Rumour Mill: Rangers EGM | Dave King

Dave King says he's now clear to get involved in running Rangers. Picture: PA

Rangers search for new EGM venue

Further turmoil hit Rangers last night when the London hotel set to host the potentially powderkeg General Meeting of shareholders to decide the future of the club pulled out.

The embattled Rangers board was left looking for an alternative venue for the event on 4 March but insisted it would still go ahead in the “London area”.

Fearful of disruption to guests and neighbouring properties and businesses, the Millennium Gloucester Hotel & Conference Centre in Kensington told the Rangers board it had cancelled their booking. (Scotsman.com)

Dave King says he’s now fit to run Rangers

Dave King has mounted a defence of his status as a fit and proper person to be in charge of Rangers – the former Ibrox director could see his takeover bid succeed on March 4 – by citing a recent confirmation from the South African tax authorities that he was not disqualified.

King has cited a statement by SARS spokesman, Adrian Lackay, on Jan 25, in response to an inquiry by a BBC reporter.

“Mr King was informed that as far as the legislation carried out by SARS is concerned, Mr King is not disqualified from serving as a director of any company and is able to operate on a normal unrestricted basis in the business environment.” (Express)

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Celtic to face Dundee United three times in three weeks

CHRIS ERSKINE last night insisted Dundee United are ready to kill off Celtic’s treble bid.

Erskine said: “Once a few of the names came out, I thought ‘this is going to happen’. Someone has to beat Celtic if they’re going to win the Cup and I don’t see why it can’t be us.

“We’ve beaten them already this season which will help. We rode our luck a bit at Tannadice that day but got the win we deserved.

“I don’t see why we can’t beat them again in the Cup. We know that when we’re on our game we’re as good as anyone in the league. Hopefully on the day we play well and get the victory.” (Daily Record)

Dalglish: Rivals’ absence won’t lessen Celtic wins

KENNY Dalglish knows how hard it is for a manager to win a treble, particularly in a first full season at a club.

He was in his maiden season as a manager full-stop, doing his best to combine playing with managing, when Liverpool surprisingly lost to Queens Park Rangers in the semi-final of the League Cup in 1986.

“They are in the Europa League as well, so it could be four trophies,” said Dalglish, wryly, when considering the prospect of Celtic winning the treble for what would be only the fourth time in their history.

“If you win a treble, though, you win a treble,” pointed out Dalglish. “It says nothing in the history books about not being up against such and such a team or that somebody was beaten in a poor result in the cup. They just say that you won the treble and that should never be undermined. Nothing else will be recorded in the history books other than the fact that the winners of the Scottish Cup or the Premiership in 2015, for example, were Celtic,” (Scotsman)

Kenny Dalglish says he would have some choice words for Gers board

Kenny Dalglish says he wouldn’t have put up with a lot of this nonsense at Ibrox when he was a manager.

As far as he’s concerned, managers pick the team and if the boardroom didn’t butt out of his team selections then King Kenny wouldve marched  up the stairs and started picking  directors instead.

The Liverpool legend can barely believe what he is seeing at Ibrox  and he firmly believes the last thing a club needs is the men in suits  getting involved with matters in the dressing room.

He said: “When they start picking teams, I would have the right to go and start picking directors.

“I was never ever asked to select or sign someone that I didn’t want to sign  or select when I was a manager.

“And equally I would hope I never asked someone to do something that their expertise was in, and not mine. That would have been out of order.” (Daily Record)

Liam Craig eyes dream double for Hibs

HIBERNIAN captain Liam Craig is daring to dream of achieving the ultimate redemption in the eyes of the club’s supporters by winning both the Scottish Cup and promotion back to the Premiership this season.

“I’ve always said a lot of our fans will not forgive the players for what happened last year and rightly so,” said the 28-year-old midfielder.

“That’s my feeling. I don’t know if it was because I was captain or whatever, but there was no excuse for what happened. We embarrassed ourselves and let a great club down.

“We can only start winning the fans back by winning games and winning promotion as well as the Scottish Cup. Hopefully we can do both and hope they forgive us then!” (Scotsman.com)

Hampden chiefs are looking to lay a new pitch in time for final

Hampden chiefs have agreed to lay a new pitch in time for League Cup final between Celtic and Dundee United. (Sun)

Derek McInnes looking for fight for first team slots

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has urged his fringe players to show him their desire as the fight intensifies for first-team places at Pittodrie.

The Dons manager had a substitutes’ bench of players featuring more than 1,800 first-team appearances between them for Saturday’s 4-0 win against Ross County.

The depth of the squad was highlighted by the sight of Jamie Langfield, Willo Flood, Barry Robson, Peter Pawlett and David Goodwillie joining Joe Shaughnessy and Lawrence Shankland on the bench at the weekend.

The fight to be involved will only increase once injured defenders Ashton Taylor and captain Russell Anderson return from injury but the Dons manager insists every player will get a chance. (P & J)

News in brief:

• Nigel Pearson has ripped into Leciester legend Gary Linekar claiming the Match of the Day host almost got him fired. (Mail)

• Celtic face Kris Commons sweat for Europa tie with Inter. (Sun)

•Livingston’s Jason Talbot faces retrospective punishment for his kick on Hearts winger Sam Nicholson. (Sun)

Comment:

• Aidan Smith: Rangers cup exit was no shock

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Rumour Mill: Rangers EGM | Dave King | Celtic