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The following article is one I just read from NewsNow. It's been published by Vanguard Bears. Bucharest - The Truth Written by Bluebear67 Thursday, 05 November 2009 Bluebear67's Account of Bucharest Shambles The following is my version of events from arriving at the ground onwards...... The official coaches from the travel club (which I was on) arrived at the request of police a full 2 hours before kickoff; I'm led to believe that the coaches operated by Flight Options were requested to be there even earlier than us. After being kept on the coach briefly we were allowed to disembark but we were still contained by riot cops in a fenced area between the coaches and the approach to the ground (a bit like Osasuna but not anywhere near as severe). The cops were only allowing groups of Rangers fans to leave the fenced area and approach the ground in groups of around 100 at a time. At the ground we were faced with searches on entry at the 2 turnstiles (one at each end of the pen we were allocated). When I was going through it was about 1 and a half hours before kick off and there were no hold ups on entry. Once through the turnstiles you had to go up an unlit straight staircase about 6 feet wide and flanked by 20 foot trees on both sides all the way up, basically it was pitch dark. On getting to the top of the staircase you were met with what can only be described as third world conditions. You found yourself on a mono-blocked walkway that ran the full length at the top of the pen. The walkway was very badly maintained and severely distorted in many areas with numerous tripping hazards. The catering facilities which were situated on the walkway consisted of a guy with a wallpapering table, a box of crisps and about 6 x 2 litre bottles of Pepsi. Running down off the walkway you had two staircases dividing 3 areas of seating. Initially (bearing in mind that the Travel Club only took 2,200 tickets) Rangers fans were only being allowed access to the middle (larger) area of seats. We were stopped from entering the outer sections of seats by a row of stewards behind temporary barriers about 4 feet high placed on top of the seats. By kick off these barriers had been removed as it was clear there were far more Rangers fans then they had been expecting. We basically ended up with around 5,000 fans in an area that was only capable of holding about 3,000. The crowd figures contained within media reports are so far out because they are using the figure of official fans travelling with the club i.e. 2,200 (I'll speak more about this later). The general state of the seating areas and staircases running between the seats was again extremely poor. The seating fixtures were extremely rusted and to be honest you would expect the seats to dislodge from these fixings if you accidently bump into them. I also spotted one seat with 1 foot high weeds growing around it. The staircases again were in a state of severe disrepair, many with corners and edges missing, very unsafe. On top of all this there was no roof overhead and it was pissing it down all night (not a UEFA requirement I know but shit all the same.) You may find the next part difficult to believe but I can assure you it is true. It was not long after getting into the ground that a girl I recognised as someone who always travels with the Travel Club came and stood just in front of me. I noticed that she was looking pretty shocked so I asked her what was wrong. She said "I'm still trying to take in what I have just seen". I asked what had happened and she replied ââ?¬Å?I have just asked the stewards where the toilets are and the guy led me into the trees and pointed to a hole in the ground that I was expected to squat over". This it turned out was the only actual toilet facility for men and woman in our section. As to the actual incident at half time, I was up near the back of the stand but still had a pretty good view of the areas in question at the front. I became aware of something being up when it was pointed out to me that Rangers fans were giving the stewards down the front aggro about something. I then noticed a Tri-colour which was hanging off the top of the perspex wall at the front of the pen. I personally didn't see how it got there but others around me were adamant that it was a result of a steward on trackside trying to throw it into the Rangers fans. Things quickly escalated as fans suddenly rushed forward and started trading punches with stewards who were still in our section down the front. I was later told from someone who witnessed it that it was the result of a elderly Rangers fan walking up to an steward to complain about them goading the Rangers fans with the Tri-colour, I was told that the guy was punched full in the face and then set upon by about 6 stewards as he hit the ground. From then on it was a free for all; chairs (I reckoned about 20 in total) were thrown as Rangers fans tried to get at the stewards who were now trying to get out to trackside for safety. However other stewards on trackside decided it better to come into the pen with batons and pepper spray and goad even more Rangers fans. I was aware of some public announcement being made but this seemed to be inaudible due to both an inadequate PA system and the general noise going on in the Rangers section. The incident had calmed down by the restart of the second half and I then witnessed what was presumed to be either someone high up in UEFA or someone connected with Unirea come down the touchline and publically bollock the stewards (in clear view of all Rangers fans) for the part they had played in the incident. From what I actually witnessed and from what I had been told by others that witnessed it I cannot possible come to any other conclusion other than the stewards were to blame 100% for what happened in that incident. The game ended without further incident and we were kept back for about 10 minutes before being allowed out the ground. So then we had around 5,000 fans shuffling towards the stairs which were totally unlit and covered with debris. Everyone was taking baby steps as they realised we were getting closer to where we thought the stairs would start and we were relying on the bears directly in front of you telling you that you are now at the head of the stairs. It is my opinion that should anyone have been unfortunate to fall on these stairs there would have been a pile up of several hundred bodies within about 10 seconds. On reaching the coach park I spoke to someone in senior management at Ibrox and asked what was their take on events at half time from their vantage point in the corporate area of the main stand. It was confirmed that they witnessed the Tri-colour hanging off the perpsex wall at the front of the section. It was also confirmed that this individual witnessed the older Rangers fan being set upon by around 6 stewards as he lay defenceless on the ground, the comment was also made about "Under such circumstances it is no wonder the Rangers fans reacted as they did". Myself and others relayed our take on everything to this individual who said that everything would be passed on to Kenny Scott and Martin Bain. Therefore, Martin Bain has this information at his fingertips so that in turn gives me the opinion that the statement released in pretty weak, maybe a more forthright one will come out later? When the individual was asked about more fans being in our area than expected, the reply was that this was due to Unirea selling a number of tickets for the match to Flight Options for another section of the ground but the cops just deciding to lump everyone in together. It is a situation that Rangers do not particularly like but also one that is out with the club's control" The statement has been made that both Rangers and UEFA visited the ground several weeks ago and comments are made about the turnstiles were not as had been previously agreed. While I do not doubt that the turnstiles were looked at some weeks ago I cannot for one moment believe that the area that Rangers fans were to be housed has been looked at by either Rangers or UEFA. The game should never have been allowed to have taken place at that venue for safety reasons alone. Had this been a British venue a license to operate would never have been granted and the ground would have been declared unsafe. It would have failed on every safety aspect it would be measured against. With this in mind, Rangers and Kenny Scott have failed in their duties; there is no getting away from that. Rangers have a duty of care to our supporters and once again this has been totally disregarded. Bluebear67

BAIN to act after turnstile problems at Unirea game More...

I'm a bit surprised that the bald one's dignified boot in the baws for the War Criminal has gone unacclaimed - let me be the first to say well done, shiny.

