Clydesdale Bank has reported a 53% jump in first-half pre-tax profit benefitting from a one-off gain from capital restructuring and lower impairment losses on credit exposures. 

Clydesdale Bank has reported a 53% jump in first-half pre-tax profit benefitting from a one-off gain from capital restructuring and lower impairment losses on credit exposures. Outgoing AIB head David Duffy is shortly set to join the British lender as CEO.

AIB intends to promote its retail and business unit head Bernard Byrne to the role of chief executive, and is seeking permission from regulators for the move, according to a source.

AIB will pay a €280m dividend to the Government in May as it begins the process of repaying €21bn in State aid.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan says he won’t sell more than 25% of AIB in a first step toward private ownership, with October the earliest time for the Government to reduce its stake.

Departing AIB chief executive David Duffy has his sights set on a return to Ireland before he has even assumed his new role as head of UK-based Clydesdale Bank.

A string of large bets has seen Bernard Byrne installed as the firm favourite to succeed David Duffy as chief executive of AIB.

Tommy Barker visits Ilen River bank home of departing banker, AIB’s Chief Executive David Duffy, after its latest €1m-plus drop.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said Government-imposed banker pay caps are a “constraint” as the chief executive officer of state-owned AIB prepares to leave for a job in the UK.

The new chief executive of AIB will have to be ratified by the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) in Frankfurt.

AIB chief executive David Duffy is leaving the State-owned bank to take up a position with UK-based Clydesdale Bank.

AIB has announced that CEO David Duffy is to step down.

The battle for Scotland’s future is on a knife edge but is "moving in the direction of Yes", the country’s deputy first minister said, as two separate polls gave the No campaign the narrowest of leads.

Celtic striker Anthony Stokes claims memories of the Bhoys’ incredible European achievements have already begun to fade in the minds of their critics.

Scottish Premier League clubs made surprising progress in their latest meeting on change today when they agreed to seek a merged 42-club structure including top-flight play-offs.

A “raging” Neil Lennon last night warned some of his players they were in danger of being shipped out of Celtic Park following their attitude in the 2-1 defeat at Motherwell.

Hearts have completed a transfer coup 24 hours after their registration embargo was lifted by signing Liverpool defender Danny Wilson on loan.

Irish winger Willo Flood hailed Dundee United’s cutting edge after yet another 3-0 win over local rivals Dundee yesterday.

Neil Lennon has a doubt over one of his big guns ahead of Celtic’s Champions League Group G clash with Benfica at the Stadium of Light tomorrow night.

Neil Lennon wants to see a squad full of heroes when Celtic take on Barcelona in their Champions League clash at the Nou Camp tonight.

Scott Brown (hip), James Forrest (groin), Georgios Samaras (elbow) and Kris Commons (hamstring) will be assessed at training tonight ahead of Celtic’s Champions League clash with Barcelona at the Nou Camp tomorrow night.

Scott Brown, James Forrest, Georgios Samaras and Kris Commons were all in Celtic’s travelling party which checked in at Glasgow Airport this morning ahead of the trip to Barcelona for tomorrow night’s Champions League clash with the Group G leaders at the Nou Camp.

Neil Lennon expects Lassad Nouioui to arrive in Glasgow tonight to complete his move to Celtic.

Neil Lennon is battling against expectation and assumption ahead of Celtic’s Champions League play-off game against Helsingborgs at Parkhead tonight.

Neil Lennon warned the rest of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League that his strongly-fancied Celtic side will not be victims of complacency this season.

Celtic striker Gary Hooper is confident they can score over in Finland and progress to the Champions League play-offs after coming from behind to beat HJK Helsinki at Parkhead.

Bank of Ireland and AIB have agreed to review their product selling practices in Britain, as part of a wide-reaching probe by Britain’s financial watchdog.

Cameron Jerome netted two minutes after coming off the bench to secure a point for Stoke against Everton in the Barclays Premier League at the Britannia Stadium last night.

Marseille’s decision to field third-choice goalkeeper Elinton Andrade backfired as his mistake gifted Bayern Munich the opening goal in their Champions League quarter-final last night.

Gregg Wylde has arrived at Rangers' Murray Park training ground amid reports the midfielder has become the first player to leave the club as part of the administration process.

Charlie Mulgrew celebrated his first Scotland call-up with a wonderful strike against Dunfermline at Parkhead which last night helped take Celtic 20 points clear of Rangers at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Neil Lennon might wish to play it down but he watched his Celtic side take another confident step towards the treble with a 2-0 William Hill Scottish Cup fifth-round win at Inverness yesterday.

Motherwell 3 Dunfermline 1

Rangers midfielder Lee McCulloch will serve a two-match ban with immediate effect after losing his appeal against a red card for violent conduct.

Hearts 4 Dunfermline 0

The Scottish Football Association’s fast track tribunal will decide on Thursday whether Sone Aluko should be punished for alleged simulation after Rangers rejected the offer of a two-match ban.

FT: Dundee Utd 0 Celtic 1

The Scottish Premier League have extended their broadcasting deal with Sky and ESPN until 2017.

Celtic 2 Aberdeen 1

St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes backed Cillian Sheridan to embark on a goalscoring run after the forward’s first strikes of the season secured a 2-0 victory over Hearts.

Hearts 0 Dundee Utd 1

Insurance tycoon Clive Cowdery has emerged as a surprise bidder for the 632 bank branches being sold by the UK's Lloyds Banking Group, it was reported today.

Dundee United tonight confirmed they have rejected a bid from Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions Rangers for striker David Goodwillie.

NEIL LENNON admits he could lose his job if Celtic fail to win the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this season.