Evening Times

Gavin Is Determined to Beat Those Injury Blues Midfielder's Frustration at Missing Out in Fight for the Flag

GAVIN RAE will be on the outside looking in as the nail-biting SPL Championship reaches its gripping climax on Sunday. But the injured Rangers midfielder won't allow himself to be tortured by the agonies of missing out on the drama of a final day showdown.

Watson Chasing Queen to Qualify

CLARE QUEEN and 13-year-old Sally Watson top the leaderboard at the conclusion of the qualifiers to decide the 32 players who will take part in the Scottish Women's Amateur Championship. Queen shot a fourunder-par 70 for a total of three-under 145 with South Queensferry schoolgirl Watson three behind.

Bulloch Agrees Deal with Leeds

SCOTLAND'S most capped hooker, Gordon Bulloch, has agreed a two- year deal with Premiership club Leeds. The 30-year-old, who won his 75th cap against England two months ago, will join up after the Lions' tour of New Zealand.

Paris Match Too Much for Elena

PAISLEY'S Elena Baltacha (above) crashed out of the qualifiers for the French Tennis Open at the first hurdle in Paris. The 21-year-old 10th seed for the qualifiers struggled against her Dutch opponent, Elise Tamaela, eventually losing 7-5, 2-6, 1-6.

Limond Will Lead Marriott Line-Up

WILLIE LIMOND will headline tomorrow night's Morrison Promotions show at the Marriott Hotel. Garthamlock's European Community boxing champ will meet John McKay over eight rounds at superfeatherweight.

Willie Young the Referee Who Saw the World On His Way Every Picture Tells a Storyone of Scotland's Top Whistlers Will Be in Charge for the Last Time This Weekend. Here, He Looks Back On His 25 Years As a Football Official.

1 Family affair I GREW up in Girvan in Ayrshire and played for, and then captained, Ayrshire Schoolboys as a lad. Like every football-daft boy, I dreamed of playing for Scotland one day.

Failure On the Big Stage Is Not an Option for Eckrangers Boss Knows Club's Seeding Place Is at Risk

RANGERS' need to deliver Champions League football next season is greater than it has been for some time. Failure to get through the qualification process, whether that be one round or two, would not only starve their fans yet again of a taste of the big time.

Hypnotic Appeal of Electric Chair Still As Strongalan Davidson On Football's Unforgiving Role

REMEMBER the opening scene from the old, and oftrepeated, television series 'Quincy ME'? Jack Klugman, playing the forensic scientist, unveils a corpse to the horror of watching police cadets who either vomit or tumble unconscious to the floor.

Ex-Scots Gaffers Gave Paul Their Vote

PAUL LAMBERT was recommended for the Livingston manager's job by his former Scotland bosses, Berti Vogts and Craig Brown. And Gordon Smith, Lambert's agent, has insisted that a lack of management experience will not be a problem.

Pounds-2.5m Wage Bill If You Want Craig Bellamy Celt's Pounds-50k-a- Week Newcastle Contract

THE real cost of signing Craig Bellamy became clearer today - and it could be as high as pounds-2.5million-per-season. That's on top of the pounds-6m Newcastle know they can get for the Welsh striker after Aston Villa agreed to meet their asking price yesterday.

Mcnamara Match Could Bring Forgotten Man Miller Back and Mcgeady Will Make Sure He's Kept Busy

LIAM MILLER is in line to play at Parkhead for the first time since walking out on Celtic. The midfielder has been included in the Republic of Ireland squad which will provide the opposition for Jackie McNamara's testimonial on May 29.

Panther On the at Tack As Manny Rejects Jags Dealfed-Up Midfielder to Head South After Season On Sidelines

MANNY PANTHER has knocked back a new one-year deal at Partick Thistle to start afresh elsewhere. Panther was loaned out to Brechin during the transfer window by Jags boss Dick Campbell.

Hearing Rules Over Gow Fee

FALKIRK will face a tribunal fee battle for Airdrie ace Alan Gow. Boss John Hughes snapped Gow up last weekend. The Bairns have only offered pounds-15,000 for the 22-year-old, who Gretna bid pounds-95,000 for last term.

Gers May Lose Out On Hysen

RANGERS target Tobias Hysen today hinted he may stay in Sweden for another year. The pounds-1million-rated Djurgarden winger has been tracked by the Ibrox club in recent months as they look to strengthen the left hand side of their team for next season.

Danger Lurking Everywhere in Europe's Nether Regions Champions League Race Entry to the Elite Club Is Not Just About Beating Minnows. . . Because Now There Aren't Any

MARTIN O'NEILL has enough on his plate trying to win the SPL title to lose more sleep over who might stand in the way of Celtic competing in next season's Champions League. Just as well, as some of the names would cause his blood to chill. Cue Shakhtar Donetsk and Basel, for starters.

Mckinstry's Flight to Ayr

DUMBARTON boss Paul Martin has confirmed stopper James McKinstry will join Ayr United. Martin said: "We made James the best offer we could but it wasn't enough."

Big Incentive for First Place in Scotland

IT'S NOT just the SPL title which will be decided this weekend . . . the chance to GUARANTEE European football next season is also on the line. While Scottish football has lost the golden ticket which brought direct access to the pounds-10million Champions League group stage, the team which dons the crown on Sunday will have only the last of the three qualifying rounds to negotiate to reach the competition proper.

International Call for Marvin

RANGERS defender Marvin Andrews will fly home to play a friendly match for Trinidad and Tobago immediately after his side's final SPL match against Hibs on Sunday. The Ibrox club is keen for the big stopper, who refused to have surgery on a knee operation this season due to his religious beliefs, to have a break from football over the summer.

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HIBS boss Tony Mowbray has claimed a failure to make Europe would be no disaster. He said: "It would be good to have something to show for our level of improvement.

Istanbul? I'd Rather Be Sighted at Fir Park Stopper Steph has Realistic View As He Hopes for Newdeal

BIG Stephane Henchoz wanted to help Celtic win the championship. Now, the Swiss defender will settle for cheering them over the finishing line at Motherwell this weekend. Then, the man who joined the club on a short-term deal from Liverpool in January hopes to pick up something even more practical than a winners' medal - a new contract.