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

Foundation of Hearts to meet Scandanavians over bid

The Foundation of Hearts have said that they will hold talks with the Scandanavian consortium looking to buy the club.

The six businessmen, believed to be lining up a £15million bid for the club, have reached out to the fan group for support of their plan.

Foundation head Alex Mackie has said that the group are willing to sit down and talk to the prospective buyers, with a view to taking a role in a new regime.

He said: “We haven’t spoken to these people as of yet, but they have asked us to meet with them.

“No date has been set for any meeting, so I can’t say when it might happen. But we’d certainly be prepared to meet with them and listen to what they have to say.” (The Sun)

Glasgow in running for Euro 2020 group matches

Glasgow has passed the first test for hosting Euro 2020 matches, but UEFA rules suggest that Scotland would only be able to host group games.

UEFA state that host cities for the ‘roadshow’ format of the 2020 tournament must be served by two airports or one hub with multiple terminals, with Glasgow and Prestwick both available to Hampden-bound fans. However, the SFA cannot play host to any knockout games in the tournament, with minimum stadium sizes set at 60,000 for the quarter-finals and 70,000 for the semis and the final itself.

The airport ruling appears to pave the way for Dublin’s Aviva Stadium to host games, while ruling out the 72,500-capacity Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. (Various)

Kenny Shiels faces yet another SFA ban

Kilmarnock boss Kenny Shiels is in trouble yet again, over comments made in an interview to discuss his previous disciplinary raps.

Shiels said in an interview with the Daily Record that he would like to see “impartiality” in the game, and SFA Compliance Officer Vincent Lunny has called Shiels back to Hampden to explain himself.

The Ulsterman received a two-match ban for claiming that an official had “fabricated” evidence against him, and a further two-match ban suspended from a previous offence was also meted out. He said he “will harbour a sense of injustice” over the affair as he left Hampden last night. (Record)

Charles Green has plans to upgrade Ibrox - and write a book

Charles Green has claimed that there is “a great opportunity” for further development at Ibrox.

He said: “There’s a great opportunity to fill in the two corners and put another deck above the Argyll, which would substantially increase the capacity.

Green also confirmed he will pen a ‘warts and all’ book about his time at the club. (Mail)

SFA to receive 1,200 tickets for Serbia tie

The SFA will receive 1,200 tickets for Scotland’s World Cup qualifier against Serbia in March.

The game will be played in Novi Sad’s Karadorde Stadium, as the Serbian FA’s first choice venue in Nis is unavailable. The move means the Tartan Army’s representation will double from an original 600. (Various)

Ronaldo blueprint is Craig Brown’s plan to stop Griffiths

Craig Brown plans to shut down Hibs striker Leigh Griffiths with a special plan - the same one he used to stop Ronaldo in the 1998 World Cup.

The Aberdeen boss plans to draw on his experience in charge of the national side when the two sides square off on Sunday. Griffiths has scored 15 goals in the league this season.

Brown’s 15-year-old plan did work first time round - the Brazilian ace was kept off the scoresheet, but Scotland still lost the game 2-1 thanks to a Cesar Sampaio strike and an own goal from Tommy Boyd. (Aberdeen Express)

Terry Butcher calls for Euro spot for League Cup winners

Inverness CT manager Terry Butcher has called for the winners of the League Cup to be given an automatic place in the Europa League.

Butcher, whose side take on Hearts in the Cup at Easter Road tomorrow, said that the competition would be regain some of its lustre if there was a tangible reward on offer.

He said: “If you win a cup in Scotland you have probably had to beat at least one of the Old Firm or a few top sides to get it.

“You do deserve some reward at the end of that, but that’s something to be talked about by the bigwigs.” (Daily Express)

St Johnstone future ‘under threat’

St Johnstone’s existence is under threat, according to owner Geoff Brown.

Brown said that a planning decision to turn down a housing development near McDiarmid Park has affected the viability of the team.

The club were set to cash in on land around the ground to make way for a road to the Almond Valley development, but Perth and Kinross Council threw out the developers’ final appeal for planning permission this week.

Brown said: “These decisions make no sense to me and they will be detrimental to the club’s future viability.” (Courier)

IN BRIEF

Ross County are hopeful that their prolonged attempt to sign Andre Hainault will finally conclude next week. The Canadian has agreed a deal but has yet to receive a work permit. (Herald)

Kilmarnock striker Gary Harkins could be set for a permanent deal at Dundee, after manager Barry Smith said that the Dens Park side were “close with one” signing. (Herald)

Falkirk’s new signing Will Faulks will play for free until the end of the season. The ex-Tranmere defender had been on trial twice, but there was no money in Steven Pressley’s budget to sign him up. (Express)