ian1964

by Thomas Jordan AFTER waiting four months for their opportunity to return to the top of the table, Rangers latest reign as league leaders lasted all of 11 days. Hardly the hallmark of a team with the durability required to succeed as champions. The 1-0 defeat at the hands of Caley Thistle this week has prompted questions over the Ibrox club's title credentials. The obvious one, of course, will be do they have the bottle to come out on top in such a fiercely contested title battle? A two-week shutdown from the league, as they take on Hamilton Accies in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup before facing Celtic in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final at Hampden Park, will put Rangers' title challenge on the back burner. advertisement That, however, will do little to dilute concerns among the Light Blue legions that their defeat to the Highlanders is a signal that this squad doesn't have what it takes to stop Celtic making it four-in-a-row. The implications if Rangers don't win the league are huge. From a financial perspective, it is imperative the riches that go hand in hand with entry to the Champions League are secured next season after failure to reach that stage this season left a �£10million black hole in the club's finances. Winning the championship this season will once again offer the SPL winners direct entry to the group stage of the competition. The runners-up, like this season, would face two qualifying games, but the standard of opposition standing in their path will dramatically increase under Uefa's qualification criteria revamp. On March 21 against Hearts, Walter Smith will turn his full attention back of the title race with Celtic now out in front, albeit only marginally with a three-point advantage. He will have 10 matches which will not only shape their season, but possibly the foreseeable future of the club. Does the Rangers manager have the players at his disposal to come out in top against a Celtic side that has already shown, not just last season but in previous campaigns, that they are good enough to prosper under the white heat of a title run-in? Indeed, captain Barry Ferguson is the only member of Walter Smith's squad who has truly influenced and delivered title success. Nacho Novo, who is currently out injured, has also played his part in the past as Alex McLeish delivered two championship trophies in 2005. But he has been no more than a bit-part player at Rangers in recent seasons. Here, SportTimes takes a look at the men who will be required to stand up and be counted in 10 league games of monumental importance to the Ibrox club. IN GOOD HANDS Allan McGregor has returned to the sort of form that brought speculation of a �£9m move to the Premiership last season. After a difficult start to the campaign, as he tried to find his feet following a long injury lay-off, the Ibrox goalkeeper is once again turning in some vital performances. McGregor's goal has been breached only four times in 13 matches. So this isn't a position that would cause Smith much concern. FULL-BACK FAILINGS Smith's first task as they prepare to welcome a rejuvenated Hearts side to Ibrox will be to find a replacement for the suspended Davie Weir. The stopper's red card, following a rare mistake which gifted Caley the three points on Wednesday, will mean he'll have to sit out against his former club. On previous occasions, Kirk Broadfoot has been moved inside from his usual right-back beat and Steven Whittaker has come out of cold storage to play as a full-back. That, you'd imagine, would tempt most opposing managers to try and expose Gers backline. Madjid Bougherra has been their most consistent defender throughout this season. Indeed, Smith probably doesn't like to dwell on what his defence would be like without him at its heart As for Weir, his displays, in fairness, have been pretty consistent. It's the full-back areas that let Rangers down. The way they play, both see plenty of the ball and are encouraged to push forward. While Broadfoot is always willing to do so, too often his final ball simply isn't good enough. At least, however, he is willing to get involved in the game. Papac, no doubt to the constant frustration of the Rangers management, is far more reluctant to join in on attacks. So is it a defence you could bank on to hold firm? Well, their recent form has been impressive, but cracks could appear the more pressure is put on them. WIDE-BOYS REQUIRED Pedro Mendes's influence has been badly missing in Rangers recent two matches. The Portuguese playmaker provides an extra dimension to their attacking play in particular. His passes are crisp, he spots things early and, unlike many of his colleagues, he isn't too predictable at times. Next to him will be the captain Ferguson. Having been over the course many times before, he knows what it takes to deliver a championship. And, as skipper, he knows there are more eyes on him than any other member of the Rangers squad. Maybe Rangers' biggest problem is that they don't boast natural wide players. For all Steven Davis has enjoyed an excellent campaign, he isn't an out-and-out winger. Neither is Kyle Lafferty, Lee McCulloch, Steven Naismith nor the various players deployed on the left of midfield this season. Perhaps the most comfortable in such a position is young John Fleck. But he is still cutting his teeth at this level. It would be unfair, for all his natural ability and enthusiasm, to expect him to carry older and more experienced team-mates between now and the end of the season. Overall, Rangers have a midfield that works well enough together but there have been several occasions this season when they could have played all night and not carved out a chance for any of the striker. BOYD BACK-UP Who scores the goals if Kris Boyd isn't bagging them? Kenny Miller pops up now and again with one, sometimes two, but can he do it when it matters most? Can he keep a cool head inside the penalty area when that one of only chance of the game comes his way? History would suggest not. Lafferty is struggling to provide clues as to how he is going to become a key player at Rangers and while Novo is always a threat coming off the bench, his injury problems could prevent him from being at his best for some time. This department, probably more than any other, will be the one that Smith will be concerned about the most. When everything is going well, they are most certainly capable of finding the back of the net. In the comings weeks, however, there will be more than one occasion when Smith is on the sidelines hoping to one of his frontman to snatch a goal that transformers what is appearing to be one point into three. Time, of course, will tell. Only a fool would predict the outcome of the current championship. But Rangers aren't only playing for the title - the financial baggage it carries means the future of the club is at stake. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2493863.0.0.php

