ian1964

Decent enough offer then,IMO. I'm still not sold in him,yet.

I also like his blog,ok sometimes he seems to be a tad obsessed with OC,but then no-one else comes out and has a go at him and I like that,also he is not afraid to call it true and fair.

Suppose it depends a lot on what stage of his contract he is at,anyone know how long he has on his contract?

About the same type of bids we receive for our players,generaly,Bursaspor for one

Bougherra open to Swiss switch Madjid Bougherra today revealed he would be interested in moving to Swiss side Neuchatel Xamax. The Algerian defender is the only key first-team player new Rangers owner Craig Whyte is allowing to leave the club this summer after insisting Allan McGregor and Steven Davis are not for sale. Bougherra, left, still has a year to run on his current deal and has admitted he could remain in Glasgow for a final campaign before leaving on a Bosman deal. Rangers, however, aren’t prepared to lose his services without receiving a transfer fee and are keen to cash in on the defender before the start of the season. Neuchatel have just been taken over by Chechen billionaire Bulat Chagaev and are believed to be ready to table a Ã?£40,000-a-week offer to try and entice Bougherra. And Bougherra said: “I would study it as I would study all the offers that come to me. “What is certain is I will consider the sporting aspects in any decision I will take. “However, I am not aware of any such offer from Neuchatel. “I know absolutely nothing about it and I can’t speak about something I know nothing of.” Meanwhile, new manager Ally McCoist’s priority is to try and bring in some fresh faces and talks with Dundee United over David Goodwillie are set to continue. Rangers owner Craig Whyte suggested Ã?£2m would be too much money for the player. He said: “I would say that price is too steep but I’m sure there are conversations to be had. “It’s a learning curve as I’ve never run a club before but dealing with transfers is not a lot different from other business deals.” United boss Peter Houston added: “The chairman told Rangers what our valuation is and they think it’s too high. “It was an enquire to ask what we were looking for. As soon as there is money on the table there is a decision to be made.” Whyte insists Rangers are still working hard behind the scenes to bring in new players despite missing out on both Tomer Hemed and Craig Conway. He said: “There is a lot going on behind the scenes in terms of targets. I think five or six new players is the number we have talked about. I think that is what Rangers need at the minute. “It is very important for us and the fans not to panic. We would like to get players in but we must get it right. We will pursue the targets Ally has identified and, hopefully, will get some deals concluded. “Dealing with Scottish clubs is always more difficult for the Old Firm, I think. “But it is business. When you buy players, it is significant sums, so we are not going to be a pushover to deal with.” Whyte is also pressing on with his attempts to secure some of the current players on new deals, such as goalkeeper Allan McGregor, midfielder Steven Davis and full-back Steven Whittaker. He said: “We’re getting closer. I had a meeting with Allan McGregor and his agent. All three of these players want to stay at Rangers. “We’ve made a generous offer to Whittaker and I am scheduled to meet with the agent for Davis over the next few days. I’ve said that Allan is not for sale. “We have not been approached by anybody about him - so there’s no update there. We’ve made a bid for Carlos Cuellar but, with their managerial change, it has slowed there a little bit.” http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/bougherra-open-to-swiss-switch-1.1107998?

Yet again sports throws up a remarkable story. A 17-year-old Gaelic football-playing Catholic from Northern Ireland has signed professional soccer forms with Glasgow Rangers, for so long a bastion of Protestantism and still the favoured team of people of that religion in the province. In the world of professional sport personal beliefs or backgrounds matter little ââ?¬â?? except perhaps to the die-hard fans. Talent is the common currency and young Aaron McGregor displays plenty of that. Let us hope that he fulfils his promise and becomes the soccer equivalent of our other bright young star, Rory McIlroy. Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/viewpoint/editors-viewpoint-let-his-star-shine-16014732.html#ixzz1Q0crjUIc

