Rumour Mill: Wanyama staying | Craig Mather

Celtic are celebrating that Victor Wanyama (centre) is staying at the club. Picture: SNS

Wanyama going nowhere

Celtic’s star midfielder Victor Wanyama says that he does not intend to leave Parkhead this summer.

The Kenyan midfielder refused a contract renegotiation earlier in the season, and with numerous top clubs sniffing around it seemed Wanyama was bound to leave Scotland. Celtic manager Neil Lennon has rated the star man as worth up to £25 million.

However, Wanyama said: “I’m happy at Celtic, I love it here. I’ll be here next season. I still have a contract with Celtic so I’m sure I will still be here.” (Various)

Craig Mather says Rangers have ‘no financial problems’

Interim Rangers chief executive Craig Mather has used his first day on the job to attempt to reassure fans of the club’s financial stability.

Mather said: “The club is stable and in fantastic shape. There are no grey areas and no financial problems in any shape or form.

“What we need to do now is put the building blocks in place to take the club back to the top.”

Mather also pledged to work with Walter Smith for a better relationship with the SFA and SPL. Mather replaced Charles Green in the top boardroom role at Ibrox yesterday, and Green was reported to the Serious Fraud Office last night. (Record)

“Bosman reality kicking in” - Jim Jeffries

The true scale of the overspending by Scottish clubs in the wake of the Bosman ruling is now being revealed, according to Dunfermline boss Jim Jeffries.

Jeffries says a number of sides are paying the price for chasing free agents in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

He said: “It’s not the players’ fault - it’s a short career and it’s a case of making as much money as you can.

“The opportunity was there for them to do that and the clubs went along with it and paid bigger salaries than they should have.” (Courier)

Kris Boyd fee could bring down Turkish club

Kris Boyd’s former team Eskisehirspor could be shuttered over a £2 million combination of legal fees and unpaid wages owed to the Kilmarnock man.

Boyd successfully sued the team over the unpaid contract, and last night learned that the Turks’ appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport has been rejected.

Eskisehirspor have seven days to pay up, or could face fines, points deductions or removal of their licence. (Various)

Johnny Russell: United youth boss unsure on move, but Armstrong backs striker

Dundee United youth director Stevie Campbell is the latest figure to weigh in on Johnny Russell’s proposed move to Italy.

Campbell cited former United striker David Goodwillie’s move to Blackburn as an example of how transfers can turn sour, and questioned whether going to Catania would really benefit Russell.

Campbell said: “It has just not worked out for (David) at all and I am sad to see it.

“(On Catania) Will Johnny make money? Yes. Will he improve as a player? I’m not sure.” (Herald)

Meanwhile, Russell’s teammate Stuart Armstrong has backed him to succeed should he head to Catania.

“He’s very level-headed and he’d take a move in his stride,” said Armstrong. (Various)

Lennon: ‘Let’s look for new Lubo’

One of Celtic’s key recruiting targets for next season is finding the new Lubomir Moravcik, according to boss Neil Lennon.

Lennon admits that his side have been without an out-and-out playmaker since Ki Sung-Yeung left for Swansea City, and the manager is keen to find a full-time replacement.

“We have not really had the time to replace that type of player but that is what we’ll be looking to do for next season. Again, it costs money and they are the difference at times in games, it’s just trying to find the right one that suits us.” (Various)

Player of the year candidate Higdon unsure of future

Michael Higdon is unclear on where he’ll be playing next season, despite bagging 24 goals for Motherwell this season and landing a nomination for Scottish player of the year.

Higdon is out of contract at the end of the season, and has not signed a new deal.

Higdon said: “I just like playing football and that’s what I’m doing at the moment. I could go down south and not play, so we’ll just see what happens.” (Various)

Rumour Mill: Wanyama staying | Craig Mather | Kris Boyd