ian1964

BARRY FERGUSON today signed for Birmingham City in a deal worth �£1million. The 31-year-old midfielder has quit Rangers for the second time in his career and returns to the Premiership some five years after a short stint at Blackburn between 2003 and 2004. Ferguson completed his medical last night in the Midlands. And his agent, John Viola, sealed the deal on personal terms after talks with Blues MD Karren Brady at lunchtime today. advertisement Ferguson has signed a two-year contract with the option for a further year. He will be reunited with Alex McLeish at Birmingham, along with former Scotland team-mates James McFadden and Garry O'Connor. There had been the option of moving to West Brom and there was further Premiership interest when it became clear that Ferguson was being allowed to move on by the Ibrox club. But he was sold on the move with the chance to work with McLeish again, and will make his competitve debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford on August 16. Ferguson had one year left on a lucrative �£25,000-a-week deal at Rangers. But all parties concerned felt it was better for him to move on after the infamous Scotland boozegate fiasco which saw him banished by his country and stripped of the Rangers captaincy last April. And former team-mate Nacho Novo, a close friend of the midfielder, was sorry to see Ferguson go and believes that Rangers are losing a "legend." "He is one of the best players I have ever played with," said the Spaniard. "He is a great person, a hard worker and he helped everybody at the club. We will miss him." And Novo has set his sights on making serious inroads into Walter Smith's first team this term after a stop-start campaign last time out. "I have one more year on my contract," he said. "I love Rangers. The club are in my heart and this year I want to work hard to be in the team."

I would like to see us getting a sponsor away from the MOPES, however they would probably get a better deal than us as they seem to be much better when it comes to the business side of things regarding promoting their club

Celtic will play Russian side Dinamo Moscow in the Champions League third qualifying round. Celtic Park will host the first leg on 28/29 July, with the return game played on 4/5 August. Dinamo are well into their domestic season and lie seventh in the Premier Liga after 13 games. Celtic overcame Spartak Moscow after a tense penalty shoot-out to qualify for the Champions League group phase in season 2007/08. If Celtic progress to the second qualifying round, they will be drawn against either Arsenal, Lyon, Stuttgart, Fiorentina or Atletico Madrid, who are the seeds in the next stage of the best-placed path. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8155317.stm

RANGERS will hold showdown talks with Madjid Bougherra next week amid fresh speculation that Bordeaux are ready to make a move for him. The Ibrox club today confirmed there has been no formal offer for the defender from the French outfit, or anyone else. However, Rangers have hinted that they anticipate a written offer for the player but have insisted that they won't sell unless the price is right. "We have no received a bid or any official contact from Bordeaux," said Martin Bain, Rangers chief executive. advertisement "We have been made aware from the player's agent that a bid is on its way but so far we have not received anything." Quotes attributed to Bougherra which appeared in an Algerian newspaper suggest that he may be preparing to move on. "I can't really say too much abut this," said the 26-year-old. "All I can say is that I do know that Bordeaux are interested in me. "I expect this to be resolved next week after I have spoken to the people who are in charge at Rangers." Ibrox supremo David Murray has insisted that he will only allow players to go if the money that is put down is agreeable. "We don't wish to accept any offers for our good young players, but if we get anything that is unbelievable, then we have to be realistic," he said. "At this moment, we have no plans to sell our best talent. We are no different to any other club in that, if we receive an offer that is well above valuation, we have to consider it." However, while Bordeaux have backtracked somewhat from their stance earlier in the week when they distanced themselves from speculation. The French club's president, Jean-Louis Triaud, said: "We have not made any official offer to Rangers yet, but if we do, we will not be forced into a corner by them. Bougherra is one of the players Laurent Blanc has discussed but if he's too dear then we move on." Rangers, meanwhile, have revealed that new shirt sales have broken all previous records with the club's megastore shifting 3000 new tops on the first day they went on sale yesterday. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2520543.0.0.php

