NEVER a place lacking in characters and controversy, the latest flare-up in Junior football could run and run.
Rutherglen Glencairn co-manager Willie Patterson was left incensed when Cambuslang Rangers counterpart Alan Wardlaw fielded former player Thomas Hoey on Wednesday, breaking a 'gentleman's agreement' allegedly in place after the midfielder signed for
the Wee Gers in January.
Although Glens ran out 3-1 winners on the night, Patterson seethed afterwards: "Lower than a snake's belly doesn't even begin to describe that man (Wardlaw] and I'll certainly never shake his hand again." Wardlaw retorted: "I have absolutely nothing to reproach myself on because we honoured our gentleman's agreement when we faced Glens for the first time in the league but insisted upon reviewing our arrangement going forward.
"I attempted on several occasions to contact (co-manager] Scott (Smith] on this subject but he totally blanked my calls. The counsel (from the SJFA] we received was to play Thomas – who we must remember is an amateur – so if that pair (Patterson and Smith] want to go off in a huff then I won't lose any sleep."
25-1 for British boxing quartetTHE renaissance of British boxing has not been especially evident with bookmakers William Hill.
The firm is offering 25-1 for a full return of four world titles from fights involving British fighters Ricky Hatton, Carl Froch, David Haye and Amir Khan in the coming weeks. But Hills reveal a lack of conviction in a possible sweep with then far shorter odds of 9-1 for all four Britons losing their bouts.
"All four Brits go into their fights in confident mood, though only one of them is a clear favourite," said Hill's spokesman Graham Sharpe.
Ross is right on cue at CrucibleWHILE names such as Hendry, Higgins and Maguire are vying for world-title glory at the Crucible, one Scottish teenager has reached a final on the green baize in Sheffield. Ross Muir, aged just 13 from Musselburgh, took on former world semi-finalist Tony Knowles in the Super 6s exhibition. Knowles, 53, ran out a 52-18 winner in the one-frame final, which lasted less than nine minutes. The shortened version of the game comprises six reds and full colours and it is hoped the sport will follow the examples of Twenty20 cricket as a popular addition to the calendar.
TALES FROM THE TABS
MIXU FEARS PAIR WILL GOHIBS manager Mixu Paatelainen is worried he may lose star players Steven Fletcher and Rob Jones in the summer, according to the Daily Record.
Hibs have rejected big-money moves for the pair in the past, but with Nottingham Forest said to be weighing up a £1 million move for Jones and Fletcher unsettled after a Celtic bid was knocked back earlier this year, Paatelainen says: "We want to keep the players who have been doing a great job for us.
"But you can never say anything is guaranteed in football. One day someone will come in with an offer and the chairman and board will find it difficult to turn that down."
The Sun reports that Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura has been offered £30,000 a week to play for Saudi Arabian side Al Nasr.
Nakamura, who is out of contract in May, has been linked with a move back to his Japanese homeland.
The same paper says that Hearts legend John Robertson has turned down the chance to manage Liberia. He says: "It's flattering. But I decided it would have been too much of an upheaval."