by Thomas Jordan Kaunas (a), August 5 2008 Rangers headed to Lithuania on the back of a 0-0 draw at Ibrox but, despite taking the lead, they crashed to a 2-1 defeat in the dying minutes of the game. In the financial terms, the Ibrox club have failed to recover. The �£10m cost of the exit will come back to haunt them in the summer when a leading player is expected to be sold to balance the books. It was a dreadful display from the Rangers players involved and immediately put everyone in a position of power at the club under immense pressure before the domestic campaign had even got off and running. advertisement St Mirren (a), October 5 2008 It was not only their first league defeat at the season but also their first defeat at Love Street in 22 years as St Mirren recorded a shock 1-0 win. Rangers travelled to Paisley with the full length of the SPL table separating the clubs, but a lack of cutting edge in the final third was Rangers' problem. Despite just about having all of the play, the visitors couldn't find a way to open the scoring yet, at the other end of the field, substitute Stephen McGinn netted 12 minutes from time with his team's only purposeful attack of the second-half. Dundee United (h), November 4 2008 Rangers surrendered their place as leaders on goal difference by slipping up at home in the league for the first time in the campaign. Indeed, the Ibrox men ended up requiring an injury-time goal from Kevin Thomson to rescue a point in thrilling 3-3 draw. After taking the lead through Steven Davis, United fought back to storm ahead before Sasa Papac levelled the scoreline. The visitors once again took the lead before Thomson's late equaliser. It wasn't, however, to take them back the top of the table as they slipped two points behind Old Firm rivals Celtic. Aberdeen (a), January 24 2009 With leaders Celtic not playing until later in the day, Rangers were handed a chance to take over top spot for a few hours by beating Aberdeen at Pittodrie. Smith adopted a cautious approach as striker Kris Boyd was left on the bench. Rangers started with just one in attack and Lee McCulloch coming in to occupy a holding midfield role in a 4-5-1 formation. But, despite once again dominating the game for long spells and carving out enough chances to win the game, the visitors had to settle for 0-0. Celtic (a), February 15 2009 Rangers crossed the city to Parkhead in the knowledge that victory would see them leapfrog Celtic into top spot. Once again, Boyd was left on the bench as Rangers went with a similar line-up that drew 0-0 at Pittodrie but with Kyle Lafferty taking over from Kenny Miller as lone striker. In one of the poorest meetings between the two clubs in some time, there was nothing to separate the clubs on the day. It was a missed opportunity for Rangers avoiding defeat at least kept them in the title hunt. Caley Thistle (h), March 4 2009 Back at the top of the table and seemingly enjoying a new lease of life, disaster struck at a most unlikely time. Despite dominating for long spells, there was little in the way of clear-cut chances created and, against the run of play, the visitors won an injury-time penalty after a mistake by Davie Weir. Black secured an surprise 1-0 win for his team. It allowed Celtic, who defeated Kilmarnock 2-1 away form home, to move top on their own right again with a two-point advantage. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2493865.0.0.php

