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From the BBC: Would anyone take Boyd back?

Sasa Papac has revealed he would be more than happy to remain at Rangers for the rest of his career. More...

From a Celtic forum......

I was in two minds whether to post this in Rangers Chat or Football Chat. Seeing as they're both ex Rangers men, I opted for Rangers Chat. Admin, feel free to move it if you have any issues. Anyway, this article is from The Daily Record. I meant to post it the other day after the Scotland game in midweek but clean forgot.

A few days ago the Record ran a story regarding the Lithuania v Scotland game. They (Colin Duncan) claimed the following: They are talking about Kaunas v Rangers. After contacting one of the directors above, Mr. Vygantas Gudenas, a couple of FF posters got the following reply: Interesting stuff. Always good to catch these clowns with their pants down... :robbo:

Just in case anyone hasn't seen this disgraceful statement from them over the weekend - with regard to the 40th Anniversary of the 1971 Ibrox Disaster: http://www.celtictrust.net/TheIbroxDisaster.htm They even had the date wrong yesterday but the italicised sections I've highlighted tell you all you need to know about these vile, vile people. To use a subject like the Ibrox Disaster to point-score over Rangers fans is nothing short of disgusting and their hypocrisy, as usual, astounding. For those that don't know, their chairwoman Jeanette Findlay is also banned from some media because of her previous public support for the PIRA when interviewed by Nicky Campbell. Unfortunately, Celtic are still all too willing to work with this organisation. - Link to Radio 5 Interview http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/fivelivebreakfast/2007/11/celtic_controversy.html - Link to Daily Record article http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2007/11/21/celtic-disown-rebel-fans-chief-in-ira-row-86908-20137880/ For those who wish to complain, please do so through official channels - Supporters Direct are clear in their constitution and it is beyond time this organisation was black-balled from a government backed initiative. http://www.supporters-direct.com/page.asp?p=3408 enquiries@supporters-direct.org

Kyle Lafferty feared he would have to quit Rangers before finding his scoring touch last season. More...

Rangers have dismissed reports that defender Madjid Bougherra has agreed a deal to join Hamburg. More...

Neil Alexander has pledged his commitment to Rangers and is ready to sign a new deal with the club. More...

It's just paper talk AFAIK, but apparently we're holding out for �£5m. Hope it's true, as that would signal the return of some strength in the transfer market and send out a signal to clubs down south that we're not desperate for the scraps from their table. . http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/rangers/180003-no-hitch-in-liverpools-wilson-deal-but-rangers-want-5-million/

Kris Boyd has received offers from abroad as he considers whether to sign a new contract at Rangers. More...

Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor feels that he has banished the infamous Boozegate saga. More...

Tom Hateley is considering quitting Motherwell unless the club sort out their Fir Park pitch. More...

Kris Boyd insists he is the man for the big occasion despite years of missing out on crucial matches. More...

Pedro Mendes is confident Rangers can win the SPL title without his services. More... All the best Pedro!

http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Saturday-Interview-Cosgrove-the-champion.6028570.jp FWIW, I know a lot of bears distrust Cosgrove because of the content of some of his work but have spoken with him a few times over the years I know he's sympathetic to our opinions on the media and has also helped me personally with charitable donations for Moni Malawi. Good to read his comments here suggesting Rangers fans are quite correct to question the influence of the media in Scotland.