RANGERS and Celtic are on the hunt for a new shirt sponsor after Carling called time on the association which has run for six years. But the warning from commercial experts is that, due to the current economic situation, they might struggle to attract bids worth more than �£1million per year. That's less than HALF the �£2.2m in total they currently receive from Carling, and would be another severe blow to the income of the clubs who are reeling after yesterday's cut-price TV deal saw them battered again financially. There are now genuine fears inside both Old Firm clubs they could lose up to �£5m each over the length of a four-year contract, based on previous monies offered for shirt sponsor deals. advertisement The Carling deal, which began in 2003 and which was renewed in 2005, has now entered its final year. Talks about its renewal have already taken place over the past few months between the clubs and the brewer, but sources have told SportTimes Carling have opted against going on. The brand - who are owned by US-based Molson Coors - are aware of the success rivals Tennent's have enjoyed with T In The Park, and have been looking to focus on music-related promotions. Paul Miller, managing director for Molson Coors in Scotland, refused to confirm that any decision had been made about the renewal of the Old Firm contract as there is hope some kind of corporate tie-in could remain. He said: "The facts are that current deal is up at the end of the season and, as yet, nothing has been agreed about going forward from there. "We are still in conversation with Rangers and Celtic and have been for a few months. It will probably move fairly quickly now in terms of our discussions." Rangers and Celtic are being pro-active to ensure they are not caught cold in their search for a new shirt sponsor. The word has gone out to anyone who might be interested in getting their names on two of the most famous jerseys in world football that the opportunity might be coming up very soon. But the timing could not be worse, given the problems the world economy is experiencing. Carling's initial Old Firm shirt sponsorship deal was for �£12m over four years. But, in 2005 this was replaced by an agreement worth a basic �£18m with substantial bonuses if certain targets are hit, With Celtic and Rangers both reaching the last 16 of the Champions League during this period, and the Ibrox club also competing in the Uefa Cup final, the deal has been more lucrative than any previous deal with shirt sponsors. There is no guarantee the Old Firm will continue to have the same sponsor. But, in commercial terms, it has been considered prudent to be associated with both halves of the city. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2520540.0.old_firm_facing_more_cash_fears_as_search_starts_for_new_shirt_sponsor_deal.php

Manchester United have called off their match in Indonesia after bomb blasts hit the hotel they were due to stay in. The squad arrived in Kuala Lumpur ahead of Saturday's clash against a Malaysia XI and were set to face an Indonesia All Star side on Monday. At least nine people were killed and 48 injured in the attacks in Jakarta. The Premier League champions are also lined up for two friendlies in South Korea and China on their tour of the Far East ahead of the new season. A United statement said: "Following the explosions in Jakarta - one of which was at the hotel the team were due to stay in - and based on advice received, the directors have informed the Indonesian FA that the club cannot fulfil the fixture in Jakarta on the 2009 Asia tour." Monday's match in Jakarta had been a 100,000 sell-out, with the club due to stay in the city's Ritz-Carlton for four nights. "We are working on a revised itinerary outside Indonesia with the promoters and we will make a further announcement when these decisions have been made," the statement added. "We are deeply disappointed at not being able to visit Indonesia and thank the Indonesian FA and our fans for their support. Our thoughts go to all those affected by the blasts." The players are disappointed not to be going to Indonesia United captain Gary Neville New signing Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs were among a 22-man squad that flew out from Manchester to Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. After arriving in the Malaysian capital, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "It's a bit of a shock for all of us. We just got news of this when we landed. "I have never been to Indonesia before and I know the Indonesian FA have worked very hard on this. "There was no other solution as we had to safeguard our players. So it's the correct decision." United chief executive David Gill indicated the team might extend their stay in Malaysia but would consult the country's football association before announcing a decision. "We could bring the Indonesian team here (in Kuala Lumpur). We'll go through all the different possibilities and evaluate which is the most appropriate. "There are lots of things to be done before we sort out the logistics for the rest of the week. "We have to consider the safety of the players and the staff and everyone else in the team because they are of paramount importance. We have taken the appropriate advice. It is not a decision we have taken lightly." When asked if advice about potential trouble was given to the club ahead of the pre-season trip to the Far East, Gill added: "We were aware of the situation but we spoke to the right people and received the correct advice." Ritz-Carlton hotel guest Geoffrey Head: "The cafe was completely blown out" It would have been the first time United had visited the South-East Asian country since 1975 and club captain Gary Neville said the team had been looking forward to playing in front of their fans in Jakarta. "Obviously the players are disappointed not to be going to Indonesia," the 34-year-old defender said. "However, the decision is out of my control as I'm just here to play football." After their scheduled game in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, the Red Devils are set to face South Korea's FC Seoul on 24 July before taking on Chinese side Hangzhou Greentown two days later. The first two blasts in Jakarta's central business district happened at about 0730 (0030 GMT) with Jakarta police saying a number of foreigners were among those who died. Police said an unexploded bomb had also been found at the JW Marriott hotel. There were reports of a third explosion in northern Jakarta a few hours later but it was not clear what the cause was. Indonesian officials said there were indications that suicide bombers had carried out the attacks. Indonesia has not witnessed such atrocities for nearly six years. Attacks on two nightclubs in Bali in October 2002 killed 202 people, many of them Australian, while the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, one of the two hotels targeted on Friday, suffered a bomb attack in August 2003 in which 13 people were killed. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8155154.stm

