The Rumour Mill: Wednesday’s football transfer news and gossip

Published on 21/11/2012 11:32

Charles Green says SPL must end dual contracts probe; Richard Gough says Craig Whyte should be ashamed of actions that led to liquidation; Lothar Matthaus declares interest in Scotland job; plus the rest of today’s transfer news and gossip

Charles Green: SPL must dump dual contracts probe now

Rangers chief executive Charles Green has urged the SPL to dump their dual contracts probe into the club. In the wake of the judgement by the First Tier Tax Tribunal to clear the club of wrongdoing over their use of Employee Benefit Trusts, Green called on the SPL to halt its investigation immediately.

“The judgement serves to further undermine the validity of the SPL Commission into the use of EBTs. The decision to press ahead with a commission was ill-timed and fundamentally misconceived.” (The Sun)

Richard Gough says Craig Whyte ‘destroyed Rangers’

Former Rangers captain Richard Gough spoke of his relief at the decision by the FTT to give Rangers the all-clear over the Big Tax Case and joined calls to end talk of stripping Rangers of titles - and accused former owner Craig Whyte of allowing the club to “die for nothing”.

“The tax case was hanging over Rangers and Whyte made a conscious decision to make the situation worse,” Gough wrote in the Sun. “His view was along the lines of ‘If you owe £75m you are as well owing £90m. He simply refused to pay tax. Those actions drove Rangers to the abyss. Whyte has a lot to answer for. He destroyed a proud club and should be ashamed of his actions.” (The Sun)

No more talk about taking Ibrox titles, says former chairman

Former Rangers chairman Alastair Johnston has called for an end to talk of stripping Rangers of league titles won between 2001-2010. Yesterday’s verdict may still be appealed by HMRC, but Johnston said: “If indeed there was any culpability it would have been not furnishing the information pertaining to any alleged second contract. What this decision does is totally remove any obligation the club would have had to submit this information to the SFA or the SPL, because they would not have been considered contracts for participation in football. The whole concept of of Rangers being stripped of titles should go away - and go away quickly.” (Daily Mail)

Lothar Matthaus admits interest in Scotland job

German legend Lothar Matthaus has declared his interest in the Scotland vacancy for the first time. The 150-cap World Cup winner has been linked to the post since the weekend, and said that his representatives have already been in contact with the SFA.

“My name is known in Scotland. We haven’t had any specific talks yet, but Scotland is a football-loving country, and this would be an interesting challenge. I expect to be back working as a manager in January.” (Sun)

Raith Rovers chief says SPL is ‘flawed’ brand

Raith Rovers chairman Turnbull Hutton has claimed that a proposed SPL league shake-up will fail to increase interest in its ‘flawed brand’. Representatives of all SPL clubs agreed to pursue league expansion, encompassing two top tiers of 12 clubs, which would split into three leagues of eight after 22 matches.

“The SPL is a flawed brand,” Hutton said. “If they had enjoyed 14 years of spectacular succeess and were now sending the boats back to save the rest of Scottish football, then the plans would have some credence. As it stands, nobody likes it, the whole system is in turmoil, and we are supposed to buy into the proposals, still under the umbrella of the SPL.” (Daily Mail)

IN BRIEF

• Former Hearts striker Craig Beattie was given a run out for an U20 Motherwell side last night as he struggles to find fitness. The St Johnstone striker is batting a chronic back problem. (Mail)