Allan McGregor has emerged as Arsenals top transfer target despite Rangers insisting that the goalkeeper is not for sale. Watching Switzerland U21 v Czech Republic U21? Check in with fanatix Switzerland U21 v Czech Republic U21 live streaming Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is in the market for an experienced keeper, and sees the Scotland number one as the ideal solution to his problem position. The Frenchmans repeated failure to buy an assured stopper has partly contributed to the clubs six-year trophy drought, with Manuel Almunia and Wojciech Szczesny less than convincing between the sticks. Wenger is now prepared to test Rangers owner Craig Whytes resolve with a 12million bid for the 29-year-old. New Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish is also said to be interested in McGregor, and could offer his old club Carlos Cuellar as part of a deal. But Whyte told the Daily Record: "I've said that McGregor is not for sale. We haven't been approached by anyone about him so far. "As far as Cuellar is concerned we have made a formal offer. We are actively discussing it." Whyte confirmed his intention to bolster the squad, adding: "We would like to get some signings in as soon as possible but don't want to bring in the wrong players. http://www.fanatix.com/arsenal-ready-12m-bid-for-proven-stopper/

Celtic boss Neil Lennon is in talks with free agent Neil Danns about signing on a free from Crystal Palace ââ?¬â?? ahead of rivals Rangers. Midfielder Danns is discussing terms after Lennon stepped in for him. The star has also spoken with Rangers but has better money on offer from Celtic. Read more: http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/transfer-news/Celtic-to-beat-Rangers-to-Crystal-Palace-free-agent-Neill-Danns-article751200.html#ixzz1PzfWK5EK Sign up for MirrorFootball's Morning Spy newsletter Register here

http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/2011/06/god-save-scotland-from-republican-rose.html

Rangers owner Craig Whyte has said that he is looking to bring at least five new faces to Ibrox this summer to boost the club’s title defence. New manager Ally McCoist has already identified transfer targets for the new season and Whyte says he is hopeful of delivering the players needed. The club have already had talks with Tomer Hemed but the Israeli stiker opted to move to La Liga. Preliminary discussions were also held with Craig Conway but no offer was made and the player now looks set to move to Cardiff City. Whyte said that although no signings had been concluded yet, there was no need for the club’s support to worry. “It is very important for us and for the fans not to panic,” Whyte said. “We would like to get the players in but we must get it right. We will pursue the players that Ally has identified and then hopefully will get some deals concluded. “I think five or six new players is the number we have been talking about. I think that is what Rangers need.” An enquiry has already been made to Dundee United about striker David Goodwillie, though the asking price is above Rangers’ own valuation. Whyte also confirmed that a bid had been launched for former Gers defender Carlos Cuellar, now at Aston Villa. http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/rangers/259312-craig-whyte-rangers-need-five-or-six-signings/

CRAIG WHYTE has urged Rangers fans not to panic after boss Ally McCoist missed out on another summer target. Just three days after Israeli striker Tomer Hemed opted for a move to Real Mallorca, Scotland star Craig Conway stunned Gers by agreeing a three-year deal with Cardiff City. The out-of-contract midfielder held initial talks with Gers gaffer McCoist last week. No offer was ever tabled by the SPL champions and Conway sealed his move to the Championship last night. Whyte, however, has reassured worried Gers supporters that he is working hard on at least SIX summer transfers. Whyte said: "It is very important for us and the fans not to panic. We would like to get players in but we must get it right. "We will pursue the targets that Ally has identified and then hopefully will get some deals concluded. "I think five or six new players is the number we have been talking about. "I think that is what Rangers need." Whyte confirmed that Gers have approached Aston Villa with a view to bringing Carlos Cuellar back to Ibrox. New Villa boss Alex McLeish does not want to sell the Spaniard, but could be tempted if Gers throw keeper Allan McGregor into any potential deal, though that looks unlikely. Whyte hopes to hand McGregor, full back Steven Whittaker and midfielder Steven Davis new deals and said: "I've said that Allan McGregor is not for sale. "We have made a bid for Carlos, but with the managerial change there it has slowed a little. "We've made a very generous offer to Whittaker and I am scheduled to meet with the agent for Steven Davis over the next few days." Whyte insists he will not be held to ransom as boss McCoist moulds his new look squad. That means Dundee United will have to LOWER their asking price for striker David Goodwillie. Whyte insisted: "I think for that player a price of �£2million is too steep. "I am sure there are more conversations to be had with Dundee United about it." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3651418/Whyte-tells-Rangers-not-to-panic.html#ixzz1Pz8kBdnx

http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/2011/06/fare-and-agent-provocateur.html

The season has not long finished,I'm not overly concerned,we tried to sign Hemed and he went for a better wage. I'm more concerned about getting our own players that are getting near the end of their contract signed up first as I think that is more important.We need to be patient.

