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...as he reveals his part in Brian Kennedy's failed 11th hour Ibrox bid. THE former Ibrox boss vented his anger at chief executive Charles Green in a scathing attack on the Rangers boardroom chaos. GRAEME SOUNESS last night revealed he was part of Brian Kennedy’s failed 11th hour bid to stop Mike Ashley seizing control of Rangers. And the former Light Blues manager branded former chief executive Charles Green a “pr**k” during a scathing assessment of the never-ending boardroom chaos at Ibrox. Souness has told for the first time how he teamed up with old pal Kennedy last month when the Sales Shark owner launched a £3million rescue package after being approached by former chief executive Graham Wallace – only for the rest of the current regime to rubber-stamp take a £2m funding deal from Ashley instead. That setback came two-and-a-half years after Souness and Kennedy’s Blue Knights thought they had managed to get through the Ibrox front-door, only for disgraced Yorkshireman Green to grab control. Souness is angry about what has happened at his former club and concerned over Rangers’ future. But he reckons that would not have been the case had he and Kennedy got their way. When asked if he was also involved in the latest move, Souness said: “Yes. I had a week with Brian in Majorca three weeks ago. But if it’s not to be it’s not to be. ”It never got beyond a bid. And they never wanted Brian’s money this time either. “When we met a couple of weeks ago, we never went into detail because, the last time, we believed we had it. Brian believed he had it only to be let down and deeply disappointed. We even came up to watch a Rangers and Celtic game because we believed we had it. “I think this time around he was always thinking the worst. “Given the structure the way it is now I would think that’s it finished now. ”I’m angry about it and saddened by it in equal amounts because a lot has been allowed to happen. “I don’t want to get into being involved in a libel case. “All I would say is that if we had got it the people there would have had the club for the right reasons.” Souness believes the club has missed out by turning Kennedy down and added: “They certainly did the first time around. “It would have the right people running it for the right reasons. “That would have been Walter [smith] and I and the right person as the owner. All of us there for the right reasons. ”I don’t know how Brian feels right now but I think his attitude to it has changed now the other folk are involved.” Souness launched a scathing attack on Green as he revealed the Yorkshireman’s attempts to get him on board days before he completed his £5.5m buyout of the club’s assets back in the summer of 2012. He explained: “What is it? Two years since that prick had it? “The guy who knocked on my door one night asking me if I would get involved in it, with him. Charles Green. “Late one night about 11 o’clock, my answer was no. “I got a phonecall about an hour before that saying he was coming to see me. I had been asked to see him and I had refused. “I got a call an hour before to say he was on his way to see me. We went for a cup of tea at a hotel around the corner. “You’ve got me angry now… “Who knows what would have happened if we had got in? But I’ll tell you, the stadium would still be full.” Souness has no idea what the future holds now for Rangers under Ashley but said he had done a tremendous job with Newcastle. He said: “I don’t want to end up in court. “I wouldn’t be critical of Mike Ashley. He is a fantastic businessman who saw an opportunity at Newcastle and it’s very hard to be critical, having worked there myself. “I think he has done the right thing there. “What I worked there the largest shareholder was under enormous pressure to make changes too quickly. “He lived in the city. Mike Ashley doesn’t live in the city and has not listened to any fans forums or phone-ins. “He has stuck with his manager and it looks like he is getting the rewards of that. “That’s what it needed. It needs a strong owner and that’s what he is. Someone who has been supremely successful in anything he has touched. “I think in terms of Newcastle supporters they should be counting their blessings rather than being critical.” Souness also aimed a blast at those who celebrated Rangers’ demise when he said: “ All I would say is that all the people who enjoyed their demise, if they had their time again, would they have voted the same way? “Celtic getting gates of less than 20,000? I think it has damaged football, hopefully not beyond repair. “Football goes in cycles. Over a 10-year period, they say if you lose a support, it’s very hard to get that back. “I don’t know if it will get back. “Rangers will get back to the SPL, the Old Firm games will be enormous affairs again and the passion will remain the same. “But will it ever get back to where it was six or seven years ago? I very much doubt it.” Meanwhile, Rangers fans have written to stock market bosses urging them to investigate Ashley’s Ibrox power grab. The Rangers Supporters Trust has also raised a number of concerns about the current board’s handling of the League One champions, accusing them of a operating with a “reckless and irresponsible attitude to going concern status”. Newcastle United owner Ashley holds just under nine per cent of the cash-strapped Glasgow giants but has been effectively pulling the strings since the club was forced to accept his offer of a £2million loan. The terms of that crisis credit line allows the Sports Direct billionaire to name two directors to the Ibrox board. Former Magpies managing director Derek Llambias was Ashley’s first pick with the second yet to be revealed. Ashley also runs Rangers’ retail division – a deal which hands him 49 per cent of the club’s shirt sale profits – and owns the naming rights to the stadium following an agreement he struck with former chief executive Charles Green for just £1. Hampden bosses have already written to both Rangers and Ashley seeking “clarification” on the 50-year-old Londoner’s involvement. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/graeme-souness-vents-anger-gers-4611416

