphy's On Flying Form

FOR a man who hates flying, Jamie Murphy has an odd way of confronting his fear. The Motherwell striker is so good at his job down on terra firma that amassing even more air miles this season seems a genuine possibility. The prolific youngster's goals could provide fresh new horizons for both club and country. Murphy is already Motherwell's record scorer in Europe (with seven) and if he displays that ruthlessness against Odense BK in the final qualifying round of the Europa League, he will be...