Search the Community

Bit off topic for a gers site, but how do people here view the future for scottish clubs? The top five leagues are now so far in the distance that any future european success for a scottish club now appears to be fanciful. England are never going to allow us to play within their leagues. The bottom english club now earns more than a quarter of a billion from tv every five years whilst SPFL winners will receive around 10 million. Personally, I'd approach the dutch and belgian leagues and try hammer out a northern european amalgamation before the damage done to these countries is irreparable, with promotion and relegation from national setups. The old firm both made a second tier euro final last decade. Both clubs spent 30 million (on debt) or so achieving it. Now I'm not so sure that 30 million will come close to providing the squad capable of euro success. IMO the football landscape has changed into a place we have never been before. We are in danger of being permanently left behind, despite the fact our fans are possibly the best in the world. Our grand children will grow up as barca / munich / arsenal fans first, scottish clubs second, if we don't arrest the situation.

Celtic 1-6 Tottenham http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2714050/Celtic-1-6-Tottenham-Roberto-Soldado-Erik-Lamela-Christian-Eriksen-target-Mauricio-Pochettinos-easy-win.html

Did anyone spot David Longmuir at game today? Wonder why he was there?

RANGERS Football Club has today announced a commercial supply deal with the UK’s leading cider and beer business, HEINEKEN, who join our growing portfolio of international partners. HEINEKEN will become Official Beer and Cider Provider for hospitality facilities at Ibrox Stadium including its flagship Heineken® premium beer, a global brand with a proven football pedigree, through its long term association with the UEFA Champions League. Chief Executive Graham Wallace commented: “Rangers Football Club is delighted to announce a commercial deal with HEINEKEN, one of the world’s premier brewers, and the latest in our growing portfolio of international partners. “HEINEKEN, like Rangers, is a massive global brand with a high profile in football given their sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League and this will undoubtedly benefit both parties. “We are in the process of rebuilding this great club, and developing partnerships with world leading businesses such as HEINEKEN demonstrate the progress we are making. We welcome them and their great brands to Ibrox, and look forward to working with them next season and beyond.” John Gemmell, Trading Director for Scotland, commented: “We’ll be working closely with the club to help build on hospitality guests’ match day experience, and to ensure that those who chose to enjoy a beer or cider will benefit from great choice and quality. We’ll also bring our knowledge and unrivalled track record in promoting the responsible enjoyment of our brands.” For more information on HEINEKEN, log on to http://www.heineken.co.uk. http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/7339-gers-agree-heineken-partnership

Let us begin this article with the boring bit; an extract from the Civil Service Code, the Government's published document which outlines the Civil Service's core values, and the standards of behaviour expected of all civil servants in upholding these values:- Full article: http://www.vanguardbears.co.uk/bill-mccreaths-civil-disservice.html

Can anyone confirm?

Well!, will the SHEEP carry on the BHEAST embarrassment from last night?,or can they get a result tonight?

