Rumour Mill: Deila slams Stokes | Rangers eye ‘European quality’ players | Hibs finances

Anthony Stokes has been criticised by manager Ronny Deila. Picture: SNS

Deila accuses Stokes of disrespect after tweet; Petrie upbeat about Hibs finances despite six-figure loss and Dave King tells Mark Warburton to bring in ‘European quality’ players

Deila slams Stokes over tweets

RONNY Deila has slammed frozen-out striker Anthony Stokes after the Irish forward tweeted his frustration at travelling to Inverness only to be left out of the matchday squad.

Stokes posted: “Buzzing to be brought all the way up to Inverness with the team to sit in the stands today, lovely weather for it too…”.

Anthony Stokes has been criticised by manager Ronny Deila. Picture: SNS

The ex-Hibs striker hasn’t played since August, and Deila said: “It was disrespectful to the other boys,” said Deila.

“Every week we travel with 20 players. There are always two left out. If that’s harder for him than someone else, then for me that’s not a team player. It is not the best way to behave for your team-mates.” (The Scotsman)

Stokes ‘should learn from kids’

RONNY Deila has said that Celtic’s young stars are showing up Anthony Stokes.

The Norwegian said that players including Scott Allan and Calum McGregor, along with Kieran Tierney, are ‘getting payback time’.

He added: “Those three [are] good examples of players who have been out and who worked themselves into things and show on the pitch that they want to play.

“It’s true that is hard for them — but they have been outstanding attitude-wise.” (Scottish Sun)

Warburton told to bring in ‘European quality’ players

RANGERS chairman Dave King has reportedly instructed Mark Warburton to run any potential signings past the Rangers board - but only if they are players capable of making the step up to Europe as well as the Scottish Premiership.

King confirmed that he had held talks with Warburton adding: “It is really not as much about winning the league this year, the identification of players in January would be based on our prospects for the year after.

“We would have to bring in players we thought were going to compete next season strongly in the Premier League and already looking towards Europe.” (Daily Mail)

Petrie upbeat about Hibs finances

HIBS remain on a sound financial footing despite having racked up a hefty loss for the second year in succession, chairman Rod Petrie has insisted.

The latest accounts show that for the year ending July 31, it was in the red to the tune of £840,000 following taxation, the result Petrie said of choosing to maintain Hibs as a “Premiership club” despite being relegated at the end of the previous season.

But that figure is a drop from the £1.2m loss in the previous financial year even although staff costs fell by a “modest” eight per cent to £3.4m in comparison to the £3.7m spent in the last year in the Premiership. (Evening News)

Wilson keen on Petrofac glory and promotion

HE’S played for Rangers in the Champions League but Danny Wilson is still hopeful that the Ibrox side can lift the Petrofac Cup come April.

Wilson said: “In football, you can’t pick and choose the trophies you win. We now have one more hurdle to get over to lift the [Petrofac Cup], but it’s one we’re looking forward to.”

And the former Hearts defender added that Rangers need to get back to winning ways, and a three-point cushion over rivals Hibs, who are on an impressive run of form. (The Scotsman)

Sturrock hints that Yeovil may be last job

FORMER Dundee United boss Paul Sturrock has hinted that his current job managing Yeovil could be his last in football.

‘Luggy’ told The Scotsman that managing the Glovers ‘could be’ his last job, adding: “I still feel I have advice to give to somebody. I want to do clinics for coaches too.”

Sturrock, now 60, said that he wants to ‘transform Yeovil like I have transformed nearly every club I have been at’. (The Scotsman)