Bhoys In For Naismith

Young Striker Is A Target For Both Old Firm Clubs

Reports indicate that Celtic are interested in signing Kilmarnock striker Steven Naismith, who is a confirmed target for Rangers. The 20-year-old has already been the subject of a £400,000 bid from Rangers, which was immediately rejected. Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies said: "They have made an inquiry but we've had no bid. I told them the same as everybody - that if they make a bid, then it will be considered." Newspaper reports at the weekend claimed Celtic were to offer Killie a 'Take it or leave it' £2m for the player.

Young Celtic striker Kjartan Finnbogason looks like he may be on his way to Bristol City on a pre-season trial. The Iceland Under-21 international has turned down a new two-year contract at Celtic Park because he sees no future with the Bhoys given the current number of attacking choices available to Gordon Strachan. Although the former KR Reykjavik frontman failed to break into the Celtic first team, he was a regular scorer for the reserves last season as they won the Scottish reserve league title. Finnbogason's agent, Olafur Gardarsson, said: "He will probably go to Bristol in early July and go on their trip to Latvia. He has been with Celtic for two years and played 28 games for their Under-19s and reserve teams and scored 24 goals but he still has not got the chance to play in the first team. He is out of contract this summer but there would be the issue of compensation."

Gordon Strachan believes the club need to be playing in a European league to eliminate 'sectarianism'. A curious suggestion given that while Rangers have been found guilty twice of sectarian chanting at away games on the continent, Celtic fans have received nothing but praise from the governing body Uefa and indeed the world governing body Fifa in recent years. Celtic have shown a strong interest in joining the English leagues, and Strachan believes it may be a beneficial move but the manager thinks a European league is more likely to happen, given the objection of EPL clubs to Celtic and Rangers being allowed to join their ranks. Strachan said: "If we could get into a British league, I don't just think it would help us financially, it would also help this West of Scotland thing we have to live with. I often think how exciting it would be to have Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea coming to Parkhead. Sometimes you hear our people singing the IRA stuff, but I think all that would go if we were in a bigger league. It would enlarge the scene, provide more breathing space and people would get on with their lives. People from the outside looking in would no longer say to some Old Firm fans, 'Are you guys going to grow up... are youse all mad?'"

Strachan thinks as many as 50 leading clubs could be involved if the long-mooted European league does become a reality. He added: "It will happen and the sponsors would flock to it. I really think it's going to happen."

It has been announced that Celtic will play Parma from the Italian Serie A in a pre-season friendly on July 29th. Parma have several established internationals, including former Portugal defender Fernando Couto and Australian midfielder Vince Grell but they narrowly escaped relegation last season and are seeking a new manager following the departure of Claudio Ranieri for Juventus. The July 29th game will be the third pre-season friendly between the sides in Glasgow in the past 10 years. Celtic won 2-1 on the last occasion in 2002 while the 1997 clash finished in a 1-1 draw.

Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi is said to be an on-loan target for Gordon Strachan. Rossi spent last season away from Old Trafford during loan spells at Newcastle United and Parma and while he struggled to make any impression at St James's Park, he was regarded as a key factor as Parma saved themselves from relegation.

The press in England continue to speculate about who will be playing in the Hoops next season. Among the rumors are: Celtic to make a combined £5 Million offer to West Ham for Marlon Harewood and Paul Konchesky: Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg was in Glasgow last week for talks with Celtic: Fenerbahce midfielder Stephen Appiah is still top of Gordon Strachan's list of targets for next season.

Celtic have become the first senior club in Scotland to launch of a football academy for girls. The academy, the first of its kind in Scotland, will be run along the same lines as the boys club and will cater for girls aged five through to 19. It will also incorporate the Celtic ladies senior side, which will represent the club in the Scottish Women's Premier League. The girls' academy comes under the umbrella of the Celtic Foundation and will be run by Robert Docherty. "Celtic was founded on the principles of inclusiveness and providing opportunities," he said. "The Celtic Foundation works in a number of different areas, including charitable and community projects. We looked at the current structure, and in particular for gaps in what we do, and women and girls' football represented a gap." Celtic Ladies will play their home games at Barrowfield and at the club's new £12m training ground in Lennoxtown. Their derby rivals will not be Rangers, as the Ibrox club does not have its own ladies team unless of course you want to include most of the present first team panel.