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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)

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Futbol

'I Know Why Real Appeal To Alexander-Arnold - I Was Tempted Too'

If Trent Alexander-Arnold does join Real Madrid this summer, fair play to him. I was once tempted to make a big move to Spain myself. Alexander-Arnold is 26 and out of contract at the end of the season, so he is in a position where he either commits the rest of his career to Liverpool or decides to go to Real - who clearly want him. If he was to leave Liverpool for any other club you might wonder why, but, because it is Real we are talking about, I don't think you could question it as a career move. Real are the biggest club in the world with an incredible history, so it would be a massive opportunity and I'd understand if he felt it was too good to turn down. Liverpool are his boyhood club, so I can understand why leaving them is more of a dilemma, but sometimes as a player you have to make these decisions about where your future lies. When I told Manchester United in 2010 that I did not want to sign a new deal and put in a transfer request, three clubs came in for me. Manchester City are often talked about as being one of them, but I don't think that was ever an option for me - the teams who made an approach were Chelsea, Real and Barcelona. In my head, I was ready to go and play in Spain and some talks did take place. A deal with Real looked more likely for a couple of days but it was Barcelona whom I thought about the most, and how I might fit into their side alongside Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Sergio Busquets. In the end I decided to stay at United, but Barca had an incredible team then and any player would have loved to have played in it. Real are the same now with superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr, so of course it must be appealing to Alexander-Arnold to think about playing alongside them - anyone would feel the same. He has been at Liverpool for almost 20 years - since he was six - but the reality is that most players move at some point - that's why there are so few one-club men like Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher. I would not blame Alexander-Arnold for wanting to do something a little bit different - like a fresh challenge in a new country - Spain would be a really good move for him. Winning trophies was the biggest reason I considered leaving United in 2010. I was about to turn 25 and I was concerned about the direction of the club. I don't think anyone could say that's the reason Alexander-Arnold would want to leave Liverpool, because they are on the verge of winning the Premier League. He's had a brilliant time there and has already won everything there is to win. It was a completely different situation for me when I left my boyhood club, Everton, to join United in 2004. I did not want to leave them when I did - I was devastated - but I would have moved on at some point, to try to better myself and win some trophies. That's another reason why Liverpool fans might wonder why Alexander-Arnold might leave now, because he is already doing that with them. But, again, it comes back to experiencing a different culture. If he goes to Real he would be very likely to enjoy even more success in a different country - and have the challenge of not just winning more trophies, but different ones. Also, we are seeing a lot of young English players go abroad and have huge success there, and I am sure Alexander-Arnold has seen how much they enjoy it. The fact he is close to Bellingham would make the move feel easier as well. I get why Liverpool fans are upset and even angry at the thought of Alexander-Arnold leaving - all supporters like to see local lads coming through at their club, and they never like to see them being sold. I feel like it is the fact he would be going on a free which has upset them the most, but that situation is down to Liverpool as well as Alexander-Arnold. We don't know why his contract has been allowed to run down - or whether that is down to him or the club - but it is something Liverpool have done with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk this season too, and also in the past with Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino. No-one seems to have said much about the other players letting their deals run down, just Alexander-Arnold. I think that's because he's a local lad, which feels a bit unfair. Alexander-Arnold has been an excellent servant to the club, so you can't begrudge him wanting to try something new. It would not just be a shame for Liverpool fans if he left because you want to see the best players in the Premier League but, if he does go to Real, I wish him well. Still, as I found out myself, just because there are talks over a transfer does not mean it will happen. It is well known that some United fans protested outside my house when they thought I was going to leave in 2010, but I'd agreed my new contract by then. Alexander-Arnold has not signed anything with Real yet and it would not surprise me if, even after all this speculation, he ends up staying at Anfield after all. A lot can happen before a contract is signed - as I know from experience. Wayne Rooney was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.