KENNY Miller has revealed his fitness remains a concern on the eve of the new season for Scotland and Rangers after failing to find a precise diagnosis of the hamstring problem which has plagued him for the past 18 months. The striker cut short his close-season break to spend a week in Munich undergoing tests and treatment from world-renowned sports medic Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller Wohlfahrt. The man credited with reviving the careers of sporting luminaries as diverse as ADVERTISEMENT Jose-Maria Olazabal, Paula Radcliffe, Michael Owen and Maurice Greene has placed Miller on a course of homeopathic injections in a bid to cure the intermittent discomfort which has constrained the pacy forward. But while Miller has been able to take part in pre-season training at Murray Park this week, he admits he is not significantly closer to solving a difficulty which will be a worry for both Rangers ahead of their SPL title defence and Scotland with the crucial World Cup qualifier against Norway in Oslo just four weeks away. "It's pretty much the same as it was towards the end of last season," said Miller. "Nothing is really showing up. It's more a case of describing my symptoms and hoping they can get to the bottom of it. "Dr Muller Wohlfart seems to think the course of treatment he has put me on is going to give me a kind of release from it and take that niggle away. I've managed to take part in full training since coming back from Germany at the weekend, but it has been a bit of an effort. Right now, it's hard to tell whether I've still got it or whether I'm just stiff from pre-season training. "I felt a little better today after a day off on Wednesday, so I just hope that will be it. "The type of injury it is, a lot of other things flared up because of it last season. There were a lot of red herrings when it came to trying to diagnose it. We had the best people looking at it, but every time we felt we were getting somewhere, it was a case of two steps forward then three steps back. "It was really frustrating last year. In the title run-in, we played Celtic at Ibrox and I'd been on medication for a couple of weeks before the game. I got through that game and felt great, but then afterwards I felt terrible. It was murder and I had to miss the midweek game at Hibs. "It inhibits me, because it's also in my head now that I've got this problem. I'm not able to open up and react as quickly as I could on the pitch. I can't reach full pace as quickly as I should be able to. They are the main problems." One obstacle Miller will not have to overcome in the new campaign is the antagonism of a section of the Rangers support who did not welcome his return to the club a year ago. The former Celtic striker's contribution to a domestic double for the Ibrox club has ensured he is firmly back in the fold. Speaking at the launch of Rangers new official website, Miller added: "There was a lot of opposition to me coming back at the start of last season, but this year we are going into it as champions and double winners. We have set our sights on the Treble this season and hopefully making progress in Europe. "If we hadn't been successful last season, then I would have been one of the first ones to get stick. But, hopefully, I have won over those people who didn't want me back. I came back to this club to win trophies and play in the Champions League and it's a huge bonus we are automatically in the group stage this season." http://sport.scotsman.com/rangersfc/Mystery-injury-continues-to-plague.5468907.jp

That's cos we don't have any stars !!