Football too easily lends itself to hysterical judgment. It hasn't taken long for Rangers' 1-0 defeat by Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Ibrox on Wednesday night to be decreed a ââ?¬Å?calamityââ?¬Â and a ââ?¬Å?disasterââ?¬Â, with every claim ranging from calls for Walter Smith's head to the permanent dumping of Kris Boyd being made. Rangers, a club with every chance of winning the 2009 title, are said to be at a low ebb. Caley Thistle's victory was certainly a setback for Smith's side but too much is already being read into the result. The chase for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title, at both Celtic Park and Ibrox, is going to endure quite a few more such moments as Wednesday night, so it seems silly to sound off emphatically about the harm that Terry Butcher's men have done to Rangers. Come early April, let's just see how many more random glitches have been added to the plot. Rangers were poor on Wednesday but they weren't ââ?¬Å?disgracefulââ?¬Â or ââ?¬Å?shockingââ?¬Â as some hot-headed supporters around the pressbox were claiming. Caley Thistle, in truth, were extremely lucky to win and, as stonewall a penalty as David Weir's late challenge on David Proctor was, Butcher's team had hardly been within 30 yards of Allan McGregor's goal. The fact that Rangers revealed some obvious flaws cannot conceal the fact that they were blatantly robbed at the death. Those who rant and rave at Smith's renowned caution may also pause to consider some of the aspects of Rangers' failings on the night. John Fleck, whom you could almost be forgiven for thinking was a new, young Diego Maradona in our midst, given some of his press coverage, played poorly, losing possession easily or running up blind alleys with the ball. A few Ibrox diehards were yelling for Fleck to be taken off long before he was on Wednesday, and it should serve again to warn those who already have this young footballer's mesmerising career mapped out ahead of him. Related Links * Fans turn on sorry Rangers * Someone is letting Rangers down These games happen every so often. Before Wednesday night Rangers had been running into some decent form - unlike Celtic - and their defence had begun to look stingy in the extreme. Right now, one match cannot be said to have undone all of that, and talk of the wheels coming off Rangers' title challenge is simply absurd. What you do need if you are a Rangers supporter today, given some of the players at the club, is a well of compassion and patience which are normally alien to football supporters. In their different ways Boyd, Kirk Broadfoot, Steven Davis and Maurice Edu all have the ability to infuriate. Davis, in particular, is neat and tidy, but for a Ã?£4million player should probably have more severe weapons in his arsenal. In Edu's case, it is still too early to judge, though some remain faintly amazed that Rangers paid an alleged Ã?£2.6million for the player. In terms of such a price, is Edu a Filip Sebo - all Ã?£1.8million of him - all over again? The most infuriating Rangers player of all remains Boyd: what a goalscorer and what a plodder. When Boyd, in the opening moments against Caley Thistle, was given time and space in the old inside-left channel in the penalty area, but then over-ran the ball, Ibrox let out a knowing groan. The striker will forever have his limitations, and when he is enduring one of his leaner scoring spells, such as now, they will always be held against him. Some of Britain's greatest goalscorers have also been average footballers, but their goals were all that mattered. That truth is something that Boyd is going to have to live with. In the weeks and months ahead Rangers have still to go to Celtic Park, Tannadice, Tynecastle, Easter Road and many another testing ground. As the noose tightens in the SPL race, Celtic face an equal gamut of hazardous trips. If last season's dramatic closing weeks taught us anything, it surely is that early March is no time to be making weighty pronouncements about the title race. It seems inconceivable that both halves of the Old Firm do not have stumbles and failures remaining within them. Smith looked a mite world-weary as he faced the media after Wednesday's humbling defeat. Ibrox had just been on his back, and for a brief moment he resembled the same Smith who bore the pressure somewhat less well in his first innings with Rangers back in the 1990s. But the 60-year-old Ibrox manager has seen it all, and will not be joining those who have started writing the club's 2008-09 obituary. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article5854044.ece

