The Rumour Mill: Wednesday’s football news and gossip

Our jobs are on the line - Mjallby

Johan Mjallby believes that the Celtic management team must prove themselves in the next two games or they could be facing the sack. The Parkhead assistant sees the upcoming double header against Rennes and Motherwell as must-win matches - otherwise they’ll be receiving their P45s. “We are battling to save our jobs,” the Swede said. “As coaches it’s the most critical week of our careers at Celtic, definitely.” (Various)

• Falkirk manager Steven Pressley - who faced calls to go from fans during the summer - has backed Lennon. “We must allow people to get through these difficult periods,” he said. “It is the making of managers.” (Various)

• Former Motherwell full-back Rab McKinnon believes his old side could end Lennon’s reign if they beat Celtic on Sunday. (Record)

• Former Celtic player Marc Crosas has gone on strike in Russia after not being paid by his club for five months. (Record)

• Celtic’s Beram Kayal faces being kicked out of the Israeli team for refusing to sing the national anthem. (Record)

Naismith can battle back - Durrant

Ian Durrant has had some words of encouragement for Rangers midfielder Steven Naismith, who is facing a season on the sidelines after sustaining cruciate ligament damage at Aberdeen at the weekend. The Ibrox coach, whose own career was almost ruined by injury, said: “He needs to be strong now. He faces a long road back and a lot of lonely days but he’ll make it. Medical procedures are so much better than they were when it happened to me in 1988 and Naisy will get through this.” (Record)

• Aberdeen midfielder Rob Milson believes Naismith should have been sent off for his challenge on him - but now wishes the Rangers player a speedy recovery. (Record)

Hearts in turmoil?

• The players’ union is investigating whether Hearts players would be able to walk away from the Tynecastle club if it can be demonstrated that there has been a breach of contract over the failure to pay players. (Scotsman)

• In a typically erratic statement, owner Vladimir Romanov declared that the game with Kilmarnock was a farce, that Scottish football was dying on its backside and that there was no point in him pumping in any more of his millions. (Various)

• The SFA have banned Danny Grainger for two matches for an alleged stamp on Dean Shiels which was missed by the referee. Meanwhile, Hearts manager Paulo Sergio has been reported for unacceptable conduct which saw him sent to the stand. He’s due at Hampden tomorrow to answer separate charges. If Sergio is found guilty on both counts he faces a lengthy touchline ban. (Various)

It’s still Miller time - Levein

Scotland manager Craig Levein expects Kenny Miller to remain his first choice striker for the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign despite the emergence of Craig Mackail-Smith and Jordan Rhodes. “I still think Kenny would be our main striker,” confirmed Levein. “I would think that is fair. I believe we will get another campaign from Kenny and his behaviour within the group would indicate that. He’s arguably as good as he’s ever been. I think we’ll get another campaign out of him and who knows beyond that?” (Scotsman)

• Levein also said that Barry Bannan - dropped from the squad after being charged on suspicion of drink driving - will “probably be back in for our next game in February”. (Record)

Shiels wants an Edinburgh Ayrshire derby

Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels has called for the Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final against Ayr United to go ahead in Edinburgh at either Tynecastle or Easter Road. “The two Edinburgh grounds look good to me,” said Shiels. “St Mirren Park is not big enough and Motherwell are at home that weekend in the SPL. So it is Easter Road, Tynecastle or as a last resort Hampden because I think 20,000 at Hampden would be swallowed up.” (Scotsman)

We’d welcome Deek back - Stevenson

Lewis Stevenson would welcome Derek Riordan back to Easter Road for a third spell after the striker was criticised by his manager at Shaanxi Chanba. The Hibernian player said: “I’d love to have him here because he’s a pal and he’s obviously a great player with a lot of ability... I’m sure he and Garry O’Connor would love to be back together.” (Sun)

IN BRIEF

• Steve Lomas is expected to be named as St Johnstone’s new manager today. (Various)

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