http://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/latest/site-info/293-competition-win-a-savile-rogue-rangers-scarf Savile Rogue, purveyors of the world’s finest football scarves, have teamed up with Gersnet to give your the chance to win a cashmere scarf in Rangers colours. If you’re not familiar with them, Savile Rogue scarves give a nod to football terraces of yesteryear, shunning in-your-face logos and cheap nylon in favour of a traditional bar design and the comfort, quality and warmth of top quality cashmere. To get your hands on one, simply tell us what Rangers player was called up to the Scotland squad for the upcoming matches against Ireland and England? Please email your answer to info@gersnet.co.uk - competition closes on Friday 14th November at noon and the site administrator's decision is final! Please note, unfortunately this competition is only open to residents of the United Kingdom. You can follow Savile Rogue on Twitter or Facebook.

ALLY McCoist has been heavily criticised and, at times, even derided for having Rangers games postponed during the last year or so. Fans of all football clubs like to go and see their side in action at three o'clock on a Saturday afternoon - at home especially. So when a match is switched to a midweek slot, for whatever reason, it tends to annoy supporters. The logic behind McCoist asking for fixtures to be called off - that three or more of his players are away on international duty - has not been widely accepted. When the Gers manager last invoked SPFL rule G7 and had last month's scheduled Petrofac Training Cup quarter-final against East Fife put back it upset many. Centre-backs Bilel Mohsni and Marius Zaliukas were called up by Tunisia and Lithuania respectively. Northern Ireland, meanwhile, placed Dean Shiels on stand-by. All three men had featured in the first team in the 2014/15 campaign. But not all of them were likely to kick off the last eight tie at New Bayview. In fact, it was not inconceivable that none of them would play. Surely, a lot of disgruntled fans asked, the Ibrox club has a strong enough squad to be able to cope with a meeting with part-time opposition from the bottom division without Mohsni, Shiels and Zaliukas? For followers of other clubs, meanwhile, it was nothing short of laughable that the once-mighty Glasgow giants appeared to be running scared of minnows from Methil. McCoist will argue that it is his responsibility as manager to put out his strongest possible side on the park irrespective of how lowly the opposition team are. He will also point to the fact his side has won all four of the games he has had postponed - against Dunfermline, Forfar, Cowdenbeath and East Fife - this season and last. Yet, whether you approve of his stance in these situations or not is neither here nor there in the case of the Championship match with Alloa at Ibrox this Saturday. For the club board to decree the match goes ahead without consulting with their manager on the matter is alarming and suggests all is not well in the relationship between the two parties. Yes, the future of the troubled League One champions remains, despite Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley agreeing to loan them £2million last month, shrouded in uncertainty. And, yes, playing the game against Alloa this weekend as scheduled will certainly ensure that much-needed revenue comes in to the stricken club as normal. It should also prevent Championship leaders Hearts pulling further ahead of Rangers at the top of the second tier table ahead of a massive meeting between the two sides at Tynecastle seven days later. But the decision on the Alloa match going ahead was a football one and should have been taken by Ally McCoist and Ally McCoist alone. That it was not was a disturbing development and has set a worrying precedent. What's next? Derek Llambias ruling that Jon Daly deserves a start up front ahead of Kris Boyd? David Somers insisting the side should set up in a 4-5-1 formation instead of a 4-4-2? The absence of Mohsni and Arnold Peralta will not impact on Rangers as neither man has featured for the first team in weeks. The loss of Lewis Macleod, however, most certainly will. It is no surprise McCoist is considering asking Scotland boss Gordon Strachan to release the midfielder for the game if he is not set to be involved in the Euro 2016 qualifier with the Republic of Ireland on Friday night. Macleod scored one goal - his eighth of the campaign -and set up Kenny Miller for another in an emphatic 4-0 triumph over Falkirk in a league game at Ibrox at the weekend. He was also the deserved recipient of the man of the match award. The 20-year-old, then, will be conspicuous by his absence if he is not in the Rangers team against Alloa. He certainly has been whenever he has been sidelined previously this term. It was no coincidence the Light Blues drew 1-1 with Alloa away and lost 3-1 to Hibs at home when the talented youngster was injured. Five of the eight points they have dropped in the league this season have been leaked without him. Stevie Smith will probably get the nod to stand in for Macleod and will no doubt acquit himself with all of his usual professionalism. But he is a specialist left- back and is not a like-for-like replacement. Having said all that, if McCoist's men, who have now kept six consecutive clean sheets in all competitions, continue to play as well as they have done in recent weeks against Barry Smith's charges they should collect all three points. Their performance against a decent Falkirk side was assured. A Nicky Law strike early on gave them the lead and subsequent efforts from Macleod, Miller and Nicky Clark secured another victory. The backline of Richard Foster, Darren McGregor, Lee McCulloch and Lee Wallace was once again rock solid. Steve Simonsen in goals was rarely troubled by the visitors. Hearts edged out Raith Rovers - a side that Rangers had thrashed 6-1 a few weeks ago - by 1-0 through in the capital on Saturday and maintained their four-point advantage at the top of the table. But the fact that Rangers have won eight games on the spin, letting in just one goal in the process, is rightly giving them confidence they can catch and overtake their main rivals for promotion back to the top flight. You would think Ally McCoist, the man responsible for orchestrating that run of form and for overseeing Rangers rise through the bottom two divisions, would be deferred to on football matters. You would be wrong. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/ally-must-action-cap-call-offs-at-rangers-187907n.25814885

