💬 "As soon as I got off the Zoom call, I knew it was the place for me." How Jens Berthel Askou has Elliot Watt flourishing at Motherwell after St Johnstone nightmare, how his big brother's retirement drives him on, and his dreams of a Scotland cap. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/257245...

💬 "Do you know why the Yankees always win, Carl? It's because their opponents can't stop staring at the pinstripes." Teams used to be intimidated by the mere sight of a Celtic or Rangers jersey, but their aura has gone. Hearts are now title favourites. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/257202...

💬 “We probably are more nervous than usual because of that, and we try to do a lot of things, and then when one thing is not good enough…" Paulo Bernardo on why the noise around Celtic can be difficult for the players to handle. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/footba...

💬 "The name had become so toxic in some quarters that the legacy of being the big beast around the boardroom table was to be perceived latterly as a bogeyman." Analysis of Peter Lawwell's Celtic legacy, exit, and if anything will actually change. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/257067...

💬 "I know at this moment, yeah, my ass is burning! But stay strong and do what you need to do to be better.” www.heraldscotland.com/sport/footba...

💬 "There has to be at least a hint of snobbery at play." With apologies to St Mirren fans, in this week's column I try to fathom why one of the country's 'bigger' clubs hasn't come calling for Stephen Robinson, who has worked wonders in Paisley. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/257006...

💬 “Parking is chaotic. And the traffic congestion blocks our roads. Our football fans, gig-goers and the good folk of Mount Florida deserve better". Exclusive: The Scottish Greens have launched a campaign to provide free public transport to Hampden. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/257009...

💬 “I am not a weak guy. Trust me, it’s not easy to sleep, because I want to win. It’s difficult, but we are close to doing something." Defiant Wilfried Nancy on the life experiences helping him deal with torrid Celtic start and what he wants in January. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/footba...

💬 “I’ve got a few questions for them in terms of how we move forward." What Steve Clarke needs to hear from Scottish FA if he is to stay on as manager beyond the World Cup. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/256998...

💬“They have to be good. They have to be committed, they have to want to play for Scotland." Steve Clarke to sound out Newcastle United's Harvey Barnes over possible Scotland call-up. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Full story 👇🏻 www.heraldscotland.com/sport/256987...

💬 “I think the town are really getting behind the team again." Could a famous old name in Scottish football soon be back among the big boys? Manager Gordon Moffat believes something is stirring again in Clydebank. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/256598...

💬 “I always wanted to make sure he was there. Why? Because I only wanted to impress one person, and that was Wim." Fascinating insight from Robin van Persie on the influence that Celtic and Feyenoord legend Wim Jansen had on him as a youngster. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/footba...

💬 "Simply put, Scotland don’t have the depth of talent to be turning down a player of that quality." The case for swallowing our pride and asking Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes if he fancies a seat on the plane. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 www.heraldscotland.com/sport/256501...

💬 “Going there to represent Scotland in the World Cup would be a dream come true." Could Liam Morrison be the future for Scotland in defence? Spoke to the former Rangers, Celtic and Bayern Munich man about that, his career so far, and Karamoko Dembele. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/256420...

💬 "He was the only one left in the house, everybody else was there. It would’ve been good to be a fly on the wall and watch him watch that sort of game!” Lewis Ferguson explains why dad Derek missed the Scotland party, and why World Cup means so much. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/256406...

💬 "Grant is one of the most experienced players in this team and one of the most calming players to play next to." Scott McKenna praises Grant Hanley, and points to a stat that shows expanded World Cup had nothing to do with Scotland's achievement. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/256412...

💬 “I need to make sure I'm fit and doing as well as I can to try and stay in the team, because everybody's desperate to go there." No one deserved Scotland's glory night more than Craig Gordon, but he may need a loan move so he doesn't miss out again. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/256387...

💬 "If there’s a bottle of Mad Dog about tonight, I’ll finish it off." A salute to Kenny McLean, Scotland's relatable, reliable hero with 20/20 vision. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/256387...

💬“You know how good a goalkeeper he is. It’s not easy to beat him from outside the box. "It was going to be the Scotland way, and we did it in the end.” Classy Kieran Tierney spared a thought for his Celtic teammate after his Scotland glory goal. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/footba...

💬 "People say he's too loyal to players, or maybe sometimes his style of football is not to their liking and things like that. He gets things done." Andy Robertson on why it is 'undeniable' that Steve Clarke is the greatest Scotland manager ever. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/256357...

💬 "They have to see it, as we did, as an opportunity. The country is behind you. Go and grasp it.” An honour to speak exclusively to the great Joe Jordan ahead of tonight. On that header against Czechoslovakia, and how Scotland must seize the moment. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 www.heraldscotland.com/sport/256291...

💬 "It's almost like pseudoscience. If the decision is to scrap performance schools, so be it, but you need to come to the table ready to back that up." Dr Michael King, who worked in SFA Performance Schools for 13 years, has concerns over their closure. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/256240...

💬 "Andy Robertson and John McGinn have gone from failure to getting there, getting close with a World Cup play-off, and these guys deserve it." Steven Naismith on stalwarts, and how Scotland have come a long way from eating junk food in Tbilisi Airport. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/256146...

💬 "St Mirren have made the final on merit, and if they can’t take up a 50 percent allocation, they should be given the chance to sell as many tickets as they can to their own fans. However they see fit." On a ticketing storm in a, erm, League Cup. 👇🏻 www.heraldscotland.com/sport/256131...

💬 "It all went quiet, we saw the ball hit the net, and then the eruption is something that will live with myself and my family, forever." An exclusive chat with Louis Moult on THAT goal against Rangers, Stephen Robinson, and his love for Motherwell. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255884...