More time ?????............I'll have you know I have been busy Johnny, Frankie and I have been sweating all day.......................... on the golf course

THE Scottish Premier League today agreed a �£65million five-year deal with Sky and ESPN to screen 60 live matches each season. But the SPL has an option of opting out of the final two seasons of the agreement with the new grouping. Sky-ESPN's deal replaces the one agreed with collapsed broadcaster Setanta, but the clubs will earn about half what they would have gained under that deal. The new contract is worth a similar amount to Setanta's original deal - �£13m per year - due to end next year. advertisement Scotland's 12 top-flight clubs - some of whom were facing severe financial problems without a TV deal - voted on the proposal at the league's annual meeting at Hampden Park today. And SPL chairman Lex Gold said: "We are pleased that in just over three weeks we have been able to strike this deal. "Sky and ESPN are two of the biggest names in sports broadcasting and they will bring first-class production standards and a wide audience to the table. "We are looking forward to working with both in the coming years to raise the profile of the SPL for our clubs, fans and partners." Setanta's original contract began in 2006 and the Irish-based broadcaster had negotiated a new contract worth �£125m due to begin in 2010. However, Setanta lost the rights to top-flight football in England and Scotland after being unable to meet payments at the end of last season. Disney-owned ESPN last month bought the rights to show English Premier League matches that were to have been shown by Setanta. It plans to launch a new UK sports channel, called ESPN, on August 3 and reached an initial deal to have the channel shown on Sky, which will also be responsible for selling advertising on the new channel. ESPN-Sky were believed to have offered a five-year contract, but the SPL appears to have won an option for the final two seasons with the new grouping, and the agreement will last until at least the end of season 2011-12. Rangers chief executive Martin Bain said this week that he had been in discussions with Celtic about buying the broadcasting rights themselves because they were unhappy at what they viewed as a cut-price offer. However, it is believed that the Old Firm's proposal was not voted on today. Meanwhile, St Mirren chairman Stewart Gilmour has been elected to the SPL board, replacing Campbell Christie, who has stepped down as chairman of Falkirk. Gold was elected unanimously for the 11th time as chairman but indicated that he would stand down in the autumn. Hibernian's Rod Petrie, Aberdeen's Duncan Fraser and Bain were all re-elected by the clubs to complete the SPL board along with newly-appointed chief executive Neil Doncaster. *Sky and ESPN will both cover 30 live Clydesdale Bank Premier League games each season. *The broadcast slots will remain as Saturday lunchtimes, Sunday lunchtimes, Sunday afternoons and Monday nights. *The SPL's existing broadcasting deals with BBC, BT Vision, MG ALBA and Sportfive will be unaffected by this deal. *All games will be broadcast in High Definition and Standard Definition formats. Publication date 16/07/09 http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/display.var.2520343.0.0.php

Cheers guys...........first Chick..........now Walter..................feck it............I resign

Former Wales, Arsenal and Celtic striker John Hartson who is fighting testicular cancer is in a critical condition in hospital. Doctors have confirmed that the cancer which had already spread to his brain, has now been diagnosed in his lungs. The 34-year-old, capped by Wales 51 times, was diagnosed at the weekend. He was transferred to Morriston Hospital in Swansea on Tuesday and underwent emergency surgery and is now receiving round-the-clock care. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8151728.stm

Remember Edu can also play CB

Just on real radio now that Hartson has went under emergency neuro {sp}surgery to release pressure on his brain

I believe our team/squad is better than the MOPES,everybody keeps shouting '' give some of the youths a chance '', we all know we are skint so I don't expect to see any big signings as we keep being told,so far all the players that seem to be leaving were not first team regulars,with maybe the exception of BF.As for the CL well it is all about how much money we can make as I don't think we can expect to do anything in the CL.

