Saturday 28th August 2004

18.00

CIS Insurance Cup third round draw:

Celtic v Falkirk

Hearts v Kilmarnock
Inverness CT v Motherwell
Dunfermline Athletic v Partick Thistle
Livingston v Dundee
Dundee United v Clyde
Aberdeen v Rangers
Albion Rovers v Hibernian

Ties to be played 21st - 22nd September 2004

Friday 27th August 2004

13.00

Three Bhoys in latest Scotland squad

Scotland squad for the friendly match against Spain in Valencia on September 3 and the World Cup Group Five qualifier against Slovenia in Glasgow on September 8: Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Hearts), David Marshall (Celtic) Scott Shearer (Coventry, England)

Defenders: Russell Anderson (Aberdeen), Gary Caldwell (Hibernian), Malky Mackay (Norwich City, England), Jackie McNamara (Celtic), David McNamee (Livingston), Steven Pressley (Hearts), Andy Webster (Hearts)

Midfielders: Colin Cameron (Wolverhampton, England), Barry Ferguson (Blackburn Rovers, England), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United, England), Gary Holt (Norwich City, England), Richard Hughes (Portsmouth, England), Gary Naysmith (Everton, England), Stephen Pearson (Celtic), Nigel Quashie (Portsmouth, England)

Strikers: Stevie Crawford (Plymouth, England), Paul Dickov (Blackburn Rovers, England), Andy Gray (Sheffield United, England), Kevin Kyle (Sunderland, England), James McFadden (Everton, England), Kenny Miller (Wolverhampton, England), Steven Thompson (Rangers)

Wednesday 25th August 2004

16.15

Juninho's a Brazilian Bhoy


Celtic Football Club have announced the signing of Juninho from English  Premiership Club Middlesbrough on a two-year contract, subject to the issuing of a work permit.
Juninho said: “It is a privilege to sign for Celtic Football Club and I am very much looking forward to this new challenge in my career.
“The club has enjoyed tremendous domestic success in recent years and has also once again made its mark in European football.
“I am really looking forward to joining up with the players at the club and will work hard in trying to ensure that we can continue to bring similar success to the supporters.”
Manager Martin O’Neill added: “I am delighted to welcome Juninho to Celtic Football Club.
“He has proven himself to be a talented player over a number of years both in the English Premiership and at international level, with a World Cup medal to his name.
“I am sure he will be a very important addition to the squad at Celtic”.
Peter Lawwell, Celtic’s Executive Director commented: “The Celtic Board is committed to ensuring that it offers as much support as possible to Martin in maintaining a high quality first team and the signing of a player with the credentials of Juninho is part of this aim.
“Completion is still subject to a work permit being granted but we are sure that he will be a great success at Celtic.

Wednesday 25th August 2004

13.30

Petta off to Leeds?

BOBBY PETTA has gone down to Leeds United for a few days training. The Dutchman has accepted an invitation from the Elland Road club which will give Leeds boss, Kevin Blackwell, the opportunity to take a look at the player.

Petta, who joined Celtic from Ipswich Town in 1999, spent a few months last season on loan at Premiership side Fulham but was with the Celtic squad for their recent tour of North America.

The 30-year-old has made a total of 81 appearances for Celtic, scoring two goals. He made his debut for the Hoops against St Johnstone in August 1999

Tuesday 24th August 2004

12.50

Celtic to unveil Juninho on Wednesday.

Celtic are expected to parade Juninho as their new signing at Parkhead tomorrow after the Brazil World Cup star came to an agreement with Middlesbrough over his pay-off.

The 31 year old is on the verge of becoming one of manager Martin O'Neill's - and the club's - best-ever transfer coups.  The talented playmaker also looks like putting his name to a contract in time to make his debut against Rangers on Sunday with the club being hit by injury problems.

His agent Jonathan Hassall said: 'We've been told that Celtic are now handling the situation and everything else.

'But I believe that everything's sorted now and I would have thought he'd be up tomorrow now.  'I can say that it's all sorted anyway now at the Middlesbrough end and he's looking forward to getting up there.'

A sceptical O'Neill and the supporters have refused to celebrate the signing so far but they will now be looking ahead to seeing the Brazilian grace Parkhead this season.

The Celtic boss has been looking for a big-name playmaker since Lubo Moravcik's departure and Juninho is also set to help ease the pain of Henrik Larsson's move to Barcelona.

O'Neill, who pledged to target players at the top end of the transfer market and work down, refused to give up on his pursuit of the Juninho despite the player initially saying he wanted to fight for his place at the Riverside.

But he soon realised after the start of the season he was not part of Middlesbrough manager Steve McLaren's plans and found the lure of the Champions League too tempting to turn his back on.

He is now in line for a baptism of fire against Rangers at Parkhead on Sunday with O'Neill being hit by an injury to influential frontman Chris Sutton.

Monday 23rd August 2004

16.15

Juninho's Celtic move still on claims agent

Juninho's transfer from Middlesbrough to Celtic is expected to be sealed this week, the unsettled Brazilian forward's agent claimed.

"The move has not collapsed - it's still just a case of tying up a few loose ends at this end. After that we go up to Celtic to start training," the 31-year-old's agent Jonathan Hassall insisted Monday.

"I dont think he will be coming up to Celtic today (Monday) but I would have thought he will be there up in the next couple of days to start a new chapter in his life.

"The player is keen to get it all sorted as soon as possible."

Juninho was targeted by the Scottish champions after he slipped down the pecking order at the Riverside Stadium.

Friday 13th August 2004

11.45

MARSHALL GETS SCOTLAND CALL

Teenage Celtic goalkeeper David Marshall took another step towards stardom today after being named in the Scotland squad for the friendly with Hungary at Hampden Park on Wednesday.

The current Parkhead number one, who shot to fame with a clean sheet against Barcelona in the Nou Camp last season, has made the step up from the Under-21s after a steady start to the season.

He was named a 24-man squad which included few other surprises.

Tuesday 10th August 2004

15.27

Coridon happy to be on Parkhead trial.

CHARLES-EDOUARD Coridon is using Eric Cantona as his inspiration to win a contract with Celtic.

The 31-year-old trialist will get the perfect chance to impress Hoops manager Martin O’Neill tonight after the Lens midfielder was given clearance to face Tottenham in a friendly at Parkhead.

Some have questioned the Celtic boss’ insistence on taking players on trial and Coridon’s reasons for accepting, but the Martinique international is convinced it is right.

"Some people have asked me why I have agreed to go on trial but if a player like Eric Cantona was prepared to come to Britain to go on trial with Sheffield Wednesday why would any French player refuse?" Coridon said.

"It does not worry me that I have to prove myself to Martin O’Neill and Celtic.

"Eric took the test and we know what happened with him. I also want to succeed in British football.

"I have had offers to go to other clubs but this is where I want to be."

Monday 02nd August 2004

12.50

Hearing through the grapevine that the Champions League package for the
three home matches will be £81 (a £6 increase on last season). The
tickets have to be paid by 13th August 2004 (a week on Friday).

Draw takes place on 26th August, with our first game due to be played on
14th or 15th September 2004. (Could be away tie 1st)

So there you have it from the club, pay up two weeks before we even know
who we are playing and at least a full month before the first games take
place.