Rumour Mill: Rangers badge | Neilson

Rangers director Dave King. Picture: SNS Group

Rangers will regain all rights to trademarks after £5m loan repayment

Ibrox have insisted they will regain full rights to the club’s registered trademarks and badges once its £5m loan from Mike Ashley is repaid.

In a statement released last night, Rangers clarified that the situation.

It read: ““Although the trademarks are registered in Sports Direct’s name, the position is not as alarming as it may first appear.

“Rangers remain the rightful and legal owners of their trademarks and interim chairman Paul Murray has clarified this position with Sports Direct. In fact, both parties will come together within the next two weeks for talks.” (The Scotsman)

• Speaking to the Daily Record, Dave King added: ““I’m confident this can all be resolved . It’s obviously important Rangers has the ownership of its own brands.

“We are looking at all of the commercial contracts put in place with the club, that exercise has not yet been completed.” (Daily Record)

Hearts derby performance not acceptable says Neilson

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson was heavily critical of his team’s performance in the Edinburgh derby which gave Hibernian their first success in the fixture this season with a 2 - 0 victory over their local rivals.

Neilson has now accused his players of a lack of hunger and desire.

The win has kept Hibs in second place in the Championship but still a massive 23 points behind title winners Hearts.

Neilson said: “The desire wasn’t there today and that’s disappointing.

“It doesn’t matter if we’ve won the league. At the end of the day this was a derby. Look, we’ve had a fantastic season but last week we got beat by Rangers and today we’ve been beaten by Hibs. That’s not acceptable when you play for Hearts.” (The Scotsman)

• Neilson felt his new formation didn’t work at Easter Road yesterday because his team played like individuals.

The Hearts head coach ditched his 3-4-1-2 system - designed to give his side an advantage in the season’s final Edinburgh derby - after 37 minutes and became angry when his instructions weren’t carried out.

He said: “We ended up becoming a team of individuals who were just doing whatever they wanted. If you do that, you’ll be beaten in games like this.” (Edinburgh Evening News)

He discarded a 3-4-1-2 system after 37 minutes but was angered that his instructions weren’t properly carried out.

Best yet to come from El Alagui, says Stubbs

Hibs boss Alan Stubbs has hailed derby day hero Farid El Alagui’s return to action but admitted fans won’t see the best of the striker until next season.

The 2 - 0 derby victory over Hearts was El Alagui’s first 90 minutes since his return from injury.

The 30-year-old striker has been out of action since rupturing his Achilles’ tendon seven months ago when Hibs travelled to Dumbarton.

Despite being a timely boost, gaffer Stubbs has warned that he may not be back to his former self until next season.

Stubbs said: ““Farid has had a really tough six or seven months. It was a horrendous injury and I don’t think people have understood how bad it was.

“The fact he is even playing now is credit to him and the surgeon for the procedure he carried out. It’s great to have Farid back – he gives us something we have missed. (Edinburgh Evening News)

Cierzniak will repay Jackie McNamara’s faith

Dundee United goalkeeper Radowslaw Cierzniak was left in disbelief when he was in the line-up for the home tie against Hamilton on Sunday.

Three days earlier, he was at the centre of blunders in the Tayside derby which saw the side lose to local rivals Dundee, ending their 10-match losing streak.

Cierzniak has said he is happy to repay embattled skipper Jackie McNamara’s faith in him.

McNamara may have been tempted to bench Cierzniak in favour of fellow Pole, Michal Szromnik, the Dundee United manager decided to stick with the team’s No.1 goalkeeper.

Cierzniak said: I’m very appreciative to the gaffer for giving me another chance.

“For a goalkeeper, it is very important to play again. It’s not easy but I’m very happy to get the clean sheet, the first one this year I think.” (The Herald)

Four-goal haul not enough for Stuart McCall

Rangers manager Stuart McCall has said that significant improvements will be needed if Rangers are to achieve their longstanding ambition of returning to the top flight.

The Ibrox side bounced back from their 3 - 0 defeat at Queen of the South with a 4 - 0 victory over Raith Rovers on Sunday.

McCall has revealed he is unhappy with elements of the Rangers display and has already warned he expects much better at Livingston on Wednesday. (The Herald)

Rumour Mill: Rangers badge | Neilson | El Alagui