The Rumour Mill: Monday’s news and gossip

In today’s Rumour Mill: Tragedy overshadows Kilmarnock’s Hampden triumph; Celtic accused of planning to “destroy their own history”; Scott Severin urged to stay in football; plus the rest of today’s football news and gossip

A sad weekend for football is reflected upon with a measure of dignity in today’s back pages; James Fowler, writing in the Daily Record, sums up the sentiment of all right-minded football fans after the events of yesterday’s Hampden final, in which Kilmarnock player Liam Kelly’s father died shortly after seeing his son help secure Kilmarnock’s first ever League Cup: “At times like this, football doesn’t matter a jot in the grand scheme of things.”

Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn has accused Celtic of betraying their own supporters over perceived attempts by the club to move sticks to England’s League One. The Record reports that Hearn has called out the Parkhead club for what he sees as a move driven by profit with little regard for the club’s traditions. Hearn said: “Football clubs are about the community in which they exist and Celtic means everything to one half of Glasgow. Should they disregard what the club’s 124-year-old history means to people?”

News of Scott Severin’s retirement after a career-ending leg-break in August last year has been met with calls for the Dundee United defender to remain involved with football in a coaching capacity. Manager Peter Houston has convinced Severin to sit for an A licence in the next year. Meanwhile, Keith Watson, who helped United to a 2-1 win over Rangers with a goal, was full of sympathies for his teammate: “He spoke to the boys when he found out and we’re devastated for him. He’s been playing all his days and to have to stop playing is tough.” (The Daily Express, The Daily Mail)

Finally, fresh talk of Francisco Sandaza’s whereabouts next season has resurfaced after the St Johnstone striker, who will be a free agent in the summer, admitted that money would be a major consideration in any decision to leave McDiarmid Park.

“I’m 27 and it’s all about money now because I haven’t earned a lot in my career up until now”, before adding that there may be a chance that he would remain at St Johnstone if a better offer was not forthcoming. (The Herald, Mail)