Allerdyce and Pardew - back from the dead. Rogers and Pochetino - losers. Martinez and Pelligrini - tottering. Pulis - where he? Wenger - can' t keep him down. Mourhino - unstoppable except in Spain. Funny business managering.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/rangers-investors-sandy-james-easdale-4597710

...after bust-up with Rangers boss. GORDON claimed he wasn’t offered a contract by Gers in the summer – only for McCoist to insist he was given the option of signing. CELTIC keeper Craig Gordon has told Ally McCoist there will be no clear-the-air talks after his bust-up with the Rangers boss. Gordon claimed he wasn’t offered a contract by Gers in the summer – only for McCoist to insist he was given the option of signing. He also claimed Gordon hadn’t bothered calling him back but the Hoops No.1 said: “There’s plenty of things that could come out but won’t. “If he wants to say anything more it’s up to him. But I’m done with it.” Spending two years on the sidelines fearing for his career has given Gordon a great sense of perspective. So it’s not too surprising that a spat with McCoist has left the Celtic keeper unruffled. The 31-year-old spent a long time in the wilderness following his release by Sunderland in 2012, fighting for fitness as a knee injury continued to plague him. Celtic eventually handed Gordon a route back into the game this summer and he has rediscovered the kind of form that made him Scotland’s undisputed No.1. But he trained with Old Firm rivals Rangers before pitching up at Parkhead, although Gordon claims he wasn’t offered a contract by the Ibrox club. That was disputed last week by Gers gaffer McCoist. The fact Celtic then landed Rangers in the draw for the League Cup semi-final added even more spice to the row. But Gordon has already drawn a line under the matter and won’t give McCoist a call to clear the air before that cup clash early next year. He said: “I don’t want to get into a war of words. It’s his prerogative to say what he wants. “Those things should have stayed between us. If he wants to make those make comments that’s entirely up to him. “I know exactly what happened and I’m comfortable with everything that has gone on. “It’s up to him, it makes no difference to me. “I haven’t spoken to him. I don’t know if he wants a phone call or not but now we’ve been paired together in the League Cup, it’s probably unlikely. If he wants to say anything more, it’s up to him. “But it won’t be coming from me. I’m done with it.” Gordon has more important things to worry about and hopes his injury problems are now over after becoming a Hoops regular. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-keeper-craig-gordon-says-4596752?

