Friday 31st December 2004

08.45

Friday 24th December 2004

19.00

Friday 24th December 2004

18.15.

Stan not going to Spain.

Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov has backed away from a club-versus-country confrontation with Celtic over midfielder Stilian Petrov.

Petrov, the national team captain, had been included in the squad to play an unusual friendly next Tuesday against a Spanish regional select side.

That comes just 48 hours after the Hoops' Boxing Day clash at Hearts and Celtic manager Martin O'Neill had been keen for the 25-year-old to be spared.

Now Stoichkov - who was Bulgaria's greatest ever player - has agreed.

He said: "Stilian is not now coming. I have been speaking with Martin O'Neill and it is not now a problem because it is more important that Stilian stays in Scotland to play important games with Celtic."

Friday 24th December 2004

18.10

SPL considering winter break again.

It's being reported that the SPL are thinking of re-introducing the winter break.

Hoops boss Martin O'Neill is strongly behind the idea.

Friday 24th December 2004

18.00

BBJ still open to offers from Celtic.

Celtic have the opportunity to seal a new contract deal for striker John Hartson before the transfer window opens, according to the player's agent.
 

The pressure is on the SPL champions to secure the future of a player whose current deal expires in the summer.
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes has admitted he is keen to sign the player, whom he regarded as an automatic pick when he was in charge of Wales.
 

Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin are also reportedly interested, and the player knows he can sit back and wait for the offers to come in.
But Hartson's agent Jonathan Barnett insists Celtic still have the perfect chance to settle the matter once and for all before the transfer window opens on January 1.
 

He said: "We are in the middle of negotiations with Celtic, and there will be a meeting between now and the new year.
"It has been in our diary for some time."
Hartson has been the Hoops' major source of goals in the post-Henrik Larsson era, having contributed 17 so far at home and abroad.
Hughes earlier confirmed the 29-year-old is on his list of transfer targets.
 

He said: "We are looking to strengthen in the striker area if the right player becomes available.
"John is somebody I know and one of a number of players we have discussed. But it is a little bit early to know if anything will come of it."
Barnett is indicating the most likely outcome is Hartson extending his stay at Parkhead.
He said: "I am sure Celtic want him, and he loves Celtic."

Friday 17th December 2004

23.00

Laursen in demand.

Danish side Odense BK has declared their interest in out-of-favour Celtic defender Ulrik Laursen.

Laursen has admitted that he favours a return to his native Denmark, and OB director Kim Brink confirmed that they would love to sign the player.

"Ulrik is very interesting for us and I have told him that," Brink told Onside.dk.

"But first we have to see whether he will leave Celtic and what transfer fee they demand."

Laursen has been on the fringe of the Celtic squad this season, and has admitted he would like clarification on his future at the club.

The Denmark international has made just a handful of appearances and the prospect of playing for OB could appeal.

Monday 13th December 2004

14.45

BULGARIA WANT STILIAN AT CHRISTMAS.
 

CELTIC'S Stilian Petrov could be heading for a club v country dispute
following a bizarre friendly organised by his country, Bulgaria.

Manager Hristo Stoitchkov has promised to pick his full side for a challenge
match against Valenciana - a region of Spain - on 28 December, in the middle
of Celtic's festive programme.

Martin O'Neill's team play Hearts on Boxing Day and Livingston on 2 January. Stoitchkov said: "I've decided to include all of my best players for this game."

Saturday 11th December 2004

00.30

Celtic v Ireland game confirmed.

A Republic of Ireland XI will meet Celtic at Parkhead on Sunday, May 29, as part of manager Brian Kerr's preparations for their World Cup qualifying fixtures against Israel and the Faeroe Islands in June.

No caps will be awarded for the game, which will form the centrepiece of Celtic star Jackie McNamara's testimonial celebrations.

A similar fixture was staged at Parkhead in the early 1990s with the proceeds going to Packie Bonner's testimonial fund.

Saturday 04th December 2004

09.50

Maybe a bit premature but who knows?

UEFA Cup Final 2005 ticket news : Over 14,400 tickets from the total net capacity of 44,000 for the Final in May have been reserved for the general public.

A first batch of 7,200 will be put on sale as of 15 December 2004 to 31 January 2005 via the host association to the domestic market only, for Portuguese citizens with proof of their home residence in Portugal.

The remaining 7,200 ‘neutral’ zone tickets will be put on sale to football fans in the rest of the world in April of 2005, via UEFA’s official website, uefa.com.

A further 24,000 tickets, almost 55% of the stadium capacity for this match, are then destined for the supporters of the two finalists once they are known, after the semi-finals on May 5, 2005.

The remaining 5,600 tickets will go to members of the UEFA Football Family, split between local organising committee, official guests, clubs, leagues, federations and commercial partners.