Reid Takes Over As Boss

Scotland Fails To Qualify For Euro 2008

By Tony Quinn

John Reid replaced Brian Quinn as club Chairman at Monday's AGM in the Kerrydale Suite at Celtic Park. Outgoing Chairman Brian Quinn received a standing ovation for his seven-and-a-half years of service. "John will be an excellent replacement," said Quinn in his welcome to the new chairman. "He has strong leadership qualities, a great analytical capacity and those of you who have seen him on television and in debates will have seen him posed with really hostile questions. John handles that with great calmness and great aplomb, he is a very persuasive person and will be a great Celtic chairman. I have no doubt about that. Objections to the appointment were raised by shareholders at the AGM, with most of those centering on Reid's role in the British Government joining the Iraq war. In accepting the position Reid said:

"Notwithstanding anyone's comments today, but I regard being invited to be chairman of this club as the greatest honor of my life. I have served in high office, sometimes that's been an office whose product the vast majority of you would agree with and I am proud that we brought to an end 800 years of conflict and tragedy in Northern Ireland and I thought that some of the commentators might have mentioned that today. But let me make one point absolutely clear, I respect the right of everyone in this club to have their own views, their own background, their own religion and their own politics - that is what has made this club different from some other clubs. But when we come into this club we leave that background and religious and political division at the door of the club. Celtic Football Club is not a forum for political debate and division."

Paul Hartley feels referee Manuel Gonzalez unjustly punished Scotland for playing their normal pressing game against Italy at the weekend. Gonzalez played a huge role in Scotland's Euro 2008 downfall with a stoppage time decision to hand Italy a free-kick after Alan Hutton had been barged over near the touchline. Christian Panucci met Andrea Pirlo's cross to make it 2-1 for the world champions and negate the need for France to secure a point in Ukraine to progress. Hartley has argued the ref had put Scotland up against it throughout the game with some harsh decisions. Gonzalez gave 27 fouls against the Scots. Hartley said: "That's what you do in football, try and put teams on the backfoot. There wasn't a bad foul in the game. As you saw with some of the decisions, we didn't touch any players. If you are going to go into a football game and not tackle, then what's the point in playing?

Benfica midfielder Augustin Binya has been handed a six-match UEFA ban following his red card for an atrocious challenge on Scott Brown. Brown avoided injury but claimed Binya had tried to break his leg with the tackle in the 85th minute of the Champions League clash at Parkhead, which Celtic won 1-0. UEFA's control and disciplinary body announced their verdict last Friday morning, having deliberated on the case on Thursday. In a statement on UEFA's website, Binya's challenge was described as one which "seriously endangered the physical health of the opposing player". Benfica can appeal against the decision.

Celtic defender Scott Cuthbert hopes his performances for the Scotland Under-21s can force him into Gordon Strachan's first-team. Centre-half Cuthbert has been employed as a right-back by international coach Maurice Malpas and has recently played there for Celtic reserves. And with Mark Wilson and Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe out injured, Cuthbert has recently found his way into the first-team squad without making his long-awaited debut. Cuthbert said: "There have been a few injuries and I've managed to get myself on the bench so hopefully if I do well at right-back and if the manager sees me, it would be good to get in. I'm happy with the way I have been playing at right-back, I have been playing there for Celtic reserves as well."

Gordon Strachan has won his appeal to the SFA against a two-match touchline ban. Strachan was sent to the stands during Celtic's 3-1 defeat to Hearts in April after exchanging words with Hearts substitute Neil McCann. He was given an automatic four-match ban because he had already been suspended for an incident in August 2006. The disciplinary committee cut the ban to two games after Strachan's first appeal in September, but it has now been quashed completely. However, Strachan may still be in trouble. He faces another ban after being sent off for arguing with a steward at Aberdeen in August. The case can be heard now that the outstanding appeal has been settled.