Establishment has been breached: Our Source tells all. Jan 28 2010 By Declan O' Fended. THE ESTABLISHMENT was blown open last night in a Daily Record exclusive. Shocked Celtic fans were left reeling after they found out QUEEN ELIZABETH was behind them being 10 points adrift in the title race. Furious hoops bosses were FURIOUS to find out that top ranking Establishment officials also included: The head of the SFA Top presenter Jim White A host of other top ranking Ibrox officials Celtic manager Tony Mowbray Our source who cannot be named for legal reasons said "We have always known that it was not our shit manager, shit fans, shit stadium or our shit squad but it was all a big H*n conspiracy. We had no idea however that Tony Mowbray was involved, his style of passing the ball about for 90 minutes without winning anything is unmatched since Tommy passed away. Its ra pure celic way of playing football." In an EXCLUSIVE look behind the scenes at the establishment John Reid our annonymous source laid it all out on crayon for Daily Record HQ. View the EXCLUSIVE diagram below which lifts the lid on the Establishment: http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/152/establishment.jpg Sources at Ibrox yesterday were said to be too busy "pishing themselves laughing" to comment. Sources for her majesty Queen Elizabeth had the following statement to make:

Unless you've been on Mars, the Rangers ownership debate will have been everywhere in your supporting life of the last six months in particular. From the 'official' newspapers and media, to the 'unofficial' forums and fanzines; from the 'official' fan groups, to the 'unofficial' singing sections; the apparent dispute between Lloyds Bank/MIH and those interested in buying the club has been a hot topic for months now. I say apparent because real, genuine facts are thin on the ground so it is extremely difficult for the average bear to decide what is and isn't authentic when examining the ownership issue. On one hand we hear rumours that Lloyds Bank - via the introduction of director Donald Muir - are in control of the club and attempting to regain their �£31million debt by manners that could cost the club its short, medium and long term competitiveness. On the other we have club chairman Alistair Johnston telling us at the club AGM that these rumours are untrue while the bank say they remain committed to the club's future success. The battle-lines are drawn then but the lines are somewhat unclear. Who is in what army and who is fighting who. And, most importantly, what is the prize and how much will it cost? All confusing stuff for supporters who look at the SPL table and see a six point cushion (in real terms) between us and Celtic. Therefore, as a starting point for those of us without the source with the inside info, what are the facts of the situation? Well, as reported late last year the club is �£31million in debt (as of June 2009) although our participation in the Champions' League group stage will likely have reduced that figure by a few million in the interim. To that end, the debt is owed primarily to Lloyds Bank who are involved in the club via long term loans as well as their shareholding in MIH. Nevertheless, Sir David Murray remains the majority owner of both Rangers and the MIH parent company and people under-estimate his influence at their peril. However, MIH do have alleged serious financial problems and, much in the same way the Rangers board had to renegotiate their loan terms with the bank in 2009, it is believed that Murray has had to do the same with the huge debts MIH have. This much is unclear as the company have delayed the reporting of their accounts until April this year - lending weight to claims he is having difficulty appeasing the bank in terms of restructuring. Back to Rangers and once again dealing with what 'official' information is publicly available we examine the club AGM where the shareholders were told the club did not need to sell any players and could, if necessary, 'trade' their way through transfer windows. Obviously this statement is open to interpretation but given we've not sold anyone (yet!) and contract talks have taken place with several players, Johnston appeared to be correct when speaking in December. The club also strenuously denied that Lloyds are 'running Rangers' as some suggest. Unfortunately this is where the waters become muddied - perhaps deliberately so and certainly by a range of parties - including the club, including the media and including 'in-the-know' fans. Read any Rangers forum (and indeed most newspapers - be it Jim Traynor in the Daily Record or Darrell King at the Herald) then the 'official' lines above are challenged. The rumours and innuendo are rife: Donald Muir is an agent of the bank; the bank want to reduce the playing squad to 14 senior players; contract offers have been taken off the table by the bank; Muir has held meetings with his friend Alex McLeish to sell key players; key club staff members (Martin Bain and the head Groundsman) have been 'sacked' then reinstated; the club is allegedly for sale at �£31million with SDM happy to accept a nominal sum for his 91% shareholding; Dave King is the man the fans must throw their weight behind; Graham Duffy is the only show in town; why are the bank rejecting good offers for the club; the fan groups will unite the support; Murray Park is to be sold to realise funds; paint banners and place pressure on the bank; the fans can run the club; etc etc etc. I'm sure there are more I've missed. To be clear, I don't know if these rumours are true. They may well be and, in fact, I believe some are but I certainly urge all Rangers supporters to be cautious in what they read - no matter the source. I don't under-estimate the intelligence or passion of our fans and to that end we shouldn't be patronised by any side of the argument. Therefore, what is certainly the case and the reason for this article, is that once again we're the ones being treated unfairly. I don't doubt people want to buy Rangers FC and I certainly don't blame them for wanting the best deal possible. After all, the cheaper they buy the club (or the bank debt); the more money they'll have to invest in the parts of the club that desperately require it. Be it an essential improved contract for Kris Boyd or repairs to a stadium built in memory of the 66; tens of millions of pounds are required to take our club forward. Again, anyone under-estimating the scale of the job needed to keep our club as a successful going concern, could be even more fatal than allowing the bank to sell off our assets. Consequently, more than ever, what we need is clarity and leadership from those that are buying (and those that are selling) the club. Of course, Stock Market rules may determine what information can be made available but, while the current method of drip-feeding unsubstantiated rumours to people via the media and unofficial fan forums may help apply pressure to a degree, we need more credible ways of reaching the support than that. After all, the online community may know and trust a few otherwise anonymous user-names, but how on earth do the vast majority of off-line fans - the often apathetic preponderance of the Rangers support; get access to the debate? These are the people any potential buyer (and fan group) need to reach if they want a successful subscription to any ownership model and so far the efforts to do so are below par. Across the community and at recent games I see Rangers fans challenged to open their eyes and be aware of 'the enemy within' our great club. Fair enough, I understand that mantra and, given I'm lucky enough to be in contact with a few interesting people, I also share in it to a degree. However, how can I possibly pass this message onto others without looking somewhat irresponsible? Despite the proclamations from some on the other side of the debate, there's no doubt there are problems at Rangers football club. There is also no doubt people are concerned about that enough to want to spend a lot of money during a difficult financial period to buy the club. For that I'm thankful. However, if these people are truly serious and want their efforts to be respected and supported, I expect to see more. If the situation is as dire as their plants in the media and their associated fan groups suggest by proxy for them, then the odd post on a forum and the odd banner at a game is not enough. We've heard the declarations of unity but there has been little evidence of it when requested. More is required. Meetings are needed. Credibility must be sought. Unification is paramount. Egos need not be massaged. Communication must be used. The fans should be trusted. What cannot be denied is that to be the owner of Rangers FC one must be a true leader of men. We want and need this leader. If you are serious in your intentions, then you must step forward. Are you Ready?