Star asset Madjid Bougherra has told Rangers that he is determined to stay at Ibrox for the rest of the season. The French-born Algerianââ?¬â?¢s declaration will delight fans - but worry the bankers lurking in the background at Ibrox as Sir David Murray seeks a buyer for the cash-strapped club. Sportsmail revealed last week that Wigan want to test the water with a Ã?£3million bid for the defender when the transfer window opens in January. But Bougherra insists his stance has not altered since last summer, when he revealed his plans to win a move to a ââ?¬Ë?top-sixââ?¬â?¢ English club by starring in the Champions League for Rangers and the African Nations Cup and World Cup Finals for Algeria. Under contract until 2012, the 27-year-old has the right to reject any potential transfer, just as Kris Boyd blocked his move to Birmingham last January - no matter how much Rangers might need the money. ââ?¬Ë?I have not changed my intentions from last season,ââ?¬â?¢ said Bougherra, who will miss Wednesday's vital Champions League return with Unirea in Bucharest because of a knee injury. ââ?¬Ë?I will definitely stay in Glasgow and I will finish the season at the club. I love life at Rangers and I am sure they will find an investor and things will work out. ââ?¬Ë?I feel great in Glasgow and, plus, I need stability, because it is one of the keys to success and progress, especially on the eve of the African Nations Cup and a World Cup, hopefully.ââ?¬â?¢ Enlarge Walter Smith and assistant Ally McCoist All smiles: But rangers boss Walter Smith and assistant Ally McCoist know their team need a positive Champions League result on Wednesday Bougherra, who has missed the last four games and Sundayââ?¬â?¢s abandoned fixture at Tannadice, is confident Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s players can still have a successful season despite indifferent form and off-field concerns. ââ?¬Ë?It has not fallen for us in recent weeks because we have had so many players injured in key positions,ââ?¬â?¢ he said. ââ?¬Ë?We havenââ?¬â?¢t had a full team and that explains some disappointing results. ââ?¬Ë?We play in Romania on Wednesday and we know that we absolutely must win to have a chance of getting to the next round of the Champions League. ââ?¬Ë?I wonââ?¬â?¢t play in this game because a knee sprain requires at least four weeks of rest, and I am in my second week. But my heart is with my team-mates and I really hope they come back with a good result.ââ?¬â?¢ Rangers fans and management will be intrigued to see if Bougherra is fit to face Egypt with Algeria in a fortnight in a crucial World Cup tie. Lee McCulloch will fly out with Smithââ?¬â?¢s squad and, if he is required in midfield, there could be a European bow for 17-year-old defender Danny Wilson. Injured pair Maurice Edu and Kirk Broadfoot will continue training this week, with a bounce game scheduled for next Tuesday to help the Scot step-up his return to fitness after being out since March. Meanwhile, Ibrox chief executive Martin Bain has thanked fans for their support amid takeover speculation. ââ?¬Ë?It has been a difficult period for fans both in regard to results and speculation about the future of the club,ââ?¬â?¢ said Bain. ââ?¬Ë?However, they have stepped up to the plate in their thousands to voice their support. ââ?¬Ë?The overarching message from the fans is that the interests of Rangers must come first and foremost.ââ?¬â?¢ Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1224839/Rangers-star-Madjid-Bougherra-insists-happy-stay-rest-season.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0VkmmKUTC

Taken from FF Hello everyone, As you know, I donââ?¬â?¢t normally do such things, but given the circumstances, we feel itââ?¬â?¢s important and fair that the support should know this. Obviously I wonââ?¬â?¢t name sources, but let me assure you, I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be posting this if a) I didnââ?¬â?¢t trust the source implicitly b) they didnââ?¬â?¢t have a 100% track record c) they werenââ?¬â?¢t as close to the situation or d) it didnââ?¬â?¢t check out when we investigated it. Allegedly; ââ?¬Â¢ The bank are panicking ââ?¬Â¢ Senior management are calling it ââ?¬Ë?a PR disasterââ?¬â?¢ ââ?¬Â¢ They want out soonest ââ?¬Â¢ Bain is not involved in the day-to-day running of the club ââ?¬Â¢ Muir is effectively running the club ââ?¬Â¢ Muir is hawking players to clubs ââ?¬Â¢ If the club is not sold at least three first team players will be sold in January in an attempt to raise Ã?£10m. This will allow the bank to drop the price for the club to Ã?£20m. They believe this might encourage further investors. The pressure that is being brought to bear on Lloyds IS having an effect. Keep up the good work Bears. Dangerous times, but potential sunshine ahead.

PRESS INFORMATION on behalf of RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB RANGERS LAUNCH PIONEERING ONLINE TV STATION Rangers Football Club today (Friday, 30 October 2009) launched a pioneering internet TV station - RangersTV.tv ââ?¬â?? which goes live at 5pm! RangersTV.tv is the first dedicated online TV station created by a UK football club and will offer fans in the UK and overseas the most comprehensive range of programming produced by any club to date. The online TV station will feature up to nine separate channels and will offer supporters the ultimate digital cross-platform facility. UK supporters can access full games on-demand as well as a library of Rangers most recent matches Fans outside the UK can subscribe to our live match service and enjoy the Clubââ?¬â?¢s own pre match build-up, half time and post-match analysis ââ?¬â?? hosted by the stationââ?¬â?¢s new matchday presenter Emma Dodds First-team players will participate in studio interviews and analysis Access will be available to an extensive archive library of classic SPL, European and Old Firm action Rangers Review & Preview news magazine style programmes will be screened on Mondays and Fridays featuring exclusive match action and reaction from the players and management team Rangers home and away European fixtures will be broadcast in full from midnight In-depth feature-led programming will be produced on all aspects of the Club Fan forums and panel shows with Rangers stars of the past and present will be broadcast Supporters have been unable to watch Rangers TV since Setanta ceased broadcasting in the summer but Rangers can now offer fans a new, improved and unique internet TV station which can be enjoyed FREE for a two-week period now. A dedicated TV studio at Ibrox Stadium will provide on-site production, editing and encoding facilities to supply a bank of content for distribution on all media platforms and the service complements our existing online offering ââ?¬â?? Rangers World ââ?¬â?? which features short-form video interviews and news. Phase 1 of RangersTV.tv commenced at the start of the season with the high quality streaming of live domestic matches and on-demand services to overseas fans and there are now three packages available for supporters to enjoy. The packages available are: Per month Per year Rangers TV.tv Ã?£5.00 Ã?£49.00 Rangers TV.tv Plus Ã?£12.00 Ã?£96.00 Rangers TV.tv Unlimited ââ?¬â?? includes live and on demand games $28.50 $299.00 (overseas fans only) Rangers striker Kenny Miller, who joined RangersTV.tv presenter Emma Dodds at todayââ?¬â?¢s launch, commented: ââ?¬Å?This is a fantastic service for Rangers fans around the world. Supporters will be able to watch exclusive news magazine programmes, on demand and live matches and dip in to the Clubââ?¬â?¢s extensive archive of classic SPL, Old Firm and European action. The relaunch of http://www.rangers.co.uk has already been a huge success this season and I am sure fans will be keen to take advantage of our unique online TV station.ââ?¬Â Rangers Chief Executive Martin Bain commented: ââ?¬Å?We are delighted to launch our new internet TV station which we believe will be unique in world football. Most importantly, it will offer our fans a comprehensive and excellent service. ââ?¬Å?We are extremely excited about the opportunities that internet TV will bring and we have used feedback from the fans at every stage of the development process. The new online station has been developed cost-effectively and efficiently incorporating our existing digital media resources and we have already received positive feedback from the fans worldwide. The service will evolve throughout the current campaign and beyond and is another welcome addition to the Clubââ?¬â?¢s media platforms which include http://www.rangers.co.uk, Rangers News and Rangers Matchday Programme.ââ?¬Â Fans can sign up or find out more information on the range of packages by visiting http://www.rangerstv.tv.

