Thursday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara calls for a change in the rules after Hampden hero Nadir Ciftci was ruled out of the Scottish League Cup final for picking up his second booking of the tournament in the semi-final win over Aberdeen. (The Herald, The Sun)

New Aberdeen signing Kenny McLean, a former Scotland Under-21 player, hopes that his move to Pittodrie can be the springboard to break into the full national squad. (Various)

Celtic arrivals Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven are ineligible for the Scottish Cup tie against Dundee this weekend - but they have been included in Ronny Deila's squad list for the Europa League games against Inter Milan. (Various)

Inter have left out the former Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski from their Europa League squad. (Various)

Nadir Ciftci is suspended for the Scottish League Cup final against Celtic next month

Mackay-Steven reflects on working in The Newmarket Bar in Thurso after being released by Liverpool as a teenager, saying he knew it was just a case of biding his time to recover from a stress fracture of his hip. (Various)

Rangers shareholder Dave King is confident that he has enough backing to oust the existing board members at Ibrox and install himself, Paul Murray and John Gilligan to steer the troubled club back to challenging for honours. (Various)

Paul Murray says "Rangers is broken and must be fixed" and predicts it could take three to five years to restore the club. (Various)

King has called on the Rangers board to "surrender the Blue Room within 24 hours". (Daily Record)

King believes he can do business with fellow Rangers shareholder - and Newcastle United owner - Mike Ashley. (Various)

Former Tennent's managing director Gilligan argues that trust and transparency are key for the supporters with the new regime. (Various)

Rangers say the five players they have signed on loan from Newcastle are under contract for a period that includes the end-of-season play-offs. (Daily Record)

Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney says it is wrong that Rangers should bring in five players from Newcastle and fears that Scottish football could become a "nursery league". (The Sun)

Dundee boss Paul Hartley has no regrets over turning down a move to manager Cardiff City last September, adding that he is still learning how to do the job. (The Herald)

Celtic centre-half Virgil van Dijk maintains he is happy to still be at the club after the transfer window and is looking to win the treble. (The Sun)

Anthony McGill's confidence is high after pushing world champion Mark Selby all the way in Germany

Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson has rejected claims that he is part of conspiracy to seize control at A-League club Newcastle Jets. (Various)

Hamilton manager Martin Canning is confident that he has players "capable of stepping up" after Accies lost top scorers Tony Andreu and Mickael Antoine-Curier in the transfer window. (The National)

OTHER GOSSIP

Stuart Hogg has been declared fit and will play in Scotland's Six Nations opener against France in Paris on Saturday. (Daily Mail)

Speedway star Aaron Summers believes the team being assembled by Glasgow Tigers' new owners Gerry and Michael Facenna is capable of winning silverware. (Daily Record)

Scotland lock Richie Gray admits it is a refreshing change to be back at Murrayfield preparing for international duty and away from the relegation battle he and his Castres team-mates are facing in France's Top 14. (The Herald)

After a 5-4 defeat by world champion Mark Selby at the German Masters in Berlin, Glasgow snooker player Anthony McGill says he is now capable of beating the world's top players. (The Herald)