The Rumour Mill: Tuesday’s Scottish football news and gossip

SFA to throw book at Shiels

Kenny Shiels could face having his four match ban extended after making comments about fourth official Andrew Dallas - son of former Scottish referee Hugh Dallas.

Compliance officer Vincent Lunny is gathering evidence against Shiels after he accused the official of “fabricating evidence” to get him sent off during a defeat to St Johnstone in November. (Sun)

RANGERS SHARE ISSUE

• The Ibrox share issue is expected to close today with supporters having bought between £3m to £5m of the £10m set aside for followers of the club.

The sum will be added to the £17m raised from institutional investors. (Herald)

• Ally McCoist will meet with chief executive Charles Green to set a transfer budget for the upcoming year . The budget is dependant on how much has been raised by the share issue which will be revealed today,

Rangers are not allowed to sign any players until 2013 however McCoist is looking to sign pre-contract agreements with targets on his short list. (Scotsman)

• McCoist also says he has invested some of his own personal wealth in Green’s share issue

Rangers accept Montrose apology

The chairman of Montrose FC has offered an unreserved apology to Rangers following the publication of information poking fun at the Ibrox club in the matchday programme for the two sides’ clash at Links Park on Saturday. (Scotsman)

Grant warns EPL may not suit Lennon

Former Celtic player and assistant manager Peter Grant has warned that life in the Premiership may not suit Neil Lennon if he was to pursue and ambition to manage down south as it would lack the “intensity” he currently experiences at Parkhead. (Scotsman)

• Former Rangers manager Alex McLeish hailed Neil Lennon’s tactical know-how for steering the Glasgow outfit to the last 16 of the Champions League

Sheffield told to up Murphy offer

Motherwell say Sheffield United will have to increase their initial £60,000 bid for Jamie Murphy.

The Lanarkshire side are looking for a bid closer to £100,000 to help sign up their management team and a number of players that are out of contract in the summer. (Express)

Aberdeen hopeful on Langfield red card

Dons boss Craig Brown believes referee Craig Charleston should rescind the red card he issued to keeper Jamie Langfield during his side’s 2 - 0 defeat to Kilmarnock after he was viewed television evidence. (Express)

IN BRIEF

• A total of 42,000 tickets are expected to be sold for Queen’s Park Rangers v Rangers on December 29

• Ex-Rangers player Jamie Ness is expected to go on loan from Stoke in the summer having played only 13 minutes as a substitute

• Sunderland Martin O’Neil faces an anxious wait to find out the severity of the injury suffered by Scotland international Steven Fletcher during his side’s 3 - 1 defeat to Manchester United at the weekend

• Former Scotland captain Gary McAllister is in pole position to become the new coach of the New York Red Bulls