The Rumour Mill: Tuesday’s football news and gossip

Published on 30/10/2012 10:32

In today’s Rumour Mill: Craig Whyte’s record ‘known to Rangers directors’; Walter Smith invited back to Ibrox; Tony Watt wants to commit to Celtic; plus the rest of the day’s football news and gossip.

Craig Whyte dossier ‘shown to Rangers before takeover’

A private dossier prepared for Rangers directors reportedly revealed Craig Whyte’s record of failed companies, tax avoidance and double dealings before Sir David Murray sold him his majority shareholding. The report, by private investigators Titon, was presented to some of the directors who were meant to scrutinise the deal, including Martin Bain and Alastair Johnston, and referred to Whyte as a “fuyant” - French slang for an evader or manipulator. The report also questioned the Monaco-based businessman’s wealth. (Record)

Rangers in ‘fantastic’ financial shape - Green

Charles Green has described Rangers’ financial position as “fantastically strong” and says he intends to mastermind a return to the Champions League. The Ibrox chief executive said: “In our current financial year, which ends on 30 June, we will have had two seasons’ season tickets, because next year’s season tickets will go on sale in May. By the end of June we’ll have collected, so I’ll have another pile of cash before this [financial] year ends. Rangers is in such a fantastically strong position without the IPO.” (Scotsman)

• Green has invited former Rangers manager Walter Smith to come back to Ibrox in an official capacity: “He knows the club better than anyone and I would love to get him back involved. I’d like to get him on the board, I’d like to get him in as an advisor... There isn’t anyone on the board at Ibrox who knows anything about football and that includes me.” (Record)

Lennon wants Celtic players to regain his trust

Celtic manager Neil Lennon was so angered by his team’s display in Saturday’s 2-0 home defeat by Kilmarnock that he revealed yesterday that his players no longer enjoy his complete trust. He said: “When they play like that, it makes it a little bit more difficult for me to trust them. They are going to have to earn that trust again. [Saturday] was an unnecessary performance off the back of things going so well for us. It was a huge dose of reality.” (Scotsman)

• Swedish club AIK Stockholm are hoping to bring Celtic striker Mohamed Bangura back on a permanent basis after he returned there on loan. (Record)

• Teenage striker Tony Watt has pledged his long-term future to Celtic: “If the club want to tie me down for the next couple of years then they can. I am happy to be there.” (Record)

• Steve Lomas knows his St Johnstone side face a daunting task in their Scottish Communities League Cup quarter-final against a Celtic team riled by recent defeats: “We’ve seen what Kilmarnock were able to achieve. Neil’s been saying they want a response, so it’s probably the worst time to play Celtic. They’ll be wounded, they’ll want to bounce back – it will make it tougher for us.” (Various)

Hibs hope to secure Griffiths

Hibernian boss Pat Fenlon is hoping to secure SPL top scorer Leigh Griffiths beyond January. The Wolves striker’s loan deal expires in the New Year - the same as fellow loan players Jorge Claros and Ryan McGivern. Fenlon said: “Leigh, Jorge and Ryan are key to what we are trying to do. We want to make sure that come January we have them for a longer period.” (Record)

Levein’s fate to be decided

Scotland manager Craig Levein will have his future decided by the end of the week, with the SFA set to meet within the next 48 hours to discuss the disastrous start to the World Cup qualifying campaign. Levein, who has almost two years of his deal left, has flown back from holiday and the seven-man Hampden board have been put on stand-by. (Sun)

• Scotland have asked for more tickets for the upcoming friendly away to Luxembourg after selling out their 1250 allocation. (Various)

51 shirt row ‘stupid’ - Skacel

Rudi Skacel last night attempted to play down the “stupid” furore over his controversial 51 number as he prepared for tomorrow’s Scottish Communities League Cup clash against old club Hearts. The Czech midfielder said: “I am glad the United supporters are okay with that. It is only a number and I think it is stupid, all the things about this. I don’t care about Hibs. I care about United and will make sure I do everything for the club – that’s it.” (Scotsman)

• Hibernian supporters’ spokesman Mike Riley insists Peter Houston did not need to say sorry for Skacel’s provocative choice of 51 as his Dundee United squad number. (Scotsman)

Hearts in share pledge

Hearts have reassured supporters that funds raised through the club’s share issue will not be used to pay any tax bill. As Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs pursue £1.75million in tax for players loaned from Lithuania, senior Tynecastle officials promised they will not delve into share money if they are ordered to pay up at next month’s tribunal. (Evening News)

• Former Hearts boss Paulo Sergio has been named as the new manager of Romanian side Cluj. (Various)

Barry Ferguson set for lowly Fleetwood

Former Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson is set for a loan switch to the bottom tier of English football. The 34-year-old is set to go on loan from Blackpool to Fleetwood Town until January when it is expected he will be freed by the Championship side. (Various)

IN BRIEF

• Aberdeen are ready to make Ryan Fraser the highest-paid teenager in the club’s history as they attempt to tie the winger to a long-term deal. (Record)

• Dundee midfielder Mark Kerr is out for three months after damaging his posterior cruciate ligament. (Various)

• Scotland under-21 international Scott Allan has joined Portsmouth on a month’s loan from West Brom. (Express)

• Burnley are set to name Sean Dyche as their new manager today, ending speculation linking Falkirk’s Steven Pressley and St Johnstone’s Steve Lomas with the job. (Various)

• Motherwell defender Jonathan Page is to stay on loan with Hamilton for an extra 28 days. (Sun)

• Cowdenbeath have signed former Barcelona youth player Albert Puigdollers, 32. (Record)

• Alloa boss Paul Hartley is hoping to extend the loan deal of Aberdeen striker Michael Megginson. (Record)

• Berwick have signed Ross Gray on loan from Livingston for a third time. (Record)