💬 "The cursory language used to sum up Kennedy’s efforts in service to Celtic were not only wholly inadequate, but entirely lacking in class." Why after 27 years of service, John Kennedy deserved greater acknowledgement than he got today from Celtic. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255818...

💬 "The irony dripping from Desmond’s payoff line, that Celtic was bigger than any one person, wasn’t lost on any of them." Whatever Brendan Rodgers' role in Celtic's troubles, Dermot Desmond's diatribe against him won't shift fan focus from the board. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255792...

“Look what can happen if you don't take your fans for granted. And if you do take them for granted, eventually a day of reckoning comes." Gillian Mackay MSP calls for £25 cap on tickets, and Falkirk CEO Jamie Swinney explains why his club is in favour. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255709...

💬 "The only ‘people dying for Hearts to lose a game’ will be those wearing green and white who reside on either side of the M8, for very different reasons all the same." Why Derek McInnes is wrong - (almost) everyone wants Hearts to beat Celtic. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255601...

💬 “Once you drop out of the top 15, it's such a sharp drop off. That's the real cliff edge." Gavin Noon of Scotland's Coefficient lays out in stark detail just how bleak the next few years could be for Scottish clubs in Europe. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255522...

💬 "Rightly or wrongly, the toxicity that clung to Martin hasn’t wafted out the door along with him, but now clings to Thelwell instead." Why the Rangers fans are now talking about Kevin Thelwell, as a series of missteps gives club's owners a headache. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255430...

“We've had a hangover in the last third of last year, and we're struggling to get it off. There's been a sort of negative feeling about the place.” An exclusive interview with Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor as he tries to lift the fog over Dingwall. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255351...

💬 “I don’t think it can be underestimated. It just went right past me, so I had a perfect view of it going towards the top corner. I thought it was going in. It was a top save." Grant Hanley on the importance of Angus Gunn's late save, and Belarus. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255353...

💬 “I want to be in around it, we are in this together and I want to help if I can. So, I definitely want to stay." Scotland goal hero Lewis Ferguson is suspended for the game against Belarus, but he wants to stick around and support his teammates. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255352...

💬 "We've got seven points, and we're delighted with that. Now we need to try and kick on to try and get a similar amount of points probably in the last three games." Halfway there, Scotland still have a prayer. Andy Robertson on the job that lies ahead. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255340...

💬 "That shows that things are possible for smaller clubs, as long as they have a good solid approach and keep their composure within the club and the fans. If they trust each other, they can do great things in time." Could Motherwell do a Bodo/Glimt? www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255284...

💬 “I know how hard he works and what playing for Scotland means to him. He’s young but he’s ready to make an impact for us.” Ryan Christie on why Andoni Iraola is the perfect man to nurture red-hot Scotland prospect, Ben Gannon-Doak. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255286...

💬 "Everybody would love to have moments like that. It is something fans always speak about - but I’m desperate for more moments like that." Kenny McLean on the Ullevaal, and desperation to make the most of his last chance at a World Cup. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255234...

💬 “Craig's experience is invaluable. That's a big plus. To still be at the level he is at, at his age, and have the desire to come back from injuries, and not just say, ‘that's it, I've had enough’." Can Craig Gordon be Scotland's no.1 at a World Cup? www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255253...

💬 "What their fans will absolutely not accept is another project manager who is bigger on aesthetics than he is on outcomes." At Rangers, rightly or wrongly, a manager isn't given time to build. The new hierarchy must show they now understand the club. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255250...

💬 "I was laughing because it was just so absurd, but it wasn’t actually funny because I knew it was absolutely f*****." Apostolos Stamatelopoulos on his injury hell, leaving his newborn son, ending goal drought and the impact of Jens Berthel Askou. 👇🏻 www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255160...

💬 "Do I understand the fans? Not always! Certainly not in that. "I’ve always liked Grant. I know what he brings." Steve Clarke's trademark loyalty can frustrate Scotland fans, but he feels the likes of Grant Hanley have repaid that trust and then some. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255073...

💬 "This opportunity may have come early in the Hearts revolution, but when you consider the state of play in Glasgow, you have to wonder if they will ever get a better one." It may still be a long shot, but can a club outside Glasgow mount a challenge? www.heraldscotland.com/sport/255070...

A very good Pressbox pod on Jens Berthel Askou's excellent Motherwell team. From Graham Spiers, @graememcgarry.bsky.social & Gordon Duncan. www.patreon.com/posts/140010...

💬 "It's like buying a house, you walk in and you get that feeling, ‘yeah, this could be the one’." Josh Mulligan on his Dundee days, Bale comparison, full circle moment with Lyall Cameron, Hibs' European adventure and Rangers links. The big interview 👇🏻 www.heraldscotland.com/sport/254815...

💬 "You rarely see a player who is part of a team flying high at the top of the table holding a paintball gun or zooming around Knockhill." Whether on the pitch or off it, Russell Martin can't win. The Rangers board are only delaying the inevitable. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/254717...

Quiet one over at Lennoxtown yesterday... www.heraldscotland.com/sport/footba...

💬 “People started sending me these voice messages. I swear, I couldn’t believe it. And it's actually a very good song." The big interview with Claudio Braga. His Hearts anthem, feeling the love from fans, his winding road to Gorgie and title chances. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/254638...

💬 "It seemed a deliberate act of provocation when he turned to Kenny McLean and Lyndon Dykes. A ‘get it right round ye’ to the armchair tacticians." It's been a great start for Scotland in WC qualifying, but still, some frustrations with Clarke remain. www.heraldscotland.com/sport/254533...