An article by Contacts on RM, which hopefully he doesn't mind me reproducing. ================== If anyone ever doubted how much a Rangers man Walter Smith is then Saturday and the last couple of days again proved beyond doubt his love for the club. For 9 days now our club has been torn to shreds by Donald Muir and Lloyds yet Walter has put the club before himself and brought the subject out in the open when everyone else has been denying it. I have it on very good authority that our club has had a torrid time of since Mr Muir joined the club as director and hatchet man for the bank. His sole remit is to get as much of the bank�s money back as possible. There is a business plan to get the money back but no plan for the short, medium or long term future of the club. Donald Muir�s business plan has shocked everyone connected with the club and although those within have tried to reject his plan he is having none of it. His plan consists of selling at least 5 players in the January transfer window with no replacements other than the young reserve players. He is not offering the management team a new contract and expects them to work on a monthly deal. He is making decisions daily that result in the bank getting as much money out of Rangers Football Club with no care of any knock on effect. He will, of course, tell anyone that listens to him that he is only doing his job but none of that matters to any of us bears. The story in the Herald and the Evening Times are 100% accurate! Please do not doubt what has been written! Please do not doubt that our club was within days of administration! Please do not doubt Lloyds Group do not give a damn about Rangers Football Club! We all have to ask ourselves why Walter would want to make statements on the crisis at our club if he was not deeply concerned. Walter could sit back (like some of the players appear to be doing) and take the money but he is not and his love of the club has got him out fighting. Some may not want to believe this but Martin Bain has been constantly fighting the bank on every decision and defending the club to the hilt but these guys are ruthless. The bank has every intention of getting every penny they can from Rangers and they are happy for Rangers to be operated like a small scale SPL club with no ambition or desire. As well as selling players they want to increase ticket prices and implement huge cost cutting measures across every department. After reading this you would have thought they would happily sell the club at a reduced asking price as they have done with thousands of other businesses during the credit crunch but word has it that they are proving hard to deal with the people who want to invest in the club - or could there be preferred bidders? Now as fans what do we do? Obviously at first hand our options are limited but say we could get enough fans together who bank with the Lloyds Banking Group and start closing our personal / business accounts and move them elsewhere then surely they would have to sit up and take note that our fans are not going to sit back and let our club be asset stripped. Now I am not yet starting an appeal but I want all Rangers fans who hold an account with the Lloyds group to start looking around to see what other banks are offering. Make the phone call or look online at how easy it is to move banks and change your accounts over. Let�s take it a stage further and suggest that we start to boycott media organisations that take money from the Lloyds group and let us see how they feel when other people get too involved. Let us see the reaction from their top brass when their pathetic bullying of our club backfires on them. Walter has put the club before any personal gain and now it is time for the fans to take stock of the last few days and decide how we as a body of hundreds of thousands decide how we should take this matter further.

Scottish secretary Jim Murphy held talks with Rangers' bankers Lloyds on Monday as the financial giant insisted they were not running the club. Murphy stepped in following reports the banking group, 43 per cent of which owned by the taxpayer, had threatened the club with administration over its debts. Ranger boss Walter Smith claimed on Saturday the bank was now effectively overseeing the club's spending and that all the players had been up for sale since January. Current majority shareholder Sir David Murray has declared his intention to sell his interest in the Light Blues, who are carrying debts of about �£30million. A Scotland Office spokesman confirmed that Murphy today spoke to Lloyds. He said: "The Secretary of State for Scotland spoke to Lloyds Bank today about the importance of the bank's support for Rangers Football Club. "There are clearly financial difficulties facing Scottish football clubs - both large and small. Our national game is important to Scotland and will come through this recession and the wider pressures in football." In a statement on Monday, the bank said: "We do not run or manage the companies that we bank - that is, quite properly, the responsibility of the management. "Given the recent press coverage, we would therefore like to be clear that Rangers FC is neither operated or run by Lloyds Banking Group. "We would also like to be clear that Sir David Murray's decision to step down as chairman was a personal decision and not at the behest of Lloyds Banking Group." It is understood the bank has not raised the prospect of Rangers being placed in administration if club bosses failed to introduce a series of cost-cutting measures at Ibrox. The statement added: "The board of Rangers FC is developing and implementing a sustainable business plan and we have agreed to support this plan. "The group is aware of the unique position that football occupies across many Scottish communities and has been working with Scottish football clubs, including Rangers." Lloyds is 43.5 per cent owned by taxpayers after the government bailed it out to the tune of billions of pounds at the height of the credit crunch. Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott said earlier on Monday: "Football fans, even those on the other side of the Old Firm, won't understand why taxpayers' money that's keeping this bank afloat could now be used to push Rangers into receivership. "If the Lloyds group can take down Rangers, there won't be many professional clubs left in Scotland." Smith's contract and that of assistant boss Ally McCoist expires in January. But Rangers chief executive Martin Bain has insisted the club will not be forced to sell players in the January transfer window. Echoing the club's statement from yesterday, he said: "The club can confirm that while there have been tentative enquiries regarding the sale of the club, there are none that have realised an offer. "As stated by Sir David Murray, it is not necessarily about price, but the new owner having the capability to take the club forward that remains essential." Bain said Lloyds is "supportive" of the club during a period of "difficult economic conditions." Smith has refused to answer questions about the club's claim that no players need to be sold in January. After Saturday's 1-1 Clydesdale Bank Premier League draw with Hibernian at Ibrox, Smith claimed "the players at the club have been up for sale since January". At today's press conference ahead of Tuesday night's Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final at Dundee, Smith replied to the first question about the topic by saying: "They (the club) issued a statement and that's it." The next enquiry was met by a similar response, Smith saying: "I said the club issued a statement last night and that's it as far as I'm concerned, that's it finished with." Quizzed again, the Rangers boss repeated broadly the same answer. Smith, who later threatened to walk out if the subject was broached one more, did admit the current negativity around the club is having an impact. He said: "If there is a level of negativity around the place, it affects everyone, not just the players. "The thing that we have to concentrate on is the results of the games. "We had an extremely poor result in the Champions League last week and we had a decent game with Hibs, and both teams deserve a bit of credit for the way they played. "Now we have a difficult cup tie coming up and, while there may be levels of negativity around the place, we don't and can't allow it to affect us. "You've got to overcome that aspect of it."