Very random topic but what are your memories of him? I was very young when he played for us but recall him being a decent player despite his size and was ruined through injury. Am I recalling correctly?

What was/is their motivation for getting involved in Rangers? I've heard/read alsorts, such as they were 'sucked in' by Green and probably now wish they didn't get involved, or they were identified by Green to be his group's front after he made his supposed exit, or they were hoping to have sold up and been out with a good profit by now, or wanting some level of respectability that a Rangers director brings (or at least used too, what with the procession of chancers we've had lately), or even they are genuine Bears who want what's best for the club................ Interested in hearing opinions on why they got involved.

Algeria and Fujairah captain would love to finish his career at Ibrox. Fujairah: Algeria and Fujairah captain Madjid Bougherra says he dreams of playing one more game for former club Glasgow Rangers before he retires. The 32-year-old defender is currently languishing in the lower half of the UAE’s Arabian Gulf League with Fujairah, having joined from Qatar’s Al Lekhwiya in the summer. But he says he dreams of returning to Scotland’s Rangers, with whom he won five titles in four years before they sold him in 2011, when the club went into liquidation. Rangers were forced to re-enter Scottish football in the fourth division, but they have since secured back-to-back promotions and are currently first in the second tier with a return to the top flight seemingly imminent. “I was really upset when they went down because they didn’t deserve it,” the former fans’ favourite told Gulf News. “But I’m really not afraid for them now. “They have beautiful fans who will follow them everywhere. I’m confident they will get back in the Scottish Premier League (SPL) and be back in the Uefa Champions League very soon.” Of his dream of signing off his career at Ibrox, Bougherra, who played for Rangers between 2008 and 2011, winning three league titles and the Scottish Cup and League Cup, added: “To finish my career there would be unbelievable. “Rangers is a huge part of my career, this club gave me the opportunity to play at the highest level and enabled me to show my talent to the world. “My target is to finish my career there, just one more game would be enough for me, but if I can help them with my experience for a season, or even half a season, and finish my career at Ibrox, it would be a dream. We will see if it’s possible, from today I am still in good touch with them.” http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/madjid-bougherra-eyes-last-hurrah-with-glasgow-rangers-1.1409573?

