The Rumour Mill: Friday’s football news and gossip

SPL appoints independent commission to investigate EBT scheme at Rangers

The SPL has appointed an independent commission to look into alleged EBT (Employee Benefit Trust) payments and arrangements made by Rangers in relation to players. The commission will determine whether or not the club breached SPL rules in relation to payments made to players between 2000 and 2011 and if necessary, decide on what sanctions the club should face.

There has been talk of the Ibrox side being stripped of their titles if found guilty. Both chairman Malcolm Murray and manager Ally McCoist have vowed to challenge the SPL at every turn, with McCoist stating that he would never accept the club being stripped of their titles.

• Meanwhile, Rangers are running the rule over Atletico Madrid’s fleet-footed English winger Elliott Kebbie. The youngster joins Pantelis Kafes, Craig Beattie and Kevin Kyle at the Ibrox side’s training ground as the quartet bid to win deals for the upcoming season.

Late equaliser spoils night of glory for Dundee United

Dundee United were hit by a last-gasp equaliser last night as Dinamo Moscow claimed a crucial second away goal. The Tannadice side shocked the Russians with Willo Flood’s first half goal, before the visitors levelled through Igor Shemshov. Keith Watson restored United’s lead, but with time running out, Alex Kokorin’s deflected goal gave Dinamo a priceless second away goal to carry over into next week’s tie.

• Three fans were arrested and seven ejected from Tannadice after fighting broke out between rival fans in the opening minutes of the game. Supporters of Dinamo appeared to climb up into a home section of the stadium - where it is believed some Russian fans had also managed to get seats - evading stewards and police before order was restored.

John McGlynn: my boys can be title contenders

Hearts manager John McGlynn reckons his youthful side has what it takes to be title contenders. McGlynn has seen the loss of influential players such as Rudi Skacel and Craig Beattie, with Ian Black now at Rangers, but the former Raith Rovers boss is confident his side are capable of challenging Celtic for the title.

• Former Aberdeen boss Willie Miller believes Aberdeen shouldn’t be ruled out as potential league winners, despite last season’s underwhelming performance. The Pittodrie side have added Gary Naysmith, Jonny Hayes and Niall McGinn to their squad, and Miller is adamant that the Dons shouldn’t be written off before the season starts. Aberdeen were, of course, the last non-Old Firm club to win the league back in the mid 1980s.

Finns unhappy with Celtic goal

HJK Helsinki are still seething over what turned out to be Celtic’s winning goal on Wednesday night. The Finnish side made a substitution, only for the referee to allow Celtic to take a corner before the replacement had taken up his position in the box. Charlie Mulgrew put the ball in the back of the net, much to the chagrin of HJK, who could use that as a catalyst for revenge in the second leg next week.

In brief

• Dundee have officially become an SPL club, after the other member clubs unanimously approved the transfer of Rangers’ SPL share.

• Dusan Pernis looks set to sign for Polish top-flight new boys Pogo Szczecin, following a trial at Leicester City.

• Aberdeen boss Craig Brown has admitted he is unlikely to be successul in his attempt to bring defender Mark Reynolds back to the club.

• Dundee have added Mark Stewart to their squad and are waiting on international clearance for former Aberdeen defender Davide Grassi.

• Dunfermline have added Stephen Jordan to their squad for the upcoming season.

• Alan Maybury has all but signed for Dundee, despite an extended trial period with Hibernian. The former St Johnstone and Hearts defender featured heavily in Hibs’ pre-season matches.

• Celtic defender Josh Thompson is training with Portsmouth in a bid to win a move away from Parkhead. The defender has had several loan spells whilst at the club and does not feature in manager Neil Lennon’s plans.

• Wolves defender Christophe Berra, formerly of Hearts, has handed in a transfer request, which the Molineux club have accepted.

• Dumbarton drew 0-0 with a young St Mirren XI last night.