Wednesday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Rangers chairman David Somers admits there were 10,000 more empty seats in Ibrox than the 28,137 attendance the club originally claimed for the match against Cowdenbeath on Saturday. The 28,137 figure was already the lowest crowd at a Rangers league game in 28 years. (Daily Record)

Football agent Bill McMurdo insists Scottish football chiefs Neil Doncaster and Stewart Regan must accept responsibility for the fact the League Cup has no sponsor, despite the fact Rangers and Celtic are set to meet in one of the semi-finals. (Daily Record)

On the same day St Mirren sacked manager Tommy Craig, the club released their new calendar with the axed boss on the front of it. (Scottish Sun)

Gary Teale intends to make full use of his chance to be new interim boss of the Buddies, but he thought he was also set for the sack when he was called to a meeting with members of the St Mirren board. (Scottish Sun)

Gary Teale is hoping to see of Celtic in a bid to boost his chances of landing the St Mirren job

Teale is determined to land the Buddies job on a full time basis, and is desperate to secure a win over Celtic on Sunday to help prove his worth. (Star)

Former St Mirren keeper Campbell Money reckons the club must appoint an experienced manager in the wake of Craig's sacking. (Daily Record)

Hibernian have stepped up talks that could see the club become debt-free. (Various)

Celtic winger Wakaso Mubarak will miss six of the club's games at the start of 2015 due to the African Cup of Nations. (Scottish Sun)

Striker Teemu Pukki, on loan at Brondby from Celtic, hopes to make his move to the Danish outfit permanent. (Scotsman)

Inverness star James Vincent insists the Highlanders are a club on the up, even if their crowds aren't, and will prove it by securing a place in Europe this season. (Scottish Sun)

Dundee manager Paul Hartley has urged Canadian youngster Dylan Carreiro to make his mark at Dens Park as he returns from a successful loan period at Arbroath. (Scottish Sun)

Former Livingston owner Bill Hunter is gutted at the club's latest financial worries, and says the Almondvale outfit should be flourishing like Inverness Caledonian Thistle are. (Scottish Sun)

Prince Buaben reckons Hearts get the best out of him and he has no intention of leaving the club

Huddersfield's Scotland defender Paul Dixon believes players such as Lewis Macleod of Rangers and Celtic's Anthony Stokes could be tempted to move to English Championship clubs because the league is bigger and better than the top flight north of the border. (Scottish Sun)

Queen of the South have opened contract talks with defender Mark Durnan amid reported interest from Hearts. (Herald)

Hearts midfielder Prince Buaben, 26, would love to stay at the club for the rest of his career. (Various)

St Johnstone defender Steven Anderson reckons the Perth men are lucky that goalkeeper Alan Mannus has not been snapped up, as he insisted the glove man is amongst the best in Scotland. (Daily Record)

Former Celtic midfielder Victor Wanyama admits he misses the big European nights at Celtic Park, but he is hoping to sample more continental action with Southampton. (Daily Record)

Stranraer manager Steve Aitken revealed youngster Danny Stoney was given time off for a family bereavement, but the striker made himself available for their Scottish Cup replay against Dunfermline anyway. The Blues beat the Pars 3-1 with Stoney having come on as a substitute. (Daily Record)

Scotland starlet Jack Harper helped Real Madrid's youth team beat Ludogorets 6-0 to secure a last 16 spot in the Uefa Youth League, with the 18-year-old having hit three goals in the group stage of the competition. (Various)

Willie Limond was hoping to take on Italy's Michele di Rocco for the European light-welterweight title

Former Hibernian winger Danny Galbraith, 24, is ready to kickstart his career with Gillingham. (Scottish Sun)

OTHER GOSSIP

Edinburgh flanker Roddy Grant insists the side must cut out the sloppy mistakes if they are to make their mark in Europe this season. (Daily Record)

Scottish boxer Willie Limond's hopes of a European light welterweight title fight against Michele di Rocco have been scuppered, with England's Lenny Dawes installed as the official challenger for the belt. (Herald)

Scotland cricket coach Paul Collingwood - who played more than 300 times for England - is convinced his former side will not enjoy facing the Scots at next year's Cricket World Cup. (Herald)

Andy Murray is set for a pay-cut when his sponsorship deal with sportswear giants Adidas ends. (Daily Mail)