welcome mate..........enjoy the forum

Well.........not all the time............and quietly

The fact is,Rangers do not have the devine right to win all games,no team does and I don't believe football fans expect that, but put it in perspective, I did expect to beat ICT,the bottom team, @ Ibrox @ this critical stage of the season after getting our noses back in front in the title push, is that too much to expect ?, don't think so. How will this defeat influence winning the SPL ?, time will tell, but surely fans are entitled to boo if they feel they are not getting the right standard of performance, FWIW I do not boo.

�£5 million ???????, I am sure SDM would accept an offer far less than that mate

DAVIE WEIR will be able to play in Sunday's Homecoming Scottish Cup quarter-final and the Co-op Final the following week despite a red card against Inverness. The veteran defender was dismissed for a last-man challenge in injury time on David Proctor resulting in a penalty which was converted by Ian Black to give Inverness a shock 1-0 win. However, a one-match ban will not apply until the next SPL game which will be the visit of Hearts on March 21. It is not much comfort for Rangers who are now three points behind Celtic, who won 2-1 at Kilmarnock. However, it means that Weir can face Hamilton and Celtic before he sits out the Ibrox clash with the Tynecastle men.

WALTER SMITH has expressed his disappointment and frustration after Rangers dropped three points against Inverness Caley Thistle at Ibrox tonight. Madjid BougherraThe Gers' gaffer watched on as his side dominated possession throughout the 90 minutes but failed to create clear cut chances in front of Ryan Esson's goal. And The Light Blues were made to pay in last minute of injury time when Ian Black slotted home his penalty kick after David Weir was sent off for a foul on David Proctor. Smith said: "It's frustrating in the sense that we did not reach the level of play we have in the majority of our games this season. "We never played well in the first-half but came in to it in the second and had a lot of possession without really testing Caley's keeper. "We faced a difficult match on Saturday at Hamilton and got a good result there which makes tonight's result even more disappointing. "We have not dropped a lot of points at home this season but we now need to focus on our game against Hamilton on Sunday." Mo Edu in action against Inverness With Celtic winning 2-1 at Rugby Park against Kilmarnock, Rangers are now three points behind their great rivals in the title race but the only concern for Smith after the final whistle was his team's below par display against the Highland Jags. He added: "I don't think we can consider anything apart from our own game and the way we performed. "We didn't reach a high level and can have no complaint about the penalty decision."

by Lindsay Herron MADJID BOUGHERRA admitted that Rangers are bitterly disappointed to lose top spot in the SPL after the shock defeat by Inverness. But the Algerian defender insists the Light Blues have enough time to recover. A mix-up between Davie Weir and Allan McGregor three minutes into injury time resulted in Weir bringing down David Proctor. He was promptly sent off and then Ian Black scored with the penalty which means Rangers now trail Celtic by three points. However, it was Rangers' inability to score which has proved so costly and Bougherra knows it. Madjid BougherraHe said: "It's really disappointing because we were top of the league and we have lost our place, like we did earlier this season. "Basically, we couldn't score. We had many good situations but we didn't have a good final pass and sometimes this happens. "But you don't want it to happen at this stage of the season when every game is so important. "We will keep working and we will come back because the championship still has a long way to go. "We had lots of possession. Inverness stayed back and did very well and we could not find the space we needed. "We are frustrated because we could not score. We really wanted to stay top of the league and it is so disappointing. "However, it is better to lose now than nearer the end of the season."

