The Rumour Mill: Tuesday’s Scottish football news and gossip

In today’s Rumour Mill: Joe Jordan puts himself forward for Scotland job; Hearts have glimmer of hope; SPL could block reconstruction plans; plus the rest of the day’s football news and gossip.

Jordan interested in Scotland job

Joe Jordan has said he is definitely interested in succeeding Craig Levein as Scotland manager. The Scotland legend said last night: “You want to be at the top of your profession as a coach, as a manager. As a Scotsman, you want it to be the Scotland job. If you asked me if I’d be interested in the job, yes I am.” (Express)

Graeme Souness has urged the SFA to appoint Joe Jordan as the new Scotland manager, insisting his former World Cup team-mate “ticks all the boxes” necessary to restore the pride and credibility of the international team. (Various)

• Souness also said that it was a “regret” that his bid to buy Rangers as part of Brian Kennedy’s consortium failed. (Sun)

• Gordon McQueen insists the SFA must appoint a Scotsman to lead the national team. After backing Joe Jordan for the role, the former Scotland international said: “We went down that route before with Berti Vogts with 
tartan scarves and ‘I love haggis and whisky’. What an imposter and that showed with results.” (Various)

• Everton’s Steven Naismith insists Billy Stark should be considered as a potential successor to former Scotland manager Craig Levein. (Various)

Hope for Hearts?

Hearts are hopeful that a payment plan can be agreed with Her Majesty’s Customs and Revenue after fund-raising efforts by supporters have helped raise a substantial proportion of the club’s overdue tax bill of £450,000. Fresh talks between Hearts and HMRC yesterday have offered what a Tynecastle source described as a “glimmer of hope” in the bid to ward off winding up order, received by the club last week. (Scotsman)

League reconstruction on the agenda

The Scottish Football League is expected to unveil plans for league reconstruction this week. Member clubs will meet on Wednesday to discuss possible changes to Scottish football and reports last night suggested the SFL’s proposals are for a three-tier system for Scottish football with a 16-team top league, 10-strong middle division and an 18-team bottom section supplemented by reserve teams from Rangers and Celtic. (Various)

• The SPL are likely to attempt to block a move to expand the top flight to 16 teams, with Celtic and Aberdeen likely to lead the way after recently teaming up to safeguard the 11-1 voting structure. (Record)

Kenya need Wanyama

The Kenyan FA have told Neil Lennon that Victor Wanyama must play for his country tomorrow as the friendly against Tanzania is not meaningless. The Celtic boss has voiced his frustration that several key players are being called away this week. (Record)

• And Lennon fears he could be without winger James Forrest and striker Gary Hooper for the crucial Champions League clash with Benfica. (Express)

Sign Griffiths or forget title - Kane

Former Hibernian player Paul Kane has called on chairman Rod Petrie to keep on-loan striker Leigh Griffiths - or forget mounting a title challenge to Celtic. Kane said: “He’s going through a purple patch right now and if you were to take him out of the Hibs team it would be a massive loss to the club and the supporters... If Wolves are looking for around £150,000 for him I’d urge Petrie to break the bank and sign him.” (Record)

• Hibernian have sacked their stadium announcer after he played a Beatles song that teased city rivals Hearts over the financial worries that could see them go out of business within days. The Easter Road club made the decision after some Hearts supporters took offence at the tongue-in-cheek airing of the song Taxman at half-time in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Dundee United. (Various)

Miller ‘hurt’ at being dropped

Kenny Miller has revealed he was “hurt” by Craig Levein’s decision to drop him in favour of Steven Fletcher for Scotland’s last two World Cup qualifiers. “It was a blow,” admitted the Vancouver Whitecaps striker yesterday. “I told Craig that. I knew I was going to be disappointed if that was [going to be] the case, and it did hurt. I felt it was harsh to go from captain of the team and scoring in the previous game to not playing.” (Scotsman)

• Darren Barr and Murray Davidson have been called up to the Scotland squad to face Luxembourg. (Various)

• Scotland could be handed a World Cup 2014 lifeline after Uefa president Michel Platini threatened to kick Croatia and Serbia out of the tournament over various incidents involving their fans. (Record)

IN BRIEF

• QPR are the latest Premier League side to track highly rated Aberdeen winger Ryan Fraser. (Sun)

• Chairman John Yorkston is confident Dunfermline will raise the funds to pay their impending tax bill. (Scotsman)

• Former Scotland manager Andy Roxburgh has been appointed new sporting director at New York Red Bulls. (Various)

• Stenhousemuir have signed Hearts defender Brad McKay, 19, on loan for a month. (Express)

• Peterhead have signed Alloa striker David Cox on loan. (Express)