REPUBLIC of Ireland and Celtic striker Anthony Stokes has been sent forward for trial accused of head-butting a man in a Dublin nightclub. The striker has been charged with assaulting Ballyfermot Elvis impersonator Anthony Bradley, 42, during an alleged row about a spilled drink, at Buck Whaley's, on Leeson Street, on June 8 last year. Today, at Dublin District Court a book of evidence was served on him by arresting Garda Noel Gibbons. Judge Michael Walsh told the footballer that he was now being returned for trial to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where he is to face his next hearing on October 10 next. He has not yet entered a plea. Stokes, dressed in grey suit and white shirt, was also given the standard warning that if he intended to rely on an alibi in his defence he must, “furnish the particulars to the prosecution within 14 days”. The Celtic star, who was accompanied to court by his father John Stokes, nodded and said “yes” when asked if he understood. advertisement The judge also ordered copies of video evidence to be handed over to the defence. The striker's solicitor Michael Staines said that if his client is unable to attend court on the next date he will notify Det Garda Des Rogers of Pearse Street Garda station. Mr Staines also told Judge Walsh that free legal aid was not required. Stokes, 26, who is from Dublin, is charged with assault causing harm to Mr Bradley. The DPP had originally directed “summary disposal” meaning the district court would be a suitable trial venue, however during a preliminary hearing on May 29 last, Judge Conal Gibbons, then presiding, did not agree. A summary of the allegations and medical reports on the complainant's injuries had been furnished leading to his ruling that the case was too serious to be dealt with at district court level which, on conviction, can impose a maximum sentence of 12 months for the alleged offence. This means Stokes, who lives at Bellhaven Terrace, Glasgow, must faces a trial before a judge and jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which has tougher sentencing powers. In an outline of the evidence, Det Garda Des Rogers had told the district court earlier that it was alleged that on June 8, 2013, at Buck Whaley's nightclub, “another unknown individual spilled a drink on the injured party and it is alleged Mr Stokes intervened and head-butted the injured party”. Two medical reports were then handed into court. Refusing jurisdiction Judge Conal Gibbons had said, “I have to say to you that based on these medical reports I do not think it is a minor offence.” The details of the injuries have not been read out in court but Judge Gibbons had said that if they were such as described in the reports, “to my mind this is not a suitable case for the district court”. “This is a court of summary jurisdiction, I'm going to refuse jurisdiction, I do not think it is an appropriate case,” Judge Gibbons had added. The 26-year-old striker had originally met investigating gardai by appointment in Dublin on March 6 last when the charge was put to him after which he “made no reply to caution”. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/celtic-fc-star-anthony-stokes-sent-forward-for-trial-over-alleged-nightclub-attack-30474587.html#sthash.KAJ0PMhh.dpuf

http://www.goalsaim.com/legia-vs-celtic-4-1-highlights-2014-champions-league/

missed 2 penalties, otherwise it would have been 6-1 and the return game beyond doubt.

Wednesday, 30 July 2014 The Scottish FA can confirm that both Peter Lawwell, the Celtic Chief Executive, and Ralph Topping, the Scottish Professional Football League Chairman, have been appointed to the main Board of the Scottish FA after nomination by the Professional Game Board. Stewart Regan, Scottish FA Chief Executive: “We are delighted to welcome Ralph back to the main Board, having already benefitted from Peter’s wealth of experience in the past year. I am sure both will play key roles as we enter the next phase of our strategic plan, Scotland United: A 2020 Vision.” Neil Doncaster, SPFL Chief Executive: “Ralph Topping will be stepping down from the William Hill Board on 1st August. He will therefore have much more time to devote to the professional game. We are delighted that Peter Lawwell and Ralph Topping have been unanimously elected by the Professional Game Board to serve the professional game on the main board of the Scottish FA.” http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2986&newsID=13546&newsCategoryID=1

"The Union of Fans were approached approximately two weeks ago, on behalf of the PLC board, to once again try to reach agreement on a binding legal guarantee over the club's assets. These discussions continued and various drafts were passed back and forth. The statement that the board released yesterday was rejected by UoF last week due to the fact that it does not give a binding guarantee over Ibrox and that several misleading statements are made within it. Despite us negotiating in good faith, the board has seen fit to release the statement anyway. We were seeking written guarantees over both Ibrox and Murray Park. The board removed all reference to Murray Park. This was not an oversight - they are explicitly refusing to include Murray Park in any undertaking. We believe this is because the board are actively looking to sell this vital club asset due to their failure to so far secure enough funds to see the club through the current season. Their statement is also disingenuous and is a slap in the face for the thousands of fans who have given up long cherished seats attempting to get this board to guarantee the future of our clubÂ’s home. Despite their attempts to claim otherwise, it has never been their position to give any kind of legally binding guarantee over Ibrox and they still have not done so. This most recent statement, on behalf of the so called 'Football Board' - not the PLC board - has crucially not been released to the stock exchange and therefore reduces the chance of shareholder action should they go back on their word. The board claim that they are "committed to protecting the assets of the club". Currently the club has four main assets. Two of those, Edmiston House and the Albion Car Park, have already been used as security for crisis loans due to financial mismanagement. The board continues to refuse to give any legally binding safeguard over Ibrox and we believe they are actively looking at a sale and leaseback of Murray Park - a vital asset if we are ever to properly develop our own talent. They have shown no commitment to protecting the club's assets. This board has committed to raising funds from existing investors through a new share issue in September. We do not believe that they have support from those investors for what is essentially money to keep the lights on and we would ask Graham Wallace to urgently clarify the position on new money coming into the club. The board have lost just under half of the club's season ticket holders due to a complete lack of ability to build trust. Even if those fans were to buy season tickets now, the club still does not have the funds to complete the season and yet the board keeps us in the dark over how they will address this shortfall. We ask them to stop the half-truths, spin and smoke and mirrors and tell fans the truth."