Even if we do win the league, and therefore get the CL money,this money will only be used to '' sustain and manage the debt'', not improve the quality on the park, deary me !!!

Let's not kid anybody on here,why is it when we get a bad result and people complain,quite right IMO, it is called '' a knee jerk reaction'', I think we all see what has been happening for years now, remember we have snatched the SPL on the last day of the season twice in recent seasons,which in itself is fair enough as the season is played over the whole season, but I think if we all know if we hadn't sneaked these titles on the last day the MOPES would be looking at........................NO I REFUSE TO THINK ABOUT THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!, the league is not over, but stop saying it's a knee jerk reaction.

Also forgot Miller scored..........but was ruled off side

Fair point, I just always feel we should make the opposition worry about Rangers players, rather than the other way around,by bringing on Aaron/Fleck on Saturday would have done that IMO

This what baffled me about Saturday,why WS brought on Whittaker instead of Aaron!!!!

SPANISH kid Aaron Niguez wants to play a part in the title run-in as he hopes to deliver silverware for the Ibrox club. The 19-year-old has only made three substitute appearances for Walter Smith's side since joining on a two-year load deal from the La Liga outfit, Valencia. In his last outing, the little attacker scored his first goal for the club in a 4-0 victory over Forfar in the Scottish Cup, and he is now looking to play his part as his team-mates attempt to close in on all three domestic trophies. He said: "I am very settled in Scotland and even happier now that I have played for the first-team and scored a goal against Forfar. advertisement "That, of course, was very special for me, one of the best moments in my life. "When I went out on to the pitch that night, I listened and could hear the fans shouting my name, that made me very happy. It was a great feeling to score as you could see from my celebration. I knew I would get a yellow card for taking my top off but I was so excited. "The goal was for my family back home and for the fans who have been so kind to me and made the move to Rangers so special. I love being at this club and, hopefully, I can now stay in the manager's plans and help my team-mates who have also been great." Aaron admits it has taken him some time to get up to speed with the Scottish game but feels is his ready to play a part in the coming weeks. Speaking in the Rangers News, he said: "The game here is very fast and different from Spain. "However, I have now been here six months, and when I am on the bench I watch the game so that I know what to expect if I go on. "I am an attacking player, and when I play I always try to create chances for my team-mates. That is what the manager asks of me but I am also aware of my defensive duties."

by Andrew Dickson WALTER SMITH has dismissed debate on the goal difference situation in the race for the SPL title and insists winning games is all that matters. Much has been made of Celtic slashing the gap to just four goals in Rangers' favour after demolishing St Mirren 7-0 last weekend. However, Smith says securing three points against Inverness tonight is all that interests him. Walter SmithHe said: "Obviously, the most important thing for us at the moment is to win every game we play. That counts more than anything else. "Of course, it's our objective to go out and score as many goals as we can. That's what we try to do in every game. "But the most important thing for me between now and the end of the season is we show a consistency in terms of winning. If we can do that, I'll be happy. "For league championships to be decided by goal difference is unusual so all we can do is try to get as many victories as possible and see where it takes us. "Although Celtic had a seven-point advantage over us not that long ago, the teams have been quite tight this season. "As you look at the statistics now and the way the league has panned out, there is not a lot between us at all. "There is pressure on both halves of the Old Firm to win all of their games, regardless of whether one team plays before the other or not. "As such, we have to keep picking up maximum points. We are on a decent run just now and have to keep that going."

