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Futbol

Ferguson Proving People Wrong As Rangers Boss, Says McCann

Rangers assistant Neil McCann insists interim-head coach Barry Ferguson has already proven doubters wrong over his suitability for the role. Ferguson was installed until the end of the season after the departure of Philippe Clement in February and has led the Ibrox side into the quarter-finals of the Europa League and to a first win at Celtic Park since 2020. Rangers followed up that 3-2 derby success with a 4-3 win over Dundee last weekend, coming from 2-0 and 3-1 down at Dens Park. "I think that a lot of people maybe thought from his coaching CV that he maybe wouldn't even be ready to even take this position," said McCann of Ferguson, who left his previous post as Alloa Athletic manager in 2022. "I think he's proved that wrong. It's not my place to tell anybody who is to get the job or not (beyond the end of the season). All we can do is work hard. "He's trying to bring the character he had as a player, the demands he had as a player. "I think we're showing that we've got a wee bit of guts about us," the former Scotland winger continued. "We've got a determination. "There's a mindset that I think the gaffer was wanting to change coming in. "He felt that that had to be switched a wee bit and I definitely believe that we've got something there." With Athletic Bilbao up next in the Europa League and seven Premiership matches remaining, McCann acknowledged results could yet determine whether Ferguson is a contender to stay on as negotiations continue over a proposed takeover of the club by the US investment arm of the San Francisco 49ers. "Of course," he said. "You would hope there's already an influence been happening because they felt they had to make a change, the board," he said. "When a board makes a change in management team then clearly they are looking for a reaction and want results. All we can do is try and get them." McCann, who supports Ferguson, along with Billy Dodds and Allan McGregor, again made it clear there is an appetite to stay on. "As a coaching staff none of us is frightened of a challenge, not one of us," he added. "If it was to be presented to us I don't think there would be any of us that would say 'not for us' but it's too far in the distance to even encourage that."

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Futbol

Premiership Play-off Quarter-finals & Semi-finals On BBC Scotland

BBC Scotland will again provide live television coverage of the Premiership play-off quarter-finals and semi-finals in May. The team fourth in the Championship will host third in the first leg on Tuesday 6 May, with the return leg three days later. The winners then go on to face the league runners-up on 13 and 16 May, with all kick-offs at 19:45 BST. The side left standing goes on to face 11th in the Premiership over two legs for a top-flight place next season. Sky Sports will broadcast the final matches on 22 May and 26 May. If St Johnstone are involved in the Scottish Cup final (24 May) and the play-off final, those dates will shift to 27 and 30 May. With five matches remaining, Championship leaders Falkirk are on course for a second successive promotion as they sit eight points in front of Ayr United and Livingston, who are already guaranteed play-off places. Partick Thistle are fourth, with a six-point cushion over Raith Rovers and an advantage of seven over Morton. Dundee currently occupy second bottom spot in the Premiership, five points ahead of St Johnstone and one behind Kilmarnock. BBC Alba will show the Championship play-off final games on 14 and 17 May and League One play-off final games on 13 and 16 May.