I know Hateley hasn't made many friends with some of his columns about us in recent times, but I think he's speaking a lot of sense in his latest one. From today's Daily Record:

Source is the Daily Record. I think he'll happily take the wage cut to stay at Ibrox but is he happy with being a squad player under WS?

Charlie Adam has pleaded with Rangers manager Walter Smith to give him a second chance at Ibrox after making only nine appearances last season. (Daily Record) It probably make a good poll to see how many of us would like to see him get another chance, I for one think he is worth at least one more chance, he has three years remaining on his five year contract.............I think ?, plus he is still a young player who could improve

WITCH HUNT SPARKED V-SIGNS FROM SHAMED PLAYERS Image Flag By Jacqueline McGhie, 05/04/2009 CELTIC star Scott Brown was dubbed the luckiest player in Scotland last night - after escaping the Boozegate affair totally UNPUNISHED. It is understood the Hoops star stayed up drinking with shamed aces Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor and retired to bed just TWENTY MINUTES before his Old Firm rivals. But, astonishingly, he avoided being hammered by Scotland gaffer George Burley after being shielded by his contacts at the Daily Record, we can sensationally reveal. And while Brown was included in the starting line-up for the World Cup tie against Iceland, his mates were dropped to the bench because of the marathon drinking session at Cameron House. The move sparked a chain of events that ended in Ferguson and McGregor being banned from playing for Scotland for life and transfer-listed by their club. But a News of the World investigation can reveal today that other senior members of the Scotland squad believe that: BURLEY only disciplined the Gers pair after they were NAMED by the Record THE manager has FAILED to punish any other star who stayed up drinking, and FERGIE and McGregor only stuck their fingers up at Record photographers - NOT the Scotland fans or manager. Last night a source insisted: "Barry and Allan have been hung out to dry." The News of the World can reveal that senior players feel Hoops midfielder Brown dodged blame because of his close links to a Record journalist. And they believe that the newspaper DELIBERATELY stuck the knife into Gers skipper Fergie because he works for their bitter rivals, The Scottish Sun. Last night a source close to the Scotland camp, who has asked not to be named, hit out: "What is the difference between drinking for seven-and-a-half hours and drinking for seven hours and 10 minutes? All the boys are amazed at the way this issue spiralled out of control "Those 20 minutes seemed to make a world of a difference to Burley and the SFA because it resulted in McGregor and Ferguson being dropped from the team to face Iceland - yet Brown was in his usual place and being hailed as a HERO by the Tartan Army. "He clearly is a very lucky boy - or perhaps he is just fortunate to have friends in high places. "No one's condoning what the Rangers pair did at Hampden. They were IDIOTS. "But it certainly appears to have been more convenient for Burley to dump them after the Holland game than it was to drop Brown." We can reveal that the Record contacted the SFA on Monday with details of the drinking binge. But the newspaper only named Ferguson and McGregor - and, despite having ALL the info, failed to mention to officials that Brown had ALSO been up for the marathon booze session. The call went in two days after Record sports editor James Traynor was involved in an angry exchange with Ferguson during the previous week's trip to Holland for another World Cup qualifier. Ferguson confronted the columnist, who had previously vilified him and even urged Walter Smith to axe him if the Ibrox side wanted to win the title. In Friday's Record, Traynor wrote: "Only last week he (Ferguson) had turned to a sympathetic paper to moan that he's some kind of victim and that some of us have the knives out for him. "Then, late on Saturday night as we all prepared to retreat from another defeat in the Amsterdam ArenA, I had a conversation with Ferguson, who wanted to know why he is criticised and why I don't consider him captain material." Other Scotland players now feel the Record failed to mention Brown to the SFA, or in their report on Wednesday about the booze shame, because he is an important contact of the paper's senior football reporter Keith Jackson. One player, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "All the boys are amazed at the way this issue spiralled out of control. There has certainly been a lot of very selective reporting about what went on." Other Scotland stars who stayed up for the early morning drinking session were Steven Whittaker, Gary Teale and Alan Hutton - but they called it quits after a couple of hours. But the News of