Rumour Mill: James Easdale | Rangers

James Easdale has left his post as Rangers director. Picture: SNS

James Easdale quits as Rangers director

JAMES Easdale has quit as a director of Rangers with immediate effect, it has been announced.

Easdale, a non-executive director on the board of Rangers International Football Club plc, stepped down on Wednesday morning, just over a week before the club holds its EGM.

He said he was ‘bowing to pressure’ from the club’s supporters. (The Scotsman)

Rangers want Freedman

RANGERS have identified Nottingham Forest boss Dougie Freedman as the man they want to install as the next Ibrox boss.

Kenny McDowall is working a 12-month notice period after handing in his resignation just weeks after replacing Ally McCoist, who was placed on gardening leave in December last year.

Freedman, who replaced Stuart Pearce as Forest gaffer at the start of this month, has taken charge of three wins and a draw since arriving and will hope to continue that run against Bournemouth tonight.

Forest owner Fawaz Al Hasawi revealed that the former Scotland striker had signed an 18-month deal before later admitting it was only until the season’s end. Freedman is still hopeful that Forest can make the play-offs, however.

Valencia No 2 Ian Cathro is another name linked with the Rangers post. (The Sun)

Doncaster slams Rangers fans over sectarian singing

SPFL chief Neil Doncaster yesterday denounced anti-Catholic singing heard from some Rangers fans at Raith Rovers on Friday, while at the same time effectively saying the Ibrox club had no case to answer.

Doncaster accused a section of the Ibrox support of dragging Scottish football’s reputation through the mud, but admitted the problem could only be dealt with by police intervention and self-policing.

He added: “It remains the SPFL’s position that if it can be established that clubs have done everything required in overall management of the event pre-match, during the game and post-match then they have no case to answer.”

Match delegate Tom Purdie is expected to file his report on the match by the end of the week. (The Scotsman)

Inter are vulnerable, insists van Dijk

CELTIC stopper Virgil van Dijk has issued a rallying cry to his Hoops team-mates, insisting that Inter Milan are vulnerable, ahead of the Europa League second leg clash in Italy.

Van Dijk said before Celtic’s arrival in Milan that Inter gave Ronny Deila’s men ‘some possibilities’ in the first leg in Glasgow, adding: “They try and play every time they are under pressure so that gives us hope.

“But we also need to start the game better.”(The Scotsman)

Ex-Inverness midfielder backs Guidetti to do damage

BEN Greenhalgh, the former Inverness Caledonian Thistle midfielder, has backed John Guidetti to shoot down Inter.

Greenhalgh, who landed a six-month contract with Inter Milan after winning a programme entitled ‘Football’s Next Star’, played against a youthful Guidetti in an under-18 match in 2010.

And the Maidstone United midfielder says that Guidetti’s talent was obvious even back then.

He revealed: “We found ourselves in the Dubai Cup for Under-18s. I’d just won the Sky show, but Guidetti was one of the big young players at City.

“We drew 2-2 and Guidetti scored both goals. I remember having a chance right at the end, but I tried to chip the goalie and it went over. If he plays on Thursday then he’s proved he can be the man to score.” (The Sun)

Rumour Mill: James Easdale | Rangers | Celtic