Scottish fixtures announced

Ronny Deila will have to wait longer than expected for his Scottish Premiership debut in charge of Celtic.

In the new fixtures announced on Wednesday, the defending champions' were drawn at home to Partick Thistle on Saturday August 9 but, owing to the Commonwealth Games, the clash has already been postponed.

As such, Norwegian boss Deila - Neil Lennon's replacement - will first enter the dugout for a league match on Wednesday, August 13 at St Johnstone.

The rest of the schedule does go ahead on the opening weekend, though, with newly-promoted Dundee and Hamilton at home to Kilmarnock and Inverness respectively, while Aberdeen host Dundee United.

Elsewhere, Motherwell - second last season - are at home to St Mirren and St Johnstone travel to Ross County.

There will be added intrigue in the Scottish Championship this season too with three giants of the game all pitted together.

Rangers were promoted on their long way back to the top while Edinburgh rivals Hearts and Hibernian were dumped out of the Premiership, with both sacking their managers as a consequence.

Ally McCoist's Rangers start against Hearts at Ibrox on August 9 - a first meeting since April 2012 - while Hibs will be at home to Livingston.

All eyes will then be on Tynecastle on August 16 for the first Edinburgh derby of the season.

Back in the Premiership, Celtic head to face Dundee at Dens Park on August 30 before the first Dundee derby, at that venue, on September 20.

On December 27 Celtic are at home to Ross County, Dundee face St Mirren, Aberdeen head to Inverness, Kilmarnock take on Hamilton, Motherwell meet Partick and St Johnstone clash with Dundee United.

In the Championship on the same day Rangers are at Easter Road to take on Hibs with Hearts travelling to Livingston.

Celtic will see in 2015 at Partick on January 1, with the other New Year fixtures sending St Johnstone to Aberdeen and Kilmarnock to St Mirren. There are three great derby clashes as well, with Dundee United at home to their bitter rivals, Inverness heading to Ross County and Motherwell at Hamilton.

The top league is set to go for its annual split in mid-April and as such Celtic's last scheduled game sees them head to Inverness on the 11th.

Considering they won the title in March last season, Deila will hope to have it put to bed again by the time that clash comes around.

Other closing fixtures see Dundee United at home to Hamilton, Aberdeen at Kilmarnock, Partick at home to Motherwell, St Johnstone at home to Dundee and Ross County at St Mirren.

If the Championship turns out to be as tight as it promises to be then all could be to play for on the final day of May 2.

Rangers head to Hearts for a fixture which sounds like it may have something riding on it while Hibernian - yet to appoint a successor to Terry Butcher - end at Falkirk.