Exclusive By Darryl Broadfoot WALTER SMITH has reacted furiously to the Lloyds Banking Group statement released yesterday that implies the Rangers' manager lied about the bank's control of the club. The Evening Times understands Smith was apoplectic at the wording of the bank's response to our exclusive revelations yesterday. They outlined the critical condition of the club, the growing influence of the bank in its affairs and the split that has emerged within the boardroom. advertisement Smith feels he has now been left in an impossible position and conveyed his deep unhappiness to the hierarchy. Indeed, he is now so fed-up with the internal politics and deception at play he could leave as soon as a new owner is found, even if it means leaving before the end of the season or before his contract ends in January. He has also received the unanimous support of the fans after Lloyds statement elicited an angry response across fans' websites and phone-ins. The statement, released last night, included the incendiary phrase: "Given the recent press coverage, we would therefore like to be clear Rangers FC is neither operated nor run by Lloyds Banking Group." Smith, 61, is so disenchanted with life at Ibrox he felt compelled to speak out publicly after the 1-1 draw against Hibernian on Saturday. In a further twist, the Evening Times understands chief executive Martin Bain will not walk away from the club despite growing speculation the bank is keen to remove the man who has steadfastly refused to agree with the swingeing programme of cuts mooted at the last board meeting. Gordon McKie, the chief executive of the Scottish Rugby Union, has been linked as a possible replacement but if Bain is sacked, he will be followed out the door by Smith and Alastair Johnston, the chairman, in protest at the bank's decision. This would effectively leave Donald Muir, the Lloyds-employed turnaround specialist appointed to the board, as the man effectively in charge of the club, which is around �£30m in debt. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2533280.0.0.php

Martin Bain will today be replaced as CEO of Rangers by Scottish Rugby Union chief Gordon McKie. It appears that the Lloyds Banking Group, who are looking to make further savings across the business, have realised that Bain's exorbitant �£650,000 annual salary is not good value for money, something many supporters have thought for a long time. It appears Walter Smith's quotes about the bank running the club was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the upcoming changes at the club. As we reported earlier, several reliable sources seem certain that current shareholder Dave King will launch a take-over bid as early as this week, with rumours of a meeting between the club and an interested party holding talks on Tuesday doing the rounds. Keep it on Vital Rangers and the Vital Rangers forums for all the latest information. http://www.rangers.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=516474

From the Evening Times. It mirrors TannochsideBears thread. Dire Straits!

I got a call this morning from someone who has confirmed to me that the above article written by Darrell King has the true story 100% spot on. He told me who his source was that is quoted and why he was involved in the story. I also hear that Murray is a busted flush and has been holed up in Perthshire for the last 3 weeks unable to run any of his businesses, as the property crash has had disastrous consequences on his portfolio and the bank have had enough. Dave King is close to buying the club, but the haggling from Lloyds is preventing this from taking place. King is wanting the bank to accept 40p in the �£1 for Rangers debts, like the bank are doing to troubled Companies all over the country, but the bank are holding firm for all the debt to be repaid. Over the next week or two, the campaign against Lloyds will start to gain pace to try to force them to accept King's deal. Be ready to close your Lloyds/Bank of scotland accounts and write to them expressing your disgust at their handling of the situation. Bain is staying, and is apparantly fighting really hard for King's people to come through, and will be rewarded with keeping his job. (I dont like that bit, but there you are) Once in, King will go to the fans with an investment plan, perhaps shares, perhaps something else, to get the fans to own more of the club, and have more of a say in the club. If the bank accepts King's plan, it will give the club a debt of around �£12M, and we will have to sell 1 top player in January to get the debt down to �£10M, which will be our new manageable limit going forward. The bank have been seriously threatening to put us into administration, and dont seem to believe that relegation to div 3 and no europe will have much of an effect on ST uptake!! It looks like just playing hardball, but we are no f*cking toy to be bartered around with, or some wee 3rd rate business that nobody would miss if it went to the wall. As always with these rumours and counter-rumours, you are at liberty to believe what you will from the above, but anyone who knows me knows I dont post rumours, and I do know people who know people and hear things, hardly any of which I actually post on messageboards, but this is too serious to ignore. Oh how we laughed at Timmy in the mid-nineties when they were 30 minutes from closure, we are not laughing now.

