CELTIC coach Wim Jansen is reported to be near “breaking point” in a widening rift with Jock Brown, the club’s general manager.
Reports and rumours circulating in Glasgow yesterday claimed that the rift was deep enough to make Jansen consider his future at the club.
But Brown yesterday slammed a report in a leading Scottish newspaper, claiming the paper had a “destructive agenda.”
The suggestion that Jansen is “close to breaking point” centres on a number of issues, including the dismissal of David Hay as Celtic chief coach and scout and the appointments to coaching staff.
The report in The Herald alleged the former Dutch international was unsettled by Brown’s decisions and hinted Jansen was on the brink following claims of “a serious backroom rift”.
It is reported Jansen is “unhappy” about recent backroom decisions, specifically the dismissal of Celtic’s chief coach and scout and Brown’s appointments of Eric Black and Kenny McDowell.
Glasgow newspaper The Herald quoted an unnamed source “close to the club” to suggest growing discontent within Celtic.
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TWO late goals by Ciaran Donaghy and Paul O’Neill gave Holy Trinity College Cookstown an impressive 7-8 to 2-8 victory over former All-Ireland champions St Comhghall’s Lisnaskea in this Ulster Bank Arthurs Cup Vocational Schools U16 championship quarter-final at Augher.
In a free-flowing game both sides displayed good football and some excellent scores.
The Cookstown school, coached by Tyrone and Ulster star Peter Canavan, had a lethal full forward line of O’Neill, Donaghy and Michael McElduff.
At the finish that was the difference between the sides. Cookstown struck for four goals in the first quarter with O’Neill and McElduff getting two each.
The Lisnaskea boys hit back with two goals from Eamon Maguire.
ST St Mary’s High School Limavady were comprehensive 4-12 to 1-3 winners over Our lady of Lourdes Ballymoney in this Ulster Bank McDevitt Cup (U14) quarter-final at Swatragh.
Although they were slow to settle the winners took control through Michael Doherty at midfield who scored a magnificent goal to give his side a 1-6 to 0-0 half time lead. Two Limavady goals from Paul Gurney and Shane McAteer early in the second half ended the game as a contest.
Ballymoney responded with a goal from a penalty by John Doherty followed by two points from Gabriel Crawford. Ruaidhri Higgins hit back with St Mary’s fourth goal as they cruised into the semi-finals.
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FOLLOWING weeks of speculation, Ballinderry Shamrocks have confirmed Damien Barton as their new manager for the coming year.
The former Derry star, who featured in the All-Ireland winning side of 1993, has recently retired from club football and is understood to be keen to continue his association with the GAA in a managerial capacity
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STEPHEN Kirk, the world top 10 rated Belfast light-heavyweight, has scooped a prized cash grant from the Olympic Council of Ireland to assist preparations for the 2000 Sydney Games.
The 24-year-old shipyard worker, who produced a sparkling performance of first class championship displays to earn a bronze medal at November’s AIBA World Seniors in Hungary, was awarded a maximum OCI allocation of £7,000.
Kirk’s impact in Budapest achieved a new world number nine ranking, and afterwards he took a well-deserved break from the sport, not competing in either the Ulster or this month’s Irish Championships.
He is expected to be one of Northern Ireland’s best challengers for gold at this year’s Commonwealth Games in Malaysia.
This week’s announcement was a timely boost to help keep the popular Cairn Lodge boxer in the amateur ranks.
Whether it will be sufficient incentive or the lure of the pro ring proves irresistible remains to be seen.