the World understands that Brown only made it back to his room around NOON on Sunday. Before then, he had collected a pair of hairclippers and SHAVED McGregor's head as the trio shared a laugh. One source said that the keeper was found slumped in a chair with his brown locks lying around him. But a short time after the Celtic ace left the party, Scotland coach Steven Pressley spotted Ferguson and McGregor at around 12.30pm - and ordered them back to their rooms. The pair were described as "drunk as skunks" after downing beer, expensive wine and vodka and Red Bull. It was suggested Ferguson then threw up in the hotel but our source said: "That is not true. They went off to to their beds without any fuss." It was the SFA's idea to lay on food and drink in a private room But, incredibly, it took Scotland boss Burley more than 48 hours to inform his skipper and goalkeeper that they were to be sent home in disgrace. And he only made that announcement after the Record had contacted him and made it clear they were going to go public and reveal details of the pair's boozy antics. The source added: "There has definitely been a witch-hunt for Allan and Barry." We can reveal that ALL the Scotland players were given permission to have a drink after returning to Scotland in the early hours of Sunday. Our man revealed: "It was the SFA's idea to lay on food and drink in a private room for those players who decided to go back to Cameron House. We were actually ENCOURAGED to go and relax there. "Other players went home - and could have stayed up and drank all night for all anyone knows. "But the lads who did that at Cameron House - on their DAY OFF - have been hammered for it. "Allan and Barry could have pointed the finger at certain team-mates and asked why they weren't coming in for the same punishment as them. "But they kept silent and took their punishment on the chin. Their frustration just seems to have boiled over at Hampden during the Iceland match. They were put in a high- pressure situation and handled it badly. "But a lot of the boys are suspicious about how this all started. "The hotel staff were absolutely fine with what was going on and, to my knowledge, there were no complaints from the public - or they would have been plastered all over the papers. "But the way two players have been demonised for having a drink seemed a bit over the top, considering they were far from being the only ones. "Even some of the SFA staff were having a drink in the same place." After originally ordering Ferguson and McGregor home from the Loch Lomond training camp, Burley reinstated them after being approached by senior players, including Manchester United star Darren Fletcher and Celts captain Stephen McManus. The delegation voiced their concerns over the way their team-mates were being "hung out to dry" while others who stayed up for a drink went unpunished. During heated discussions between Burley and his squad, it emerged that four others - Teale, Whittaker, Hutton and Brown - had also stayed up for some time on Sunday morning. Burley was told the players were RAGING that two of their teammates were taking the rap, while others who also failed to go straight to their beds were being let off the hook. Our source revealed: "The players told Burley he couldn't have one rule for some and another rule for others. They made it clear he should either send SIX players home or none at all. There had to be some consistency. "The message which came through loud and clear from Burley and his staff was that if the papers hadn't got hold of the story about the other boys, there wasn't an issue to deal with." It is understood Burley was persuaded to reinstate Ferguson and McGregor to his squad for the Iceland game and leave them on the bench. The pair even met with SFA officials and were encouraged to go through the post-match media zone and speak to newspapers after the game. Officials hoped the duo would reiterate their disappointment over their conduct. But that move backfired spectacularly when the players made obscene gestures from the bench during the game. And those gestures effectively ended their Rangers and Scotland careers. Yet a source close to the players revealed Ferguson and McGregor were NOT aiming their V-signs at the Tartan Army OR SFA chiefs. He said: "To suggest someone like Barry was having a go at the fans or George Burley is nonsense. They were aiming the gesture at the Daily Record photographers taking their picture. "You don't play for Scotland for 10 years and leave your wife and kids for 10 days as Barry did to take on Holland and Iceland unless playing for your country means something to you. "Anyone who says otherwise is trying to stir it. Clearly they've succeeded." http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_news/251687/Celtic-star-just-as-guilty-as-Rangers-duo-Barry-Ferguson-Allan-McGregor-Scott-Brown.html

