Rumour Mill: McCoist | Craig Whyte | Celtic

Ally McCoist watches on grimly as Rangers go down 3-1 at home to Hibs. Picture: PA

McCoist ‘not pushing panic button’

ALLY McCoist is refusing to panic despite their title ambitions being dealt a blow in the defeat to Hibs.

The three points for the Easter Road side saw them rise from second bottom to fifth, while Hearts maintained their six-point lead over the Ibrox side.

Rangers have dropped eight points in seven Championship games so far and were pilloried after a stunning first-half saw Jason Cummings grab a brace and David Gray score his first goal in senior football.

“It’s very early in the season, I don’t think anyone would argue that,” McCoist told RangersTV. “We are still sitting second in the table and we are not even a fifth of the way through it. As disappointed as we are, we are not going to start pressing panic buttons or anything like that.

“It is far, far too early to start getting carried away.” (Evening Times)

Whyte handed 15-year directorship ban

FORMER Rangers owner Craig Whyte has been banned from holding a position as director of a company for a maximum 15 years.

The Motherwell-born businessman’s conduct in dealings with the Ibrox club was labelled ‘singularly shocking and reprehensible.’

He had previously received a seven-year ban as a director in 2000, a fact that did not emerge until after he bought a majority stake in Rangers from Sir David Murray’s company for £1 in May 2011. (The Scotsman)

Stokes not worried over Euro goal drought

ANTHONY Stokes has scored just two goals in a whopping 22 European appearances - a brace in the 3-1 Europa League win over Rennes three years ago - but despite drawing a blank in the 19 matches since then, the Irishman insists he isn’t worried about his barren streak.

Stokes, who is likely to replace the ineligible John Guidetti when the Hoops take on Zagreb on Thursday night, said he planned to keep working hard.

“You don’t get many chances in games like that. It’s half-chances and you have to take them. It hasn’t happened for me yet. But I won’t get my head down about it.

“I’ll go out and play my normal game on Thursday night. I’ve had droughts where I’ve gone nine or ten games without scoring and if you let it get into your head your start to suffer from it.” (The Scotsman)

Craig wants winning streak

LIAM Craig starred in midfield as Hibernian stunned Rangers at Ibrox on Monday night - now he wants the Easter Road club to go on a winning streak.

The former St Johnstone midfielder looked back on the ‘massive win’ and said: “It’s the first time I’ve ever won as a player there. It was a great feeling, but it is only three points and that is the emphasis in our dressing room.”

Craig added: “We know what our squad is about and we know we have good players. The fans have been brilliant ever since I came to the club even though there have been some tough times.

“To see them like they were at Ibrox gives you a buzz and makes you want to go on a run because when we do get it right, it is incredible.” (The Scotsman)

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Rangers fans’ group the Sons of Struth have threatened a boycott of Rangers, Sports Direct and McGill’s Buses unless Sandy Easdale is removed from his boardroom position

• Derek McInnes was left fuming after Aberdeen threw away a two-goal lead against St Mirren. A Callum Ball strike and Kenny McLean penalty rescued a point for the Buddies

• Dundee’s Dylan Carreiro has been called up to the Canada international squad

• Ex-Hibs goalkeeping coach Scott Thomson has joined Ross County to perform a similar role

Rumour Mill: McCoist | Craig Whyte | Celtic | Hibs