The Rumour Mill: Friday’s football transfer news and gossip

Rangers newco latest

• All 30 SFL clubs gather today for a special general meeting to vote on resolutions which will determine whether the newco Rangers are accepted as members and, if so, at what level of the organisation they will play. (Various)

• Three more SFL clubs – Arbroath, Elgin City and Peterhead – all issued statements yesterday confirming their intention to vote for Rangers to start their new incarnation in the Third Division. (Various)

• Airdrie United and Dundee, who had previously chosen to abstain due to a conflict on interest, will now have to vote after the SFL received legal advice last night. (Record)

• Former Rangers skipper Richard Gough insists the newco side should start life in the Third Division. (Sun)

• Raith Rovers chairman Turnbull Hutton has questioned whether the positions of SPL chief executive Neil Doncaster and his SFA counterpart Stewart Regan are now untenable. (Express)

• Greek club Olympiacos have entered the race to sign Rangers defender Carlos Bocanegra. (Sun)

• Defender Dorin Goian has assured Ally McCoist and Charles Green that he is staying at Rangers. (Record)

• Former Rangers player Allan McGregor may have been used by Besiktas as an incentive to hasten a deal for Columbian goalkeeper Ospina. (Record)

Price tag put on Celtic target

Celtic have been told by the agent of South Korean winger Kim Bo Kyung that the asking price is 3m euros with a demand for 1.2m euros in wages per season. But Cardiff City are the favourites to land the highly-rated wide man, because Celtic’s favoured target is Rosenborg’s Markus Henricksen. (Record)

• Celtic will open contract talks with Anthony Stokes when they return from their pre-season tour of Germany and Holland. (Record)

O’Connor in Siberian switch

Former Hibernian striker Garry O’Connor last night completed his 4,500-mile transfer to Siberia – signing a two-year deal with Tom Tomsk. It is the 29-year-old’s second spell in Russian football, having previously impressed in a 16-month stint with Lokomotiv Moscow which included scoring the winning goal in the national cup final of 2007. (Scotsman)

• Leigh Griffiths could be set for a return to Hibs after being told he is not required at Wolves. (Sun)

• Ex-Hibs defender Ian Murray is hoping to be offered a contract by Tampa Bay Rowdies after a trial with the Florida club. (Metro)

McGowan ready to enter Tynecastle talks

Representatives of Hearts defender Ryan McGowan are eager to begin talks with the club over a contract extension for the player amid concerns that he could be sold before the transfer window closes at the end of August. Lou Sticca, McGowan’s Australia-based agent, is worried that Tynecastle officials may opt to cash in on his client. (Evening News)

IN BRIEF

• Dunfermline have taken former Hibernian and Motherwell goalkeeper Graeme Smith on trial. (Express)

• Ross County decide whether to sign defender Jon Bateson after the trialist plays against Clachnacuddin tomorrow. (Herald)

• Kilmarnock are hopeful of completing a deal with ex-Livingston striker Rory Boulding within the next 24 hours. (Mail)

• Alex McLeish is one of the leading candidates to take over at Nottingham Forest after the club’s new owners sacked Steve Cotteril. (Various)

• New Raith Rovers manager Grant Murray has made ex-Peterhead midfielder Stuart Anderson his first signing. (Record)

• Ayr United are close to signing former Rangers youth Anthony Marenghi. (Record)

• Morton have taken St Mirren’s Jason Naismith on loan for six months. (Record)