RANGERS manager Walter Smith last night admitted bankers are now running the club as the full extent of its financial predicament began to career into view. Donald Muir's appointment to the club's board as a non-executive director at the behest of HBOS, now owned by Lloyds Banking Group, nine days ago appears to have been the point when control of Rangers' affairs was removed from the club's hands. Muir is a specialist in assisting ailing companies and officially joined the Rangers board to help them in their "strategic business interests". Both chairman Alastair Johnston and chief executive Martin Bain had previously denied the banks were closing in since owner David Murray stepped down as chairman on 26 August, but Smith spoke freely last night of the new reality he described as "obvious to everyone". It comes at the end of a week in which Murray's company, Murray International Holdings, announced it would be delaying publishing of its accounts for six months. This has been interpreted by some in the business community as a step taken to prevent scrutiny of just how incapable it is of propping up Rangers with the club's debts rising above the Ã?£30 million mark. And it comes at the end of a week in which Rangers suffered their most humiliating defeat in 53 years competing in Europe with their 4-1 thumping by Romanians Unirea Urziceni in the Champions League "As far as I am aware that is the situation," said Smith when asked about reports the bank was in control of the club at his post-match conference following his side's 1-1 draw with Hibernian. "David Murray stepped down and they've placed a representative of the bank on the board. "It is obviously not a good situation. It is not a situation anybody wants the club to be in. It's been up for sale for a while. It's not the bank's fault. If the bank had to take over in the circumstances they have, they are not going to invest in a football club. I think Rangers have been fairly honest about their situation. The players at the club have been on sale since January. We haven't bought a player for... in this transfer window, that will be 18 months. I'm very surprised anyone can't work out the situation. These circumstances have been here for quite a while now. And, despite some headlines, I've never complained about it and I'm not complaining about it now. I'm just saying it is a fact, and a fact of life that a lot of companies throughout the world are having a struggle at the present minute. When David Murray stepped away from the club I felt that was a bad thing for Rangers in the sense that he's tried as hard as he could over 20 years to invest in the club. Now we don't have that situation. So the quicker that gets cleared up, the better it will be." It is Murray who is responsible for running up liabilities he patently now cannot meet ââ?¬â?? a fact some have blamed on the economic downturn. Yet there were plenty of alarm bells when he allowed Smith to become the country's biggest spending manager on his return in 2007, before reacting to the 2008 Champions League qualifying exit by sanctioning an Ã?£8m spend on players that produced a Ã?£3m "hole" in the club's budget that effectively led to the entire squad being put up for sale only six months later. The club has, in effect, been for sale for four years but despite a number of reports of potential buyers, none has been found. Yesterday there were suggestions that board member Dave King, who invested Ã?£25m in the club in 2000, and another unnamed group were considering lodging an offer within the week but these were dismissed by sources at the club. Smith said he was unaware of any possible sale. "I'm not involved in that aspect, you'd need to ask others if there was anything like that," he said. The implications for Smith's bid to retain the title will only emerge over time, but the fact the bankers have decided to exert control can only increase the likelihood there will be a demand for Rangers to cash in on Madjid Bougherra, their most valuable playing asset, in January. Already, with injuries to the Algerian and to Pedro Mendes, Kevin Thomson and Lee McCulloch, who came off yesterday, Rangers are running low on senior players. Smith conceded this was a process that was likely to accelerate and could only be offset by promoting from within. "It is maybe not the proper time to be blooding these boys (such as Andrew Little and Danny Wilson] but I don't think we are going to have much option shortly," said Smith. Rangers' financial meltdown must also place question marks against Smith's own future. His present contract expires in only eight weeks, as does that of assistant Ally McCoist and first-team coach Kenny McDowall. As yet the three have not been offered extensions. However, it is believed that if a new buyer was found that wanted to retain his services he would be keen on staying. Failure to see eye-to-eye with new regime has Smith talking himself towards exit door LONG-suffering Rangers fans are seeing their beloved club up for sale and seemingly rudderless, with Sir David Murray gone from the scene and a chairman who resides in the USA. Now they may be about to lose their talismanic manager. Walter Smith may even be gone in the next week or two, after his comments last night which confirmed that he has no money to spend and no control over the purse strings at Ibrox. Instead, the bankers have taken over. In the world of football finance, banks do not expose themselves to customer dissatisfaction by placing directors on a board ââ?¬â?? new director Donald Muir has no formal links to Lloyds Banking Group, for instance. They do not need to do that. Lloyds ââ?¬â?? a group which has no great track record in football sponsorship ââ?¬â?? simply dictates how Rangers spend the bank's money. Or in this case, not spend it. And it is Lloyds' money that Rangers spend. When it took over the crippled HBOS, it inherited Rangers' debts, probably north of Ã?£30 million, and any potential buyer will be saddled with that debt right away. With the benefit of hindsight, everyone who thought the Murray era would end sweetly and that there would be a swift transfer to a rich new owner was looking at the situation through rose-tinted glasses. When a businessman as powerful as Murray moves out of any company, the reverberations are long and loud and highly transformational. Lots of players have gone as a side-effect of Murray's withdrawal. Now it may be Smith's turn. There is more than one coat on a shoogly nail at Ibrox. Persistent rumours have surrounded chief executive Martin Bain, with Gordon McKie, chief executive of the Scottish Rugby Union, touted as a possible replacement should Bain, too, decide that the end of the Murray era is time to pursue new opportunities. But Smith's departure would be colossal for the club. Alex McLeish admitted he left Ibrox in 2006 because Sir David Murray would not fund new signings. So could Smith do a McLeish? The trouble for Smith is that he eats, breathes and sleeps Rangers. Cut him and he would bleed royal blue. But how long can he go on in the humiliating position for a Rangers manager of not being able to decide who he can buy and sell? How long will a proud man take being told what to do by a bank manager? Smith may even now be planning his exit strategy ââ?¬â?? a term financiers understand ââ?¬â?? and indeed, it may even be under way. Or else why speak out as he did last night? The fans, who are always kept in the dark, may like to ask other questions. Exactly who is in the frame to buy Rangers? If there are no buyers, what happens next? What support will Lloyds continue to give? Will there be money to buy the new players the club desperately needs? It should make for an interesting AGM, and this time no one can call for Murray to go, because he already has. http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sport/Uncertainty-grips-Ibrox.5764251.jp

Thought i would tell a wee story about a coincidence with me to lighten the mood on here

Did anyone else hear him say on the radio just now that Rangers have only two assets - Walter Smith and Martin Bain. He sure knows how to twist the knife.

An excellent gesture from the club - I'm sure all these heroes will enjoy Walter Smith's 4-5-1 against the Romanian's next week. If we don't win may I suggest they take our players on a few weeks PT at their base...

Rangers' Martin Bain says the Old Firm would only consider leaving the Scottish Premier League if others created a more attractive option. More...

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain believes the Ibrox club will have left the Scottish Premier League behind in the next 10 years. More...

