The Rumour Mill: Tuesday’s news and gossip

In today’s Rumour Mill: Sone Aluko’s man-of-the-match performance attracts interest from Spain; Craig Whyte insists he still has say on who buys Rangers; Neil Lennon’s ongoing feud with Old Firm referee Calum Murray; plus all the rest of today’s football news and gossip

As if to redress the absence of tears either side of the Old Firm in the wake of a Rangers victory that, improbably, both teams’ fans were quite happy with, Wet Wet Wet yesterday announced a one-off comeback gig in Glasgow this summer.

But, according to most of today’s back pages, Sone Aluko’s mooted departure to any number of sides - The Sun even go as far as to identify Espanyol as potential suitors - could yet bring briney torrents to the cheeks of the Ibrox faithful, whose team’s summer recruitment drive won’t be much to sing about.

Rangers manager Ally McCoist, perhaps mindful of this much, talked up Aluko’s man-of-the-match performance: “Rangers have an [two year] option but I know Sone won’t be short of offers if they don’t take that up. There is a lot of interest in Sone and that’s no surprise given the way he’s playing of late.” (The Daily Express)

According to the Sun, Rangers owner Craig Whyte has resurfaced to reassert his authority as he demands a say on who buys the club. The paper says that, should Whyte confirm a Sun source’s musings, then it could spell the end for Paul Murray’s ambitions to take the reins at Ibrox.

The Daily Mail lead with Neil Lennon’s ongoing feud with referee Calum Murray. The dispute centres around an off-camera conversation between Lennon and Murray at half-time in the Ibrox tunnel: Murray and other match delegates allege that Lennon had used foul and abusive language towards the whistler in expressing his frustration with the officiating of the game; Lennon insists that this was not the case, and adds that witnesses can corroborate his version of events. The Sun add fuel to the flames by reporting that Rangers staff have backed up Murray’s side of the story.

Meanwhile, former Rangers striker Michael Mols has sought to defend his former boss, Dick Advocaat, from Rangers’ plunge into administration.

“If the financial department gives money to a manager to spend then he will spend it because he doesn’t think of the consequences behind it.

“It’s difficult to say who is to blame but I don’t think the thing to do now is to point the finger, I think it’s about how we’re going to solve it.” (Express)

In other news, Kilmarnock are set to enter into negotiations with Garry Hay with a view to agreeing a new contract. Kenny Shiels is keen to wrap up a deal quickly, and said the 34-year-old was the “spirit of the club.” (Express)