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

Scott Robinson banned from training after Hearts snub

Hearts have banned midfielder Scott Robinson from training until next Monday, after the player refused to be named amongst the substitutes in the Tynecastle club’s recent win against Aberdeen. Robinson is said to have reacted badly to the news that Mehdi Taouil would be starting the match, and was banished to the stand with youngster Adam King stepping up to the bench.

Robinson will attend a disciplinary meeting next Monday, where it is hoped he will apologise for his reaction, the club said today. (Evening News)

Sone Aluko denies suggestions he will sue Rangers - but Charles Green suggests otherwise

Former Rangers winger Sone Aluko took to Twitter yesterday to deny claims he is pursuing legal action against Rangers, despite Charles Green’s insistence that the Nigerian is one of three former Ibrox stars to have lodged individual claims over constructive dismissal, along with Kyle Lafferty and Jamie Ness. The denial from Aluko, who signed for Hull upon leaving Rangers, comes after yesterday’s news that PFA Scotland are taking the Ibrox club to an employment tribunal on behalf of 67 players, past and present, who claim they weren’t consulted over becoming newco employees. A ruling is expected in early January. (The Sun)

Craig Thomson: ‘Disrespectful’ to question integrity of refs

Scotland’s leading referee Craig Thomson has hit back at football managers who claim officials harbour personal grudges against certain bosses. Thomson, who took charge of last season’s all-Edinburgh cup final affair and was amongst the officials involved in Euro 2012, believes that personal pride prevents whistlers from holding grudges. The referee also spoke in favour of the 15 minute ‘cooldown’ period after matches, designed to prevent managers from confronting referees in the immediate aftermatch of matches and risking facing disciplinary action by overreacting.

Pat Fenlon has plan B in case loan extensions fall through

Hibernian manager Pat Fenlon has claimed he has a ‘plan B’ if his current target of extending the loan deals of trio Ryan McGivern, Leigh Griffiths and Jorge Claros fails. Fenlon is keen to hang onto the three players who have bolstered the Easter Road side’s defence, midfield and strikeforce in recent months.

Football news in brief

• Dundee have struck a deal to extend Colin Nish’s loan deal. Parent club Hartlepool have agreed for the former Hibs and Kilmarnock striker to stay on at Dens Park until the end of the season.

• Hibs could be set to raid Partick Thistle for a second time, with Pat Fenlon said to be keeping tabs on midfielder Chris Erskine. Paul Cairney joined from the Jags in summer of this year.

• Arturas Rimkevicius, the one-time Hearts target and Lithuanian international team mate of Arvydas Novikovas and Marius Zakiukas, has returned to Tynecastle with the hope of winning a deal in January - provided Hearts can pay their current squad’s wages on time.

• Murray Davidson has signed a new deal with St Johnstone - just weeks after becoming the first Saints player in 80 years to win a Scotland cap

• Former Celtic defender Paul Caddis looks to have no future at Swindon after all but confirming there was a bust-up between him and manager Paolo di Canio.

• Dumbarton’s match with Hamilton has been called off for a 5th time, whilst Cowdenbeath and St Johnstone has been postponed for a fourth timne, and the Central Park club had a request to play their home tie with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park turned down