Own goal as Celtic ‘keeper gets speeding penalty

By Michael MacLeod

CELTIC goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska has been hit with a fine for speeding near Edinburgh Zoo.
A speed camera caught the 27 year-old Poland international hitting 41mph in a 30mph zone on the capital’s Corstorphine Road on January 21 this year.

This week he admitted that he had been driving a car over the speed limit.

The Parkhead number two managed to keep a clean sheet in his side’s 4-0 win over Falkirk in the Co-operative Insurance Cup on Wednesday night.

But yesterday (Thurs) he got three penalty points on his licence at Edinburgh’s Justice of the Peace Court.

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.

Ex-Hibs keeper boozed at the wheel

By Michael MacLeod

A HIBS reject who “drowned his sorrows” by drink driving has been fined £1,000 and banned from the roads for four years.

Hungarian goalkeeper David Groff, 20, lost his £30,000 per-year contract with the SPL side earlier this year after failing to make an impact.

He had featured on the fringes of the first team during his three year spell at Easter Road, but was released into unemployment in March.

A few weeks later police found him slumped drunk at the wheel of his Audi A3 in an Asda car park close to the Easter Road stadium where he played in front of thousands of fans.

Police said Groff and a friend were sleeping in the car with the engine running.

Hearts FC unveil new signings despite financial woes

By Alexander Lawrie

HEARTS FC unveiled its latest bid for footballing glory – a women’s team.

But the news was overshadowed by reports that owner Vladimir Romanov’s bank has seen its own fortunes plunge – with a 91 per cent drop in profits.

Ukio Bankas saw its profits all but wiped out by the global recession.

The Lithuanian bank – of which Vladmir Romanov is a major shareholder – only just stayed in the black by recording a net profit of £1.1 million.

But, despite its plummeting profits, a spokesperson for the bank claimed the start of the year had been “positive”.

Arnas Zalys, head of the firm’s finance office, said: “Taken into consideration current market situation we view the first half-year results of Ukio Bankas positively.

Jim Murphy MP helps out with Hibs pre-season preparations

By Oliver Farrimond

SECRETARY of State for Scotland Jim Murphy MP lent a hand with Hibs‘ pre-season preparations yesterday.

The MP for East Renfrewshire helped to cut grass at Easter Road stadium to promote jobs for out-of-work Scots with football teams.

His appearance follows the announcement that unemployment in Scotland has risen to 176,000 – a rise of more than 40,000.

He said: “This is an important message that football clubs who are supported by communities want to give something back – I think it’s a real cause for celebration.

“There is a recession sweeping the globe and every town and city is affected by it, including Scotland.

“We can’t answer every problem and we can’t stop everyone losing their jobs, but we can do everything possible to try to get people back to work.”

The UK Government’s scheme to employ up to 100 young fans is being given serious consideration by SPL clubs.

The plan, aimed at those between 18 and 24 and claiming jobseeker’s allowance, is part of the governments plan to ensure young people have the skills to hold down long-term jobs in the future.

Avid Arab Lorraine Kelly fears Setanta disaster

By Michael MacLeod

FOOTBALL daft telly star Lorraine Kelly says she’s terrified over the prospect of Setanta Sports going bust – because she won’t be able to watch her beloved Dundee United while filming in London.

The 49-year-old Arabs fan she is a subscriber to the beleaguered station like many of other Scots working away from home, and will be “devastated” if the channel has the plug pulled on it.

And she’s waiting anxiously to find out if the stricken subscription-only channel will plunge the league into limbo, fearing a blackout will leave the Tannadice club crippled for transfer cash.

She said: “I just hope they can find a buyer because a lot of clubs will be feeling it because it’s an awful lot of money that they owe.

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.

Scottish politicians take to the pitch at Ibrox

By Oliver Farrimond

A TEAM of MPs, MSPs and celebrities took to the field at Ibrox yesterday, battling out a high scoring contest in aid of an employment support programme.

The star-studded team, which included Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy MP and disgraced TV presenter Angus Deayton, overcame a team of participants from the Support Employment programme sun by Rangers and Celtic football clubs.

The surprisingly fit celebrity team, clad in Rangers garb, were held until just after half-time, with game finishing 7-4 after a brace of late goals, including a cool finish from Secretary of State Murphy.

Less impressive was Frank McAveety MSP, who had to endure taunts of “We’re playing in blue Frank!” after a series of failed forward ventures down the right wing.

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.