...but that doesn't mean we're ready to win the Premiership title. THE Light Blues boss has already led his team to wins over St Johnstone and Inverness this season but says further investment is needed if they are to compete in the top flight. IT'S been the great pub debate of the last couple of years. Just where are Rangers in the grand scheme of Scottish football? They play in the Championship of course but voices have been raised in boozers all across the country about just where Gers actually are when you rip up the divisions. Folk will point to the £6million annual budget. Is the second most expensive squad the second best in the land? They will point to internationals and players who have cut it at the top level for several seasons. But it’s been a kiddy-on debate for the pub – until now. Rangers have already beaten St Johnstone and Inverness this season – two of last term’s star turns. Now they have Kilmarnock coming up in the Scottish Cup. Oh, there’s also a quiet wee matter of the League Cup semi-final against Celtic in the pipeline. Soon it might become clearer just where Gers are in the unnatural pecking order. Ally McCoist doesn’t see it that way though. The boss reckons his side could beat Killie and Celtic and it still wouldn’t mean they are ready to mount a title tilt next season. They have to get there first and McCoist is wary of thinking even an Old Firm win will suggest his troops are ready for a bigger battle. The Ibrox gaffer has enough on his plate in the short term and insisted beating their old foes doesn’t mean his club won’t need to strengthen further. He said: “No matter if we beat Kilmarnock and Celtic there’s no way we are ready to win the top flight. “Do we need new players? Absolutely. To compete right at the top. The boys we have brought in are free transfers. “Look at the lads who left us, we paid £2.5m for Naismith, £2.5m for Whittaker, we paid millions for Davis and we brought in free transfers. So it’s not rocket science to work it out. “We have a long way to go before we are anywhere near competing for the top-flight title.” Even if they get the better of the champions? McCoist said: “I understand that thinking. But Inverness beat Celtic this season and how many people now think they’ll win the league? “Same with Hamilton. They’re going great but I don’t think they will win the league. In a one-off game a lot of teams are capable of giving Celtic a game and occasionally beating them. “But over a Grand National course I don’t think there’s any that would give them a run for their money.” Whether McCoist will get the new signings he needs is still not clear. The new Mike Ashley regime is plotting in the background but the Gers boss has yet to learn whether he will have money to spend in January or next summer. He said: “I don’t know, I’ll have to wait and see. That’s not been spoken about. I’m the same as every other manager – we’d all love to strengthen our squads. “I’ve been in dialogue with the chairman but football matters like that haven’t been discussed yet. “That’s not yet happened with the new regime. But it hadn’t yet happened to any real degree with Graham Wallace or Philip Nash either. I’ve been dealing with the chairman for the last couple of weeks. He’s been up on a far more regular basis and is actively pursuing a new chief executive.” McCoist hasn’t notice too much change since Ashley’s power play at the end of last month. At least the situation at Ibrox hasn’t got worse, no mean feat these last few years, but he has continued to keep his head down and focus on matters on the pitch. McCoist said: “I don’t know if it’s more stable. It’s certainly not less stabilised. It is what it is and it’s fine. It’s business as usual for the playing and coaching staff, as it has been all season. We’re concentrating on trying to get results.” That includes today’s visit of Falkirk where Rangers are looking to make it eight wins on the spin. The Light Blues are motoring after a stalling start and determined to keep the pressure on leaders Hearts. Gers have not been used to playing catch-up after strolling to the League One and Two titles but striker Jon Daly vows they’re relishing the chase. He said: “We have turned the corner. We have been playing some good stuff lately and the results have come. “We need to keep winning and putting pressure on Hearts. Hopefully they will start dropping points and we can close the gap. “Last season we won the league comfortably so this is the first time I have been in a campaign where we have been chasing the title. “It’s a good pressure to be under. It’s a challenge I am enjoying. It keeps you on the edge and on your toes.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ally-mccoist-rangers-could-beat-4590163

ALLY McCOIST insists it is business as usual at Rangers after the latest round of off-field comings and goings at Ibrox. The Gers manager saw chief executive Graham Wallace leave the club last month as Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley made his grab for power of the Light Blues. Earlier finance director Philip Nash had also headed out of Ibrox as the billionaire English businessman started to pull the strings after agreeing to give the under-fire board a £2million loan. And this week former Newcastle MD Derek Llambias, one of Ashley's closest allies, joined the Rangers set-up as a non-executive director. Club chairman David Somers is leading the search for a new chief executive and he is now also McCoist's main point of contact. The Gers gaffer said: "I've been dealing with the chairman for the last couple of weeks now. "He has been up to see me on a far more regular basis. I saw him at the Cowdenbeath game on Tuesday then I spoke to him on Wednesday. "He is actively pursuing a chief executive and that hasn't changed." Asked if the situtaion at the club was any more stable, McCoist replied: "It's not less stabilised. "It is what it is and it's fine. It's very much business as usual for the playing and coaching staff, as it has been all season. We're concentrating on our games and trying to get results." With Wallace and Nash gone and Llambias now in place at Ibrox, Ashley has grabbed effective control of Rangers. Supporters remain wary of his motives for increasing his shareholding and influence. The SFA are awaiting a response from the club and Ashley as they also seek answers. When McCoist was asked if he had spoken to Ashley yet, he replied: "I haven't, no. I have no real need to. "I am available at all times to shareholders and board members. If anyone wants to speak to me that's no problem at all." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/allys-not-bothered-by-ashley-changes-at-rangers-187764n.25803241

