The Rumour Mill: Thursday’s football news and gossip

Published on Thursday 16 February 2012 10:24

In today’s Rumour Mill: The latest on the Rangers crisis; Hearts boss admits to Cup mistake; Scotland line up USA friendly; plus the rest of the day’s football news and gossip.

The newspapers are full of conflicting reports on the immediate future of Rangers this morning, after administrators Duff and Phelps tried to reassure supporters yesterday that the club would survive...

• The Record carries the headline ‘Rangers players face firing squad’ and reports that the team were understood to be anxious about their jobs after being summoned by the administrators for talks before a scheduled training session this morning.

• Rangers players were left stunned last night when they were told they would not be paid their next wage, just hours after being told it was guaranteed, The Sun reports.

• However, this morning Duff and Phelps dismissed rumours that players had been asked to play for free and stressed there will be “no immediate cuts in the playing staff.” (Various)

• Contrary to earlier reports, it is understood that Daniel Cousin’s transfer to Rangers fell through because the Ibrox club faxed amendments which the SPL could not process before the administrators took control. The Gabon international is not happy about the situation but is still hopeful of a resolution. (Record)

• Dundee United have made it clear that they will refuse to allow Rangers tickets for their next match at Tannadice on March 17 if they are not paid the £100,000 they were due from last week’s Scottish Cup tie at Ibrox. (Record)

• Sir Alex Ferguson has described this week’s events at his former club Rangers as a “tragedy”. “That was on the cards for a quite a while from since that lad [Whyte] took over,” said the Manchester United boss. “It is a tragedy because it is a great football club. It is one of the best clubs you could ever think about. I don’t know what will happen there.” (Scotsman)

• Carlos Bocanegra has pledged that the Rangers players will set aside concerns over their employment prospects at the financially stricken club in order to help lift the gloom of the supporters. (Scotsman)

• However, Bocanegra has been linked with a move to MLS outfit Vancouver Whitecaps, after Scotland midfielder Barry Robson yesterday agreed a deal with the same club.

• John McFall, the former chairman of the Westminster treasury select committee, has called for the financial regulator to probe Craig Whyte’s takeover of Rangers. (BBC)

• Juanma Ortiz, currently on loan to Spanish club Almeria, says he has no idea whether he will ever return to Rangers. (Sun)

• Former Rangers defender Richard Gough believes the club’s fans are looking for leadership. (Express)

Hearts manager Paulo Sergio has revealed that he feared one of his mistakes might cost his team a place in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup. “I have a confession to make from the first cup tie against St Johnstone at Tynecastle,” he said. “I did not know that the game would go to another match after the 90 minutes, I thought there would be extra time.” (Scotsman)

Scotland will play the United States in Florida at the end of the season, the Scottish Football Association has confirmed. Craig Levein’s side will take on their hosts in Jacksonville on Saturday, 26 May, a week after the Scottish Cup final. Meanwhile, Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon is set to make a surprise return to the Scotland squad for the forthcoming international friendly in Slovenia. (Mail)

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510

Damo Lennon

Friday, February 17, 2012 at 09:15 AM

Ivory #497, Thanks for confirming what I suspected - you've plucked those figures out of thin air. Unlucky wee fella - until you can give us the figures from a reputable source (your finger-counting from individual match reports on the BBC doesn't cut it), your assertion can't be taken seriously.

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509

Dailyman Toronto

Friday, February 17, 2012 at 01:11 AM

507 sonof....how many times do you have to post the same post....We all saw it the first time.....

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508

Dailyman Toronto

Friday, February 17, 2012 at 01:08 AM

482..Damo...I can understand your frustration of not being answered when posing a question...Its quite the norm on these threads...I have asked numerous times for TGM to back up his daily claims yet after at least 12 months he is found wanting... He never listens to radio phone ins ( as he has told us for a long time on the threads) yet can quote verbatim what the presenters talk about....He posts past posts that he has in his arsenal, yet never backs them up when questioned on the threads...he seems to prefer ice skating to actually replying to any posts contradicting what he has posted....You yourself Damo will at least voice a dissenting opinion if you feel you are in the right...whereas the man who never ever goes to watch Celtic at home games plays the role of serial deflector...Anyway have a good night whatever is left of it,, and will chat tomorrow...

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507

sonofcosmos

Friday, February 17, 2012 at 12:27 AM

#508 rangers tax cheats humiliated and in administration.....enough said x

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506

TGM Numero Uno

Friday, February 17, 2012 at 12:16 AM

Comment removed by moderator

505

Ivory Tower

Friday, February 17, 2012 at 12:09 AM

#504 A couple of individual incidents, is that your lot? These stats are for the season as a whole... 25 games ____ ps. Charlie Mulgrew has dived a number of times this season - how many bookings has he received for diving?

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504

sonofcosmos

Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:48 PM

#503 are these identical fouls? i noticed charlie mulgrew was booked for diving yet aloko won a penalty that got rangers 3 points ..i guess tthese decisions skew the stats lol x

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503

Ivory Tower

Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:40 PM

#501 I'm laying out the fact that Celtic players over the course of this season have been allowed to commit almost 100% more fouls than Rangers before a card is shown... interpret that as you wish.

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502

sonofcosmos

Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:32 PM

#497 so are you saying there is a conspiracy against rangers? and referees are cheating?

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501

sonofcosmos

Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:16 PM

#495 are you saying there is a conspiracy against rangers? are you saying referees are cheating?

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500

idee fixe

Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:16 PM

I get the feeling that Alastair is gunning for David Murray the SFA and the SPL. = = = The former Rangers chairman is detrmined that a Government led inquiry gets to the bottom of what they have done to Rangers.

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499

idee fixe

Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:15 PM

I get the feeling that Alastair is gunning for David Murray the SFA and the SPL. = = = The former Rangers chairman is detrmined that a Government led inquiry gets to the bottom of what they have done to Rangers.

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498

idee fixe

Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 11:04 PM

I even think Rangers fans will want to know what has gone on at their club too. ============= To that end Rangers fans will also welcome the Government inquiry into David Murray, the SFA and the SPL.

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497

Ivory Tower

Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 10:50 PM

Lol, Damo wants the foul count on "a single page"... it seems adding 25 numbers and doing a wee bit of division is beyond the chap.

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496

Ivory Tower

Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 10:49 PM

Lol, Damo wants the foul count on "a single page"... it seems adding 25 numbers and doing a wee bit of division is beyond the chap.

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