Frankie

We'll know more by the end of the week - not soon enough for most of us but I suppose patience is a virtue.

Successful Celtic Reserve/Youth coach has moved to us apparently...

http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/news/2007/080107.html 08 January 2007 Trust Calls for ââ?¬Ë?Clarity, Direction and Leadershipââ?¬â?¢ at Rangers The Board of the Rangers Supportersââ?¬â?¢ Trust have watched with dismay at the events unfolding at Ibrox in recent weeks. The Trust repeats its public call for clarity, direction and leadership. - Clarity We are entitled to know why the Clubââ?¬â?¢s former Manager and former Captain were allowed to conduct a public dispute, which led to both of them losing their positions. We are also entitled to know precisely what role everyone played in this. - Direction We urgently require the appointment of a top class managerial team and the acquisition of quality professionals befitting of the team jersey. No-one is indispensable and no-one is bigger than Rangers Football Club. - Leadership Most importantly, we now need a tangible, public indication that the ambitions of the Rangers support are matched by the Clubââ?¬â?¢s Board and that the necessary investment and strategies to deliver on those ambitions are in place. We call on Sir David Murray to publicly address the Rangers support as a matter of urgency. The Trust has called for an urgent meeting in the next few days with Sir David Murray which he acknowledges and has agreed to meet as soon as is practical.

Yeah, Smith will simply resign and we'll have to pay compensation. He and McCoist will be unveiled in the next few days.

I like Webster but I really think he and Svensson need an experienced defender alongside them to find their best form.

And Sporting Life http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/07/01/05/SOCCER_Rangers_Snap.html&TEAMHD=soccer

According to SSN

I sincerely hope we can move Buffel on for some reasonable money. Inconsistent, lightweight and no heart despite his obvious talents. Not for me anymore.

I was told last month that we weren't interested in Webster - that may have changed with PLG's removal but I'll reserve judgement. I think he's a decent defender but I reckon he'd need an experienced hand beside him much like Svensson does. As for Gow, he's a player I've always admired and I'd love to see what he could do in place of the more expensive Buffel. He usually plays in the hole and he also offers more of a scoring threat than the Belgium. BTW, I grudge putting Ferguson in there at this moment in time.

I think Brown and Gow may sign, but I'm unsure about anyone else. We certainly need at least one defender and another striker to replace Prso. I'd go for this __________________McGregor_________________ Hutton____AN Other_________Svensson____Smith _________Brown____Ferguson____Adam_________ ____________________Gow____________________ ____________AN Other_______Boyd_____________

http://www.gersnet.info/fmrangers/newmain/050107.html Who�d have thought it? Walter Smith and Ally McCoist to be the new dream team! Is this a master-stroke by McFly or more short-term appeasement followed by heartbreak? Smith is obviously a man with Rangers in his heart. During his earlier stint we had some great times and his contribution to the 92/93 CL run and 9iar cannot be underestimated. However, at the same time, he had millions upon millions to spend; was up against a faltering Celtic and despite that one great CL season our European record was very poor. How will he cope with no financial backing and a Celtic who are now well in front of our mismanaged outfit? In some ways I can understand why we would bring both of them back. Smith is proven at SPL level and McCoist will fix the dressing room disharmony. Thus, as a short-term solution until a new man could be brought on board I'd be quite happy but as a long term solution I'm not so sure. It had been rumoured that Billy Davis was the long term candidate to succeed PLG, but given that era ended so prematurely, I don't think we were ever going to be able to tempt him away from Derby at short notice - especially given the compensation we'd need to pay. If Smith is part-time and McCoist the only full-timer poached from the SFA, then that's cost effective which as well all know takes precedence nowadays. More so if, as rumoured, McCoist, Gary McAllister or maybe still Davies is to be groomed to take over eventually. Of course, that would require long term planning and ambition and unfortunately the current administration don't have that quality. Bloody hell, our chairman and his CEO couldn�t even arrange for their holidays to be different times to keep maximum order in one of their absence! No, short-term appeasement is what Murray is always about. This appointment will deliver that but it won't appease the ever-increasing number of us who expect that little bit more vision. Just last November Murray was telling us that PLG would be here for the long term and his managerial position reviewed at the end of this season. What changed his mind so quickly? Was it Ferguson and the playing staff? Was it the unacceptable results and inconsistency? One can only assume it was the former as he didn�t sack Alex McLeish so eagerly last season when he should have. One thing is for sure Smith should bring stability. Smith was also never Barry Ferguson�s biggest fan in his early years so that might ensure our ex-captain won�t rule the roost as he might expect. We certainly need dominance in the changing room and leadership throughout the club. I don�t think PLG gave us that but I�m not so sure Barry Ferguson or Sir Davie McFly do either. Papering over the cracks just about sums it up. Can one obtain an honour for that?