LEADNG media and financial analysts last night gave their support to the Old Firm's plans to buy the SPL's TV rights - insisting the plan is a goer. Stephen Morrow, head of the Department of Sports Studies at Stirling University, had feared there would be a total black-out of SPL football on TV following the collapse of Setanta. Now he believes the Old Firm could ride to the rescue but only after a cliffhanger finish that would be typical of any other TV drama. Morrow said: "It is an idea that's feasible. They would obviously subcontract work out to agencies who know all about the production of television programmes. "But we have to remember the clock is ticking. The new season is only a month away and clubs in the SPL, along with ESPN and Sky, could be involved in a gigantic stand-off. The other clubs outwith the Old Firm might consider the idea of turning their back on what they already have on the table as a risk that's too great. "The television companies who have joined forces to replace Setanta might also believe the Old Firm are trying to railroad them into increasing the offer they've already made. "What would the reaction be among the clubs who are anxious for money if that offer was taken off the table and the television companies walked away?" But Morrow believes the big two can be a turn-on and not a switch-off for the people they need to back their ground-breaking initiative - so long as they do their sums properly. He said: "Getting a television channel up and running isn't the Old Firm's main line of business so there are risks involved. They'll need startup money and there will have to be a quick return on their investment. "What the clubs have in their favour is that they can go to the bank or private investors and give them a definite idea of the revenues to come because they know the level of subscriber interest they're dealing with. Timescale is the biggest problem of all and one that shouldn't be underestimated. "They'll be able to get distribution rights without too much of a problem in an unregulated market. What the Old Firm don't want is the threat of civil war inside the SPL when the clock is ticking down on the new season." Simple economics versus complicated arguments is the battlefield the Old Firm have now entered. David Glen, who produces the annual report on Scottish football's finances for PricewaterhouseCoopers, thinks it's possible for the clubs to rise above internal differences and lead the way to a revolutionary concept. He said: "The number of people willing to subscribe to what is SPL TV by any other name is the deal breaker on this one. If they get their way the Old Firm have to bring a magic to their product that is even greater than those who have gone before them. Their strong suit is that they can prosper by cutting out the middle man because they will become the middle man. "I would imagine the Old Firm would have to get subscribers on board as quickly as possible to beat this ticking clock. "They'll need to do everything to assist their cash flow in the early stages and that could lead to discount deals being offered for the season as a way of building up a healthy client base." But before any of that happens the two most powerful clubs in the land will first of all have to stand in front of the bank manager like the rest of us and plead their case for tolerance and understanding. Glen added: "Major banks would have credit committees who would assess whether the Old Firm had a viable idea on their hands. "But they've also been quite shrewd by showing their hand in this way. It lets Sky and ESPN know they're not the only game in town where coverage of the Premier League is concerned." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/2009/07/15/old-firm-plan-is-feasible-say-media-experts-86908-21520791/

