Little Linlithgow Rose get dragged into the flare throwing row just hours after SPFL chiefs reject the latest call for clubs to face strict liability regarding the behaviour of supporters 

 

Today 

This cannot be happening

The Herald:

Hamilton boss Martin Canning roars his disapproval of events at Celtic Park

 

Too easy

The Herald:

Leigh Griffiths can barely raise a smile as he celebrates the first of his goals

 

Holders move on

The Herald:

Iain Vigurs scores the match securing second for Inverness in their Scottish Cup win over Stirling

 

Much to think about...

The Herald:

And Ryan Wilson may have plenty of time for that after today's citing hearing

 

This is embarrassing

The Herald:

Motherwell goal-keeper Connor Ripley reflects on his toughest day

 

Building for the future

The Herald:

Rangers youth programme boss Craig Mulholland (furthest left) getting the backing to support his plans

 

Strike one!

The Herald:

Scottish youngster Ross Lindsay is trying to forge a football career the American way

 

6.05 Radio Scotland sports headlines

Celtic six points clear after hammering Hamilton 8-1... hours after it is discussed by league bosses more pyrotechnics are thrown at Scottish football ground... Inverness beat Stirling... Roger Federer and Serena Williams through in Australian Open

 

06.30 Radio Five Live sports headlines

Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Roger Federer all through at Australian Open...Remi Gard says Aston Villa technically poor as they progress in FA Cup... non-league interest in FA Cup over as Eastleigh knocked out... MK Dons earn meeting with Chelsea... Griffiths scores hat-trick as Celtic beat Hamilton 8-1... holders Inverness beat Stirling in Scottish Cup

 

Back Pages

The National leads with a report on Celtic’s eight goal thrashing of Hamilton while The Herald and Evening Times relate Ronny Deila’s view that it is evidence of his side’s readiness to defend their title as well. The Herald also has room for Alan Stubbs’ contention that the signing of Anthony Stokes is symbolic of Hibs’ promotion aspirations, Falkirk chairman George Henderson’s account of the slow progress being made towards SPFL re-structuring and Scotland rugby coach Vern Cotter’s claim that Ryan Wilson was never part of his plans.

The Herald:

 

The Herald:

The Herald:

 

Grandstanding- today’s sports comment

In The National Hugh MacDonald suggests the end is nigh for tennis great Rafa Nadal after his early exit at the Australian Open, while The Rucker would like to see the same thing apply to rugby’s driving maul, as it currently manifests itself.

Meanwhile in The Herald, with athletics in crisis Doug Gillon outlines his concerns for the future of Meadowbank Stadium, while Stuart Bathgate runs the rule over Vern Cotter’s Six Nations Championship selection.

 

Thanks for the memories

The Herald:

Rafael Nadal says goodbye at Melbourne after a performance that raised doubts over what he has left

 

Sporting Twitterati

When Saturday Comes identifies a potential candidate for several leading sports jobs:

 

Scottish Rugby coach Vern Cotter comes across a little less bullish than Stuart Hogg was earlier in the week:

 

Hugh Dan MacLennan advises BBC commentating colleague Paul Mitchell on how to explain his slip of the tongue which was a description of a Celtic attempt on goal, rather than Hamilton Accies’ defending:

 

Slightly more of an excuse this time as a flare hits the pitch after the floolights fail at Forfar:

 

Today’s top message

Darts, indoor bowls, snooker… no-one can claim Scots lack sporting skill when they look at the outstanding performers in those sports down the years.

Athleticism is, of course, a different matter, but the performance of Darren Burnett in winning two world titles in consecutive days at the World Indoor Championship, following hot on the heels of Gary Anderson’s world darts win, only reinforces a point I have bene making for 20 years and more.

I first remember writing about this 15 to 20 years ago when noting that as well as those engaged in those sports Scotland had produced dominant figures in squash and in all sorts of motor sport. In short, anything that you could put a roof over.

It seemed all the more relevant last night when listening to Scott MacDonald, an Australian, become the latest to lend his voice - in the course of commentating on Celtic's destruction of Hamilton Accies - to the view that regardless of what happens at elite level, Scottish youth football must switch to the summer to take advantage of longer evenings and less brutal temperatures.

It seems that there is no great will among those running Scottish football to make the switch to summer football at SPFL level and some of us are fearful of the implications for what we refer to as ‘summer sports’ should youth football and, indeed, rugby make that change.

However if we accept that it is not an innate lack of ability in terms of coordination then it seems ever more obvious that in a world where youngsters have more comfortable options in the deep mid-winter, some different thinking is required to get them into the habit of doing the work required to gain the physicality required to be competitive at those sports that demand more in the way of athleticism.

 

The Herald:

World darts champion Gary Anderson one of those who prove that there is no shortage of innate skill among Scots

 

Thanks for reading. Back tomorrow to tee up another day of sport.