Scottish Football: Celtic lodge appeal against record fine

CELTIC yesterday lodged an appeal with the Scottish League against the record pounds 100,000 fine imposed for 'poaching' their manager, Tommy Burns, from Kilmarnock.

The fine was set last week, and yesterday Celtic paid the pounds 500 necessary to lodge the appeal. A League spokesman said: 'We have received notice of the appeal which will now go to the Management Committee who set the fine. There will need to be a meeting of all clubs on the matter on a date to be decided.'

Burns has more pressing matters to deal with today, when Celtic travel to Ibrox for his first Old Firm derby as a manager. The highly rated young striker, Simon Donnelly, will start against Rangers, in place of Willie Falconer.

Rangers choose from the same squad that fell to AEK Athens in the European Cup on Wednesday, with Ally McCoist, John Brown, Trevor Steven, Alexei Mikhailichenko and Pieter Huistra still ruled out by injuries.

As at Ibrox, there is a sell-out at Tynecastle Park, where Heart of Midlothian entertain Hibernian, who have not won an Edinburgh derby in 23 attempts. The Hibs manager, Alex Miller, who is without the striker, Keith Wright, said: 'We're not thinking about the record. It means nothing.'

His Hearts counterpart, Tommy McLean, adds Neil Berry, Kevin Thomas, Gary Locke and Tommy Harrison to his pool. Jim Weir has recovered from a groin injury.

Falkirk introduce a new signing at home to Partick Thistle: Colin Cramb, the former Hamilton forward, who has arrived from Southampton for pounds 75,000.