Rumour Mill: Lawwell | Griffiths | Kluivert

CELTIC are losing significant sums of money without their Old Firm rivals, Leigh Griffiths may be heading back to Easter Road, and Patrick Kluivert has applied for the Ross County manager’s role.

Lawwell reveals Celtic's financial loss without Rangers. Picture: John Devlin

Celtic losing £10 per annum without Rangers

Peter Lawwell has revealed that Celtic could have lost up to £10 million per season by Rangers not being in the Scottish Premiership. The chief executive cited a reduce in season ticket prices, the absent Old Firm derby cash cow, and a lack of interest due to there being little competition in the top flight. Lawwell then went onto defend the club’s signing policy, stating they would happily sign Scottish players if they thought they were good enough. (Sunday Herald)

• Head coach Ronny Deila has stated that Celtic were laughed at when they tried to negotiate transfer fees and contracts with English clubs and players. In the wake of the Champions League defeat to Maribor the club have made a concerted effort to defend the signing policy, with Deila citing an “unbelievable” difference in price between the English and Scottish leagues, (Sunday Mail)

Lawwell reveals Celtic's financial loss without Rangers. Picture: John Devlin

Stubbs bid to bring Griffiths back

Hibs have made a desperate attempt to sign Leigh Griffiths on loan from Celtic before the end of the summer transfer window. The former fans’ favourite is on the peripheries of the Celtic squad and Alan Stubbs is looking to offer Griffiths first team football and the chance to rejoin his boyhood heroes. The clubs are understood to be currently negotiating how much of the player’s salary Hibs would pay. (The Sun)

Rangers fans and board in Wallace bonus fued

Rangers chief executive Graham Wallace came under pressure from supporters after a statement was released on Saturday which refused to deny the rumours that Wallace is set to receive a 100 per cent bonus on his £315,000 salary at the cash strapped club. The fans also made their displeasure known about the latest share issue when Rangers defeated Queen of the South 4-2 at Ibrox. (Sunday Mail)

• Kris Boyd has slammed his defensive colleagues for continually allowing easy goals to their Championship opponents. Rangers were 2-1 down at half-time to Queen of the South and the striker is adamant that the sloppiness has got to stop. “Teams sit in against us and when you lose goals like we have, it’s even more difficult,” said Boyd. “We need to sort it out and we need to sort it out quick.” (The Sun)

• Manager Ally McCoist has praised the Rangers players for refusing to let the club’s off-field issues affect their performances on the park.

Speaking after the victory at Ibrox he said: “We can’t allow it to affect us. Our lads deserve a lot of credit in their focus.” (The Sun)

Kluivert for County

Patrick Kluivert has emerged as a shock candidate for the vacant Ross County manager’s job. The former Barcelona striker and European Cup winner was assistant manager to Louis Van Gaal at the Dutch national team and is now looking to get his first head coaching role. However, it does seem that County chairman Ross MacGregor would like to try and coax Terry Butcher back to the Highlands. (The Scotsman)

Gordon to wait on Scotland cap

Scotland boss Gordon Strachan has stated there is very little chance of Craig Gordon marking his return to the Scotland squad with an international cap. The Celtic No.1 made a complete comeback from a long standing knee injury this season and will have to go some ways to displacing Allan McGregor and David Marshall at the top of the Scottish goalkeeping pecking order. (The Sunday Express)