Rangers FCVerified account ‏@RangersFC Please join us in wishing a very happy birthday today to #Rangers Hall of Fame inductee Fernando Ricksen. https://twitter.com/RangersFC/status/493419147800616960/photo/1

.....and found new lease of life in cricket pavilion. DERBYSHIRE county's cricket stars have stumped up their own wages to ensure former Rangers ace McMinn is kept on as kitman after club cutbacks threatened to leave the Ibrox icon on the boundaries. WHEN a Tin Man is made redundant what does he need? A big heart, obviously. Or in Ted McMinn’s case, lots of big hearts. When the former Rangers winger lost his job as Derbyshire County Cricket Club’s kitman last season – he was gutted and feared he’d be consigned to a life of gardening. That was until the players, who had their whites washed every day by McMinn, decided they were having none of it. The Tin Man was far too popular to be dumped on the dole. So every one of them – including seasoned internationals – opted to pay his wages out of their own pockets to keep him in a job. It’s a far cry from McMinn’s former life as a footballer when he starred at Ibrox, Derby, Burnley and Sevilla. He was a cult fans’ hero at all those clubs and even the Spaniards took his unconventional playing style to their hearts. One Spanish journalist summed up his time in Seville by writing: “With his inelegant Tin Man running style, erratic crossing and unquenchable zest for lager, he was the soul of football.” Now, he’s a dab hand in the laundry room, where he doesn’t just clean the kit for Derbyshire CCC’s players, he also dishes out advice to their up-and-coming stars. He’s been five year there now, after having a similar role at Derby County Football Club before that. But when the cricket club were relegated last term, he was a victim of cut-backs – until that big-hearted gesture from the players. McMinn admits he has no great love for cricket and says it’s a completely different environment to the one he grew up in. But he’s doing his best to turn the changing room at Derbyshire into something like what he was used to. He told MailSport: “I knew I would be made redundant after the club were relegated. I saw it coming. “The club were making a financial loss and said to me no-one else had a kitman, so why should they? “They had to make cutbacks so I knew I’d be out of a job. But a couple of the players called me up and said they’d pay my wages, they wanted me back in. “They offered to put money away each month as long as I continued to look after their kit. I told them they didn’t have to but they insisted. “In cricket, it’s only the English national team who have a full-time kitman. So when we play other sides, their players will come up to me and ask if I’d wash their kit. “They probably only have two tops and it’s a four-day game so they’re stinking by the final day. “But I do it. The lads have a few matches over the weekend so it saves them the problem of asking their wives to wash and dry all their dirty kit. “I was working as the kit man at Derby County but then Nigel Clough came in as manager and we didn’t get on. He came in one door and I went out the other. “Then I got the call from the cricket club who said they wanted their players looking the part. Some would play then not wash their kit before the next game. They looked like a dog’s dinner. “There would be pairs of socks that were solid! But I didn’t mind. “It was about getting out of the house and having something to get up in the morning for. I’ve tried to make it like football, with net bags and making sure they have their own shelves with their individual kit. “Do they appreciate me? I think their wives probably more so! “I reckon they’re putting half of my wages in!” McMinn has a similar rapport with the cricketers as he had with his own team-mates during his 17-year football career. And when a spin bowler or wicket-keeper gets a bit of stick from the crowd and lets their head go down, the 51-year-old is always on hand to keep things in perspective. He said: “I get on well with the boys. “There’s a West Indian lad Shivnarine Chanderpaul who is just like a superstar footballer. “Everyone wants his top so he signs them and gives them away. “He’ll come to me and say ‘Ted, you’ve lost my top’ and I’ll say ‘No I haven’t, you keep giving them away’. “He’s one of the top batsmen in the world so I let him away with it and always keep him a spare. “I’ve got more into the cricket now and know all the rules. “I sit in the dressing-room with the lads and if I see them down in the dumps I’ll try to give them a bit of advice. They get down if they get stick from a crowd of 2000 or 3000. I say to them ‘Christ, we used to get this at training sometimes’. “They think I’m a big-headed s***e. But I played in front of 75,000 against Celtic and 100,000 against Barcelona in my career. “Some of these lads go out in front of 2000 and are bricking it. In a four-day game, you might get 50 men and a dog and the punters will be sleeping by four o’clock. “If they’re getting abuse from a few folk in the stand, I tell them ‘how do you think I felt when I had 45,000 on my back when I was playing football’. In cricket, it might just be one punter. “Some of the lads come into the kit room and ask what they’re doing wrong. I just tell them they’re playing s***e – and they walk out saying ‘Thanks Ted, I feel a lot better now’. Ted may be immersed in cricket now but football is still his first love. After having part of his right leg amputated in 2006, the Rams held a benefit game for him against Rangers and there was a record attendance of 33,475. The Ibrox club will be back in East Midlands on Saturday for a friendly when a similar crowd is expected at the iPro Stadium. McMinn still keep tabs on his old club and sympathises with old pal Ally McCoist who has had a turbulent time as manager due to Rangers’ financial woes in recent years. He said: “I feel for Ally because he’s stuck by the club and has still got a bit of stick. I also feel for the fans – it’s incredible to think they were still getting 50,000 crowds for games against the likes of Peterhead. “I get the feeling a lot of people in Scottish football jumped on the bandwagon a bit – and it was the Rangers fans who suffered for it. “People wanted to hurt them. “But the fans are something else. They have already bought 7000 tickets for the Derby friendly next Saturday. “My phone hasn’t stopped from fans asking if I have any spare beds. “Rangers could have more fans at the game than Derby – for a team 300 miles away that’s just amazing.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-legend-ted-mcminn-gone-3920435

