The Rumour Mill: Monday’s football news and gossip

In today’s Rumour Mill: James Forrest linked with Spurs move; Rangers players ‘denied medals’; Peter Houston backed by Dundee United; plus the rest of the day’s football news and gossip.

Spurs linked with Forrest

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering a January bid for Celtic’s in-form youngster James Forrest, with the London club’s chief scout Ian Broomfield watching the 20-year-old in action on Saturday. Forrest has two and a half years of his contract remaining and Celtic are understood to rate him at £10million, although Tottenham could test the Parkhead club’s resolve with an offer of around £7million. (Sun)

Lennon plays down Leicester link

When asked to respond to speculation linking him with the managerial vacancy at Leicester City, Neil Lennon said nothing to suggest he hankered after a return to his former club. But, while he may not be at the end of his tenure as Celtic manager, Lennon, as he made all too clear, is certainly at the end of his tether with a fair number of his first-team squad. (Scotsman)

• All the Celtic squad are behind manager Neil Lennon and want him to stay at the club, according to Joe Ledley. “We want him to stay,” the midfielder said in response to speculation linking Lennon with the vacancy at Leicester City. “He’s a great manager, and we all want to try and win things for him and ourselves.” (Scotsman)

Rangers medals kept back by court order

Rangers players have been denied their championship because of former director Donald McIntrye’s court order to have £300,000 of the club’s assets frozen pending a breach of contract case. The SPL medals have a value of £17,000 and because they could be deemed an asset they could not be issued. However, McIntyre did not intend to deny the players their prizes and the order was amended last week to allow them to be issued within days. (Record)

• Rangers midfielder Maurice Edu was refreshingly frank in his assessment of the threat of financial meltdown and its possible consequences. “It is a concern,” he said. “There has been a concern for the past two years. We’ve been put through circumstances that were unforeseeable when you sign for this club. Things happen in football, there’s a business aspect to being at a big club like this. We’re just players, things are outwith our control and we can’t dictate what will happen.” (Scotsman)

Naismith injury dampens Rangers win

Midfielder Steven Davis accepts it will be a major blow for Rangers if the knee injury Steven Naismith sustained in the win at Aberdeen keeps him sidelined for a long spell. Davis said: “It’s a massive blow for the whole team, as well as him personally. Last year he was player of the year and he has been fantastic so far this season. It puts a real dampener on the result.” (Scotsman)

Houston wins board backing

Dundee United last night quashed speculation about the future of Peter Houston by giving their full backing to the manager after he held showdown talks with chairman Stephen Thompson. The United manager met with his employer yesterday after the chairman had cut short a holiday in the United States following the team’s disappointing midweek League Cup exit at the hands of Falkirk. (Scotsman)

Saints close in on new manager

St Johnstone chairman Geoff Brown hopes to have a new manager in place this week, as former Manchester City midfielder Steve Lomas emerged as the latest favourite. Brown said: “We have candidates and we hope to get them sorted out and move it on as quick as possible... We’re no closer as yet but I’m sure we’ll get there.” (Sun)

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