The Rumour Mill: Monday’s football news and gossip

Rangers takeover

• Administrators Duff & Phelps were last night still waiting to hear officially if the Blue Knights consortium were going to return to the table with an improved offer to rival that of American tycoon Bill Miller. But the group, headed by former Ibrox director Paul Murray, are believed to have spent the weekend preparing a new offer to take control of the stricken club. (Scotsman)

• Talks between Duff & Phelps and the Blue Knights will continue and possibly even into tomorrow. Despite today’s deadline for final offers, join administrator Paul Clark will allow further discussions to ease concerns over footballing sanctions. (Sun)

• Sources close to the Blue Knights said last night that they were “cautiously optimistic” that the “finer details” of an offer for the club could be finalised in order to make a concrete bid by the close of play today. (Mail)

• The SPL have denied that they made a deal with American businessman Bill Miller to take a new version of Rangers back into the top flight with “limited football sanctions”, despite reports to that effect over the weekend. (Mail)

• Midfielder Rhys McCabe says the squad are trying to ignore the takeover talk and focus on winning games until the end of the season. (Herald)

Watt set for Old Firm debut

Celtic youngster Tony Watt could be in line for an Old Firm debut next week after scoring a double in yesterday’s 3-0 win over Motherwell. Assistant manager Johan Mjallby said: “We need strikers who are hungry for goals and we’re delighted for Tony. He is definitely going to be in our thoughts for the Old Firm game now.” (Sun)

Gibson unhappy with Pressley comments

Willie Gibson has apologised for exiting the Falkirk Stadium at half-time during Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Raith Rovers, but admitted he was disappointed to be targeted publicly by manager Steven Pressley. After Pressley said Gibson had played his last game for the club, the Bairns player responded: “To hear the comments made by the manager was disappointing, to say the least. For something like that to be made public was not right.” (Sun)

Fenlon ‘disgusted’ by loss

Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon said he was “disgusted” after his team’s 1-0 defeat by Kilmarnock yesterday left them six points ahead of Dunfermline at the bottom of the table. Fenlon had no complaints about the goal, a first-half penalty by Dean Shiels after Jorge Claros had fouled Liam Kelly, but he was critical of referee Craig Thomson, in particular for the booking which rules Leigh Griffiths out of the game against Dunfermline early next month. (Scotsman)

McCall angry over Jennings reaction

Motherwell manager Stuart McCall has hit out at the “hierarchy” in Scottish football who had called for Steve Jennings to be suspended after he was questioned by police investigating an alleged football betting scam. McCall said: “Can you remember the furore when it first came out, and when he got arrested from his bed pre-Christmas? There was talk by some party, and I can’t remember if it was the SFA or whatever, wanting to suspend him. Can you imagine if we had suspended him? All charges now dropped – absolutely crazy.” (Scotsman)

IN BRIEF

• Former Celtic player Paolo Di Canio is on the verge of quitting as Swindon manager despite leading the club to promotion from League Two. (Record)