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Futbol

Hamilton & Clyde Face Doubt Over Home Ground Next Term

Doubt has been cast over where both Hamilton Academical and Clyde will play their home games next season amid a wrangle over their tenancies at New Douglas Park. The stadium is still owned by Championship side Hamilton's former owners, with the club currently paying rent to use it. League 2 outfit Clyde are in a similar position but have admitted they may be forced to find another temporary home stadium. They moved to Hamilton in 2022 after North Lanarkshire Council refused to extend their lease at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld. Clyde say they signed "a legally-binding agreement" in 2022 for a five-year stay but that only they had the right to terminate the deal early this summer. They added that they submitted "written confirmation" to Hamilton of their plans to stay in February but have "been unable to get clarity that the agreement will prevail beyond the current season." They added: "In fact, we have an informal indication of the contrary." The SPFL have confirmed to BBC Scotland that under league rules "all clubs have to confirm by 31 March what their registered ground will be for the following season". Clyde have met that deadline - despite the doubt over their home for next term - but it remains unclear whether Hamilton have. Hamilton director Gerry Strain told BBC Scotland they have been in talks with the SPFL over the issue and are taking legal advice over Clyde's position. He says Clyde met current owner Serif Zengin, who "was of the view the rent they were paying wasn't efficient" and asked "if they were prepared to pay an adequate rent". Strain added: "This would only be on the basis Serif would acquire the stadium. Clyde subsequently walked out the meeting and then presented us with this letter." In March, Hamilton had their club licence reduced from bronze to entry level by the Scottish FA for a variety of failings, which could lead to the possibility of a points deduction this season. The club - who are ninth in the second tier, five points off the automatic relegation spot - have appealed against that ruling. The SPFL have confirmed that "it remains a fundamental aspect of the SPFL rules that our members clubs have a Scottish FA bronze level licence". Earlier this season, League 2 Bonnyrigg Rose were deducted six points after they also had their licence reduced to entry level amid issues with their pitch.

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Futbol

Scotland 'already Started' Preparing To Host Women's World Cup

Women's Nations League A: Scotland v Germany Venue: Tannadice Park, Dundee Date: Friday, 4 April Kick-off: 19:35 BST Coverage: Watch on BBC Alba & iPlayer, listen on BBC Radio Scotland Extra & Sounds, live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app Scotland have "already started" preparing for an "inspirational" UK-hosted Women's World Cup in 2035, according to interim head coach Mick McArdle. Fifa president Gianni Infantino revealed on Thursday that a joint expression of interest in hosting the tournament from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales was the only valid one received by the world governing body's deadline day. McArdle is not only preparing his team for Friday's Nations League visit by Germany but is closely involved with Scottish FA policy as head of elite women's football. Asked about "the exciting news" and the prospect of Scotland hosting World Cup games in 10 years' time, he said: "We're two and a half years into that cycle. "The association's decision to have the foresight to create the role that I'm the custodian for just now, the head of elite game, is that we've already started that preparation. "It's up to us to qualify for the tournament as well, if it's not automatic, but it's an inspiration to us all, myself, the full pathway, the players in the dressing room just now." Scotland qualified for their first World Cup finals in 2019 but missed out in 2023, while they have not reached a European Championship finals since 2017. McArdle says the response to England hosting the Euros in 2022 was felt throughout that country and he hopes Scotland can capitalise on a similar scale. "It's a massive inspiration that we could be hosting but also get ourselves to a World Cup now as well," McArdle said. "We've seen how massive the hosting of Euros in England was to the English game's development overnight and it's certainly something that would have a massive impact across the game." Meanwhile, McArdle repeated his belief that he is ready to take the head coach on a permanent basis if it is offered at the end of "currently ongoing" recruitment process Having lost their opening Group A ties to the Netherlands and Austria, Scotland face a double header with the top seeds and group leaders, travelling to Wolfsburg for the return tie on Tuesday. McArdle says the campaign "gives us a benchmark" to gauge their progress and "learn" as they look "towards consistently qualifying for competitions". Scotland have lost their three previous meetings with Germany without scoring, the latest of those being a 3-0 friendly defeat in 2013. Goalkeepers: Eartha Cumings (Rosengard), Lee Gibson (Glasgow City), Sandy MacIver (Washington Spirit) Defenders: Jenna Clark (Liverpool), Leah Eddie (Rangers), Sophie Howard (Leicester City), Emma Lawton (Celtic), Rachel McLauchlan (Brighton & Hove Albion), Amy Muir (Glasgow City), Kirsty Smith (West Ham United) Midfielders: Chelsea Cornet (Rangers), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Freya Gregory (Newcastle United), Sam Kerr (Liverpool, on loan from Bayern Munich), Kirsty MacLean (Rangers), Amy Rodgers (Bristol City), Caroline Weir (Real Madrid) Forwards: Eilidh Adams (Hibernian), Lauren Davidson (Brann), Claire Emslie (Angel City), Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa), Martha Thomas (Tottenham Hotspur), Emma Watson (Everton, on loan from Manchester United)