Smith offered a new three-year contract? Ever decreasing circles: Radical change of philosophy required at Ibrox Darryl Broadfoot Published on 30 Sep 2009 Rangers find themselves in a cycle of helplessness similar to that which has rendered Gordon Brown a phantom figurehead of a soon-to-be shadow government. After the Prime Minister failed to rally a fractious Labour Party at their annual conference in Brighton, the Scottish champions hardly delivered a confidence motion before their new leader, Alastair Johnston. It was not defeat to Sevilla but the manner in which it was inflicted that has highlighted Rangers’ inadequacies at Champions League level and, frankly, exposed the collective tedium that now threatens their more modest domestic ambitions. Rangers performed prettily but without any hint of penetration until Sevilla began perforating Allan McGregor’s resistance. In the clamour to accuse the novice Swedish referee, Jonas Eriksson, of costing Rangers a penalty and a chance of victory, the most pertinent observation was glossed over. Walter Smith, a manager in the midst of a battle of wills between the board and the bank, could not have been more damning on the limitations of his team. “Once we have to open up and play, that becomes a problem for us,” he said. It was a comment that provoked nary a splutter amid the debris of a 4-1 lashing but, in the final analysis, such brutal honesty has been lacking from the hierarchy throughout this period of financial and qualitative downsizing. Rangers, and Celtic for that matter, are now so far removed from Europe’s elite they might as well take their curious little rivalry to Kazakhstan. During Johnston’s inaugural speech, he spoke optimistically on the challenge of removing the club’s dependency on external financing – ie the overdraft facility agreed with HBOS/Lloyds – while ensuring the club’s readiness for football’s next big revolution. Such talk is wildly presumptuous for a team who have won just two of their last 17 European ties inside 90 minutes, against Werder Bremen and Sporting Lisbon. It is a record of achievement that, superficially at any rate, is akin to cannon fodder, yet this sequence somehow took Rangers to a UEFA Cup final. There remains a strong whiff of denial regarding Rangers’ health, both in finance and on the football field. Smith, for one, has had enough of the propaganda. It is understood that he has been offered a three-year extension that would keep him at Ibrox until retirement age by the board members who wish to be part of a new order at Ibrox. At the same time, the bank have steadfastly refused to entertain the idea of any significant contracts being awarded to strengthen the team. It is this anomaly that leaves Smith less than enthusiastic at the prospect of staying on long term. The 61-year-old had not intended hanging around this long but the misery of last season’s exit to FBK Kaunas and a sense of duty towards his assistants prompted him to stay for another season. Had Rangers not been in such a brittle state, he would have left having restored the championship to Ibrox. In good conscience, he refused to let Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall to take the strain of losing 11 players in the summer while being thrust in the middle of a political struggle between the board and the banks. It is, though, unwise to assume that Smith will accept a gentleman’s agreement to stay beyond January. He may be a man of honour and integrity, but he does not button up the back. On Tuesday night, Smith stopped just short of saying his team no longer have the capability to compete, in the purest sense, with any opposition at Champions League level, never mind the established heavyweights. It is a watershed moment for a club whose best hope of finding a buyer rests with Dave King sorting out his tax issues with the South African authorities. Rangers’ squad has stagnated through lack of competition. The malaise was apparent even before kick-off against Sevilla. While the Spaniards snapped the ball around purposely during a rigorous, high-intensity warm-up, Rangers players converged around a temporary goal to take shots at the goalkeepers. It was the closest they got to scoring. Unless a new buyer can be found within a year, the club must give serious consideration to a radical change of philosophy. Smith will not continue to work in ever-decreasing circles but that is precisely what will happen if the club cannot retain their title and return to the Champions League. The sale of Madjid Bougherra, who now stands head and shoulders above anyone else in the squad, seems inevitable next summer. There are familiar groans about Smith’s lack of faith in youth, not least for playing a full-strength team against Queen of the South, yet he has historically railed against such populist action, not least with Barry Ferguson and, at Everton, Wayne Rooney. If Rangers do not place a heavier emphasis on youth development, though, there will come a time when the viability of Murray Park must be seriously questioned. If the board cannot sanction investment for the manager, then they will need to look elsewhere for a manager who is prepared to promote youth at the expense of instant success. That in turn will require a lowering of expectation from the support and a dilution of Rangers’ kudos. The air of resentment around Ibrox at the mixed signals from their club is now conducive to such sobering reality. There is a feeling within Ibrox that winning the league was the worst thing to happen, since many of the problems off the field have simply been patched-up. The outcome of Sunday’s Old Firm derby will either remove some of the gloom in the short term or compound it if the club slip seven points behind their rivals less than two months into the season. Johnston’s flying visit having passed without a victory being achieved, it will be left to Martin Bain to deal with the day-to-day running of the club. The chief executive deserves his opportunity to emerge from the shadow of Sir David Murray. He knows he must act decisively and clinically to address Rangers’ deep-rooted problems or suffer the same fate as the puppet prime minister whose strings are about to be cut. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/ever-decreasing-circles-radical-change-of-philosophy-required-at-ibrox-1.923211

Surprised this hasn't been mentioned as it came from Bain after the Hamilton game.

First off, I make no apology for deliberately using the word legend in the article title. No matter our differing opinions on the man's contribution to the club, his affect on Rangers FC over the last 20 years is and always will be worthy of rumination and argument for the next 20 years and beyond. As such, in the far off distant future, fudge and counter fudge will result in the whole era becoming more of a myth than a truth. As such, for the record, please allow me to try and dissect his time as chairman with as much objectivity and balance as I can muster. David Murray was born in Ayr on 14/10/1951 and up until his purchase of Rangers was a decent rugby player and partly interested in Ayr United football team. Indeed, in the mid-80s he wanted to buy Ayr but his approach was rebuffed at that time. Apparently Ayr didnââ?¬â?¢t fancy Murrayââ?¬â?¢s impressive business credentials to improve their fortunes. I doubt theyââ?¬â?¢d make the same decision again given the chance. I also note with interest Murrayââ?¬â?¢s recent comments about people like Joe Lewis and Roman Abramovich investing in football to ââ?¬Ë?buy a profileââ?¬â?¢. Is he really suggesting he wasnââ?¬â?¢t aware of that when Graeme Souness persuaded him to get involved with Rangers? No matter his intentions, in 1988 he bought Rangers FC from the Lawrence group who had owned the club for a number of years. Hence, Murray was not responsible for starting the so-called Rangers/Souness revolution despite what many fans still believe. Souness was actually brought to the club by then chairman David Holmes. These 2 men were then responsible for the return of the SPL championship to Ibrox for the first time in nearly 10 years. Indeed, despite many failing memories, Murray was not involved in the purchase of players such as Woods, Butcher and Gough amongst others. In actual fact, Murray, despite buying the club in November 1988, didn't even become chairman until June 1989. Therefore, perhaps his true 20 year anniversary is his reason for resigning. After that, Murray was responsible for some of the best years our club has ever had. 9-in-a-row; attracting players such as Goram, Laudrup and Gascoigne; our incredible run in the inaugural CL season in 1992/93; superb improvements to our stadium; these are all things that can be directly attributed to our custodian. For those, he should be quite rightly lauded and loved by many fans. However, after this admiration will come criticism as I'll show later. David Murray bought Rangers for Ã?£6million in 1988. The club, due to various factors, is now worth around Ã?£0-60million depending on one's viewpoint. When he sells that could yield a 1000% return on his initial investment. Of course, he has also contributed financially to the club (the share issues of 2000/2005 and the purchase of ENIC's shares for Ã?£9million in 2004); so has invested possibly as much as Ã?£80million during his 20 year tenure ââ?¬â?? but probably not as much as the Ã?£100million+ he claims. We have also spent over Ã?£200million on transfers and ground improvements such as the Club Deck ââ?¬â?? not to mention Murray Park; a training facility named in his honour. Obviously the supporters provided the bulk of the money for these investments but the money was spent which is more than can be said for boards of other clubs. This was all for the good of Rangers and more genuine reasons for us to respect Murray. However, he's not the omnipotent figure many fans think he is. He's made many mistakes, not least wasting Ã?£100 million over 3 years from 1998/99. Yes, his ambition and loyalty to Advocaat's attempt at CL success was exciting. Yes, many of us didn't harbour reservations at the time. But, he should have been much more careful. He was the custodian and he was responsible for our club. He should never have allowed ~Ã?£80million of debt to mount up. For that he is guilty of serious mismanagement and even he acknowledges mistakes were made. What he doesnââ?¬â?¢t acknowledge is that weââ?¬â?¢re still paying for them now. There are many other issues to also consider when examining the broader picture. Murray and Bain do deserve credit for being able to reduce the Ã?£80million debt down to less than Ã?£10million (circa 2006). Downsizing was necessary and without it we might not even exist. Thus, to still be able to compete and win 2 league titles during that time is worthy of some praise. Unfortunately, in recent times the finances appear just as problematic - so much so it appears we can't afford to buy any new players this summer as all income will go towards addressing our increasing debt. With regard to playing affairs, the reappointment of Walter Smith was a ââ?¬Ë?safeââ?¬â?¢ decision after the gamble of a young foreign manager being asked to succeed with similarly minimal funds as Smith has now. Generally, Murray could claim his managerial appointments have been successes though. Smith did well in his first spell, Advocaat brought exciting football and titles; and even McLeish can point to success in the face of adversity. Paul Le Guen didnââ?¬â?¢t work (though the Frenchman was as much to blame as anyone else) and Walter's second spell has borne fruit via our wonderful UEFA Cup run and the return of the SPL League Championship to Ibrox for the first time in 3 years. Nonetheless doubts remain about just how competitive we'll be moving forward. Of course not everything can be measured in pounds and pence. Weââ?¬â?¢ve shown over the last 2 years that we can beat Celtic home or away and compete with some of Europeââ?¬â?¢s better teams. Those are good signs and in our haste to criticise itââ?¬â?¢s easy to overlook the positive stuff. Huge improvements in fan behaviour can also be attributed in part to Murray. Generally, fans have accepted his efforts to modernise our thinking and we have been very successful. Itââ?¬â?¢s just a pity that the chairman hasnââ?¬â?¢t shown the same willingness to defend us when required. For that, much of the support rightly finds it difficult to respect a man who doesnââ?¬â?¢t always respect them. Indeed itââ?¬â?¢s this strained relationship which continues to undermine the chairmanââ?¬â?¢s lasting image amongst many fans. Dialogue with the support is at its lowest ebb and the promised supportersââ?¬â?¢ representation at board level still hasnââ?¬â?¢t happened (although we're perhaps to blame for that as well to a degree). That should be addressed at the earliest opportunity. After all when Murray talks about his own investments ââ?¬â?? our greater financial (not to mention emotional) input hasnââ?¬â?¢t been rewarded with the trust to help run the club. That takes us nicely to the question about who will succeed Murray in running the club. Alastair Johnston has an admirable CV and the fans who want a Rangers man in charge now have their wish - for the short-term at least. Can Johnston attract the kind of investment or new owner(s) the club obviously needs? The ongoing worldwide recession means interest will be even lower than it has been since SDM put the club up for sale 3 years ago. Who would want to buy a club with little room for manoeuvre in terms of finance with assets either siphoned off or unavailable due to long-term outsourcing? Of course Murray hasnââ?¬â?¢t ââ?¬Ë?asset-strippedââ?¬â?¢ the club but the decisions he has made in those respects have also been questionable. One only needs look at the club's balance sheet for that doubt to be validated. Essentially, for the latter part of Murrayââ?¬â?¢s reign, the club has stagnated and many questions remain about the short, medium and long term future of the business. Ironically, as it stands, the only person that can answer these questions is still our owner. Unfortunately, with his resignation from the board the evidence points to a man whoââ?¬â?¢d rather be anywhere than leading Rangers back to the dominance we seen in the 1990s. For thatââ?¬â?¢s what our club is lacking: genuine leadership; genuine ambition; genuine character and genuine hunger for success. So after yesterday's news, we're not any better off regarding knowing what our club's future will be. Would Murray really have left without ensuring the club is in safe hands with a sound business plan? Just how involved will he be behind the scenes? What will Alastair Johnston's outlook be and will it differ from the man who appointed him? Where does Martin Bain fit in? Are HBOS really calling the shots? To conclude, is SDM's resignation the genuine start of a new era at the club or just another illusion from a magician who's audience became too demanding even for this charismatic performer?