Star keeper Allan McGregor could be a target for old boss Alex McLeish at Aston Villa NEW Rangers chief Gordon Smith is facing a frantic first 24 hours in the job today with a Swiss move for Madjid Bougherra and Alex McLeish attempting to take Allan McGregor to Aston Villa. Smith will report to Murray Park this morning to begin his new role as director of football. Top of his agenda will be making sure that McGregor, Steve Davis and Steven Whittaker are all tied up on new long-term deals. But McLeish is set to throw a spanner in the works by making Scotland No.1 McGregor his top transfer target at Villa. And Smith could also be receiving a call from Neuchatel Xamax. Record Sport have learned the Swiss club have prepared a lucrative contract offer for the unsettled Bougherra. With the stopper determined to leave the SPL champs this summer, new manager Ally McCoist wants Villa defender Carlos Cuellar to return to Ibrox. And McLeish's interest in McGregor might enable Smith to make some kind of trade - if McCoist is willing to let go of a match-winning keeper. Big Eck has also been linked with his former Birmingham No.1 Ben Foster but, with animosity between the city rivals at an all-time high, negotiations are unlikely to run smoothly. Which is why McLeish may opt to move for McGregor. Gers have been prepared to sanction Bougherra's sale for some time and Chechen billionaire Bulat Chagaev, who completed a Neuchatel takeover last month, has identified the Ibrox star as a key �£1.5million signing target. He is also interested in Everton ace Mikel Arteta, Marseille's Gabriel Heinze, Sevilla's Freddie Kanoute and Blackburn star El Hadji Diouf, who spent five months on loan at Ibrox last term. Record Sport understands the oil and gas supremo - who sacked coach Bernard Challandes after just 18 DAYS and could now move for Ruud Gullit as boss - is willing to pay new signings in the region of �£40,000 a week. Rangers have received no bids for Bougherra as he approaches the last year of his Ibrox contract. The 28-year-old has already knocked back a megabucks move to Qatar but Neuchatel have made contact with his agent to sound him out over a two-year deal. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2011/06/20/hectic-first-day-for-new-rangers-chief-gordon-smith-as-villa-target-mcgregor-and-swiss-move-in-for-bougherra-86908-23213782/

NEW Rangers director of football Gordon Smith believes much of the flak he copped during his stormy spell as the head of the SFA was purely down to his background as an Ibrox player and fan. Smith, preparing to start his new job under Rangers owner Craig Whyte later this week, became a Gers supporter as a youth after initially following Kilmarnock and spent two spells on the books at the Light Blues. And he still believes those connections with the Govan outfit made him the target of strong anti-Rangers sentiment within the game during his three years as chief executive at Hampden between 2007 and 2010. Smith said: ââ?¬Å?There was a lot of people not happy about me getting the job. ââ?¬Å?People who are not Rangers fans tend to be anti-Rangers. ââ?¬Å?I was an ex-Rangers player and I got a lot of animosity because of that and I know that. ââ?¬Å?People turned on me because of my background. A lot of people wanted me to fail.ââ?¬Â Ã?¬ I used to have meetings with the Trust at the SFA because I felt the fans should have a say Ã?® Gordon Smith Smith gave a recent interview to the Rangers Supporters Trustââ?¬â?¢s internet TV channel before tying up his surprise return to Ibrox and details his belief that fans should be listened to when directors are developing club policy. That will offer great heart to those Light Blues followers who want to set up a stronger line of communication with the new men on the board following difficult spells with former owner Sir David Murray. Smith said: ââ?¬Å?I think it is very important to try to build harmony. ââ?¬Å?I used to have meetings with the Trust at the SFA because I felt the fans should have a say. ââ?¬Å?Thatââ?¬â?¢s not necessarily in terms of running the club or picking the team, but fansââ?¬â?¢ opinions should be taken on board in terms of putting policy in place. ââ?¬Å?I am in favour of the Trusts having a say in the clubs.ââ?¬Â Smith was at the SFA when current Rangers keeper Allan McGregor was banned from international duty along with Barry Ferguson for bad behaviour and appointed George Burley as national coach while also lining up hugely- profitable broadcasting deals and changing eligibility rules for the national team. Many will regard his time at the SFA as unsuccessful as he failed to bring in the desired administrative and disciplinary changes now being put into place by current chief executive Stewart Regan. But Smith insists he always had strong views on taking the game forward and those will be put to the test at Rangers in a role that will see him run the rule over the production line of young talent at Murray Park as well as offer help to new boss Ally McCoist regarding contract talks and scouting. Reflecting on his SFA stint, he said: ââ?¬Å?I actually thought I would have more powers. I have my ideas on how the game should be played and how to develop players through all the different levels. ââ?¬Å?If you cannot make the changes and cannot do these things, relying on going to a board or needing votes from a committee, it is frustrating.ââ?¬Â Whyte has made it clear he will defend the club when he sees fit even though he is determined to rid Rangers of sectarianism among the support. Smith has also insisted he was quick to speak out on that particular issue during his time as a radio pundit with BBC Scotland and an Express Sport columnist. He said: ââ?¬Å?There were a lot of complaints to the BBC with people phoning in when I used to talk about Celtic with regard to sectarian singing. They would say that it had nothing to do with Celtic and that it is only Rangers. No, it is across the board. ââ?¬Å?I made it very clear that I felt it was unfair to base it all on Rangers being the problem and that is nothing to do with me being an ex-Rangers player.ââ?¬Â Aberdeen boss Craig Brown works with Willie Miller as his director of football at Pittodrie and reckons Smith and McCoist should operate well together. Brown said: ââ?¬Å?The appointment at Rangers sounds a very good one and I think Gordon would be ideal in that role. I am sure Ally McCoist and Gordon will be friendly and that is a perfect scenario. ââ?¬Å?I think it is a good job to have in most clubs. He handles all the agents who are phoning and intercepts them before they get to the manager. ââ?¬Å?You wouldnââ?¬â?¢t believe the calls and texts I get from agents. It is a full-time job at this time of the season. ââ?¬Å?At Aberdeen, Willie is in charge of recruitment, heââ?¬â?¢s in charge of the youth set-up and Willie will provide any information I request about scouting because he co-ordinates all that. ââ?¬Å?He has never, at any time, presumed to pick the first team or advise unless asked and I think he does the job brilliantly.ââ?¬Â Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/253784/Rangers-links-made-me-hate-figure-says-Gordon-SmithRangers-links-made-me-hate-figure-says-Gordon-Smith#ixzz1PnuPCX5j

