The Rumour Mill: Wednesday’s football news and gossip

AS expected, Rangers dominate the back pages of just about every newspaper, with the club making it onto the front page in some cases. The news that Rangers chairman and owner Craig Whyte had left the country last night was compounded by further details of the Ibrox club’s financial difficulties. Whyte is said to have withheld £9 million in income tax and VAT from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). The bill is believed to have been made up of around £5 million in Pay As You Earn (PAYE) income tax deducted from the playing staff’s wages, and £4 million in VAT. This figure would be in addition to the projected £75 million that Whyte believes the club could end up owing to HMRC.

In addition, Daniel Cousin’s move to the club may be in doubt after it emerged that the SPL and the Ibrox administrators have yet to approve the striker’s £7500-a-week deal, with the player’s agent Willie McKay already attempting to find an English club for Cousin. (Various)

Meanwhile, former director Paul Murray has told of his plan to save Rangers. Murray is keen to implement a ‘Blue Knights’ package designed to rescue the club, and underwrite a fans’ buy-out, simultaneously ensuring that Rangers will never be controlled by one individual. Sir David Murray yesterday confirmed that he has no buyback clause in the club, contrary to some reports.

Rangers in brief:

• Rapid Vienna, who sold Nikica Jelavic to Rangers in 2010 for £3.5 million, are still owed around £1 million from the club. The Austrian club’s head of communications confirmed that Vienna have not been paid the full three instalments, the final of which was due to be paid this summer.

• Three other SPL clubs are still owed money by Rangers. Hearts are due £800,000 from the £1.5 million transfer of defender Lee Wallace, whilst Dundee United and Dunfermline are due £100,000 and £80,000 respectively.

• Recent signing Mervan Celik has admitted that he is fearing for his future at Ibrox. Rangers are still embroiled in a battle with the Swedish Under 21 midfielder’s former club GAIS, over compensation thought to be around £240,000.

• SPL chiefs are facing a headache over the fact that Celtic could clinch the title at Ibrox. If Rangers drop five points in their next four games, and Celtic continue their winning streak, a win for the Parkhead side at Ibrox on March 25th would put them 22 points clear with seven games remaining, guaranteeing them the title at Ibrox. SPL chiefs have endeavoured to ensure that the possibility of either club winning the title at their rival’s ground is minimised, following Rangers’ 3-0 victory at Parkhead in 1999 in a game that saw three players sent off, referee Hugh Dallas needing stitches after being hit by a missile thrown from the crowd and 113 arrests.

On the other side of Glasgow, Celtic have launched an appeal against Daniel Majstorovic’s sending off against Inverness Caledonian Thistle last Saturday. The Swede was red carded by referee Steven McLean on the advice of his assistant, after the defender was adjudged to have fouled Jonny Hayes. Although Neil Lennon believes Majstorovic played the ball, it appears unlikely that Celtic will be successful in their appeal.

In Edinburgh, Hearts confirmed that they have paid their tax bill in full to HMRC. The Tynecastle side had been threatened with the same fate Rangers faced, but avoided any action after belatedly paying their outstanding bill in full. A winding-up order was issued on February 7th, giving the club eight days in which to raise the £500,000 needing paid.

Staying in Gorgie, striker Kevin Kyle is optimistic that he can make a return to first-team football following a successful operation on his recurring hip injury.

Livingston chairman Gordon MacDougall has revealed how he managed to land former Hibs managers John Hughes and John Collins, who were unveiled as the club’s new management team yesterday. The Almondvale club were in negotiations with Collins, who had resigned from his post at Easter Road in 2007 following a player revolt, shortly after guiding the club to victory in the League Cup, with Hughes being the former Celtic and Monaco midfielder’s first choice for manager. Hughes hasn’t managed a club since parting ways with Hibs in 2010, despite guiding them to fourth in the SPL and a Europa League place.

Steve Lomas is keen to hang onto St Johnstone striker Stevie May, who has scored eight goals in five games on loan for Alloa Athletic, and has picked up two player of the month awards. Lomas has stressed his desire in keeping May at the club, and has spoken to chairman Stevie Brown regarding the player’s future.

Craig Brown is confident that Aberdeen striker Danny Uchechi will come good for the Pittodrie side. Uchechi, who signed for the club in the January transfer window, replaced Mitch Megginson on the wing in last night’s 2-1 cup victory over Queen of the South but struggled to adapt. Brown expressed his confidence in the former West Ham player to become a hit for the Dons, admitting that Uchechi may have been hampered by playing out of position.

Brown also confirmed that Ryan Jack had been dropped for last night’s game for disciplinary reasons following an incident after the 0-0 draw with Hibernian last Saturday, but will be in the squad to face St Johnstone this weekend.

Meanwhile, Dunfermline defender Kevin Rutkiewicz has revealed his secret double life - as a singer-songwriter. Rutkiewicz is due to support Midge Ure in Lochgelly after his team’s game at Inverness on Saturday, the first time he will have played football and gigged on the same day. The defender also admitted he is learning French and Spanish in his spare time.

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