Rangers kids face big test at Sons
RANGERS COLTS face a trip to Championship side Dumbarton in the first round of the IRN-BRU Cup.
All 12 Premiership teams have Colt representatives in the tournament and the Ibrox men arguably face the trickiest tie.
Aberdeen and St Johnstone’s youngsters will face off, while Celtic take on an Annan team they thumped 5-1 in last year’s tournament.
Holders Dundee United begin their trophy defence against Cowdenbeath.
The tournament will feature Irish and Welsh teams in the second round where Championship sides Falkirk and Inverness will also enter the fray. Full draw:
North Section Aberdeen Colts v St Johnstone Colts, Dundee Colts v Alloa, Stirling Albion v Montrose, Ross County Colts v Forfar, Dundee United v Cowdenbeath, Formartine v Hearts Colts, East Fife v Peterhead, Stenhousemuir v Cove Rangers, Raith v Brora Rangers, Dunfermline v Arbroath, Hibs Colts v Elgin, Buckie Thistle v Brechin.
South Section Dumbarton v Rangers Colts, Clyde v Stranraer, Hamilton Colts v Edinburgh City, Albion Rovers v Spartans, Motherwell Colts v Queen’s Park, St Mirren v East Kilbride, Partick Thistle Colts v Stirling University, Queen of the South v Airdrie, Kilmarnock Colts v Berwick Rangers, Annan v Celtic Colts, East Stirling v Ayr, Morton v Livingston.
‘King is riding to the rescue of his beloved Gers in guise of Loan Arranger but he’s gone Tonto with his remarks about Celtic’
Albert Styles, Stonehaven, had a pop at the Ibrox club for different reasons.
He said: “Are Rangers that worried about Aberdeen’s challenge again this season they are trying to unsettle their better players with transfer rumours. First they sign Ryan Jack, now Kenny McLean. Wonder who it will be next? Maybe they will try to lure Stewart Milne away.”
Pedro Caixinha’s side start their Europa League campaign tomorrow against Progres Niederkorn and the Portuguese manager has dropped five senior players from the squad for the tie.
Among them is Andy Halliday who now looks set for a move to Azerbaijan. said: “Shock move to Azerbaijan? Is this a mistake?
“I thought he was one of their own? They kept telling us he was another legend after two years.”
Celtic don’t start for another two weeks in the Champions League but is upset about some fans still planning to go to Belfast for the game with Linfield despite the club refusing their allocation of tickets for the potential game with the Northern Irish side.
He said: “I want to go and watch my team but I understand where Celtic are coming from and I wish fans would take note.
“I see there are folk still planning to go and I’m going to contact Celtic about it because it could cause problems and it can’t do any good.”
Away from football, is unhappy about the treatment of the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand.
He said: “I see the All Blacks’ Steve Hansen is incensed by Warren Gatland’s claim the All Blacks deliberately tried to injure a Lion’s player.
“I am not sure Brian O’Driscoll would agree after the spear tackle that put him out of the 2005 tour.” CALL THE RECORD HOTLINE TODAY FROM 11 TILL 12 NOON on: 0141 309 3306 or email us: hotline@dailyrecord.co.uk