Sunday's NOTW proudly announced that the putrid cockroach Anna Smith is to join their team. This should ring alarm bells for all friends of The Rangers. During her time with the Daily Record, Smith was twice present on dawn raids. Both provided her with anti-Rangers front pages. 1. After the Sunderland friendly, she campaigned non-stop for the pub slasher to be caught and punished. The police were anxious for a result due to the pressure being exerted by the her at the Record. On information provided by Smith (her claim), she was present when the police raided and arrested four Rangers supporters in the Cambuslang area. The front page carried pictures of the raid and anecdotal stories about the Bears detained. A tremendous piece of demonisation. A few days later, the arrested Bears were released. The police revealed that they weren't even in Sunderland. Smith did not re-address this, no mention was ever made. 2. The night before a Scottish Cup Final, Smith was to be found with Glasgow City Council workmen (protected by the police) who are repainting lampposts and kerb stones in Bridgeton. She heralds this as an anti-sectarian drive and praises the Councils quick involvement. Pictures and anecdotal stories are on the front page of the Daily Record the next morning. Her take on the Royston Street Party consisted of four paragraphs. She did not mention the murder, the numerous stabbings, the heart attack victim that died in the ambulance that couldn't get through cut-off roads, the gang battles, the dozens of arrests, the Councils grant of Ã?£25,000, etc etc. Smith is both a season ticket holder and share holder at Celtic Park. Her involvement with Cardinal Winning's media committee, and overt work and support of militant Irish republicanism are well documented. She used to regularly lecture young seminarists on the pitfalls of the big bad Proddy world. Her family still live in Chapelhall. A big ââ?¬Å?Sellick-mindedââ?¬Â family one might say. Her mother's old house in Arranview Street was regularly draped with republican flags every old firm game. She started reporting in the Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser at the same time as Graham Isdale. She sold Mr. Isdale down the river big time to get the job with the Record. Formerly a regular at Airdrie and Coatbridge Labour Council functions, she could also regularly be found drinking in Airdrie. She is unmistakable. Bucked-toothed with wiry unkempt ginger hair, it is claimed she has slept with everybody and anybody to get where she is. Anna Smith hates Rangers. Anna Smith hates Protestants. Anna Smith is a twisted bigot. Please boycott this newspaper from now on - better still, write to the editor and tell him why you are boycotting and urging everyone else to do so as well. If we don't fight back, these bastards will run all over us. Thanks

... but a must read : Silence is not Green, White and Golden In December 1915, when I was seventeen and a half, I ran away from home to join the 4th Battalion East Surreys. I was under age so I had to lie to the recruitment sergeant. I said I was eighteen years old and my name was Sydney Harrison. I told the truth later though, because if Iââ?¬â?¢d been killed as Harrison, nobody would ever have known what happened to me. Arras was the first time I went over the top. We played football together as we went over. That was the tradition in the East Surreys. I remember the ball dropping at my feet and I passed it to Captain Maxwell. ââ?¬Ë?That was a good pass you made young Withers!ââ?¬â?¢ he shouted before he thumped it towards the German lines. I got wounded at the end of that battle. I was temporarily blinded in one eye but it could have been worse. At the end of the battle, I lay bleeding in a trench. There was blood coming out of my eye, pouring out all over my face. My head looked blown in. They thought I was dead and they were going to bury me. I was in a half-conscious state and I can remember a soldier getting hold of me and saying ââ?¬Å?Here ââ?¬â?? this blokes alive!ââ?¬â?¢ That man saved my life, by calling that out. Iââ?¬â?¢d have been buried alive in Arras, if it hadnââ?¬â?¢t been for him. Above, the words of Cecil Withers from the book ââ?¬Å?Last Post ââ?¬â?? The Final Word From Our First World War Soldiersââ?¬Â. Cecil recounts his time on the Western Front as a teenager fighting for our country. Last weekend 65 senior football matches were played in Great Britain. Prior to kick-off at 64 of them, fans of opposing clubs put aside their rivalries and stood silent in tribute to those brave men and women who gave their lives in service of our country. In the 65th senior game the mould was broken. Celtic Football Club spat in the face of common decency by instead hosting a minuteââ?¬â?¢s applause in recognition of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Think about it. Applause. For 20 million lives destroyed. Those of a Celtic persuasion couldnââ?¬â?¢t even bring themselves to admit who they were honouring. The Celtic Park Master of Ceremonies told the 55,000 crowd the minuteââ?¬â?¢s applause was to remember ââ?¬Å?the Celtic players who died in both World Warsââ?¬Â. He further stated that the clapping of hands to show respect for the dead is ââ?¬Å?the Celtic wayââ?¬Â. It most certainly is. Of course the increasingly incompetent Lex Gold of the SPL must shoulder part of the blame for the shame that this has heaped upon Scottish football. The option of a minuteââ?¬â?¢s applause as an alternative to the traditional silence should never have entered his distorted mind. In the name of decency it simply shouldnââ?¬â?¢t have been an option. Letââ?¬â?¢s not mince words here. This option was devised to save Celtic Football Club acute embarrassment. In decrying Gold, letââ?¬â?¢s not lose sight of who the real culprits are in this blackest of days for Scottish football. Celtic Football Club. Their directors and Chief Executive could and should have insisted they follow protocol. Their Chairman is a former Secretary for Defence for Godââ?¬â?¢s sake. They could and should have shown they cared and turned their backs on the hate-filled cretins amongst their support who intended disrupting proceedings. They could and should have requested police eject anyone breaking the silence from their stadium or arrest them for breach of the peace. But damage limitation, not decency and decorum, was order of the day and foremost in the minds of John Reid, Peter Lawwell and Co. ââ?¬Å?Keep the name of Celtic clean at all costsââ?¬Â the mantra once again. Thus they opted to shame themselves and their football club in the most contemptible way imaginable. Predictably the Celtic-minded apologists were at their pre and post-match best, deflecting and rewriting as only they can. On Saturday morning the Daily Record told us the minutes applause was introduced in Scotland after Hearts fans disrupted a silence for the Pope. Lies. The first minutes applause in Scotland took place at Ceptic Park in honour of the late great George Best. The reason? Best had made some derogatory remarks about Gerry Adams and the IRA in his Mail on Sunday column a year earlier, propmting outrage in Republican circles. The Celtic heirarchy knew any silence would be disrupted. At pains to propagate the increasingly risible ââ?¬Å?tiny-minorityââ?¬Â line, the media once again did Peter Lawwellââ?¬â?¢s bidding for him. Numbers for those who walked out of Celtic Park in protest against ââ?¬Å?British Imperialismââ?¬Â ranged from a few hundred to Hugh Keevinsââ?¬â?¢ ridiculous 20 figure. Mark Guidi in the Sunday Mail clawed hopelessly as he stated ââ?¬Å?a maximum of 80 Celtic fans left the stadiumââ?¬Â. How bloody desperate. Celtic of course refused to speak out, their work done for them. ââ?¬Å?Not worthy of commentââ?¬Â said a Celtic spokesman, just as 3500 of their fans singing loudly in tribute to their IRA heroes at Tynecastle the previous weekend had similarly been ââ?¬Å?not worthy of commentââ?¬Â. Are we really to believe that these same morons would have respected a silence one week on? The same Celtic supporters who had verbally abused poppy-sellers outside the Hearts stadium? The same Hearts who lost a whole first team in the fields of France during the Great War? Of course they would. We know exactly what would have happened, and Celtic knew too. Thousands of their clubs fans would have been shown up for exactly what they are ââ?¬â?? hate-filled, shameless anti-British fascists and racists. Keevins described the actions of the assembled throng of IRA sympathisers as ââ?¬Å?a serious embarrassment for us as a countryââ?¬Â. Wrong Mr. Keevins. They are a serious embarrassment to Ireland as a country, for these creatures are not Scottish or British, they are Irish. Ask them for yourself. On Saturday night I watched the Festival of Remembrance on BBC1. I sat in awe as Lance Corporal Mathew Croucher of 40 Commando Royal Marines was piped in carrying the Book of Remembrance, by Scottish soldiers. Lance Corporal Croucher had thrown his body across a live hand-grenade to save the lives of two of his comrades. Only his backpack saved him from being blown to pieces. He was awarded the George Cross for his bravery. I was reminded of Sergeant Michael Willets of 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment, husband and father, who threw himself on top of a hand-grenade tossed into Springfield Road Police Station Belfast by the IRA in 1971. Sergeant Willets gave his own life to save the lives of Catholic/Nationalist/Republican women and children sheltering in the station. He was posthumously awarded the George Cross. I continued to watch as British soldiers of all races, creeds and colours paid tribute to fallen comrades. I listened intently as Lt. Col. Joe Oââ?¬â?¢Sullivan 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment lamented the loss of three of his men in Iraq. The Lt. Col. could Iââ?¬â?¢m sure trace his roots back to Ireland should he so choose. This set me thinking. Why are people like Joe Oââ?¬â?¢Sullivan, and thousands of others like him, fully assimilated and proud of the adopted country of their ancestors, yet we in West-Central Scotland have the continual embarrassment and perpetual shame of those of Irish ancestry who despise us? The answer is Celtic Football Club. An organisation diseased to its core. In the beginning we had Marist Brother Walfrid introducing bigotry to football when founding the club ââ?¬Å?prompted by a fear that Protestant soup kitchens might tempt young Catholics into apostasyââ?¬Â and ââ?¬Å?worried about the dangers of young Catholics meeting Protestants in their place of employment or leisureââ?¬Â (Football historian Bill Murray from his book ââ?¬Å?The Old Firmââ?¬Â). Walfrid's co-recruitment agent for Celtic was a ******, Pat Welsh, on the run from Ireland suspected of murder. Choice company for a man of the cloth. This would of course be the same Walfrid that Celtic history books clearly document as leading the singing of Irish rebel songs in St Mary's Parish Hall, Glasgow, in November 1887. On to the opening ceremony for Celtic Park when the convicted ****** gun-runner and ââ?¬Å?embittered Irish Nationalist who was anti-British to the backboneââ?¬Â Michael Davitt laid the first piece of turf. Fast-forward to September 17th 1941, when the SFA closed Parkhead for a month because of Celtic fansââ?¬â?¢ ââ?¬Å?serious misbehaviour and pro-German chantsââ?¬Â. To the Falklands conflict when Ce ltic fans chanted ââ?¬Å?Argentina, Argentinaââ?¬Â and ââ?¬Å?Malvinas, Malvinasââ?¬Â in support of Galtieriââ?¬â?¢s fascist military dictatorship. Not forgetting 30 years of Provisional IRA support and the Celtic Board of Directorsââ?¬â?¢ insistence on P.A. broadcasts of dewy-eyed ballads ââ?¬Å?rebelling against the Crownââ?¬Â and featuring ââ?¬Å?let the people singââ?¬Â Irish Republican lyrics. I could add the Irish Republican vocalist at Jackie MacNamaraââ?¬â?¢s testimonial, the disruption of a minutes silence for a member of the Royal Family, Republican flute bands playing at testimonial matches, Celtic players singing IRA songsââ?¬Â¦Ã¢â?¬Â¦Ã¢â?¬Â¦.. I would also mention the dozens of ââ?¬Å?Celtic pubsââ?¬Â that are little more than meeting places and breeding grounds for terrorist sympathisers and what former Celtic chairman Fergus McCann so deftly described as ââ?¬Å?Celtic-minded Catholic bigotsââ?¬Â. Witness the IRA theme park that the Barrowlands ghetto of Glasgow has become with its Sinn Fein shops and public houses festooned in Irish Republican symbology. Shame on Glasgow City Council who seem happy to allow this area to expand.

Rangers manager Walter Smith has revealed Sasa Papac is set to sign a new deal at Ibrox later this week. Papac has been in talks with Gers officials for the last few months over a two-year extension to his contract. The Bosnian is set to meet Rangers chief executive Martin Bain after Tuesday's reaaranged SPL clash with Dundee United and Smith is confident the deal will be concluded quickly. "I would hope it would be finalised this week," Smith told the Daily Record. "Sasa is going to meet Martin and hopefully it will be sorted out as he has been doing well. "He came here as a centre-half but has adapted to his new role at left-back and shown he is a really good footballer. He deserves great credit." Must say I am glad to see him signing an extension. Has played very well since making the LB position his own - to the extent that it would be easy to think that LB is his natural position.