Stephen Mcgowan

Reo Hatate has rejected lucrative offers from Panathinaikos, an unnamed Austrian club and an MLS team because he wants to pursue a move to one of Europe’s top five leagues. The Japanese midfielder, who has fallen out of favour under Martin O’Neill, has told Celtic he wants to leave, and the club will not block a transfer after signing Mika Baur. Hatate has won five league titles, three Scottish Cups and two League Cups with Celtic, making 189 appearances. Celtic are also seeking another midfielder and a left-back cover option, while Chelsea’s Landon Emenalo is expected to join on a season-long loan after recovering from a minor injury.

Sebastien Pocognoli's expected appointment as Scotland manager is presented as a bold break from Steve Clarke's more familiar, continuity-based era. The 39-year-old Belgian won a league title with Union Saint-Gilloise and later led Monaco with an attacking but defensively vulnerable style. The Scottish Football Association can afford his substantial salary partly because Clarke's tournament successes greatly increased its revenues. Pocognoli will begin preparing for the next Nations League cycle, with wider changes to Scotland's coaching and player-assessment structures also expected. The appointment is welcomed as ambitious and progressive, though his failure to reproduce Union Saint-Gilloise's success at Monaco raises concerns about whether he depended heavily on data-led club systems and recruitment structures.

Sebastien Pocognoli is expected to be appointed Scotland’s new manager early the following week, potentially taking charge immediately. The 39-year-old Belgian would replace Steve Clarke after Clarke’s seven-year tenure and become Scotland’s first overseas coach since Berti Vogts. Pocognoli is credited with leading Union Saint-Gilloise to its first league title in 90 years and guiding Monaco to seventh place in Ligue 1. He is expected to be in charge for Scotland’s Nations League return against Slovenia on September 26.

Sebastien Pocognoli is reported to be the frontrunner to replace Steve Clarke as Scotland manager. The 39-year-old Belgian previously led Union Saint-Gilloise to its first league title in 90 years and guided Monaco to seventh place in Ligue 1, earning a place in the Europa Conference League play-offs. The Scottish Football Association’s search was led by chief executive Ian Maxwell and Mulholland, with Scotland scheduled to begin a four-match Nations League block against Slovenia on September 26.

Hibernian will seek more than £4 million to sell midfielder Miguel Chaiwa, who has attracted interest from Celtic and clubs in mainland Europe. Celtic previously had a bid rejected and could renew its pursuit if negotiations for Torino midfielder Gvidas Ginetis fail. Hibs are under no immediate pressure to sell because Chaiwa is contracted until 2028 and could remain in Edinburgh for another season.

Scottish football needs a fundamental reset, with clubs and the SFA urged to acknowledge the national team’s poor performances, weak European results and failure to develop enough elite players. The article argues that importing inexpensive overseas players and allowing English clubs to recruit Scottish academy prospects have restricted opportunities for homegrown talent. Drawing on Chris Docherty’s criticism that Scotland has made only a fraction of the changes achieved by small nations such as Norway and Croatia, it calls for stronger youth-player protections, greater club cooperation, and incentives to give promising players first-team football. Without such reforms, the national team and Scottish clubs are likely to continue declining domestically and in Europe.

Caledonian Braves have created a one-year performance pathway for players aged 16 to 20 who have left full-time academies or played high-level grassroots football. The programme combines daily training, under-20s competition, sports performance support and education through the Johan Cruyff Institute, aiming to help participants continue pursuing football while developing qualifications and career options in the sports industry. More than 250 people initially expressed interest, with an intake of around 20 to 22 players planned. The club hopes eventually to expand the course, establish a B team and secure external support from Scottish football and sporting bodies.

Scotland's shortage of internationally competitive footballers is attributed primarily to systemic failures in youth development rather than to Steve Clarke, Brexit or the migration of teenagers to English academies. Former SFA elite-strategy head Chris Docherty argues that Scottish clubs produce isolated talented players but lack the depth, senior playing time and coordinated approach needed to develop them at scale. Comparisons with Norway and Croatia highlight greater domestic opportunities for young players, while statistics show limited Premiership minutes for Scottish under-21s and poor outcomes for many who move to England. Docherty calls for collective action by the SFA and clubs, potentially including an under-21 playing quota and broader technical and tactical reform.