The Europa League seems to have slipped by almost unnoticed up to now but an excellent away win for Aberdeen at Gronigen (after an 8-0 agg drubbing of Daugava Rīga) and a penalty shoot out win for St Johnstone at home to Lucern gives Scotland two teams in the 3rd QR. Both Scottish victories came against seeded teams but a disappointing extra-time loss by Motherwell to the unseeded Icelanders, Stjarnan, admittedly second in the Icelandic Premier League in mid season, put a stain on an otherwise good night. Aberdeen and St Johnstone now take the place of their seeded opponents but whilst Gronigen were not seed in the 3rd QR leaving Aberdeen with a difficult hurdle against the 7th seeds Real Sociedad (7th in La Liga last season); St Johnstone theoretically have an "easier" game against Spartak Trnava (3rd in the 12 team Slovak league last season). Adam Rooney is the top scorer in the competition with 6 goals so far. Quality teams like Lyon, Inter Milan, Spurs and Eindhoven await in the 4thQL so a long way to go but it would be nice to have a Scottish team in the group stages. I'll say nothing about the touchy subject of coefficients no doubt I've done enough already!

Anyone come across parents dictating were there boy plays with regards position, game time and age group and continually contacting coaches by calls and text messages and getting what they want even if there boys aren't the best Any views would be appreciated.