I'll go for 3-0 to the Gers, Boyd 2,Davis1

You do wonder where the likes of the daily star get these ideas Maybe it's because he is their captain and scored last night

by Lindsay Herron WALTER SMITH reckons Barry Ferguson has returned to his best form at just the right time as Rangers seek a glorious end to the season. The skipper was the match-winner last Saturday at Hamilton with his first goal of the season but Smith says he has been playing well on top of that. Ferguson's experience will clearly be vital in the SPL run-in as Rangers get set to face Inverness at Ibrox tonight. Walter SmithSmith said: "He has been playing well for the last month and he is starting to pick up. "He was out for a period of time in the early part of the season and it was always going to be difficult to come back, when you take into consideration that the whole team started the season slowly. "But I think he has been playing exceptionally well in the last period and he played well on Saturday. "He is starting to play at the top of his game again. "You could see signs of that in spells of games that we've had and that was his most consistent performance for us since he came back. "Hopefully, he can continue that for the rest of our games this season."

Rangers manager Walter Smith is lining up a �£1.5m bid for Doncaster midfielder Brian Stock. (Daily Star)

Mar 4 2009 By Craig Swan WALTER SMITH last night admitted David Weir could be playing for Rangers at 40. The veteran defender was handed a one-year extension to his Ibrox deal last summer after snubbing interest from England to stay in the SPL. Weir was Smith's first signing of a second spell in office and his displays have thrilled him. The Scotland ace will be 39 in May and another 12-month contract could see him stay beyond his 40th birthday. Nothing has been decided but Smith said: "I'm pleasantly surprised by his form. The back four plus Allan McGregor have defended well this season and Davie's been an integral part for more than two years. "I don't suppose we should be surprised any more. Initially, I thought he would be here for a three-or four-month period. Yet here he is, still going and doing really well. "Davie's a quiet lad and people assume that means he's laid back, but he's not. He wants to win and that determination is still in him." If time catches up and Weir is not still playing next term, Smith is convinced he can go into management. He said: "Davie is doing his coaching badges so that and management is a natural followon for him." Smith also praised skipper Barry Ferguson and keeper McGregor ahead of tonight's game against Caley Thistle. Ferguson hit the winner at Hamilton and continues to improve after missing the start of the season through injury. McGregor has also bounced back from surgery and an earlyseason axe to recapture his form. Smith said: "When you are the Rangers captain and have been here a few years, as Barry has, people forget you're the same as everyone else when you've been out for a while. Hopefully he can continue this run of form. "Last season, Allan set a hell of astandard for himself. It took him awhile to get up and running but he's been playing very well." Smith has also issued an upbeat bulletin on the fitness of crocked stars Pedro Mendes, Nacho Novo and Lee McCulloch. None will make tonight's game but he insists all will be fit for the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final against Celtic on March 15. Smith said: "McCulloch and Novo will definitely be fit for the weekend while Mendes is a possibility. "They will certainly be fit for the Cup Final." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2009/03/04/fab-at-40-86908-21169957/