I heard a wee while back that we had agreed a fee for Brown with Hibs but they didn't want him to sign until the summer. Thomson and Webster I'm not so sure about but I guess targets change for new managers.

Big Marv will be attending the RST dinner in March... I hope we'll have a Gersnet table again this year!

Yeah it's looking like Walter and Ally will be the guys after all. Smith is obviously a man with Rangers at his heart. During his earlier stint we had some great times and his contribution to the 92/93 CL run and 9iar cannot be underestimated. However, at the same time, he had millions upon millions to spend; was up against a faltering Celtic and despite that one great CL season our European record was very poor. In some ways I can understand why we would bring both of them back. Smith is proven at SPL level and McCoist will fix the dressing room. As a short-term solution until a new man could be brought on board I'd be quite happy but as a long term solution I'm not so sure. It had been rumoured that Billy Davis was the long term candidate to succeed PLG but now that era has ended so prematurely, I don't think we were ever going to be able to templt him away from Derby especially given the compensation we'd need to pay. If Smith is part-time and McCoist the only full-timer poached from the SFA, then that's cost effective. Moreso if Gary McAllister (or maybe still Davies) is to be groomed to take over eventually. Of course, that would require long term planning and ambition and unfortunately the current administration don't have that quality. Short-term appeasement is what Murray is always about - this will deliver that but it won't appease the ever-increasing number of us who expect that little bit more vision.

Already a thread mate...

Billy Davies is the most likely candidate

PLG to PSG = no pay off Billy Davies will be our new manager

January is certainly not the time to judge. Deespite some obvious problems and mistakes, the new manager deserves longer than 6 months before we judge him as a failure.

Thomson will not be coming to Rangers.

I dont think we can call anyone a twat until we know the facts. We need to keep our emotions in check then when we know the full story we can decide who to blame or not.

I don't want to say much about who is to blame for this soap opera - I don't think any of us know for certain. I can't say for sure but our club should always be more than one man - captain, manager or chairman. These 3 people are the most important people at Rangers and the fans rightfully expect these people to act in our best interests while representing our club in a dignified manner. I don't think any of them are doing that right now and although I think it's unfair to blame any of them completely, all 3 should be ashamed of the problems that they are bestowing upon a group of fans who deserve much, much more. I spent the first day of 2007 with my Grandad who, despite being as big a bear as I know, doesn't (or more accurately can't) keep up with everthing politicial that happens at Rangers nowadays. We discussed many things not least our absent friends and how the club has changed since the days he used to attend as often as he could. What came up was the no single man should ever be bigger than Rangers Football Club. Unfortunately, it appears that there appears to be several people who think that they are. Instead of using their valued individual talents to work together and bring the best to our club, they appear to be conspiring against each other and bringing the worst. It's time that all 3 showed some humilty and respect for their positions and asked themselves what the real people behind our club want. We want hunger, we want pride, we want communication, we want teamwork, we want direction, we want ambition, we want leadership, we want dignity and most importantly we want more than all 3 of you are currently offering.

Rumours of Ferguson's departure are rather premature at this stage. Now, I think it's been pretty obvious for the last wee while that, despite Ferguson's excellent form, his relationship with the new manager hasn't been as positive as any of us would have liked. It's testament to both PLG and Ferguson that until now they had managed to keep their personal differences aside for the benefit of a team that can ill-afford to miss one of the SPL's best midfielders. Unfortunately, it seems that can no longer be done. That's extremely disappointing and in many ways I sympathise with the manager, the player and - most importantly - the fans. As usual, it will be us that suffer from this problem and as many have alluded to in the last few years, our club has no structure and leader to avoid circumstances like these. At this stage it's impossible to attribute the blame to either party but it's imperative that someone at the club (either Murray or Bain) should show some leadership, humilty and respect for our fans by explaining this issue while informing of us of what measures are being put in place to turn around our slump and improve the many areas in which or club is lacking behind. I believe that will happen but whether or not that will appease us all is another matter entirely. PS: It's amazing how the supposedly vastly over-inflated 'crab' is suddenly hot property for certain SPL teams who have NO chance of signing him.

I still see PLG as the long term answer. He has shown that he can be flexible and if he can add to the squad in terms of a defender and a striker then we won;'t be far away. It was never going to happen overnight and hopefully our patience will be rewarded. The signs are there and with our backing we will get even better.

There were a few guys who met Lucarelli while in Italy for the Livorno game. Seemingly he said he enjoyed playing against Rangers and only wished the game had been at Ibrox. As for him signing - I very much doubt we'd be able to afford to pay £3million for a player who will have no sell on value. We do need a replacement striker for Prso but I doubt we'll get one until the summer and I doubt it will be Lucarelli.

Thanks for clarifying that Craig. MY finance knowledge is most rudimentary.