The Rumour Mill: Wednesday’s football news and gossip

Published on 27/06/2012 10:48

In today’s Rumour Mill: Rangers legends unite against Charles Green as more players quit Ibrox; Celtic could make new bid for Leicester defender; John McGlynn named new Hearts boss; plus the rest of the day’s football news and gossip.

Rangers newco latest

• Several former Rangers players and prominent fans have urged supporters not to back Charles Green’s newco. Former stars Brian Laudrup, Lorenzo Amoruso, Jorg Albertz and Andy Goram joined ex-vice chairman Donald Findlay QC have thrown their weight behind John Brown’s plan to lead a fans’ buy-out. Brown called on fans not to buy season tickets because he fears “money is going to go in and then disappear”. (Sun)

• Allan McGregor, Steven Davis, Kyle Lafferty and Jamie Ness have all joined the Ibrox exodus after declining to transfer their contracts to Charles Green’s newco Rangers. (Various)

• Fulham are understood to be the favourites to sign McGregor, ahead of rivals Sunderland, QPR and West Brom. Greek side Olympiakos and Turkish outfit Besiktas are also monitoring his situation. (Sun)

• Blackburn Rovers have been linked with Steven Naismith and Steven Whittaker, who announced their intention to quit Ibrox earlier this week. (Sun)

• Lee Wallace and Lee McCulloch are the only two players to have committed themselves publicly to staying at Ibrox. (Various)

• Romanian defender Dorin Goian is set to join Wallace and McCulloch in pledging his future to the newco - as long as they are playing in the First Division and do not drop down to the Third Division. (Record)

• All 30 SFL clubs will meet at Hampden next Tuesday as a contentious move to parachute newco Rangers into the second tier of a hastily reconstructed senior football set-up reaches a critical stage. Raith Rovers yesterday joined Falkirk in declaring their objections to the newco gaining direct entry to what is currently the First Division. (Scotsman)

• The SFA are waiting for information from Charles Green to support his newco club’s application for membership of the governing body. (Scotsman)

Celtic back in race for Mills

Celtic have renewed their interest in Leicester defender Matt Mills. The Parkhead club looked set to lose out on the 25-year-old centre-back when Bolton agreed a loan deal last week with a view to a permanent move. But the proposed switch to the Reebok Stadium stalled, and now Celtic have been told the situation is open to make a counter offer. (Record)

• Celtic are still hopeful that Fraser Forster will be a full-time signing by the end of the week. It is understood that a £2m fee was agreed with Newcastle, but Magpies boss Alan Pardew cast doubt on the deal by claiming the goalkeeper will return for pre-season training on Monday. (Record)

• Ki Sung-Yueng will not be joining Werder Bremen after the Germans denied they planned to make a move for the South Korean. (Record)

• Celtic have offered trials to two 17-year-olds from La Reunion as part of the club’s link with Didier Agathe’s football academy. (Express)

McGlynn returns to Tynecastle

John McGlynn’s appointment as the tenth Hearts manager of the Vladimir Romanov era was confirmed last night. The 50-year-old leaves Raith Rovers after five and a half years in charge to return to the club where he spent ten years as a coach between 1996 and 2006. (Various)

Aberdeen sign Hayes - for real this time

Aberdeen have finally completed the signing of Jonny Hayes from SPL rivals Inverness, the winger sealing a two-year deal after rejecting a new contract with Caley Thistle. The Dons had announced on their website at the end of last month that Hayes had agreed to move to Pittodrie – only for the 24-year-old, on holiday at the time, to state via his Twitter account that he had not made any decision on his future. (Scotsman)

Jefferies hopes to sign Kyle

Jim Jefferies is hopeful Kevin Kyle will join Dunfermline for pre-season despite interest in the former Hearts star from Hibernian. The striker has been offered the opportunity to prove his fitness at the Pars during July with a view to a permanent move. There was also thought to be interest in the player from Hibs after Kyle confirmed “Billy Brown says Hibs would like me just to go on pre-season”. (Scotsman)

IN BRIEF

• Manchester United have been linked with a move for Hamilton youth prospect Mark Hill. The midfielder, aged just 13, made a substitute appearance for Accies reserves in April, and it is understood he has been training with the Old Trafford giants. (Mail)

• Motherwell have confirmed that free agent James McFadden will take part in their pre-season training. (Record)

• Kris Boyd is threatening to have St Johnstone’s Europa League opponents Eskisehirspor kicked out of the competition, because they owe him £2.4m in unpaid wages. (Sun)

• Ross County boss Derek Adams yesterday dismissed talk of bids for Kirk Broadfoot and Derek Riordan. (Scotsman)

• Hibs left-back Scott Smith, 20, has signed a new one-year contract. (Scotsman)

• Robbie Neilson has been offered a trial by Notts County. (Express)

• Former Hibs captain Ian Murray could join American club Tampa Bay Rowdies. (Record)

• Former Dunfermline midfielder Craig Easton has signed a one-year deal with Torquay United. (Express)

• Teenage midfielder Martin Laing has signed a professional contract with Inverness after stepping up from the under-19 team. (Scotsman)

• Inverness target Lee Beevers has signed for non-league club Mansfield Town. The Highland club are also set to lose left-back Kenny Gillet. (Express)

• Dundee have invited Arsenal youngster James Campbell, 18, for pre-season training. (Express)

• Morton have brought in Hamilton pair Simon Mensing and Kyle Wilkie for pre-season training. (Various)

• Derek Lyle is hoping to win a full-time deal with former club Queen of the South after rejecting a part-time deal at Cowdenbeath. (Express)

• Norwich are set to make a £2m bid for former Rangers winger Chris Burke, currently at Birmingham. (Mail)