Levein is a KNOB..............end of

by Matthew Lindsay RANGERS must land the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title if they want to avoid experiencing serious money problems in the future. That was the warning from financial expert David Glen today after the Ibrox club announced it has made a �£4million loss in its interim results. Glen, a senior partner in Pricewaterhouse Coopers, was unsurprised the Light Blues had performed so poorly. Walter Smith's team failed to make it to the Champions League group stage when they lost to Lithuanian minnows FBK Kaunas in the second qualifying round in August. advertisement As a result of that major disappointment, the Gers turnover was down dramatically to �£20m for the six months to December 31, 2008, from �£33m the year before. Those figures are in stark contrast to their Old Firm rivals Celtic who made a six- month profit of �£8m in the corresponding period. And Glen, who estimates the Gers debt is now around the �£25m mark, believes being crowned champions this season is vital to stave off the effects of the credit crunch. He said: "The results are pretty much as expected. Basically, this is what happens when a club doesn't have European football. That makes such an enormous difference to clubs financially. "In the last five seasons, Celtic have been pretty much ever-presents in Europe and that is a large part of the reason why they are in such a healthy position financially. "Rangers, despite reaching the Uefa Cup final in Manchester last season, have not been so successful. Hence the reason their debt is, at an educated guess, around about the �£25m mark." Glen added: "The trouble is that in the past when Rangers were in this situation they would work on the basis that they would get back into Europe the following year, or even the year after that. "They would work on the basis that things would come right. Often, they would turn to the bank to lend them more money. With the banking situation the way it is now, though, they can't gamble like that as much as they have done in the past. "They are on a knife-edge. Going another season without Champions League qualification is going to hurt them. "The crucial thing is they win the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. If they do, they qualify automatically for the Champions League group stage. If they don't, they need to get through two qualifying rounds. "They will be up against a better standard of opposition in the 2009/10 season, too. They will come up against good teams from Russia and the like. It will be a tough task to make it. "If they get into the group stage, their income is far more predictable. They will pick up �£10m - possibly �£12.5m if the second-placed team doesn't qualify for the group stage - and will be in a far healthier situation." However, Glen, an authority in the field of football finances, feels Rangers may attempt to trim their squad of first-team players in the summer even if they pip the Hoops to the SPL trophy and get into the Champions League group stage. Sir David Murray provoked outrage among the Gers support when he agreed to sell top scorer Kris Boyd to Coca-Cola Championship club Birmingham City for a �£3.8m fee in the January transfer window. Boyd, a lifelong Rangers supporter, dug his heels in and refused to join up with former Gers boss Alex McLeish at the St Andrew's Stadium - despite the promise of a hefty pay rise. But there were serious fears that several first-team players, including keeper Allan McGregor, defender Madjid Bougherra and midfielders Barry Ferguson and Pedro Mendes, would be offloaded in an attempt to balance the books. Glen continued: "As Sir David Murray said over the weekend, this (the club's interim results showing a �£4m loss) is what happens when a club has European overheads without European income. "The second half of the season is, in comparison with last year when they reached the Uefa Cup Final, are also going to show a huge decrease in income. There will be another significant drop-off. "Rangers just can't risk living with such a big squad any more. They have 28 first- team players at the moment and have said themselves they would like to trim that by about eight players. "I would expect the club to be net sellers in the summer - even if they win the league and get back into the Champions League." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2493042.0.0.php

by Ronnie Cully ALL 12 SPL clubs are today anxiously seeking confirmation their TV deal with Setanta Sports is not under threat after it was reported the satellite broadcaster want to renegotiate their �£150million contract with the English FA. The Irish-based company have a deal with the SPL worth �£54.5m which runs until 2010, and last year agreed a new contract worth �£125m which is set to extend until 2014. However, after losing the rights to one of the two packages of Premier League matches in the latest round of bidding, concerns have grown about Setanta's ability to hold on to subscribers. Now, with reports claiming they have delayed making a scheduled �£10m payment on their contract with the English FA, and that they want to hold talks to renegotiate the terms of that four year-deal, fears are multiplying within the Scottish game. advertisement The new SPL contract which was announced last summer was heralded at the time by executive chairman Lex Gold as a major breakthrough for the Scottish game. He said: "It's the biggest-ever TV deal in Scottish football history. This will allow clubs to re-invest to make the Scottish game even stronger. "Ten years ago, we spoke about delivering a brighter future for Scottish football. "Today, as we look ahead to our next 10 years, we can do so with confidence. We look forward to working with them (Setanta) to continue building and developing our league." That confidence is now under pressure as the credit crunch bites. The BBC also has a contract with the SPL until 2012 for match highlights on TV and online on the BBC Sport website. But it would be a massive blow to every SPL club if there was even a delay in any of the payments from the deal they have with Setanta. And assurances will be swiftly sought that there will not be any disturbance to the cash flow. Alarm bells started to ring when Setanta's management last month ordered a major review of their business after they lost the rights to one of their Premiership packages. A Setanta source last night attempted to reassure subscribers and contract partners that they can survive this blow and that they will meet their commitments. They also have deals with the Premier League, the Indian Premier League, and the US PGA Tour and with Premier Rugby that starts next year. ITV - who, like Setanta, have a contract with the English FA - are also reported to be seeking to reschedule payments on their �£275m deal. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2493031.0.0.php