A ‘vile’ internet troll has been blasted for insulting former Blackburn Rovers legend Colin Hendry’s late wife. The former central defender, who played more than 300 times for the club, was sent a sick message by a supporter of Glasgow Celtic on Twitter. The message, from an account named Liam McDonald on social networking site Twitter, said: “Remember when Colin Hendry’s wife snuffed it? Great times.” The former Glasgow Rangers star responded by taking to his Twitter account and posting a picture of the tweet with the message: “This is the vile world we live in.” Yesterday the tweet, which was sent at 11.33pm on Tuesday, was deleted, and later the account itself also appeared to have been removed. The Hendry family said they have reported the incident to Scottish police. Mr Hendry’s wife, Denise, died in 2009, seven years after undergoing a botched liposuction operation. The 43-year-old underwent 20 operations after the routine treatment and died after picking up an infection following a corrective operation after being on life support for weeks. Mr Hendry’s daughter Rheagan, launched the charity The Denise Hendry Foundation to help people suffering from clinical negligence in her mum’s memory. Ads by Google British Expat In Germany? Avoid Losing 55% of Your UK Pension Download a Free Expat Pension Guide your.qropschoices.com/HMRC-listed http://www.Auto-Europe.de Die beste Preise verhandelt + Top Vermieter = Günstige Mietwagen http://www.autoeurope.de/Auto-Europe Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph yesterday on behalf of her dad, she said: “This is what we deal with all the time and it is disgusting. “This is not just Colin Hendry, it is a mum and a daughter. “I am sure he would not feel comfortable if someone said that about his parents. “Dad has been in the football world and up at Rangers and he can deal with this sort of thing but when you start bringing in people’s relatives it is just not on. “It is just not nice. We just want to move on with our lives and we are always reminded about how insensitive people can be. “This is a totally random act of stupidity, but it is not the first time something like this has happened. “People should not take social media lightly. “He thinks he can write what he wants and Colin Hendry and his daughter and grandchildren won‘t see it but he is wrong.” Colin Hendry had two spells for Rovers, from 1987 to 1989 and 1991 to 1998. He was sold to Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers, who have a legendary rivalry with Glasgow Celtic. Former teammate Kevin Gallacher, who played with Hendry for Rovers and Scotland, said he too had experienced abuse on Twitter. He said: “When I got involved in Team GB at the Olympics I had abuse on Twitter. “I had times where every time I wrote something I was getting snide comments. “Unfortunately with social media people are going to do that because they can hide behind it. “Comments like that are not nice but you just have to brush it off and ignore it. “But it gets worse when people’s children are involved. “People just think they are throwing abuse at Colin and this is the disappointing thing. “I think these people tend to be loners who are sat in rooms on their own sending these messages.” Rovers legend Simon Garner said: “It is stupid. That is an awful thing to say and the person should get in trouble for it. “I think people believe they can get away with things like this but they can’t. “I have never personally had anything serious on Twitter, just the odd bit of banter that I take with a pinch of salt, but if I did I would certainly report it to the police.” Former Rovers player and current chairman of the Professional Footballers Association Gordon Taylor said: “I think it is a sad world. “There seems to be a vindictive side to society where people hide behind these sites and think they can say what they want to people. “We have advised our younger players to be careful with what they are posting.” Hyndburn MP and Rovers fan Graham Jones said he was ‘sick and fed up of internet trolls’. He said: “When you are in the public life you get trolls who think they can just go round abusing who they want to. “I feel sorry for Colin and all the other victims of what appears to be a growing trend of abuse and bullying on social media. “It is Colin this time but it could be children and vulnerable people next time. “I blocked one constituent who thought it was clever to be abusive on Twitter. “People do not seem to realise you have friends and family and children.” Darwen councillor Dave Smith, a Blackburn Rovers season ticket-holder, said: “It is absolutely appalling. “I just hope the police get involved and this clown is punished. http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/blackburn/11362709._/

Folks, We're looking for some provisional names and numbers for the Gersnet Prediction League ahead of the start of the new season. The winner at the end of the season will get the sought after 'GPL Champion' custom forum rank won by Whosthedado last season and a wee prize as well. So, if you fancy your chances at predicting the results of our games in the SPFL Championship and our games in Cup competitions, then please put your name down by posting "I'm in" (or something like that) on the thread here. Cheers! PS - The exact competition format and rules will be announced within the next week to 10 ten days, but might well follow follow the excellent system put in place and run by Bluebear54 last season.

