Football: Lambert set to lead

JOZEF VENGLOS, the Celtic coach, fought shy of suggestions that off-field concerns may disrupt his team's Uefa Cup ambitions at FC Zurich tonight.

Paul Lambert, who may captain Celtic, is reported to be at odds with Jock Brown, the club's general manager. Lambert's book A Bhoy's Own Story includes criticism of Brown over what Lambert terms as a breakdown in communications between the pair.

With the captain, Tom Boyd, suspended after a first-leg red card and his natural replacement, Craig Burley, also banned, Venglos will let the players vote for their own stand-in leader. If the central defender Alan Stubbs recovers from a groin injury he could be skipper, but, failing that, Lambert is known to be his team-mates' choice.

Scottish clubs may be given an extra Uefa Cup place next season if Celtic and Rangers continue their advances this term, Roger Mitchell, the Scottish Premier League chief executive said yesterday.