Rumour Mill: summer football | Dundee United

Celtic manager Ronny Deila. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

SPFL considering summer football

SPFL board member and Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney says the league is seriously considering a move to summer football and that the Qatar World Cup in 2022, which is switching from summer to winter, represents an ideal time to make the change. (Herald)

Dundee United boss under fire over Celtic transfers

Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson has refused to deny claims Jackie McNamara and his coaching staff recieved a cut of the transfers of Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven to Celtic.

Thompson is under pressure from fans’s groups who are set to release a statement on the issue. (Record)

Former Rangers directors threaten legal action

Legal action was threatened by deposed Rangers directors last night after the new Ibrox regime pinned the blame on their predecessors for the club’s withdrawal from the stock exchange.

The club yesterday announced it has been forced to de-list from AIM, a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange, after failing to secure a new nominated advisor (Nomad).

Jack Irvine, who describes himself as an Easdale family adviser, said: “I can confirm that the Easdale grouping is considering legal action. This cessation of listing is a blow to all serious shareholders and is in direct contradiction to the promises Mr Dave King made in the lead up to the EGM regarding appointment of a nomad. (Scotsman)

Celtic to scale down pre-season friendlies

Ronny Deila has revealed plans to scale down Celtic’s pre-season programme for the 2015-16 campaign in a bid to ensure the club cash in on Uefa’s increased financial rewards for Champions League participation.

When he arrived at Celtic last summer, Deila inherited a preparatory schedule in which his squad faced four matches in Austria, two in Germany and a further friendly fixture against Tottenham in Helsinki. (Scotsman)

• Ronny Deila says the size of the job he has at Celtic is bigger than he could have imagined before arriving from Norway (Record)

Brora Rangers ‘bullied’ into play-off

Brora Rangers backer Ben Mackay says his side were bullied into accepting the new SPFL pyramid set up by the SFA’s Stewart Regan who, they say, threatened to dilute the Highland League with more teams should they not accept the play-off system.

Brora take on Edinburgh City for a shot at team 42 in the SPFL. (Sun)

Gary Locke to be appointed Kilmarnock manager

Gary Locke is expected to be confirmed as permanent Kilmarnock manager on Friday morning.

The Scottish Premiership club have announced a 09:45 BST media conference.

Earlier, the 39-year-old former Hearts manager said: “I expect to sign a contract. Hopefully we are not a million miles away, but these things take time.” (BBC)

Livingston player wants to play in cup final despite family death

Livingston manager Mark Burchill believes Darren Cole wants to play in Sunday’s Petrofac Cup Final despite the game coming a week after the death of his cousin in America.

Shaun Cole was found dead in Miami and is thought to have been the vistim of a hit-and-run. (Mail)

IN BRIEF

• The head of the players union in Scotland, Fraser Wishart, has backed the decision not to increase Rangers keeper Steve Simonsen’s ban for gambling

• Dundee and Aberdeen have both expressed an interest in signing Arbroath midfielder Mark Whatley

Rumour Mill: summer football | Dundee United | Celtic