Strachan Looking Forward To Third Year At The Helm

McDonald Signs New Five-Year Contract With The Bhoys

By Tony Quinn

Gordon Strachan is relishing a third successive season in the 'phenomenal' Champions League and insists he will continue to handle the pressure of life in Glasgow. After reaching the last 16 in each of the past two campaigns, going beyond that stage is Celtic's challenge. "The two years have been an incredible education for me," Strachan said. "If any coach at all can get the chance - no matter what league you're in - to get into the Champions League, then take it. It's a phenomenal tournament."

Scott McDonald has signed a new five-year contract with the SPL champions to keep him at Parkhead until 2013. The Australian finished as the league's top scorer in his first season with Celtic, who he joined from Motherwell in a £700,000 deal last summer. When asked if he wanted to stay at Celtic for the rest of his career, he responded: "I have always said that, and if that is the case you know you have had a successful career because you don't play at a football club like this if you are not doing it week-in, week-out. So if I could do that, I think I would have certainly had a very good career." Newcastle were reported to be preparing a £6million bid for McDonald in the spring but the striker's agent began talks over the new deal as soon as Celtic clinched their third successive title.

Clubs in Scotland will receive an extra place in the Uefa Cup for the 2009-2010 season, The SPL has revealed.

Scotland will be fielding at least four teams in European competition next season, and Hibs would join Celtic, Rangers, Motherwell and Queen of the South if they qualify through the Intertoto Cup. The team that finishes fourth in The SPL, the following season, is likely to take the guaranteed fifth spot with the Intertoto Cup being replaced by an additional qualifying round in the Uefa Cup.

Lilian Thuram says a move to the SPL is in his thoughts. Capped 142 times by France, the defender is poised to leave Barcelona this summer and has been tipped to return to his homeland. He told TF1 however: "There are a number of things that could interest me, most notably going to PSG or maybe another club too. I don't know what I'm going to do in the coming days, so I can't really say." He added: "Going to a club outside of France is also being discussed. We'll see. There are clubs in Italy, England, and even in Scotland that could be interested."

Aiden McGeady remains Roy Keane's top summer transfer target. The Republic of Ireland winger enjoyed a stellar season in the SPL and since the season ended has been linked with a move to England. Striker Anthony Stokes, a Celtic target after his hotshot loan spell with Falkirk the season before last, is reportedly being offered together with a large cash sum (£10m) to try and persuade the SPL champions into selling.

Newly promoted Hull City are reported to have put in a £2million bid for Lee Naylor, as they try to strengthen the team for the new Premiership challenge, and the former U21 England left back is top of their list to reinforce the back line. It would also improve Naylor's chances of breaking back into the England team after dropping out of Steve McClaren's radar after his move north, despite some excellent performances for the Hoops which saw him nominated for the SFA's Young-Player-of-the-Year in 2007.

Celtic have joined the race to sign former Republic of Ireland under-21 international Noel Hunt from Dundee United. Hunt, who scored 18 times for the Terrors last season, has been targeted by Reading this summer. The Royals had an offer of approximately £400,000 for the 25-year-old turned down by the Tannadice side. And Hunt's saleability will only increase with the news that Gordon Strachan is also interested. United want £1m for the Waterford lad, and Celtic could stump up the asking price as they seek attacking reinforcements before the start of next season.

Kenny Miller on Friday became the first player to rejoin Rangers after a spell at Celtic. The 28-year-old Miller signed on a three-year deal from Derby, who were relegated last month from the Premier League.

A section of the Manchester City Council report into the organization of the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester on 14 May involving Rangers gives a countdown to the major public disorder after the match, with trouble starting long before there were problems with the screening of the match in Piccadilly Gardens that was blamed by Rangers fans for sparking trouble. "The first reports of anti-social behavior - missiles being thrown at the entertainers on the stage in Piccadilly Gardens and fighting between fans - came at 11.30am on the day of the final - more than eight hours before kick-off. Problems with drunken, anti-social and criminal behavior continued throughout the afternoon and early evening in Piccadilly Gardens... Although there was a problem with the signal to the big screen in Piccadilly Gardens at the beginning of the match, it was within minutes of being fixed when drunken and violent behavior by a significant number but small minority of people meant technicians had to abandon their attempts to fix it." Privately it is known that city officials wanted "anyone but Rangers" to get through to the final.