The Rumour Mill - Monday’s football news and gossip

In today’s Rumour Mill: As Rangers woes deepen, Everton manager David Moyes reveals he once turned down the opportunity to sign Nikica Jelavic; Dundee United striker Johnny Russell says interest from Celtic was a “boost”; Mario Kello is dropped from Hearts first team by Vladimir Romanov

‘Crisis’ is today’s word du jour on this morning’s back pages, referring as it does to RANGERS’ ever-worsening woes (or, as The Sun cheerily describes it, a “dossier of disaster”) in the wake of their Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Dundee United, a 2-0 defeat that leaves the SPL title as their only shot at silverware this season. All of today’s red tops report that Rangers manager Ally McCoist has cited the impending £49 million tax case brought by HMRC as the club’s real crisis, while captain Steven Davis called for McCoist to be given the funds to bolster the squad before having his collar yanked mid-interview by the men upstairs.

The Daily Express offers little comfort to Rangers fans as they report Everton bos David Moyes didn’t fancy Nikica Jelavic much when he scouted him in 2010 while the Croatian striker plied his trade at Rapid Vienna, adding that it was only once he had moved to Rangers that Jelavic matured into a player capable of competing in England’s top flight.

DUNDEE UNITED forward Johnny Russell says interest from CELTIC during last month’s transfer window has been a “boost”, but has no plans to move to Celtic Park just yet, accroding to the Sun, the Daily Mail and the Daily Record.

Elsewhere, the Mail, Record and Express report that HEARTS goalkeeper Marian Kello has been banished from the first team squad by Vladimir Romanov. Manager Paulo Sergio said the decision had been made as a result of Kello’s refusal to accept a move to Austria Vienna on transfer deadline dayt. Confusingly, Sergio said the board cited Kello’s lack of “commitment to the future of Hearts.”

ABERDEEN captain Andrew Considine says that teammate Fraser Fyvie has been too hasty in deciding to pack it in at Aberdeen and make a go of things in England, according to the Express. Fyvie has expressed an interest in a move down south upon the expiry of his contract, but Considine warns that he may not get the playing time he enjoys at the Dons.

Elsewhere, the improbably-named Rangers winger Mervan Celik says his former club GAIS are owed £240,000 by Rangers despite suggestions that GAIS had not offered a contract to Celik within the required time after his contract expired. Celik insists that an extension had been offered. The Record adds that should the situation remain unresolved, then FIFA may be asked to arbitrate.