Rumour Mill: Leigh Griffiths | Rangers | Green
Rangers: McCoist still angry over Green ultimatum
Ally McCoist has revealed the extent of his continuing anger at former Rangers chief executive Charles Green on the even of today’s Ramsdens Cup final against Raith Rovers.
Asked about possible lingering irritation with the controversial figure, the Rangers manager said: “The comment or the man?” Before adding: “I don’t really take anything Charles says now with anything other than a pinch of salt. I thought that comment at that particular time was particularly unhelpful. I think he probably had his own reasons for saying it. I just think the club is in a better place than it has been for a couple of years.”
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Hide AdWinning two cups would not give McCoist the satisfaction of “sticking one to Green”. “No, because I never think about Charles Green,” the Rangers manager said. Asked to do so, in as much as to consider why the businessmen might have made the trophy ultimatum, McCoist chose his words carefully. “I think he was… what’s the best way to describe it… I’m not sure he was the biggest fan of the staff here. But you’d have to ask him that. But he’s over in France now riding his horses, or whatever he is doing. Scotland on Sunday
Leigh Griffiths faces more trouble over ‘refugee’ song
Leigh Griffiths faces further disciplinary action from Celtic after more footage has emerged of him singing anti-Hearts songs in an Edinburgh pub.
The Scotland striker can be seen singing “Rudi Skacel is a f****** refugee” in the clip, filmed before last week’s Edinburgh derby.
The SFA will not be able to charge him separately for the incident because he has already been charged for an offence that took place on the same day at the same time.
Derek Riordan was caught singing the same song in 2005, but escaped SFA punishment over the incident.
However, Griffiths may face further sanctions from Celtic, who have already fined him over the initial incident. (Sunday Mail)
Hearts: Murray warns FoH ‘can’t make up shortfall’
FOUNDATION of Hearts chairman Ian Murray has warned his group will not be able to make up any funding shortfall to keep the club afloat for the remainder of the season if no agreement is reached on Company Voluntary Arrangement with the club’s Lithuanian creditors tomorrow.
“We are hopeful that Monday’s meeting will bring a positive conclusion but if it does not we cannot use the Foundation’s money to run the club,” said Murray. “We have no authority to use that unless we have a cast-iron guarantee that a deal will be done, in the form of written confirmation.
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Hide Ad“We are between a rock and a hard place. There is no way money could be ploughed into the club only for it to end up in liquidation. We can’t, and BDO can’t, continue in this state of flux where we don’t know if matters will stay the way they are for ten months or three years.”
The report comes amid fears that prospective owner Anne Budge may walk away from a deal to buy Hearts over protracted negotiations with Lithuanian creditors. Scotland on Sunday
Stevenson: I’ll stay at Hearts whatever happens
WHATEVER is about to happen to Hearts will be imposed upon Ryan Stevenson after the forward stated unequivocally last night that he would stay with the relegated Tynecastle side even if liquidation is their fate and they have to start life again in the fourth tier as a newco.
“I will be staying,” Stevenson said. “I have a year left [on my contract]. When I came back here, it was for the long haul. Whether that is the First Division, Second Division or Third Division I am not bothered. I want to stay at Hearts, I want to stay at Hearts for as long as I can.
“I left [in 2012 to join Ipswich Town] and once you leave you do miss it. That is something for the young players. They are playing for a massive club and they know it is a privilege to play for Hearts.
“Whether it is in the First Division or the Third Division it is a privilege and the young boys know that. Hopefully we can get something sorted. A new deal and I can be here for many years to come. (Scotland on Sunday)
Garry O’Connor hits back at Morton fitness jibes
Morton striker Garry O’Connor feels club chairman Douglas Rae should have contacted him directly to let him know he was unsatisfied with his fitness.
The 16-times capped Scotland internationalist, who has scored one goal in 11 appearances, was criticised by the Greenock club’s owner for failing to get fit since joining the club in January.
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Hide AdBut while O’Connor admits that Rae is entitled to his opinion he believes he should have expressed it privately.
He said: “He is the chairman but he could surely have come and spoke to me at training if he had a problem. I have got an impingement in my Achilles and I have struggled to train on the artificial training pitch that Morton use and I am not sure if that’s the problem.
“Every time I am training the ankle bone is rubbing off the Achilles. It’s just a niggling, niggling pain, but I’ve also got problems with my groin from the 3G surface. If we were on grass it would be no problem, but it is hard to get serious hard work in on the 3G and at this stage of the season it has been tough to get the fitness levels up.” Scotland on Sunday
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