Rumour Mill: Rudi Skacel | Fletcher

Rudi Skacel training with Hearts last month before his failed bid to secure a move to the Tynecastle club. Picture: SNS

Rudi Skacel hits out at SPFL over blocked Hearts move

Rudi Skacel has questioned the SPFL’s decision-making process over their refusal to ratify a move to Hearts that would have seen him enjoy his fourth spell with the club.

The 34-year-old was prevented from moving to Hearts last month because the club’s transfer application to the SPFL was rejected.

Skacel said: “I wanted to sign for Hearts and help the club. It wasn’t about a big contract or money. I was going to play for free.

“That may surprise people, but Hearts are in administration so it wasn’t about what I could get out of it. I came here to help Hearts and that has not been possible. I wanted to play for Hearts again, but I twas stopped from doing that, and no one has given me a good enough explanation why that is.” (The Sun)

Paul Hartley takes over as manager at Dundee

Dundee’s new manager, Paul Hartley, and chief executive, Scot Gardiner, both shot down conspiracy theories last night claiming that the former Scotland international had already been lined up to replace John Brown before the manager exited Dens Park earlier this week.

Dundee unveiled former Celtic and Hearts midfielder Hartley at a 6pm press conference yesterday in wake of Brown’s departure as they bid to step up their quest for the Championship title. Gardiner insisted last night that Brown had resigned and had not been sacked. “It was 100 per cent John’s decision to leave Dundee,” he said.

Gardiner added: “I want to put this to bed. It’s disrespectful to Paul, to Alloa, to Dundee and to John Brown to suggest this was some massive fit-up. It’s quite ridiculous.” (Scotsman)

Darren Fletcher wants Scotland place on merit

Darren Fletcher has stressed that he wishes to return to the Scotland team on merit as he moves closer to an international comeback against Poland in Warsaw next month.

The international skipper has not played for Scotland since a friendly against Luxembourg in late 2012 after being struck down by a bowel condition called ulcerative colitis.

“I don’t want it to be a token gesture,” said Fletcher yesterday, looking ahead to the clash with Poland which, if he plays, will be the midfielder’s 62nd cap.

“If I was hardly playing for Manchester United, then called up for Scotland. It wouldn’t be right. Hopefully, I feel like I have done well in the games I have played for my club and I will hopefully get a few more by the time the game in Poland comes around. Then I have got to impress in training.” (Scotsman)

Eric Djemba-Djemba vows to make Sir Alex proud with Buddies move

Cameroon midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba has said he wants to do Sir Alex Ferguson proud after signing a short-term deal at St Mirren. Djemba-Djemba, who played under Sir Alex at Manchester United, also said he hoped the now-retired Scot would come to see him play for the Buddies.

Djemba-Djemba said: “I never knew Sir Alex was manager of St Mirren, but that makes this move even better. I want to do well and maybe he’ll come and watch me play in a game for the club? Why not? That would be amazing.

“I owe so much to Sir Alex. He changed my life when he took me to Manchester United. I will never forget that. He is an amazing person. Sir Alex was a father figure to me. When he brought me to United the whole world knew my name.” (The Sun)

Alex Rae fury at men who cashed in on Rangers

ALEX RAE has slammed the Charles Green group for the cash they have made out of Rangers, but has faith in new chief executive Graham Wallace to prevent another financial disaster.

Lifelong supporter and former player Rae is sickened that men such as Green, Imran Ahmad, Craig Mather and Brian Stockbridge have all benefitted financially as Rangers try to cope with massive monthly losses.

Rae was a vocal sceptic about Green from the early days of his reign in 2012 and he takes no comfort from the fact that he has been proved right. “I have been alarmed for a while,” he said. “Even going back to the early days of Charles Green. It never really sat right with me.

“You could see it coming. There were good soundbites but there was never any direction. There was no plan in place and, unfortunately, he has walked away with a fortune. The legacy has been a shambles. There is no legacy. The only thing he did was put his money in at the time.” (Alex Rae fury at men who cashed in on Rangers)

SFA called on to resolve £10 Hearts and Rangers debts

AN East Lothian boys club have written to Scottish FA compliance officer Vincent Lunny to complain about the non-payment of compensation money allegedly owed by Hearts and Rangers.

Musselburgh Windsor FC, who celebrated their 60th anniversary last year, say they have taken the stance to alert boys clubs throughout Scotland that they are due thousands of pounds by professional clubs. Their own complaint relates to an under-15 goalkeeper who joined Hearts, and two younger outfield players who were released to join Rangers.

Club president Scott Robertson says his club is spending more money pursuing the complaint than it will actually get if Hearts and Rangers are forced to pay up. That is because boys clubs are due just £10 every time a senior club takes one of their registered players – a situation Robertson describes as “disgraceful”. (Scotsman)

SPFL GOALS & HIGHLIGHTS

Video: Rangers 2-1 Brechin: Rangers hold on to win

Goals from Dean Shiels and Jon Daly in the first half were enough for Rangers to secure a win at Ibrox, but a red card for Bilel Mohsni and a second-half goal from Steven Robb made the task more arduous than it ought to have been. Read the full match report here.

Video: Celtic fans give Lennon rousing ovation

Neil Lennon was given applauded by supporters during the side’s 1-0 win over St Mirren at Celtic Park. It follows an incident at Tynecastle Stadium where Lennon was forced to leave after fans abused and threw coins at the Celtic manager.

IN BRIEF

• Former Hearts manager Csaba Laszlo has applied to become Stenhousemuir boss. Lazslo is currently out work after leaving his post as Lithuania manager last September. (The Sun)

• Joe Ledley has hailed his deadline-day move to Crystal Palace from Celtic. The Wales midfielder said he was “over the moon” to clinch his “dream” of playing in the Premier League. (Daily Express)

Rumour Mill: Rudi Skacel | Fletcher | Rangers