I don't use twitter but facebook in particular is hard going. It's not just the fact that the views are so ignorant and misguided (eg one of the main pages has everyone discussing who will be signed with Ashley's 10m ), but the level of intelligence seems very low. People write in illegible English and generally do not represent our support well. Does this say something about our support or is it the platform? There's not a single person here who is incapable of conversing in legible English but on our fan facebook pages you are hard pushed to find anyone making well constructed arguments.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/sport/football/from-central-defender-to-central-figure-rangers-look-stronger-with-mcgregor.25792124

I know a fair number of members have already signalled their intention to attend this event but I thought I'd share this main site article for those that may have forgotten about it. Only 4 weeks to go! http://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/latest-news/291-your-invite-to-the-gersnet-christmas-dinner OK, perhaps a Spanish tapas restaurant doesn't offer up immediate thoughts about the baby Jesus and/or Roast Turkey with all the trimmings but our previous event at the wonderful Malaga Tapas earlier this year was such a success, we simply had to return again next month for our Christmas dinner. Not only will we have another wide range of tapas and side-dishes available to enjoy, Barca '72 legend Dave Smith will also be giving us a talk on the most successful period of his eight-year Rangers career entitled 'the road from Nuremberg to Barcelona' and will be answering our questions thereafter. The affordable cost of this event is £19.50 per person which includes a primer plato of meats and bread and choice of paellas after the tapas - effectively at least six different tapas (x3 per person) and three different paellas which really is superb value. Depending on numbers we may be allocated the private cafe next door to the main restaurant and once again owner Cristobal will ensure we have an excellent time! Malaga Tapas has been widely reviewed to a superb standard online - please check TripAdvisor and the 2014 edition of The List for evidence! The date of the event is Saturday 6th of December at around 5.30pm. Rangers are scheduled to play Cowdenbeath at Ibrox that day (KO 3pm) so that should leave plenty of time for attendees to nip round to the restaurant which is also in Glasgow's Southside on St Andrew's Road. Further information on the restaurant can be found here and you can register your interest (or pay a deposit) via our forum here. I hope to you see there!

Despite previous cancellations due to international call-ups, the Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney has confirmed to me on social media that RFC have said next week's match at Ibrox will go ahead as scheduled.

ALLY McCOIST has challenged David Templeton to prove he is worthy of a regular Rangers starting berth. The winger came off the bench to net the final goal in the Light Blues' 3-0 win over Cowdenbeath on Tuesday night. McCoist elected to go with Lewis Macleod and Steven Smith on the flanks as Templeton had to settle for a spot on the sidelines. But the Gers boss knows the 25-year-old has what it takes to be regular feature. McCoist said: "Temps has absolutely made a claim for a place. How he played against Cowdenbeath is what we're looking for from David. "He gets up the park and takes people on and he's always got a goal in him - he's got two very good feet, two very quick feet and he's always very well placed. "It was really pleasing to see him coming on and scoring. He was great and we know he's capable of that. "All that we can ask of him is to put pressure on myself and the staff to give him a starting position." Templeton was not the only midfielder to find the net at Central Park, with playmaker Nicky Law scoring just three minutes in. And the Ibrox gaffer is pleased with the options he has available middle to front after another Championship success. "I just felt the boys [Macleod and Smith] deserved another crack at it after putting in a solid performance against Dumbarton on Saturday," McCoist told rangers.co.uk. "We have Temps who can come in on the left-hand side and now that young Airdy is out for a couple of weeks we need options - so at this moment in time we're very pleased that we've got one or two. "Big Jon Daly came off the bench and was a real handful and had a couple of good headers and probably should have scored, so we've got one or two options up front too." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/mccoist-challenge-to-rangers-wing-ace-templeton-187450n.25786073

Ally McCoist will be given a £10 million January transfer budget, courtesy of controversial Mike Ashley. Ashley has all but confirmed he will front the funds, with an Ibrox source telling us the board have been told to "use the funds effectively to push the team through to a cup final and back to the Premier League." The source said the decision was highly influenced by Ashley's close friend & Ibrox adviser Derek Llambias, who believes committing these funds to the club will not only strengthen the team, but strengthen Ashley's position with Rangers supporters.

