Football beauty’s bid to be Apprentice

By Paul Thornton

THE former face of Rangers TV has kicked off a bid to become Lord Alan Sugar’s new Apprentice in next year’s series of the award winning show.

Lindsey Archibald, 30, lost her place on the Ibrox club’s television channel when Irish broadcaster Setanta Sports went bust last year.

But the presenter is now auditioning for the hit show in another bid for fame.

Millions could now watch her battle it out with other hopefuls for the £250,000 prize – and a job with Lord Sugar.

Hibs player facing court on driving rap

By Michael MacLeod

HIBS defender Darren McCormack is facing a court appearance after being arrested and charged for allegedly driving without a licence or insurance.

The 21 year-old Scottish Premier League player was stopped by police in the early hours of Sunday morning – just hours after his team’s 5-1 Scottish Cup victory over Montrose.

He was arrested in Leith Walk, just minutes away from Hibs’ Easter Road Stadium.

The club refused to comment, but Lothian and Borders Police confirmed the player – who holds one cap for Scotland Under-21s – had been charged.

Flare-throwing SPL steward banned from football

By Michael MacLeod

A FOOTBALL steward has been banned from every ground in Britain for a year after throwing a flare onto a pitch.

The court order means Michael Smith, 21, will lose his pitch-side security job with SPL side Falkirk.

He was arrested at a high-tempered derby match between rivals Linlithgow Rose and Bo’ness United when cops spotted the smoke bomb being hurled onto the pitch.

It wasn’t hard for officers to trace the arc smoke back to Smith, who was fined £1,000 and branded “mindless” by a Sheriff today (Thurs).

A Falkirk insider said last night: “This is exactly the kind of thing we employ stewards to stop other people doing, never mind doing it themselves.

“It’s completely stupid, but stewards are never the brightest anyway.

“We’ll be speaking to police, but it will be an instant dismissal.”

Football fans lose standing area battle

By Cara Sulieman

FOOTBALL fans have lost their battle to get the ban on standing areas at Scottish Premier League football stadiums overturned.

The Pars Supporters Trust submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament, arguing that the all-seater rule penalised clubs who were forced to build stands for promotion to the SPL.

After hearing from various bodies, the Public Petitions Committee of the Scottish Parliament decided to close the petition meaning no reprieve for the terraces.

But the supporters are not happy, saying that the bodies consulted did not understand the argument they were putting forward.

Rod Stewart calls for manager with Hoops roots

By Michael MacLeod

CELTIC-DAFT Rod Stewart phoned the club Board to tell them the ex-Hoops star HE thinks they should hire to take over as next team boss at Parkhead.

The wrinkly rocker called up chairman John Reid and co in a bid to convince them to land the mystery former player on Monday.

A string of names have been linked with the Hoops since Gordon Strachan’s departure, only for them to rule themselves out of the job.

Now frustrated chief executive Peter Lawwell’s Board are getting tips from the 64-year-old Maggie May singer who once let Celtic play in his garden.

Former Hibs ‘keeper on drink drive rap

By Paul Thornton

FORMER Hibernian FC goalkeeper David Grof  is facing a drink-drive rap if he ever comes back to Scotland.

The 20-year-old stopper was released by the Easter Road Club earlier this year after falling out of favour with management.

Grof – who made just two appearances for the Hibees – was caught by police at an Asda car park in Edinburgh’s Sandpiper Drive on April 12 this year.

Prosecutors claim a breath test showed the Hungarian ‘keeper was more than one and a half times the legal limit with a reading of 56 microgrammes of booze per 100ml of blood.

He was due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court  but did not answer the charges.

Senior Scottish minister blasts Old Firm thugs as “barbaric”

By Michael MacLeod

OLD Firm football thugs who beat their wives have been slated as “barbaric” by a senior Government minister ahead of Saturday’s potentially explosive SPL title deciding clash at Ibrox.

Communities Minister Alex Neil revealed yesterday that an advertising campaign will be run on TV before, during and after the Rangers v Celtic match being shown live on Setanta specifically targeted to highlight a proven rise in complaints of domestic abuse centred around the Glasgow derby.

Electronic advertising hoardings around the perimeter of the pitch at Rangers ground Ibrox hosting the match will also carry the message: ‘There’s no excuse for domestic abuse’.

MSP Neil revealed that shameful domestic abuse attacks jumped by a staggering 88 per-cent to 231 cases on the last Old Firm matchday in March, sparking demands from police to the Scottish Government that ‘something has to be done.’

CAMPAIGN: Alex Neil, Communities Minister

And Mr Neil, unveiling a new report yesterday, admitted he worries for the wives and partners of drunken football yobs.

Evidence

He said: “We are doing extra this weekend around the Old Firm game because we have very clear evidence that around the game there is an increase in domestic abuse, particularly in the West coast.

“We are deliberately segmenting the message to men and women before and after the game. There’s absolutely nothing worse than for a woman to live in fear of her partner and we take a zero tolerance approach to violence against women, especially drunken violence.

“This is the 21st Century, Scotland is a modern nation and it is absolutely barbaric to engage in domestic abuse, which is one of the worst forms of violence in our society.”

Hearts strike three-year deal with sports giants Umbro

By Oliver Farrimond

Hearts FC have signed a lucrative three-year contract with international sports giants Umbro.

The three-year deal will run through to the end of the 2011/12 season, and follows a hugely successful two year trial run.

Umbro will design and produce home and away kit s featuring their trademark moisture-management technology, as well as a variety of products for fans.

Simon Marsh, director of football for Umbro, said: “We are delighted to continue our working relationship that began two years ago.

“We can guarantee that we will supply the cutting edge of sportswear design, and are looking forward to produce innovative and fantastic looking products for both the club and for the fans.”

The new agreement is worth a ‘significant’ undisclosed sum, according to the Tynecastle club.

With Hearts having hit the headlines recently for financial troubles, the deal will come as good news to worried fans.

Campbell Ogilvie, Hearts managing director, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be making this announcement today. This takes our relationship with Umbro to five years and is a sign of exceptional commitment between both organisations.

“Umbro are true international market leaders and they have served us magnificently during the last two seasons.

“They bring real professionalism within the sports retail sector and offer tremendous quality in the garments they produce.