Wednesday 31st March

14.30

Villarreal star ruled out of Celtic ties.

The Villarreal CF midfield player Antonio Guayre has torn a muscle in his thigh which will rule him out both legs of the UEFA Cup quarter-final against Celtic FC.

The 23-year-old sustained the injury in Sunday's scoreless draw against Club Atlético de Madrid and was substituted after 25 minutes. Guayre has played four games in the UEFA Cup this season but will not feature against the Scottish champions-elect. Defenders Juliano Belletti and Javi Venta are also recovering from knocks and are doubtful for the first leg in Glasgow on 8 April.

Tuesday 30th March 2004

14.55

Ticket scramble for Celtic title winning party.

CELTIC supporters have been warned by Kilmarnock not to try and turn Rugby Park into a mini-Parkhead for their potential title-winning clash next month.
Martin O'Neill's men lost the championship down there last season and many Celtic fans would want to clinch first spot at Rugby Park because of the reaction of the home support on that final day.
However, fans are having to sign for tickets and police have vowed to throw Celtic fans out of the Killie end.

Monday 28th March 2004

11.30

Henrik heading for Greece?

Greek side Olympiakos have registered their interest in signing Henrik Larsson once the striker's contract runs out at the end of the season.

The Swede is available for free this summer, with Spain believed to be his preferred destination.

"There are clubs who have signalled interest in Henrik now and Olympiakos are one of them," Larsson's agent Rob Jansen said today "

"We will have to see what Henrik thinks of that option," he added.

"He has not made up his mind yet on his future and we will have to take the time we have."

Saturday 27th March 2004

20.30

Thommo gets England call at last

Celtic midfielder Alan Thompson and Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe are among five uncapped players to be handed the chance to make a late bid for a Euro 2004 place after the pair received call-ups to a severely-depleted England squad on Saturday night.

Friday 26th March 2004

14.20

Hero goalie signs new four year deal

Celtic goalkeeper David Marshall has signed a four year contract with the Club this afternoon.

Friday 26th March 2004

13.20

UEFA CUP DETAILS

Quarter finals:
Bordeaux v Valencia
Marseille v Internazionale
Celtic v Villarreal
PSV Eindhoven v Newcastle

Ties to be played April 8 and 14

Semi-finals:
PSV Eindhoven or Newcastle v Marseille v Internazionale
Celtic or Villarreal v Bordeaux v Valencia

Tuesday 23rd March 2004

13.20

NEWCASTLE V CELTIC (This story to be confirmed)

"Newcastle have lined up a pre-season visit to Celtic Park on August  4th. The friendly fixture comes days after a four team tournament to be held at St. James' Park over the weekend of July 31st - teams to be
confirmed"

Friday 19th March 2004

14.15

Lambert sticking with Bhoys

Paul Lambert's agent has rubbished speculation claiming that his client is set to leave Celtic at the end of the season.

Press reports had suggested that the veteran midfielder was planning to quit playing in order to begin a coaching course in Germany.

However, Gordon Smith insists that although Lambert is looking into taking his coaching qualifications he will see out the remaining year of his Bhoys contract.

The agent said: "No it's not true - Paul is looking at the situation of maybe doing his coaching badge with the German FA but that's as far as it has gone.

"To take it to another stage and suggest he's walking away from his contract and in negotiations with Celtic about leaving and paying up his contract is news to me.

"I'm Paul's agent and I must be negotiating that situation - but I've definitely got a memory lapse then.

"If that's happening with Celtic then I've completely forgotten about it.

"It's a story that's sprouted legs and arms and Paul and I are mystified by it.

"The only thing that's got a shred of truth in it is the fact that Paul has made enquiries with the German FA about doing his coaching course with them."

Monday 15th March 2004

16.40

GARCIA INJURY BLOW FOR BARCA

Barcelona winger Luis Garcia has been ruled out of the Uefa Cup fourth round second leg clash with Celtic after a knee injury.

The youngster suffered ligament damage in his right knee during Sunday's league win over Murcia and will be missing for up to four weeks.

Former Arsenal wide-man Marc Overmars is the obvious replacement for Garcia.

Celtic take a 1-0 lead to the 25 March clash at the Nou Camp thanks to an Alan Thompson strike in Glasgow.

The Catalan side will also be without Javier Saviola and Thiago Motta, who were both sent off in the first leg.

Midfield powerhouse Edgar Davids is cup-tied, having featured for Juventus in European action this season and former Rangers star Giovanni van Bronckhorst is injured.

Monday 15th March 2004

14.50

LIVI WIN CIS CUP

Congratulations to ex Celtic player and boss Davie Hay on his team's splendid win in yesterday's CIS Cup final win at Hampden, on loan Celt David Fernandez picked up a winners medal in the 2-0 victory of Hibs

Monday 15th March 2004

14.50

BARCA CRUISE UP TO THIRD

Javier Saviola and Barcelona bounced back from their disappointing UEFA Cup trip to Celtic in midweek to pick up their eighth successive Primera Liga win on Sunday at the expense of Murcia.

Barca had two players sent off as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat in their fourth round first leg clash in Scotland.

One of the players to be handed his marching orders against Celtic was Saviola but he wasted no time in trying to make amends on Sunday, opening the scoring after just four minutes.

Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho added a second in the 64th minute to help in-form Barca move into third place above Deportivo La Coruna and to within nine points of stuttering leaders Real Madrid.

Murcia started the game in determined fashion and earned themselves a couple of corners inside the first few minutes.

But they could not make their early pressure count and were then hit with the ultimate sucker-punch.

Barca starlet Luis Garcia was brought down near the Murcia area and when the free-kick was whipped into the box, Saviola was on hand at the far post to slot home the game's opening goal.

It was an ideal start for Barca but coach Frank Rijkaard was forced to make a change soon after with Garcia, who was unable to continue after being fouled for the free-kick, being replaced by Marc Overmars.

That might have unsettled the visitors slightly as they came close to conceding an equaliser in the 11th minute.

Richi tried his luck with a brilliant long-distance effort that forced an equally stunning save out of Victor Valdes.

That was the closest Murcia would come to equalising in the first half but they kept themselves in the game with a determined showing at the back, limiting Barca to just one decent opening in the remainder of the period.

It fell to Xavi after 24 minutes and although the midfielder connected well with his shot Murcia goalkeeper Roberto Bonano, the former Barca stopper, was able to turn it behind for a corner.

Murcia started the second half in much the same purposeful way as they had the first and their own Luis Garcia, who was a half-time replacement for Daniel Jensen, was looking particularly dangerous.

He won a free-kick on the edge of the area and, having taken the responsibility for shooting himself, curled in a looping effort that Valdes did well to tip onto the top of the right-hand post.

Murcia had another opportunity only a few minutes later when Leonel Gancedo drilled in a superb cross that somehow evaded three of his team-mates in the box.

That proved to be the last decent chance Murcia would have of getting something out of the game as a few minutes later they conceded a second goal, after which Barca comfortably controlled the rest of the game.

Just a few minutes after Saviola had a goal correctly ruled out for offside, Ronaldinho capitalised on some good play by Overmars to slot the ball past Bonano and wrap up yet another three-point haul.

Sunday 14th March 2004

08.30

O'Neill to manage England?

Martin O'Neill has become the leading contender to manage England if Sven Goran Eriksson leaves, The People says.

The FA believe they can lure O'Neill from Celtic where he has a one-year rolling contract.

Eriksson will hold talks with the FA in the next fortnight for an extended deal which will take him through to 2008. But the Swede has been linked with Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Wednesday 10th March 2004

15.45

Triple doubt for Barca clash