SIR DAVID MURRAY insists the Old Firm are acting in the best interests of everyone as they bid to take control of SPL TV rights. The Ibrox chairman hatched a bid to save Scottish football with Parkhead rivals Dr John Reid and Peter Lawwell in crisis talks at the weekend. Both giants are furious over the cut-price deal being offered to the SPL by Sky and ESPN in the wake of the collapse of Setanta. Now Rangers and Celtic plan to launch their own TV channel and bid for the rights to the SPL. The stunning move would need the backing of at least SIX other member clubs with Rangers and Celtic expected to table their proposal at a meeting at Hampden on Thursday. And last night Murray urged his fellow chairmen to trust him and back the proposals. He said: "I would like to think we are acting in the best interests of every other football club in the SPL. "We cannot see how the value has halved in the last 12 months. "I don't want to pre-empt anything but we have spoken to Peter Lawwell and John Reid and collectively we feel if Rangers and Celtic were to sell their domestic TV rights for roughly �£2million each then it would not be fair. It is not a reflective value. "We have supporters who quite rightly want us to compete on the European stage. "Do you think �£2m will go a long way to help that? All the time the gap is getting bigger. "No one knows more than me we're in a difficult situation because of the downward economic cycle. "But what we must do collectively is ensure we use our best endeavours to get the most money for everyone. Surely Rangers and Celtic's TV rights are worth more than �£4m a year? "Rangers and Celtic get �£4m and Portsmouth get �£24m. "I understand what Sky and ESPN are doing - trying to get the best deal possible. "But let's be under no illusions. Rangers, Celtic and Aberdeen didn't want to go with Setanta in the first place." The Old Firm are looking to raise more than �£25m and it's understood a financial model is already in place. Advertisement At the moment Sky and ESPN are the only bidders but their five-year deal worth �£65m has been slammed as derisory. The offer is worth roughly HALF the �£130m the SPL would have banked from Setanta over four years. Now the Old Firm want to gazump Sky and ESPN - promising the other ten clubs they will each earn more cash by accepting their deal. Murray said: "We just feel there is no tension in the bidding process. Wrongly in my opinion, Sky and ESPN are getting a clear run at it. And it would not be correct of us, Celtic or Rangers, to not see if it is feasible for us to do it on our own. "And the numbers are making for interesting reading." Murray knows it will take a lot of lobbying to push through the Old Firm's proposals. But the Gers supremo insisted: "We have a certain standard of value we are not receiving. "Rangers and Celtic are massive brands. And by looking after ourselves I hope we are helping our other club members as well. "Talking from a Rangers perspective, this is a good season for us. "If I am being honest, last year was a financial nightmare because we lost to Kaunas. "But this year we are in a stronger position. "We're going to run a tight ship, we're going to be economical and we're going to keep our better players. "It's going to be a smaller squad and we're going to promote the younger players. "Walter Smith said it at the AGM, I said it in January and I'm saying it again now." http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/2535574/Old-Firm-TV-deals-best-for-us-all.html

Agreed,I for one would love to see him go to the EPL,if he goes, and show he is still a quality player,he is the best player to come through our youth system and has been the best Scottish player since he established himself in the Rangers team,IMO,as well as being a great servant to Rangers FC,Thanks Barry and all the best

Rangers’ Madjid Bougherra has agreed move to Bordeaux, according to reports in the French press. Bougherra has apparently agreed to a four-year deal with the French champions and the two clubs are said to be in talks over a 6million Euro figure. The 26-year-old defender joined Rangers from Charlton last summer for Ã?£2.5million and enjoyed instant success, playing a major role in helping the Glasgow club win the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Cup. Bordeaux are seeking to replace Souleymane Diawara, who recently joined Marseilles. The Algerian is also attracting attention from English Premier League side Wigan, with new boss Roberto Martinez looking to strengthen his side ahead of the season. Bougherra has been capped 29 times for Algeria. Last updated: 14 July 2009, 16:58 http://sport.stv.tv/football/109032-rangers-madjid-bougherra-agrees-to-bordeaux-transfer/

Two Rangers fans have been charged over attacks on police officers after last year's Uefa Cup Final in Manchester. Scott McSeveney, from Shotts, North Lanarkshire, and Mark Stoddart, from Glasgow, are accused of violent disorder and a Section 47 assault. Mr McSeveney is alleged to have attacked Pc John Goodwin, while Mr Stoddard is accused of assaulting Pc Mick Regan. Rangers were defeated 2-0 by Zenit St Petersburg in the final in May 2008. Both officers were kicked and stamped upon while on the ground. The attacks were captured by CCTV cameras. Pc Goodwin was knocked unconscious and suffered swelling to his brain after being repeatedly punched and kicked. Crimewatch appeal His colleague Pc Regan later described how he was pulled free from a mob of fans by a member of the public, allowing him to escape with sore ribs and a puncture wound to his arm. The Crown Prosecution Service's reviewing lawyer Andrew Holt said a third man, Brian McVicar, from East Kilbride, will also be charged with violent disorder. His charge does not relate to the attacks on the officers. Mr McSeveney, 21, Mr Stoddard, 25, and 19-year-old Mr McVicar are all due to appear at Manchester City Magistrates Court on 10 August. About 150,000 Rangers fans travelled to Manchester city centre for the match on 14 May last year. Violence erupted when a big screen in the largest fan zone in Piccadilly Gardens failed to show the game. Groups of supporters clashed with police, with officers suffering dislocated shoulders, broken fingers, and bruising. Greater Manchester Police issued a Crimewatch appeal to catch the culprits in January, leading to the arrest of several fans for public disorder offences. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8149980.stm

