Rumour Mill: SFA | Kenny Miller

Neil Doncaster saw the 12-12-18 proposals torpedoed earlier this month. Picture: SNS

SFA in bid to end bitterness between rival clubs over league revamp

THE Scottish FA last night issued a statement offering to step in and try to bring an end to the bitterness between some rival clubs following the collapse of league reconstruction talks. Scottish football’s governing body said that if the clubs want the SFA to get involved then it will request a mandate from the SPL and SFL to try and bring the two parties together, a move supported by Roy MacGregor and Stewart Gilmour, chairmen of Ross County and St Mirren respectively, and the two who voted against the league reconstruction talks on Monday of this week, denying the SPL sides the required 11-1 majority. Although the body is not allow to ‘take control’ of a separate company in possession of commercial contracts, the SFA will request a mandate from the SPL and SFL in order to allow changes to Scottish football to be proposed without legal threats.

Kenny Miller’s Ibrox return set to be scuppered by Green

RANGERS Chief Charles Green looks set to block striker Kenny Miller’s return to Ibrox. Miller’s representatives have held talks with Green about a transfer, as the Scotland international is keen on returning to his homeland, but the Rangers chief is said to be keen on signing players with a sell-on value, or relatively low wage demands

Ibrox manager Ally McCoist is understood to be keen to bring the former Celtic, Rangers and Cardiff striker back to Glasgow, but it appears Miller would have to take a cut in wages in accordance with Green’s pay structure if he wants a return to Govan.

Former Celtic defender Stephen McManus: Scotland needs Rangers in SPL

Stephen McManus believes Scottish football has pressed the self-destruct button - and claims Scotland needs Rangers in the SPL, saying: “You need your big two fighting it out, having Old Firm games on TV and the two of them in Europe.

“We have to make people proud of our game.”

McManus has endured taunting at current club Middlesborough over the ‘state’ of Scottish football, which he says he tries to defend, but the stopper, whose current Boro deal runs out in the summer, echoed his team-mates’ sentiments, adding: “I was up doing a Celtic game against Dundee and that was when the reality hit home that you don’t have Rangers in the top division.”

The Scot refused to be drawn on where he might end up once he departs Middlesborough, but it is thought he would prefer to stay in England or try his luck abroad rather than move back north.

“I’m only 30, and I’m not going to rule out the SPL or anything else. But with my kids at the age they are it’s important that wherever I go we go as a family,” he added.

Dundee United reeling after Casalinuovo fee threat

Dundee United have been hit with a legal threat regarding the transfer of Argentinian striker Damian Casalinuovo, who joined the club in 2009, under Craig Levein’s stewardship. The Tannadice club have been told they owe Casalinuovo’s former club Platense €230,000 - but the Taysiders were informed that the striker was available on a free transfer. The club have lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but are still to discuss whether to follow it up.

Chairman Stephen Thompson added that the failure to agree to the 12-12-18 league revamp could cost the club close to £200,000 next season in lost income.

Steve Lomas adamant that Brittain will come to St Johnstone

St Johnstone boss Steve Lomas expects Richie Brittain to be at McDiarmid Park next season - despite the player appearing to back out of the agreed pre-contract agreement. Brittain, currently at Ross County, agreed the Perth switch back in January - but Staggies boss Derek Adams cryptically said yesterday that he’d ‘known what the situation was’ for some time, amid confusion over whether the move was still on. But Lomas is sure Brittain will honour the agreement, and sign for the Saints in the summer.

Rumour Mill: SFA | Kenny Miller | Stephen McManus