On the plus side we might get rid of Beasley.

EXCLUSIVE by Darrell King in Birmingham BARRY FERGUSON today speaks for the first time about his Scotland Boozegate shame - and his fury at the way the SFA ended his international career. The former Rangers captain, now at Birmingham after a �£1million summer move, has kept his own counsel on events at Cameron House back in March when he stayed up all night in the bar drinking with team-mate Allan McGregor. But Ferguson has spoken exclusively to SportTimes writer Darrell King and, in Part One of a series that will run in our pages this week, he reveals: His anger at the way the SFA informed him he was banned for life. Why he wants Scotland to beat Norway this Wednesday night in Oslo to keep the World Cup dream alive. His feelings towards George Burley and the rest of the international hierarchy. Here's the first of our exclusive articles: THIS time was unquestionably the most difficult two hours of Barry Ferguson's life. In a Murray Park office alongside shell-shocked team-mate Allan McGregor - with Martin Bain, the Rangers chief executive, his right-hand man Andrew Dickson, and Players' Union head Fraser Wishart all for company - the details of his fine and suspension from the club he had just disgraced were being laid out in cold, hard facts. Ferguson's head was all over the place. Just a few hours earlier he had reported to Rangers' training ground for the first time since the now infamous Scotland Boozegate controversy had exploded and turned his world upside down. Fatally - and if he could turn back time this is one of many things he would reverse - he had walked past Walter Smith's office that Friday morning. It should have been his first port of call, he should have sought his manager and apologised for his conduct. But he didn't. And he was paying the price for that lack of respect to the man he held - and still holds - in the utmost regard. There was no grey area with what was happening. Ferguson had shamed Rangers. For that, Smith had decreed, he was going to face severe punishment. The now infamous Cameron House drinking session with close pal McGregor that had become public to the Iceland World Cup qualifier at Hampden, Smith could accept. He didn't like it one little bit, but these things happen - and will no doubt happen again sometime, somewhere - such is the way with football players. But the images of the captain of Rangers making V-sign gestures at photographers - along with McGregor on the bench at the National Stadium - was something that saw Smith explode with rage. Head bowed, he was taking his medicine. Then, the fax machine in the corner of the office began to whirr. A sheet of paper appeared, a carbon copy of the press statement the SFA were about to release to the world. Ferguson was being informed by fax that his international career was also over. And that, more than anything else, is something that the now Birmingham City player still struggles to get his head around. "Listen, I was totally in the wrong with what happened at the hotel, I would never sit for a second and try to dress that up in any way or try to make a case for what went on that night with the drinking," he says, relaxed in the hotel grounds of the luxurious hotel close to Birmingham that is his temporary home until a permanent abode can be found. "If I could go back and change things I would, of course I would. I should have gone to bed, and I should never have made the V-signs - when I see the pictures of that I feel so stupid. I looked like a daft idiot and I should have known better. But it was an error, a bad call. "I let myself down, my family down, my country down and I let Walter Smith, Rangers and the supporters down. "That's something I'll need to live with and it does still hurt me. I should have gone to bed, that's the bottom line. "But I made a mistake and people do that - I am a human being, not a robot and I made a costly mistake. "The thing that rankles with me now is the way the SFA handled the entire situation - for me it was a joke. "I had played for Scotland 45 times, I had captained my country for years - and they sent a fax to Murray Park saying that I would never play for my country again. It was just the same statement they put out, that was it! "That just astonished me. The machine starts to ring, and in comes a fax from Hampden for my attention telling me that I would no longer be picked, and neither would Allan. "The people in the room just looked at each other in total disbelief - is that how something like that should be handled? "No-one has ever spoken to me from the Scotland set-up. Not the manager, the chief executive, a PR guy, anyone. "I was driving back into Murray Park after being sent home for a few hours and I heard on the radio that the SFA were going to ban me for life. "I was in such a whirl that I wasn't taking anything in -then a fax arrives and that was it over ... no phone call, no anything. That, for me, sums the SFA up. They don't know how to handle anything properly." Rangers were also seriously unhappy with the way the governing body handled the whole episode. The thought inside the club was that they piggy-backed' onto their punishment when it should all have been dealt with swiftly at the time, and that the players should have been banished from the squad instantly which would have avoided the subsequent media frenzy that ensued, and prompted the V-sign gestures. "Maybe that was the case, I don't know and the SFA would need to answer that," said Ferguson. "The whole thing was a bit of a farce to be honest. First of all we were to leave Cameron House, then some of the players went to the manager and said they didn't want that, and the next thing we were told to stay. "The manager then said we would be subs, and then two days later we were banned for life and they said it was down to what had happened at the game on the bench with the V-signs. "Fair enough, if they think sending a fax to tell you it's all over is the right thing to do, then that's up to them. "What I would say is that Rangers handled the thing the right way. We sat face to face, I took my punishment and it was done properly. "I wasn't happy, of course I wasn't, but I knew why the club had acted the way they did and I just had to go away and try to deal with it. "But the SFA? That was a shambles for me. Then I hear a few days later Gordon Smith saying on the radio the door might not be closed, we could still play and all that sort of stuff. "That sums it up for me, the left hand never knows what the right hand is doing in that place." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2524783.0.0.php

