The Rumour Mill: Monday’s football news and gossip

Cup final could be Sergio’s last hurrah

• Cup-winning boss, Paulo Sergio has warned Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov he’s running out of time if he wants to extend his contract as manager. On the lack of a new contract offer, Sergio admitted: “It’s p****ing me off!” Sergio insists he wants to stay on at Hearts, but won’t wait forever for Romanov to act. (various)

• Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov has been reluctant to comment on the future of Paulo Sergio. Romanov left the cup final early to catch a flight to London and was absent from the cup-winning celebrations on Sunday. (Scotsman)

• Hearts coach Gary Locke has urged Vladimir Romanov to maintain stability at Tynecastle and extend Paulo Sergio’s contract as manager. (Scotsman)

Donald Trump’s Rangers bid

Billionaire American businessman Donald Trump considered a move to buy the Ibrox club both before and during the club’s fall into administration. But Trump backed off when he became aware of the depth of their financial woes. (Press & Journal)

Levein happy to pick English-based players

Craig Levein believes the SPL is becoming a breeding ground for the English Premier League and thinks it will benefit his team’s chances. The Scotland boss has only taken seven players from the SPL for the game in Florida this weekend. The vast majority of his squad will fly out to the US from England, where they play their football. (Daily Record)

Hibs summer exodus

• Up to eight players could leave the Easter Road club this summer. Leigh Griffiths will be part of that group as he heads back to Wolves, but the striker remains open to the prospect of returning to Hibs on a permanent basis. Griffiths fears that he and Matt Doherty, also on loan at Hibs, damaged their prospects of flourishing at Wolves with their displays in the 5-1 defeat to Hearts. (Scotsman)

• Pat Fenlon will sit down with chairman Rod Petrie this week to pick their way through the squad. Only Paul Hanlon, Isaiah Osbourne, Lewis Stevenson and Pa Kujabi of the eleven Hibs cup final starters are under contract for next season.

Hearts hero heads for the MLS

Hearts Scottish cup hero, Rudi Skacel looks to be heading for the Tynecastle exit door. It seems likely that the Czech striker will be plying his trade in the United States next season. (Scotsman)

IN BRIEF:

• Dundee United’s Scott Robertson has been monitored by English Championship side Ipswich and looks to be on the move down to the Tractor boys this week. (Sun)

• Hibs manager Pat Fenlon admitted he let himself down during Saturday’s cup final loss at Hampden. The Hibs boss was seen to gesture to the Hearts fans during the game. (various)