Wednesday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Kenny McDowall admits his job as caretaker manager of Rangers is "tainted" following the turmoil of Ally McCoist's departure. (Daily Mail)

And McDowall revealed the board left it to him to inform Ian Durrant that the coach was being demoted from the first team to work with the under-20s. (Scotsman)

McCoist made an emotional farewell plea to the Rangers players, urging them to win the Scottish Championship title for him. (Daily Express)

Hibernian boss Alan Stubbs has expressed sympathy for McCoist, with whom he enjoys socialising. "I really feel for Ally," said former Celtic defender Stubbs. (Scotsman)

McCoist and Stubbs were rival managers having been rival players in the 1990s

Rangers chairman David Somers feared he would lose his place on the board had Mike Ashley not beaten Dave King in having a funding offer accepted by the club. (Daily Record)

West Bromwich Albion are interested in signing defender Virgil van Dijk from Celtic, who have been told they will have to pay £5m if they want to sign Genk defender Kara Mbodj. (Sun)

Celtic could make a move for former Motherwell goalkeeper Darren Randolph, 27, who is currently with Birmingham City. (Daily Express)

Leigh Griffiths made a three-hour drive to play for Celtic's youth team in a bounce game against Sunderland last week, and it may earn the striker a start against Ross County on Saturday. (Herald)

Griffiths' long trip to play in a bounce game may have boosted his first-team chances

Celtic winger Wakaso Mubarak suffered a nasty gash above his eye while playing for the club's development side. (Sun)

Werder Bremen are keen to sign Celtic's Aleksandar Tonev from parent club Aston Villa. (Daily Express)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager John Hughes feels he was treated with contempt after querying two of referee Brian Colvin's decisions in Saturday's defeat by St Johnstone. (Daily Mail)

Former Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers player David Thompson, 37, has held talks with St Mirren about becoming their new manager. (Daily Express)

Thompson, seen here playing for Blackburn, has been linked with the St Mirren job

But Buddies chief executive Brian Caldwell claims the club are nowhere near to appointing a new boss. (Scotsman)

Hamilton Academical player-manager Alex Neil has no fears about losing some of his players in January, insisting there are able replacements in the club's youth team. (Daily Express)

And Neil insists top goalscorer Tony Andreu will only be sold if the price is right for Accies. (Daily Mail)

Kilmarnock manager Allan Johnston has urged Robbie Muirhead to sign a new deal to stay at Rugby Park, with the teenager out of contract at the end of the season. (Daily Express)

Muirhead is nearing the end of his Kilmarnock contract

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson insists the Scottish Championship title race is not over, despite opening up a 12-point gap over Rangers with victory at Cowdenbeath. (Sun)

A minute's silence was observed before Tuesday's meeting between Cowdenbeath and Hearts to honour the victims of Monday's tragic bin lorry crash in Glasgow and other sporting events are expected to hold similar tributes at the weekend. (Daily Mail)

OTHER GOSSIP

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend says the search is already on to replace scrum-half Niko Matawalu, who has agreed to join Bath at the end of the season. (Herald)

French tennis coach Loic Courteau has held talks about joining Andy Murray's team next season. (Scotsman)