BRIAN LAUDRUP today appealed to Rangers chiefs to patch up their differences with supporters - and work together to restore the Ibrox club to its former glory. Laudrup revealed he had been saddened to see the Glasgow giants continue to be plagued by off-field problems since dropping down to the fourth tier of Scottish football. The legendary winger had hoped the Light Blues would go from strength to strength after they emerged from their financial difficulties two years ago. However, unhappiness with a succession of directors and executives has steadily escalated as tens of millions of pounds of income has been squandered. Matters came to a head this summer when many fans decided not to renew their season tickets - until they received assurances over the future of the stadium and training ground. The bitter stand-off has resulted in vastly reduced numbers of supporters signing up to watch Ally McCoist's side in action at home in the SPFL Championship in the 2014/15 campaign. The club has now admitted that additional funding will have to be found to meet running costs in the coming season and another share issue will be held for existing shareholders later in the year. And at the weekend around 3,000 disgruntled fans marched on Ibrox in a rally organised by the Sons of Struth protest group to demand guarantees over the stadium. Laudrup still takes a keen interest in the fortunes of the Glasgow club, where he spent four years during a glorious spell in the 1990s, from his homeland in Denmark. He stressed he would like to see senior Rangers officials to do everything in their power to mend their fractured relationship with a sizeable section of their followers. Because he feels they need to work as one if the 54-times Scottish champions are to become a dominant force again in football in this country AND get back into European competition. His appeal came as Rangers announced they had set up a nominations committee whose job will be to draw up a shortlist of supporters to be elected to an official fans' board. He said: "I just hope Rangers supporters can look forward to watching the club playing at the level they deserve to be at in the top flight and in Europe once again soon. "I hope they will be back where they once were soon. That is what the supporters deserve. They love the club so much. I am keeping my fingers crossed that that is what is going to happen. "But I know there have been more setbacks along the way. I have read online there are still problems off the park and there are still issues between the club and the supporters. "I hope that these can be sorted out soon. The club need to have the supporters behind them if they are to get Rangers back to the level they should be playing at in Scotland and in Europe. "I think whatever concerns the fans have about the club and the direction it is heading in need to be looked at because Rangers need to have them firmly behind them." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/rangers-legend-laudrup-in-plea-to-ibrox-board-172466n.24818886

RANGERS legend Brian Laudrup today revealed how his transfer to the Ibrox club 20 years ago today rescued his foundering career. Danish internationalist Laudrup put pen to paper with the Glasgow giants in a £2.5million deal back on July 21, 1994. The winger went on to enjoy enormous success over the next four years and helped Walter Smith's side to complete nine-in-a-row. He won the Scottish title three times, the League Cup once and the Scottish Cup once, and was also named SFWA Player of the Year twice. The skilful attacker is now widely considered by supporters to be one of the greatest-ever players in the 142-year history of Rangers. But the 45-year-old has recalled how his playing days were in freefall over in Italy where he had endured unhappy spells with Fiorentina and then AC Milan. And he has told how his father - former Denmark star Finn - had warned him that the transfer to Scotland HAD to work out if he was to revive his career. In an exclusive interview with SportTimes, he said: "I can remember a conversation I had with my father at the time I was going to sign for Rangers. "He said to me: 'Brian, this is going to be the most important switch in your career. This move has got to be a success for you'. "Up until then, I had been at Bayern Uerdingen in Germany for one year, Bayern Munich for two years, Fiorentina for one year and AC Milan for one year. "My father told me: 'If you want to be a successful player then you can't be finding a new club every season. You need to find a club and stay there'. "Rangers was that club. Joining Rangers turned out to be the best move of my career. I enjoyed every minute of it. It was very successful for me and very successful for my family. "It was the best four years of my career in terms of playing and the best in terms of my private life. I was happy in Scotland on the park and my family and I were very happy off it." This week in SportTimes Laudrup looks back on the circumstances that resulted in him agreeing to sign for Rangers 20 years ago. He reveals how he realised it would be the correct decision just a few minutes after meeting manager Smith for talks at Cameron House Hotel. And the Scandinavian, now a television pundit in his homeland, also tells of his distress at the off-field difficulties the 54-times Scottish champions have experienced in the last two years. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/laudrup-my-lifetime-debt-to-rangers-172216n.24803808?