by Thomas Jordan MAURICE EDU'S lifelong dream growing up in America was to mix it with the world's top talents in the Champions League. The Rangers midfielder was beaming with delight as he managed to take a huge step closer to living out that ambition by helping the Ibrox club win the championship at Tannadice last season to automatically qualify for the group stage of the competition. But it came at a price. An injury picked up during the victory that secured the title was confirmed days later as being a knee ligament tear which denied the 23-year-old the opportunity to play in the Scottish Cup Final showdown with Falkirk at Hampden. However, it was the prospect of not being back in time for top flight football's most prestigious event that was one that sent a chill down the American international's spine as he faced up to the possibility he might miss the start of the Champions League. advertisement Edu, though, finds himself on course to be back in contention for Rangers' European campaign after spending the last four weeks stepping up his training in his homeland after going under the knife in June. He has now reported back to Murray Park to continue his rehabilitation under the watchful eye of the Rangers medical team. But the player is confident he is still on course to return in time to play in the Champions League. "Playing in the Champions League makes me even more eager to return," insisted Edu. "I've always dreamed of playing in the great stadiums of Milan or Barcelona. And there is a possibility of that happening now because we have automatically qualified for the group stage after winning the SPL title. "It means there is a good chance we could find ourselves playing against one of the biggest names in world football. "To score a goal in the Champions League at somewhere like the San Siro or Camp Nou would definitely be one of my career highlights." And it has provided the player with an extra incentive to get himself back to full fitness. "My knee feels a lot better," explained Edu. "Rehab is going very well and I'm dying to play. "I am still scheduled to return the second week in September. " I don't want to come back too early and risk injuring the knee again. I want to make sure I am 100 per cent fit when I come back. "You don't want to push yourself and come back too soon only to end up damaging the injury again, so I'll be sensible and listen to what the medical people tell me." Incredibly, Edu suffered the injury shortly after the half-time interval, but managed to play on for the rest of the match even though diagnosis later confirmed he had torn a ligament. That, of course, has probably delayed his recovery further, but such was his desire to make sure his new club won the championship that he refused to allow the injury to end his involvement in such a crucial encounter. But he was surprised to discover days later that it was such a serious injury. "I felt my knee twist when Darren Dods hit me and it hurt pretty bad," said Edu. "I was lying on the field for a couple minutes but got up, bit my tongue and let my adrenalin take over to help me finish the match. "It wasn't until a couple days later that my knee felt really stiff and I thought there might be a problem." The injury sidelined Edu not only for the Scottish Cup Final against Falkirk but also for the two US World Cup qualifying matches against Costa Rica and Honduras as well as the Confederations Cup. Edu had been included in the US squad by head coach Bob Bradley, but could only watch all the matches on television, something that the Rangers stalwart admits he did with some mixed emotions. "I was really excited and really happy for all the guys even though I wish I could have contributed," he added. "I think we played really well and fought hard. It shows that we're capable of competing against the best in the world. "Other countries have been looking down on us, but at the end of the day, they now see we are able to produce really good players." It has been an uneventful at Rangers with no new faces arriving, but Edu is simply pleased that they haven't lost any of their top stars despite speculation they need to sell off one before the start of the new season. "I think it's good that the core of the team stays," Edu said approvingly. "We know that changes can happen during the season but we also know that any players who are brought in are here to add quality." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2519877.0.0.php

