The Rumour Mill: Thursday’s football news and gossip

RANGERS IN CRISIS

• Up to six Rangers first team squad members could be made redundant by administrators as they prepare to unveil details of further job losses at the Ibrox club within the next 48 hours, with back-up goalkeeper Neil Alexander and defender Sasa Papac among the players most likely to be offloaded. (Scotsman)

• The number of players could be as high as 11, according to the Record, with those remaining threatened with savage wage cuts.

• First Minister Alex Salmond held talks with the Treasury about putting Rangers into administration ahead of the club doing it itself. The revelation emerged in a debate in the House of Commons on the beleaguered Old Firm club where Labour MP Thomas Docherty accused Rangers’ disgraced majority shareholder Craig Whyte of being “a liar”. (Scotsman)

• Gordon Smith has revealed that Craig Whyte has made no attempt to explain or apologise to him after the director of football stepped down. He said he had not heard from the discredited Rangers owner since the club went into administration 16 days ago. (Herald)

• Kirk Broadfoot has admitted the SPL title race is “as good as finished”, but the full-back insists there is no less pressure on Rangers to deliver results between now and the end of the season. (Scotsman)

• Carlos Bocanegra has given an insight into the strain being felt by Rangers players since the club was placed into administration. (Scotsman)

• Lorenzo Amoruso is ready to lend his advice to Rangers when he takes part in an old-timers’ select against AC Milan at Ibrox. “We will hopefully have some meetings when we are all together in Glasgow and have a chat about these things,” the Italian said. (Express)

• Former Celtic striker Pierre Van Hooijdonk believes the Parkhead club could be champions for 20 years if Rangers fold. (Sun)

Kelvin Wilson believes his Celtic team-mate Daniel Majstorovic deserves a new contract at the club. The Swedish defender faces eight months on the sidelines after suffering knee ligament damage in a training incident, but Wilson insists Majstorovic, who turns 35 next month, can still prove his worth to Celtic. “I would like him to be here,” he said. Wilson also pointed out that 34 was “not that old for a central defender”. (Express)

• Neil Lennon is aiming to bolster his squad by signing Israeli goalkeeper Dani Amos, who has impressed for club side Kiryat Shmona. (Sun)

Craig Levein has described last night’s draw with Slovenia as another significant step in the right direction. “Overall it is an excellent result,” said Levein. “I know it’s only a friendly game. But it is important we keep improving.” (Scotsman)

• Scotland captain Darren Fletcher is targeting a return to action next season. (Various)

Dunfermline have announced a loss of £431,621 for the year ended 31 May, 2011 – an improvement on the previous year. Turnover also improved by 31 per cent compared to 12 months earlier, but the club are “extremely concerned” that they will not be paid £80,000 owed to them by Rangers by the date the cash should be received. (Scotsman)

• It has also been reported that the Pars have been unable to pay players’ wages in full because of the issue with the Rangers payment. (Mail)

IN BRIEF

• Aberdeen will give ex-Rangers trialist Miguel Hamutenya another chance to win a deal in Scotland. (Express)

• Dundee United are looking to find a club for pre-contract signing Radoslaw Cierzniak, a Polish goalkeeper who will arrive at Tannadice in the summer but currently does not have a team. (Express)

• David Barron has signed a contract extension which will keep him at St Mirren until 2014. (Herald)

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