CRAIG WHYTE owned Rangers for just one hour and 15 minutes when the dagger plunged home. After a draining nine-month saga he had finally seized control of the Ibrox side on Friday May 6 and the takeover had been announced to a waiting Gers support at 7pm. Then at 8.15pm the independent committee appointed within Rangers to approve any successor to Sir David Murray made a bombshell statement. Chairman Alastair Johnston, chief executive Martin Bain, financial director Donald McIntyre, former supremo John McClelland and club legend John Greig all put their names to a stinging communique. The statement posted on the club's website cast massive doubt on Whyte's credibility as the new Mr Rangers. He was castigated as the boardroom five said they had deep suspicions that Whyte could not fund the summer swoops new boss Ally McCoist needed for his squad. In Govan street terms they told the fans that Craig Whyte was worth watching. It was unprecedented. Now as he settles into the Gers hotseat, Whyte has spoken for the first time of his take on the night of the long knives in an exclusive interview with SunSport. He now sees that statement as the work of men stabbing him in the back and he rapped: "I knew that statement was coming but it was a completely outrageous thing to do. "They had their own financial motivations and that's what was behind that move. "But you know what? It simply made me more determined to make this takeover a success." Whyte's financial background in the cut-throat world of London's Square Mile means he is well used to the often brutal world of business. Yet the days that followed that statement left him sickened as, one by one, the men involved tried to insist they'd had nothing to do with trying to discredit him. He sighed: "The next day many of them tried to disassociate themselves from that, which was bizarre "They should have left with dignity and I did not see the point in Alastair Johnston and the director Paul Murray delaying their resignations from the board either. "That was just the game they were playing. I was surprised that people who say they have Rangers' best interests at heart would behave the way they did. "Alastair Johnston and others were hoping that I would go away and they could get the club for themselves for nothing." For now chief executive Martin Bain and financial director Donald McIntyre remain suspended from club duties as Rangers continue an internal investigation into the previous regime. Privately Whyte will always remain puzzled by Bain's actions as the respected administrator had a place guaranteed in the new hierarchy - until he played a part in that bombshell statement that rubbished the takeover. Bain and McIntyre are FINISHED at Gers, Johnston is back living life in the States and working for sports management company IMG. There is no question Bain had the unswerving support and faith of former manager Walter Smith and that he helped to steer the club through some of the most testing times in their recent history. His departure is a loss to Rangers but one that Whyte insists they can cope with. Instead, as he moves ahead with the new era, the Gers owner paid tribute to a man painted by the hardcore Rangers fans as the enemy within. Respected business turn-around specialist Donald Muir - a diehard Gers fan and close pal of former manager Alex McLeish - was tasked by former owner Murray with reining in the club's spiralling debts and making them a buyable commodity again. Whyte insists that without the work of Muir and trusted Murray lieutenant Mike McGill his takeover simply wouldn't have happened. He told the Gers fans: "Donald Muir and Mike McGill were fantastic throughout the whole deal. "Without them this deal wouldn't have gone through. Donald Muir is a Rangers fan who did what he had to do at a difficult time for the club. "The decisions he made were in Rangers' best interests. "If the debts had remained at �£35million or �£40m it would have been very difficult for this deal to have been done. "At �£18m it was manageable, but not at any more than that. "The previous board wanted to increase the debt and you have to wonder about the logic and the motivation of doing that. "Rangers simply have to be a commercial operation for the long-term benefit of the club. "Manchester City are currently someone's plaything, but what happens when he gets sick of that? "I don't want that for Rangers." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3646990/The-backstabbers.html#ixzz1PnpjPr3m