According to the Sun website: Club bow to fan pressure over stadium RANGERS fans are set to record a victory in the battle to safeguard Ibrox. Sunsport understands that the under-fire club board are set to give fans’ groups assurances that the club’s home won’t be sold off. The agreement will only be a short-term fix — but the board are hopeful it will spur fans on to buying season tickets for the Championship. Only 17,000 have been sold as fans attempt to put cash pressure on the club. Around 3000 fans marched to Ibrox yesterday to voice their concerns about the running of the club. Ex-stars John Brown and Nacho Novo lent their support and Novo told the crowd: “This club means everything to me and you mean everything to me. “Thank you all for coming out and staying united as we try to safeguard the club we all love. “I’m from Spain but this is where my heart is and we have to stay together to make sure this place we love stays part of Rangers. “This is about every supporter who wants to see the club prosper. This is a special club and Ibrox is a special place.”

Friday, 18 July 2014 A total of 18 teams with the best disciplinary records across the Scottish Professional Football League, Scottish Highland Football League and Scottish Lowland Football League will be rewarded with Scottish FA Fair Play Award payments ahead of the new season. Following the compilation of the 2013/14 Review of Player Misconduct, the teams that finished first, second and third in the disciplinary table for each league will receive payments of £5,000, £3,750 and £1,250 respectively. Scottish FA President, Campbell Ogilvie, said: “It’s important to encourage fair play across the game, and we believe that offering incentives to clubs, and recognising their efforts, helps to foster and encourage fair play. “We are delighted to issue Scottish FA Fair Play Award payments to 18 teams across the six senior leagues ahead of the new season.” Scottish FA Fair Play Awards Following compilation of the 2013/14 Review of Player Misconduct (based on first team League and Cup appearances), the following payments will be made to clubs: SPFL Premiership 1. Celtic FC (£5,000) 2. Motherwell FC (£3,750) 3. Aberdeen FC (£1,250) See the full SPFL Premiership Review of Player Misconduct here… SPFL Championship 1. Dumbarton FC (£5,000) 2. Cowdenbeath FC (£3,750) 3. Dundee FC (£1,250) See the full SPFL Championship Review of Player Misconduct here… SPFL League One 1. Rangers FC (£5,000) 2. Stranraer FC (£3,750) 3. Dunfermline Athletic FC (£1,250) See the full SPFL League One Review of Player Misconduct here… SPFL League Two 1. Clyde FC (£5,000) 2. Albion Rovers FC (£3,750) 3. Annan Athletic FC (£1,250) See the full SPFL League Two Review of Player Misconduct here… Scottish Highland Football League 1. Keith FC (£5,000) 2. Brora Rangers FC (£3,750) 3. Inverurie Loco Works FC (£1,250) See the full SHFL Review of Player Misconduct here… Scottish Lowland Football League 1. Gala Fairydean Rovers FC (£5,000) 2. Dalbeattie Star FC (£3,750) 3. Spartans FC (£1,250) See the full SLFL Review of Player Misconduct here… http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=2566&newsCategoryID=1&newsID=13515

MICHAEL MOLS reckons the calls for an apology to Rangers for their treatment in recent years are futile - because the major damage to Scottish football has already been done. The Union of Fans last week hit out at a number of key figures in our game following HMRC's failure to overturn the court verdict in the 'Big Tax Case'. Boss Ally McCoist insisted the club and fans will never forget some of the comments and jibes aimed in their direction during the Gers' troubles, which saw them drop down to the Third Division and threatened with the loss of league and cup titles won during Sir David Murray's Ibrox reign. Fans are furious at the treatment their club has received in recent years and Mols, who won six winners medals during his time in Scotland, reckons the time for sympathy has long since gone. He told SportTimes: "It is difficult for me to keep track of everything that is going on but I understand that Rangers can't be blamed for anything. "They did everything properly and well. You can ask for an apology but it is too late for that. The damage is already done. "What has gone on has not only damaged Rangers, but it has damaged the whole of Scottish football and that is very serious. "Not having Rangers in the top league has devalued the league. Not having Rangers, or Celtic, there devalues it. Even if the management had done something wrong, which they did not, it was not wrong on the pitch. "On the pitch, we won those medals fair and square and were the best team. "For me, if they wanted to strip the titles that I won at Rangers, personally, I couldn't care less. "In my heart, I know I won it and we deserved it. Nobody could have and won't ever take that away from me." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/u/mols-rangers-tax-case-damaged-scots-football.1405583275

Wednesday, 16 July 2014 16:15 Rangers To Honour Sandy Jardine Written by Rangers Football Club RANGERS Football Club will pay a lasting tribute to the late, great Sandy Jardine by re-naming the Govan Stand in his honour. The Light Blues legend sadly lost his battle with cancer in April but is forever in our thoughts and the Club will mark his phenomenal 50-year contribution to Rangers by changing the name of the Govan Stand to the Sandy Jardine Stand. Sandy was based in the offices at the Govan Stand for many years when he returned to the Club he served with such distinction as a player so it is fitting this particular stand will carry his name. This dedication will be in place for the opening league game of the season against Sandy's former side Hearts at Ibrox on Sunday 10 August. His family will also be guests of the Club on the day and Sandy’s widow Shona says the honour is something he was immensely proud of. She commented: "My husband considered it a great honour and privilege to represent Rangers Football Club and I know he was extremely proud to receive this lasting tribute from the Club he loved.” Rangers Chief Executive Graham Wallace commented: "Sandy Jardine epitomised everything that is good about Rangers Football Club. He was a man of principle and class and his contribution throughout his career both on and off the pitch was truly incredible. "His achievements are unlikely to be seen again in the modern game and this is a truly fitting way to honour Sandy's memory. The re-naming of the Govan Stand will be a permanent tribute to a man who gave everything for Rangers. "He was a credit to Rangers for decades and his dignity, class and love for the Club shone through. We have lost a true gentleman but he will never be forgotten and everyone at the Club is immensely proud to re-name the stand in his honour.” Rangers Manager Ally McCoist commented: "There have been many great names associated with Rangers Football Club but I can think of no-one more deserving of this tribute than Sandy Jardine. "A Rangers legend in every sense of the word, he will always be in our hearts and I am delighted he will be remembered forever with this permanent tribute at Ibrox Stadium. “Sandy's achievements both on and off the pitch were second to none. He gave everything for this great club and we are all looking forward to paying tribute to him at the Hearts game next month." Sandy, a truly world class fullback, was twice Player of the Year in Scotland and a key man in the Club's Treble-winning teams of 1976 and 1978. He also featured in two World Cups, winning 38 caps for Scotland and made almost 800 appearances for Rangers scoring 77 goals in the process. He won three League Championships, five Scottish Cups, five League Cups and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1972 with the Light Blues and is rightly regarded as one of the greatest Rangers players of the post-war era. His contribution to Rangers since his return in the late 90s was just as significant as he epitomised the dignity, class, history, standards and traditions that are the hallmarks of this 142 year old institution. Sandy lost his battle with cancer on 24 April 2014. http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/7227-rangers-to-honour-sandy-jardine