Wednesday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Rangers are poised to launch a £6m double Serie A swoop for Juventus striker Vincenczo Iaquinta and Lazio right-back Stephen Lichtsteiner if Craig Whyte's takeover of the Glasgow club is completed. (Daily Express)

Rangers' board has officially given Craig Whyte the thumbs up to buy the Scottish champions in a £33m deal. (the Sun)

The intervention of present owner Sir David Murray, who opposed an alternative bid, has pushed Craig Whyte's takeover of Rangers towards the finishing line. (the Herald)

Vladimir Weiss says he would love to return to Rangers on loan next season if the winger is not wanted for Manchester City's first team. (Daily Express)

Celtic coach Alan Thompson says Rangers fans should have been arrested for some of the abuse hurled at their Glasgow rivals' manager, Neil Lennon, during Sunday's Old Firm derby at Ibrox. (the Sun)

Former Grade One referee Stuart Dougal says Scotland's officials have the hardest job in world football because of the religious undercurrent running through the game in the country. (Daily Record)

Celtic face a fight to sign Coventry City's Keiran Westwood after Leeds United opened signing talks with the goalkeeper. (the Sun)

St Johnstone could be forced to sell Murray Davidson to raise funds, with Wolves and Bolton interested in the £750,000-rated Scotland squad midfielder. (Daily Mail)

Aberdeen manager Craig Brown fears that captain Paul Hartley will be forced to end his career this summer after damaging knee ligaments. (Daily Record)

On-loan Norwich City full-back Steven Smith is open to the idea of remaining at Aberdeen beyond the end of the season. (Various)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Terry Butcher will attempt to re-sign on-loan Blackburn Rovers winger Aaron Doran next season. (the Scotsman)

Veteran defender Chris Innes will quit Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the end of the season to be closer to his Edinburgh-based family. (Various)

Udinese defender Momo Sissoko, who is on loan with Kilmarnock, says he would like to remain in Scotland but points out that he is still under contract with the Italian club next season. (Various)

Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels fears that he has lost defender Ryan O'Leary for the rest of the season through injury. (Various)

Celtic defender Richie Towell, presently on loan with Hibernian, says he would love to return to Easter Road next season. (Various)

The Scottish Football Association is set to reject an appeal from Motherwell against the decision to give Celtic more than a 50% share of tickets for the Scottish Cup final. (Daily Record)

Dundee United, who have lost more than £100,000 this season because of playing so many games in midweek, are angry that they have been asked to appear before a Scottish Premier League panel to explain why their game against Hamilton on 26 December was postponed. (the Herald)

OTHER GOSSIP

Scottish snooker manager Ian Doyle has come out of retirement in the hope of persuading seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, his one-time protege, not to give up the game despite his slump in form. (the Herald)

Rich entrepreneur Richard Caring changed his mind about buying Loch Lomond Golf Club for £35m after he was attacked by swarms of midges during a visit there. (Various)

Scotland's cricket chiefs are keeping tight-lipped about a mystery injury to professional recruit Luke Buttersworth after the Australian limped out of Monday's CB40 defeat at Leicester. (the Herald)

Elena Baltacha is in danger of dropping out of the top 100 in the world tennis rankings after the British number one lost to Ukraine's Vavara Lechenko in the first round of the Barcelona Open. (the Sun)

Scotland, which was dropped from the draft schedule, will remain part of a revamped HSBC World Sevens Series next season after First Minister Alex Salmond helped reassure the International Rugby Board that the country was committed to the global event. (the Scotsman)

Melrose stand-off Scott Wight is to be given a trial by Glasgow Warriors as coach Sean Lineen looks to reshape his squad for next season. (the Scotsman)

Scotland forward Ally Hogg could be sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering ankle damage playing for Newcastle. (Various)

Edinburgh Monarchs have axed Jay Herne and Ashley Morris as they bid to defend speedway's Premier League title. (Daily Record)