The Rumour Mill: Sunday’s Scottish football news and gossip

Published on 03/02/2013 12:38

Juventus can win Champions League vows Anelka, Green snubs Dundee United board and McCoist slams players after loss.

Juventus can go all the way - Anelka

Juve striker Nicolas Anelka, who is on loan from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, has tipped his side to go all the way in the Champions League. The former Arsenal striker is poised to line up against Celtic in the last 16 of the competition next week. (Sun)

• Celtic will only be allocated 2,000 tickets for the second leg of their Champions League tie against Juventus in Turin. (Sunday Post)

Rangers snub Dundee United board

Rangers chief executive Charles Green rejected and invitation by the Dundee United board to join them in the boardroom before and after their Scottish Cup tie at Tannadice which the Ibrox side lost 3 - 0.

Green is reported to have only performed “official obligations” and avoided a meeting with his counterpart Stephen Thompson. (Sun)

Strachan praises Fletcher

New Scotland boss Gordon Strachan has praised Darren Fletcher as a “special person” and says that he cannot wait to work with the Manchester United midfielder now that he is back to full health. (Sunday Mail)

• Ally McCoist says former Scotland boss Craig Levein was wrong not to select Rangers players because they play in Division 3 and has welcomed the decision of new national manager boss Gordon Strachan to select Lee Wallace

McCoist hits out at players after Dundee United loss

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has criticised his players following a 3 - 0 defeat to Dundee United which saw his side reduced to 9 men.

The Ibrox boss said former SPL players David Templeton, Fran Sandaza, Dean Shiels and Ian black should have performed better in the Scottish Cup tie. (Various)

• New Dundee United boss Jackie McNamara said that he told his players to “keep their cool” before their match with Rangers following a build-up which saw Rangers fans boycott the fixture

Rangers struggling to attract players

Ally McCoist says he is finding it difficult to attract new players to Rangers because they play in the lower leagues of Scottish football.

The Rangers manager says that despite having trouble in attracting players to the club he is close to securing the signatures of a number of signing targets.

Rangers’ transfer embargo ends in September. (Sunday Mail)

McLeish future in doubt

The future of Alex McLeish as  Nottingham Forest manager is uncertain following his side’s 2 - 1 defeat to Birmingham City .

His relationship with the club’s Kuwaiti owners is reportedly strained after they pulled the plug on a deal to bring Peterborough’s George Boyd to the midlands club on transfer deadline day after he failed an eye test. (Sun)

IN BRIEF

• Dunfermline owner Gavin Masterton has vowed to bring January’s wages up to date next week after a fourth successive month of delays