Wednesday, 05 November 2014 10:30 Watch Under 20's At Ibrox Tonight Written by Rangers Football Club RANGERS U20 side take on Spartans in the third round of the SFA Youth Cup on Wednesday evening at Ibrox. The Gers youngsters want all the support they can get as they seek to retain the cup, which they won last season by beating Hearts on penalties. Fans can pay on the gate with adult tickets priced £4 and children’s £1. The West Enclosure (Gate 28) will be open for away fans and the East Enclosure (Gate 45) is open for home fans. Rangers U20 v Spartans U20 – Ibrox – Wednesday 5th November – Kick-off: 7.30pm http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/item/7999-pay-on-the-door-for-u20s

ALLY McCoist today vowed to try and keep Lewis Macleod's feet on the ground after the young Rangers midfielder was called up by Scotland. McCoist was delighted Macleod was yesterday named in the 27-man national squad for the games against the Republic of Ireland and England. But he stressed the talented 20-year-old had "a long way to go in his career" and has to keep working hard in order to realise his potential. McCoist said: "It's brilliant for Lewis, great for him. I'd a chat with him and I'd spoken to Gordon on Monday. We are delighted and we all have high hopes for him without getting carried away. "We are genuinely pleased to see him get his first international call-up. "Can he make an impact in the squad straight away? I don't know. The Scottish boys have been doing well so that will be up to Gordon." Macleod, who helped Rangers beat Cowdenbeath 3-0 in a rearranged SPFL Championship match at Central Park, has been called up by Scotland despite playing out of position. But his manager believes the Murray Park youth graduate has benefited from playing wide on the left of midfield for the Ibrox club in the last two-and-a-half seasons. He said: "We don't have any doubt that his position will be central, but it's not doing him any harm learning his trade. "Longer term, he will be a central midfielder. But Lewis is realising it's about the team, not the individual. "Lewis was quieter against Cowdenbeath and that didn't surprise us as he has a long way to go in what will be a long and successful career." McCoist believes the win over Cowdenbeath, which cut Hearts' lead at the top of the second-tier table to four points, shows they are very much in the hunt for the title. And he has urged his players not to allow their attention to wander to the massive League Cup semi-final with Old Firm rivals Celtic in February. He said: "We didn't start very well, which is a contradiction as we scored a great goal. Our general play could have been better. "The second goal helped. Later on, we were fairly good. We grew into the game. "Cowdenbeath were very good, especially in the early part of the game. This is a difficult venue at any time, let alone a Tuesday night. "But getting the goals and the clean sheet was pleasing. We have to focus on the massive games of football before the Old Firm game. "We had to win to let the other teams in the Championship know and we certainly sent out a message that we are in the hunt." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/coisty-ill-keep-rangers-star-lewis-grounded-after-scots-cap-call-187313n.25781990

I wont document the fiasco involved in picking up public sale tickets etc at Ibrox, port-a-cabin queues a mile long etc (which I have to do when I want to take my son) as we are all fully aware. But just a few weeks ago before I went to Madrid I decided to see if I could get tickets for Athletico at home. I went online and was astounded when it gave me the option to buy online and print the 'ticket' off on my home printer. All I had to do was go to the turnstyle and get the barcode read. As easy as you like. What the hell is stopping Rangers from adopting a similar setup and saving quite a few quid in admin at the same time I would imagine?