We are pleased to announce that Rangers FC - via Chief Executive Martin Bain - have now commented on our 'Setting the Standard' project of the last few months. Mr Bain has made the following points worthy of note by fans interested in the project: - The club have read the report and thanked the contributors for their constructive efforts. - Many of the issues highlighted in the report have been prioritised by the club but should be the subject of continued and informed debate. - The club are open at all times to constructive recommendations and suggestions. - The club welcomes the opportunity to work positively with the Rangers family. - To that end, the club are recommending the report (available for download here) be tabled as a main agenda item at the next Rangers Supporters Assembly meeting where the club will be happy to participate. We welcome this positive momentum and hope that this initial discussion will prove to be the first step towards an open debate between the support and the club in relation to the main points of the ‘Setting the Standard’ report. :spl:

A summer of discontent: As I whiled away the close season this weekend watching a rather uneventful stage 9 of the Tour de France, my brother exclaimed “I bloody hate the BBC, they never have any news about Rangers” whilst perusing their website. It is a complaint familiar to any Rangers fan reading through the numerous popular bluenose forums available to choose from in cyberspace. Almost as soon as Nacho’s stunning Cup Final goal secured the double, the achievements have been forgotten and Rangers have hardly graced the back pages since. The Scottish sports pages have been dominated firstly by Celtic’s embarrassing manager chase as we were told they secured their first choice man, after openly courting several other targets, and secondly by Mowbray’s attempts to rebuild a failing side. The lack of activity at Murray Park, at least as reported in the press, has many bears worried that we will not press home any advantage gained by last season’s double winning exploits and automatic Champions League qualification. One bear at least is not worried, at least not yet. The greater professionalism in not conducting all our business in public that Smith appears to have returned to the club, whilst perhaps frustrating to fans suffering through a quiet close season and eager for rumours, is reminiscent of the experienced manager’s first dominant stint in Govan. It is also worth noting that the need to strengthen the squad is not as pressing as it was last season, nor indeed as pressing as it is for Celtic. The Kaunas debacle and the refusal to splash the cash until it was too late have no doubt led to the current state of concern pervading through the support. For reasons never fully elucidated, we did not stump up the money for Davis nor other summer signings in time for the Champions' League qualifiers and the repercussions of that miscalculation will be felt for seasonss to come, on the bank balance, on the field and in European rankings. Thus, it is understandable that some fans are anxious over an apparent lack of activity in the transfer market. This concern is only heightened by the fact that Celtic have already brought in former Dundee United goalkeeper Zaluska and striker Fortune from Nancy. However, as previously alluded to, Celtic’s need is greater. They have the Champions League qualifiers to navigate - more perilous than ever under the current format - where they could get past the likes of Arsenal or Lyon to join us at Europe’s top table. Their qualifying campaign begins on the 28th of July and they will be eager to avoid the same fate we succumbed to last season. By contrast, our season does not begin until the 15th of August. We can afford to take our time in the transfer market. We do not need to rush into transfers. The transfer door only opened at the start of this month and there is still a long way to go before the competitive action begins for Smith's squad. Of course our reluctance to dive into the transfer market as of yet will also have been dictated by a meagre transfer budget and a need to get rid of the dead wood. Players we would like to see leave or who are out of favour with the manager will need to be moved on before we can bring anyone in. Ferguson, McCulloch and Adam are on decent wages and could bring in vital transfer funds. However Smith needs to trim the squad and the wage bill to keep our finances at a manageable level and so no one will likely come in before transfers out are secured. We are in need of a left midfielder who can cement a first team spot and a centre back to challenge Weir and Bougherra. We should not, however, be panicking and agonising over our lack of transfer dealing merely because our nearest challengers have already made moves to strengthen their team. Do not misunderstand that statement. I am not advocating any kind of downsizing by the hierarchy, or imagining we can afford to stand still. I am merely attempting to remind those frustrated by a lack of Rangers news in the gutter press that League success and automatic Champions League entry has given us a bit of breathing room this summer. We do not have to dive into transfers that may or may not prove shrewd business at the start of the transfer window. We have bought ourselves time and can afford to be patient in our business dealings. The excessive press coverage from the East End demonstrates the state of affairs over at Parkhead. The fawning on the BBC website of a routine victory over a poor Australian side was particularly embarrassing. The vanquished foes, Brisbane Roar, also fell to defeat against a Japanese Youth team earlier in their pre-season. Don’t let the summer heat aggravate you, nor the media’s reluctance to report on the Scottish Champions. Sit back with a nice cold drink and enjoy the upheaval over at Parkhead whilst Rangers again go about their business quietly. Look through the official site and the photos of the players returning for pre-season training and the fantastic shape in which the likes of Novo, Whittaker and Adam have returned to the club. Trust in Walter in spite of the silence emanating from the club. Remember the quiet, self-assured way the club conducted business prior to securing the SPL title at Tannadice and in his previous tenure at the club, whilst Celtic continue their public grandstanding much as they did prior to bottling the title fight this season. Thank the Lord Martin Bain isn't making crazy claims that Allan McGregor is the 'best goalkeeper in Europe'. Peter Lawwell certainly has had his share of XXXX this week! To conclude, there is still a lot to be decided this summer in the transfer market and the time to worry over the state of the squad for next season has not yet arrived. http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=807&Itemid=1