The Rumour Mill: Monday’s football news and gossip

RANGERS LATEST

• Scotland internationals Steven Naismith and Steven Whittaker announced yesterday that they will not be transferring their contracts from the liquidated Rangers FC to the new company Charles Green hopes will replace the Ibrox club in Scottish football (Various)

• Everton are the favourites to land Naismith having previously completed the capture of the 28-year-old’s former team mate Nikica Jelavic

• Charles Green hit back at Naismith and Whittaker yesterday branding them “dishonest and greedy” and said that he planned to challenge their decision not to transfer their contracts in the courts and with FIFA (Record)

• Simon Catto, the lawyer representing the Ibrox duo, says Green does not have a leg to stand on as players have a right to reject the transfer of their contracts under TUPE regulations

• Hibs have become the latest club to reveal that they will vote against allowing Rangers back into the SPL. Hearts and Dundee United have also came out publicly on their opposition to the move

• The Celtic Supporters Association has voted unanimously to boycott any club which votes in favour of allowing a newly-formed Rangers back into the SPL

SPL and SFL reveal merger talks

Bosses of Scotland’s top flight and lower tier leagues say talks have been held about a merger that would see a single league system created with a shared revenue structure. (Various)

Wanyama refuses to rule out move to Premiership

Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyam says he is not opposed to a move to the Premiership but added that it would be a difficult decision due to Champions League football coming to Parkhead next season. (Sun)

German sides chase Ki

Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen are interested in Celtic’s South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng with Bremen scouts watching the 23-year-old in a World Cup qualifier against Quatar. (Express)

IN BRIEF

• Former Celtic striker Greig Spence, 19, is training with Raith Rovers as he looks to win a permanent move

• Former Livingston boss Gary Bollan has been interviewed for the vacant manager’s job at League Two side Gillingham

• Birmingham City defender Fraser Kerr could be set to return to Motherwell for a loan spell as he looks to gain first team football

• Former Hearts striker Kevin Kyle says he is surprised assistant coach gary Locke has not been considered for the vacant Hearts manager’s job

• Former Hamilton midfielder Paul Currie is set to rejoin former side Berwick Rangers

• Clyde have signed former Motherwell and Partick Thistle player John Kane