Rumour Mill: Douglas Park’s Rangers plan | Jason Denayer

Motor group mogul Douglas Park leads investment plan for Rangers; Ronny Deila hopes to extend Jason Denayer’s stay; SFA offer Christmas bonuses to ease money worries and more in Saturday’s Rumour Mill
Douglas Park's move will come as good news to the Rangers support following the club's recent turbulent AGM. Picture: SNSDouglas Park's move will come as good news to the Rangers support following the club's recent turbulent AGM. Picture: SNS
Douglas Park's move will come as good news to the Rangers support following the club's recent turbulent AGM. Picture: SNS

Douglas Park leads investment group plan for Rangers

Motor group mogul Douglas Park leads a £6.5 million investment plan for Rangers. Park has joined up with wealthy Rangers fans George Letham and George Taylor to mount an offer to underwrite a new shares issue.

Record Sport understands the SFA are well aware of the move and the emergence of a credible alternative source of funding for the troubled Ibrox giant.

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It’s believed the arrival on the scene of the would-be saviours was a factor in the decision of the powerful SFA board to block a further power grab by Mike Ashley earlier this week.

The news offers a glimmer of hope to Rangers fans who have seen their favourites dragged from pillar to post in recent years by a board frequently accused of not having the club’s best interests at heart.

Significantly, the latest move is independent of Dave King , who was blocked by the board from investing £16m in favour of Ashley’s £2 million loan, handed to the club in October and increased by £1 million just a month later. (Record)

Ronny Deila hopes to extend Jason Denayer’s stay

Ronny Deila wants to try and keep Jason Denayer in Paradise.

The Manchester City man is due to go back to the Barclays Premier League champions at the end of the season when his loan deal expires.

The Belgian has shown just why he was touted for big things at a young age with several composed displays in green and white, something which has been rewarded by recognition at international level.

And Deila has revealed he is confident that the talented 19-year-old’s loan stay in Paradise may be extended into the new season.

He said: “I hope to do that [Keep Jason].

“He is in good development here. He hasn’t played a lot of matches at the top level and when you are in good flow you should keep doing it to go to the next stage.

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“When he is ready for that he will go on but it’s also important for us to have consistency going into next season as well.” (Various)

SFA offer Christmas bonuses to ease money worries

Chief Executive Stewart Regan has admitted the SFA felt obliged to ease the current cash crisis in the game by sharing £1.7million among member clubs.

The Scottish Football Association has distributed the Christmas bonus to member clubs over the festive period.

The SFA gave around £1m to the 30 members involved in the Club Academy Scotland (CAS) programme, an extra £500,000 to members involved in the Club Licensing scheme, and a £200,000 community fund will be set up to assist the grassroots development programme. Regan said that the governing body expected to generate funds due to “commercial sponsorship” and “television deals” but that it was vital that these profits were “re-invested into the game”. (Various)

Maurice Malpas given director of football role at Raith

Maurice Malpas, sacked in June along with Terry Butcher after Hibernian were relegated during their tenure at Easter Road, is back in football after being appointed director of football by Raith Rovers.

Former Dundee United and Scotland defender Malpas, 52, was assistant to Butcher at Hibs, having previously worked together at Inverness. “It’s terrific that we’ve been able to bring in someone of Maurice’s calibre,” manager Grant Murray told Raith’s official website. (Scotsman)

Inverness eye up January targets

Inverness assistant manager Russell Latapy admits the club have their eye on some players ahead of the January transfer window - but there is no certainty that any new signing will come in.

Caley Thistle made no fresh additions at all in the summer but go into Sunday’s fixture against Aberdeen firmly in the top six of the Scottish Premiership.

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Latapy said: “Every club wants to strengthen their position in the league and you can do that by strengthening your squad.

“There are always players on the radar - if we can get them in is another question.” (Dundee Courier)

Crystal Palace sack Neil Warnock

Crystal Palace have sacked manager Neil Warnock after just four months since he took over on the eve of the Premier League season. (Guardian)

News in brief:

• Emile Heskey makes immediate impact for Neil Lennon at Bolton as he scores in 2-1 win over Blackburn. (Various)

Ikichi Anya says he’s in the dark over Celtic interest. He said: “I haven’t heard anything about going to Celtic.” (Record)

• Ex-Man City manager Kakhaber Tskhadaze has been named as the new manager of Georgia. (Record)

Paul Scholes is backing Man United to make a title challenge. (Mirror)

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