The Scottish Football Association has discontinued its Key Match Incident Review Panel, established in September 2024 to independently assess major refereeing and VAR decisions. The panel had no power to alter decisions, faced criticism from former official Bobby Madden, and suffered from voluntary club participation and a lack of representatives. It will be replaced by regular meetings where managers and club captains can raise concerns and contribute to referee coaching, while Sky Sports’ VAR Review Show has increasingly served as the main forum for explaining contentious decisions.

Scotland’s search for Steve Clarke’s successor lacks a clear standout candidate, with John McGlynn and Steven Naismith considered largely because few alternatives are apparent. The article argues that the decline of the former “Largs mafia” of Scottish coaches has left the country short of managers with elite-level experience, while overseas clubs increasingly favor Spanish, Italian and German coaches. The SFA is therefore encouraged to consider foreign applicants or an unconventional choice without undue concern, although Clarke is portrayed as the strongest available Scottish option if he could be rehired.

Estrella has agreed to invest £750,000 in Greenock Morton for a 35% stake and two board seats, alongside providing player data, recruitment, operational support and technology over three years. Co-founder Xander Czaikowski says the immediate priority is keeping Morton in the Scottish Championship, strengthening football leadership and improving recruitment and player development. The investment comes as the fan-owned club faces falling sponsorship income, reduced season-ticket sales, cash-flow problems and recent board and management departures. Estrella also wants to modernize Morton’s matchday experience, digital engagement and appeal to younger supporters while preserving the club’s identity.

Celtic have renewed their pursuit of Fares Ghedjemis, an Algerian winger valued at around £8 million, after previously coming close to signing him before he stayed at Frosinone. The club is considering him as negotiations for Haissem Hassan at Real Oviedo continue, while Rangers have reportedly shifted focus elsewhere. Ghedjemis scored 15 goals and provided three assists during Frosinone’s promotion campaign. Celtic have already spent £16 million on Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran and are also negotiating for Mika Baur, while potential departures include Arne Engels and interest in Reo Hatate.

The Scottish Football Association has endorsed UEFA’s threat to withdraw from FIFA competitions, potentially including the World Cup, if FIFA proceeds with plans to create FIFA Forward Enterprise and sell ownership stakes in its competitions to private investors. The SFA criticized the proposals for being issued without adequate consultation or good governance. UEFA said its 55 member associations unanimously reject treating the World Cup as an investment product and warned that European national teams would boycott FIFA competitions until the plans are abandoned and binding assurances against future private ownership are provided. The first test of the alliance is expected during the Women’s World Cup play-offs in October.

Scottish Football Association president Mike Mulraney and chief executive Ian Maxwell will attend an emergency UEFA meeting on FIFA’s plan to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise, a commercial subsidiary that could sell stakes in major competitions, including the World Cup, to private investors. FIFA has offered its 211 member associations £30 million each to support the plan, claiming it would increase football-development funding. UEFA and CONCACAF oppose the proposal, accusing FIFA of bypassing proper governance processes and using football for personal enrichment. A World Cup boycott is among the options under consideration, while La Liga president Javier Tebas alleges that the payments are intended to buy support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election.

Everton are preparing to make a bid of more than £10 million for Celtic right-back Alistair Johnston, who played all five of Canada's matches at the World Cup. Celtic would prefer to keep the 28-year-old, who is contracted until 2029, but his departure would add to the club's defensive recruitment needs. The club is also pursuing Paderborn midfielder Mika Baur, considering a return for Greg Taylor, and seeking a goalkeeper, while Daizen Maeda has joined Ipswich Town and Reo Hatate is attracting interest from abroad.

A Scottish football alcohol-sales pilot covering 20 club matches and two Scotland friendlies recorded no alcohol-related disorder among roughly 186,000 attendees. Aberdeen has become the first Scottish Premiership club to receive a permanent licence, allowing alcohol sales in a designated concourse area of the Richard Donald Stand until 30 minutes before kick-off, with drinks kept out of sight of the pitch. Dundee is preparing a similar application, while the broader proposal remains divisive because of concerns about disorder at high-risk fixtures.