RANGERS supremo Craig Whyte last night turned on boardroom enemy Alastair Johnston and told him: You're yesterday's man. Whyte broke his silence on the damaging boardroom feud at Gers with a stinging broadside at former Ibrox chairman Johnston. And he rapped: "Alastair Johnston has his opinion but he is yesterday's man and he is irrelevant to Rangers now. "He is not someone we will ever deal with again. "I took a lot of flak from him and others when the deal was being done but why should I get involved in a slanging match then? I feel I retained my dignity. "Every time I sat down with Alastair he was extremely nice to me then he goes and stabs me in the back." Whyte was infuriated by a report in one of our fading rivals accusing him of preparing to raid season ticket money to buy players. He said: "What we were doing was the OPPOSITE of what we were accused of." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3647204/Whyte-Youre-nobody-Johnston.html#ixzz1PnojQ5jR

http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/2011/06/whytes-plans-to-defend-rangers.html

Online petition if anybody wants to sign it? http://www.petitiononline.com/1967a/petition.html

I think I would rather see him go tbh,but then we would need a replacement sooner,we have CL football early in the season so that is more vital to the club than selling him on for a profit,if he plays well then fine but he will feel the wrath of the fans if he starts fucking about.Not much we can do or say about it.

http://leggoland2.blogspot.com/2011/06/whyte-way-ahead-for-rangers.html

RANGERS boss Craig Whyte has revealed his sensational masterplan to transform Ibrox stadium into a stunning retail and leisure development. In an exclusive interview with the News of The World, the new chairman spoke about his plans for a complex to rival top clubs in Europe. His vision includes a luxury hotel, shopping centre, restaurant, sports centre, and upmarket apartments. Whyte revealed he has already had talks with Glasgow City Council chiefs and wants to get work started ahead of the Commonwealth Games in 2014. Last night Motherwell-born Whyte, 40, told us: "We see a mix of retail, hotels, leisure and residential. Man with the plan...Craig Whyte "This area needs to be revitalised and we hope to make some progress before the Games." Under the plans, the 40-acre site around the Govan stadium would be turned into an Ibrox village. Whyte (left) is also adding state-of-the-art stadium screens and opening fast food outlets. He said: "Refurbishment has already started. We are working on the fast food outlets now and expect to sign a contract to have new mega screens installed shortly." The life-long Gers fan wants to keep 50,000-capacity Ibrox's reputation as one of the best stadiums in Europe. The red-brick facade, designed by Archibald Leitch, is one of the most iconic in football. But Whyte envisions a future development to rival that of European Champions Barcelona's prestigious Nou Camp sports and retail complex. He added: "There will be an ongoing process of upgrading Ibrox to ensure it retains its status as one of the best stadia in Europe." It's all part of a series of changes being implemented by Whyte, who this week appointed ex-Gers star Gordon Smith as Director of Football. News Of The World

So far I like the way he is going about his business,and he comes across as a man you wouldn't want to cross. Looking forward to the future with this guy.

It's the 1978 WC we are on about,not the 1974 WC:whistling:

Zappa started it:grin: