Thursday's Scottish Gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Mark McGhee has emerged as contender to be new Scotland coach Gordon Strachan's assistant.

Peter Houston is expected to leave Dundee United when his contract expires in the summer.

Image caption, Houston's time at United could be coming to an end

Celtic hope to announce Australian midfielder Tom Rogic as their latest signing on Thursday.

Rangers manager Ally McCoist feels his club should be fast-tracked into the second tier of Scotland's proposed new 12-12-18 league set-up if they win the Third Division this season, citing the example of Stranraer making it into the First Division in a previous reconstruction.

And McCoist has re-iterated his desire for the Ibrox club to remain in Scotland amidst speculation of an attempt to move to English football.

Meanwhile, Dundee chief executive Scot Gardiner insists the country must embrace the 12-12-18 plan and put it in place soon.

OTHER GOSSIP

Edinburgh have been forced to create a new, mainly white strip for Sunday's final Heineken Cup pool match against Saracens after the English side refused to wear their change kit.