Rumour Mill: Leigh Griffiths | Alexander

Leigh Griffiths: Pulled aside over Twitter use. Picture: SNS

John Brown tells St Mirren players: sign for me if you want to stay in SPL

Dundee manager John Brown has told players from relegation rivals St Mirren that they should sign for the Dens Park outfit if they want to remain in Scotland’s top flight. The bullish offer was made as he sought to unnerve Danny Lennon’s men ahead of an uphill relegation fight that has seen basement club Dundee claw back the deficit from 15 points to eight with three games to go.

Even if Dundee win all their remaining matches, St Mirren would need to lose all three games to save the Dens Park outfit, but it’s a scenario that Brown played up last night.

“If St Mirren don’t take any points between now and the end of the season, the same team that won the cup could go down in history as one of the worst teams St Mirren has ever had.”

He added that if St Mirren were relegated, fans would “hunt those players for all time.”

“I’m trying to create a squad for next season and I see the lad Craig Samson has not agreed terms there. I’ll be interested in him and all the players at St Mirren if we stay in the Premier League.” (Daily Record)

Celtic are “monsters”, says Kenny Shiels

Kenny Shiels has claimed that Celtic are “monsters” of Scottish football and suggested that they wield a disproportionate influence with decision makers.

“Celtic have massive influence on the judicial panel when decisions are made. Celtic are the monsters of Scottish football. We need the muscle of Celtic, it’s important to Scottish football. The Old Firm in general have the biggest support and influence.”

The Kilmarnock manager added that John McGlynn would have been his choice for manager of the year, though he backed Motherwell’s Stuart McCall for the award. “[McGlynn] had a fantastic season playing kids, getting to the League Cup final then being denied that chance. I don’t want to say Neil Lennon should be manager of the year just so I can walk through Glasgow.” (The Sun)

Leigh Griffiths: I was warned Twitter would ruin my career

Hibernian striker Leigh Griffiths has revealed how Twitter trolls targeted his unborn child, and how Pat Fenlon warned him that the social networking site could ruin his career. Griffiths, who no longer has an account, said: “I reacted to a lot of things which were said to me on Twitter.

“The only way the public could see the abuse I was getting was if I retweeted it, which I did.

“I’ve had to put up with a lot of abuse and some have wished my unborn baby dead. My girlfriend, Linzi, is expecting this summer.”

The dad-of-three, who has scored 27 goals this season and is shortlisted for a PFA Scotland Player of the Year award, also revealed how Pat Fenlon had advised him against continuing on Twitter.

“The manager pulled me aside and told me I was not going to benefit from being on Twitter... we had a chat about everything and he told me I should come off Twitter as it was going to ruin my career.”

He added: “I think I have improved as a player and my attitude has improved a lot as well.” (The Sun)

Rangers’ Neil Alexander to be offered final contract deal

Rangers are preparing to offer goalkeeper Neil Alexander another contract - but Ally McCoist has told the club’s No 1 that it will be on reduced terms. Despite the arrival of Kilmarnock’s Cammy Bell, McCoist is keen to retain Alexander. Alexander, who said earlier in the season he wanted to stay, turned down a one-year contract because he was seeking a longer deal, but was infuriated by Charles Green as the former chief executive later offered him a 12-month deal on less than half the original offer.

Rangers are expected to target a clutch of goalkeepers, including Blackpool’s Matt Gilks, Craig Samson of St Mirren and Queen of the South’s Lee Robinson, if a deal with Alexander cannot be reached. (Daily Express)

IN BRIEF

Celtic defender Rami Gershon is a top target for Maccabi Tel Aviv. The Israeli loanee has only started two games since joining from Standard Liege, (Daily Record)

Rumour Mill: Leigh Griffiths | Alexander | Brown