FRUSTRATED Rangers supporters and shareholders will have to wait another month before the make-or-break Ibrox AGM. Club bosses have revealed the shareholder summit is expected to be held next month, but remained tight-lipped about an exact date. Supporters have voiced their disgust over the board's rejection of a £16million investment offer in favour of a £2m emergency loan from Sports Direct tycoon Mike Ashley. Rangers directors are expected to face a grilling from shareholders and fans at the stormy AGM. Sons of Struth chief Craig Houston said: "We've come to expect it - history tells us the AGM will be continue to be put off. I actually wouldn't be surprised if it was left until the last possible moment. "A lot of people say they would like to see a Rangers fan on the board, but I wouldn't. I want to see a board full of Rangers fans." The comments come after Rangers announced the appointment of Derek Llambias as a non-executive director, as reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Times. The 57-year-old former Newcastle United managing director arrived in Glasgow last week after the Ibrox board accepted Ashley's £2m loan. Llambias, who was Ashley's right hand man at Newcastle United, has since been acting as a consultant to the Rangers board. It is the latest move by Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley to increase his influence in the running of the Ibrox club. An announcement about his new appointment was made to the London Stock Exchange yesterday morning. It read: "The board of Rangers announces that it has appointed Derek Llambias as a non-executive director. "Mr Llambias will be subject to re-election by ordinary resolution of the shareholders of the company at the upcoming Annual General Meeting which is expected to be held in December." Sports Direct tycoon Ashley owns 8.92% of Rangers, but he has signed an agreement with the SFA that limits him to having no more than a 10% stake, while he is in command at St James' Park. Sandy Easdale recently increased his stake in RIFC plc 5.21% and has control over another 20.94% of secret proxy shares. Fangs groups recently urged Easdale to come clean over fears about the delayed AGM. Union of Fans spokesman Chris Graham said: "We are concerned at newspaper reports that the annual accounts and therefore the AGM may be delayed. "We would ask the PLC board to clarify if this is the case and to explain why, after what they described as a successful fundraising, there would be any reason to delay accounts publication." Calls for the AGM come after a months of turmoil at Ibrox. Phillip Nash - a former Arsenal and Liverpool executive - quit, and chief executive Graham Wallace followed in leaving the club. Rangers have a regulatory requirement to hold the AGM by December 31. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/fans-facing-wait-before-make-or-break-meeting-187092n.25758971

CAMPBELL Ogilvie has reiterated the determination of the Scottish Football Association to seek clear answers from Mike Ashley, as the Sports Direct owner continues to increase his influence in the running of Rangers. Ogilvie, president of the SFA, said yesterday the association had written to Ashley – also owner of Newcastle United –looking for ‘clarification’ of his position, but said a reply had not yet been forthcoming. The tycoon owns 8.92 per cent of Rangers, runs the retail division and holds naming rights for Ibrox after buying them for £1 from former chief executive Charles Green. He also gave Rangers a £2 million loan last week. Hours before Ogilvie’s comments, it was announced to the Stock Exchange that former Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias was appointed to the Rangers board as a non-executive director, further strengthening Ashley’s position. Ashley has signed an agreement with the SFA that limits him to having no more than a 10 per cent stake in Rangers while he is in command at St James’ Park. The agreement is designed to limit his control over Rangers but it remains unclear if by appointing Llambias or Barry Leach – another of his close associates hired on a consultancy basis – would fall foul of that deal. Ogilvie said the SFA would continue to press Ashley for answers, and a possible meeting to discuss his intentions. “We’ve written to the club itself and to Mike Ashley looking for clarification,” said Ogilvie, a former general secretary anddirector at Rangers. “We’re waiting for replies to that and we’ll take it from there. We need more information at this stage. There could be a meeting. We wrote to them at the end of last week, we’re waiting for a reply. “That could lead to a meeting between the SFA and the club – and, indeed, Mike Ashley and his advisors. That would be the next step. Then we’ll take it from there. But we really need more information. “Fundamentally, the undertaking was not to go above the 10 per cent shareholding – and not to have influence in the running of the club. Fundamentally, that was it. “On the back of the movement last week, we’ve written asking for more information. Until we get that information, we can’t comment further.” Rangers chairman David Somers announced last week that Llambias had been brought in as a consultant but now the club has confirmed he has taken on official duties. The club’s statement said: “The board of Rangers announces that it has appointed Derek Llambias as a non-executive director. In accordance with Rangers’ Articles of Association, Mr Llambias will be subject to re-election by ordinary resolution of the shareholders of the company at the upcoming Annual General Meeting which is expected to be held in December.” Somers previously held non-executive responsibilities as chairman but took over day-to-day running of the club last week as he set about finding replacements for chief executive Graham Wallace and Philip Nash, the former finance director, who were both forced out after failing to stop the club accepting the £2m loan from Ashley. http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/sfa-seek-answers-as-llambias-joins-rangers-board-1-3591968