Rangers supporters weren't difficult to spot in the aftermath of last season's thrilling SPL climax. Sporting smiles as wide as the River Clyde, fans celebrated ending Celtic's three-year title reign and securing their place in the group stages of the Champions League. But May's euphoric celebrations must seem like a lifetime ago. With little over a month to go until the start of the season, Rangers have yet to sign a player. And with an estimated �£10m windfall from Champions League participation, Rangers fans and manager Walter Smith know the clock is ticking. Misty-eyed fans can recall how previous transfer raids secured the likes of Ronald de Boer, Paul Gascoigne, Brian Laudrup and more recently Carlos Cuellar and Steve Davis. But the only transfer activity at Ibrox in this close season has been through the exit door. Of the squad that managed to wrest the title from Celtic's grasp, utility man Christian Dailly has been freed, along with midfielder Brahim Hemdani. Charlie Adam is on the brink of a permanent move to England and third-choice goalkeeper Graeme Smith has gone to St Johnstone. So when will Rangers make a signing that will enable journalists to blow the dust off of their keyboards and report on some fresh blood? In transfer fees there may be nothing at all for Rangers to spend in this transfer window BBC Scotland pundit Craig Paterson Former Rangers defender Craig Paterson believes the club must balance player recruitment with reducing its �£25m overdraft. "During the last transfer window at Christmas, fans were amazed to find that Rangers all of a sudden had become a selling club," said the BBC Scotland pundit. "They were looking to move on one of their bigger names in order to pay the bank. The credit crunch has hit, even at the very top level. "The fact they won the championship and qualified for the Champions League - and the money that's involved there - it looks like it will enable the club to keep the players they have. "Walter Smith may have wages to play with since a few players have moved on but in actual transfer fees there may be nothing at all for Rangers to spend." Paterson said that, in a healthier financial climate, Rangers would have been busy in the transfer market with some quality signings in light of the Champions League money heading into the Ibrox coffers. Rangers defender David Weir Rangers defender David Weir is hoping for a few more victories in the sun "That kind of money usually means they can bring in one or two players who can add something in terms of quality," he said. "Unfortunately, that's not going to be the case. They were talking about selling Kris Boyd or Barry Ferguson six months ago. "I just don't think there's going to be the millions required available to buy the type of players that Walter would be wanting. "The collapse of the Setanta deal was a nail in the coffin for any team thinking 'we can afford to spend that' and, all of a sudden, you need to put that on hold. "If you can't get the type of player who will add something special to the squad then I don't think they'll spend the money. And it may be the case of the manager going with what he has." Last season, the veteran David Weir was a rock at the heart of the Rangers defence alongside Madjid Bougherra. Rangers could face a selection headache, however, if either of the two suffers injury. Christian Dailly, Steven Whittaker and Lee McCulloch all deputised with varying degrees of success. MY SPORT: DEBATE Give your reaction to this story "Ideally, Walter would like somebody at the back, someone in the middle and another player up front. David Weir has been an outstanding performer, but every year we're asking 'can he do it again'? "Bougherra might be missing for up to a month because of the African Cup of Nations, so you need someone to step in there and that's not an easy job. "Danny Wilson is a young lad they have high hopes for. Like a lot of Scottish clubs, Rangers will be hoping they can promote from within if necessary." And Paterson said Smith has been searching for a skilful wide player since returning to Ibrox for his second spell in charge. "But he either can't get that kind of player with the money he has available or the type he wants just aren't in the market just now," he added. "Rangers proved last season they had enough quality and bottle to get the job done and that should boost their confidence. "One or two additions would make a difference, but, if Walter has to go with what he has, they showed me enough to suggest they can win the title again." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/8148241.stm

You are correct,and I agree with you,however it is a sign of the times if clubs keep throwing crazy money at players then they would be daft to turn it down

But no surprise

Aye, I know SA, just me having a bit of a moan ,in saying that you get more breaking news else where