Wednesday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Shaun Maloney's move to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire, now or in the summer, will not affect his place in the Scotland squad, promises Mark McGhee, assistant to Gordon Strachan. (Daily Express, The Herald)

Chic Charnley, who played beside Kenny McDowall at St Mirren and Partick Thistle, says his former team-mate will be heartbroken at leaving Rangers and what would have been "in normal circumstances the job of his dreams". (Various)

Celtic skipper Scott Brown challenges his team-mates to beat Motherwell on Wednesday evening to reach the top of the Scottish Premiership - and then stay there for the remainder of the season. (Daily Express)

Brown reveals that he recommended Gary Mackay-Steven to Celtic manager Ronny Deila after the Dundee United winger impressed in Scotland training sessions. (Various)

A move to Chicago from Wigan looks imminent for Scotland forward Shaun Maloney

New Motherwell signing Stephen Pearson says it was a thrill to meet cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who was behind the franchise that ran Kerala Blasters, Pearson's club in India. (Daily Record, Daily Mail)

Experienced Dundee midfielder Kevin Thomson believes the Dens Park men are good enough to finish in the Premiership top six. (The Sun)

Charles Green, in an interview from his hospital bed, tells Sky Sports presenter Jim White he had not been arrested over his Rangers dealings and urges the fans to get behind Mike Ashley and Sandy Easdale. (Various)

Green says the current Rangers chief executive Derek Llambias was involved in selling the naming rights for Ibrox to Ashley for £1. (The Herald)

Former Rangers striker Michael Mols calls on the supporters to put aside the problems with the current regime and fill Ibrox on Sunday for the benefit match for the club's former captain Fernando Ricksen, a sentiment echoed by ex-Gers midfielder Alex Rae, who is flying in from Belgium to play. (Sun)

Dutchman Ricksen, who is suffering from motor neurone disease, appeals to the Rangers hierarchy to allow Ally McCoist to appear at Ibrox - the terms of the former manager's "gardening leave" are thought to rule out attending games at the stadium. (Herald, Daily Record)

Former Rangers striker Michael Mols will be back at Ibrox for Fernando Ricksen's benefit match on Sunday

Rangers defender Bilel Mohsni has outraged football fans in his home country by leaving the subs' bench before Tunisia's opening African Cup of Nations game was finished to phone his mother to hear words of comfort at being left out of the team. (The Herald)

Hibs defender Jordon Forster thought he was merely troubled by indigestion at first, but learned that he needed his appendix removed. (Daily Record)

Another Rangers captain, Richard Gough, has described the Ibrox manager's job as one that any good boss "wouldn't touch with a bargepole". (Sun)

Former Rangers director Paul Murray, who is potentially part of the new regime if Dave King is successful in ousting the current board, says Mike Ashley will never gain the trust of the fans and should get out now. (Daily Record)

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is ready to make a move to sign Celtic's on-loan striker John Guidetti from the Swede's parent club, Manchester City. (Sun)

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Scotland captain Andy Nicol questions the decision by Scotland head coach Vern Cotter to leave out Kelly Brown and John Barclay from his Six Nations squad. (Daily Mail)