Rumour Mill: Celtic | Norway v Scotland

Bilel Mohsni has been compared to former Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra by team-mate Lee McCulloch. Picture: SNS

Rangers appoint Graham Wallace as new chief executive

Graham Wallace, the former chief operating officer at Manchester City, was today confirmed as the new chief executive at Rangers.

The Glasgow club said Wallace, who is from Dumfries and qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young in 1986, takes up the vacant role with immediate effect and will be seeking re-appointment at its annual meeting on 19 December. (Scotsman)

Celtic set to sign Icelandic striker in £100,000 deal

Icelandic forward Holmbert Fridjonsson is set to sign a deal with Celtic for around £100,000. The 20-year-old Fram player has agreed a three-year deal to play at Celtic Park as Celtic look to boost their striking options following criticisms of their summer acquisitions Teemu Pukki and Amido Balde.

Fridjonsson’s agent Olafur Gardarsson said: “He is very delighted. He went on trial with a club in Holland and he liked it there. But he liked it here. He felt very welcome and he obviously was liked by Neil Lennon, so he was very pleased.” The move will be finalised in January once the transfer window in Scotland opens, although the Icelandic season ended two months ago. (Daily Mail)

Hearts administrators open CVA talks with UBIG

Hearts administrators BDO have opened “tentative” talks with the insolvency firm in control of UBIG with just two days left to strike the deal which could save the club from liquidation.

However, it is understood that the stricken Tynecastle outfit have still been given no indication how the fallen investment giant will vote at Friday’s creditors meeting.

UBIG, Hearts’ majority shareholder with 49.9 per cent, are currently being run by Vilnius-based UAB Bankroto Administravimo Paslaugos after being formally declared bankrupt last week. (Scotsman)

Norway v Scotland: Strachan hails battling Scots

Gordon Strachan praised his side’s battling qualities last night after his first year as Scotland manager ended with what even he admitted was an undeserved 1-0 victory in Norway.

“I think Norway were the better team,” conceded Strachan, who described Scotland’s opponents as “refreshingly old fashioned” in their commitment to attack.

He added: “They spooked us a bit. Because Norway were so good at getting us going back the way, we couldn’t get going with the system we wanted to play. But we will try it again some other time because I do believe it can work. At the moment, though, the system we fall back on seems to be more reliant.” (Scotsman)

Lee McCulloch says Mohsni can be next Bougherra

Rangers captain Lee McCulloch has likened defender Bilel Mohsni to Madjid Bougherra for his goal threat as well as his defensive capabilities. Mohsni, who signed as a free agent after being released by Southend earlier this year, has struck up a formidable partnership with McCulloch at the heart of the Rangers defence.

McCulloch said: “Big Bilel is a fantastic player. Ability-wise people are putting him up there with Madjid Bougherra and maybe you could argue he’s a better passer of the ball.

“He’s maybe not as quick but he’s got something and if he keeps going the way he has been he could really thrive.” (Daily Record)

Millwall to resist Celtic overtures for David Forde

Millwall boss Steve Lomas will fight to keep goalkeeper David Forde at the club despite interest from Celtic. Celtic intend to move for Forde if, as is feared, England international Fraser Forster is prised away by a top club in the summer. Forde, a Republic of Ireland international, is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any club as his deal expires in the summer.

But, an adamant Lomas said: “There’s nothing we can do to stop other managers taking note. But we want to keep David and have offered him a new contract. We’re hoping he’ll decide to stay.” (The Sun)

Scotland v Norway analysis: Variety is spice of Scots squad

“[Gordon Strachan] changed things around, and Scotland won. Another piece has been inserted in the Scottish jigsaw, not with the best of performances, but with the proof that this current squad can modify and metamorphose.

Before this final fixture of the year for Scotland, we knew that Strachan had revived the team spirit and individual work ethic that is so important to a national side missing players of the very highest quality. He also seems to know his best squad now, but is not afraid to make controversial selections that he feels are necessary.” (Scotsman)

IN BRIEF

• Ajax manager Frank de Boer has hit back at Celtic player Derk Boerrigter’s claims he wasn’t given a chance during his time at Amsterdam. De Boer said Boerrigter had “many opportunities”, lacked sufficient motivation to improve and wasn’t “self-critical” enough. (Daily Record)

• Rangers have written to the SFA to make a complaint over comments made by Peter Lawwell at Celtic’s AGM. Lawwell was fiercely criticsed by the Ibrox outfit for suggesting that the club was not the same following their liquidation last year. (Daily Record)

Rumour Mill: Celtic | Norway v Scotland | Rangers