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RST Chairman "Boycott of Lloyds can't be ruled out" 07 January by therabbitt Speaking to the BBC on the subject of Walter Smith's comments regarding the controlling influence of the bank on Rangers, RST chairman Stephen Smith was pointed in his criticism of Lloyds. Rangers are currently being held at gunpoint by Lloyds and Smith intimated that the sooner the clubs hands are untied, the better. "The sooner Lloyds are disentangled from the running of Rangers Football Club the better. I'm as worried now as I was last year when the manager felt strongly enough to publicly criticise the bank's role. Echoing the managers sentiments, the RST chairman discussed the fact that with successes in the Champions League, it would be expected that Lloyds wouldnt be holding such a stern view on the finances of the club, "We've had a successful Champions League campaign, we're guaranteed at least two more European games, yet there has still been no change in attitude from Lloyds. We're challenging for four competitions and that's why the size of the squad is a concern." In a more barbed comment, Smith backed up his managerial namesake, chosing to brand the banks treatment of the club as being 'vindictive', "If the manager's saying we need help, why are Lloyds behaving in such a vindictive way towards Rangers?" Signalling the RST's intent, Smith then refused to rule out that if the situation isn't improved, then the RST would consider finding a way to take action against the bank, "If that begins to materially affect Rangers on the park, we will certainly look to take action to try to change that. "Getting the Rangers family involved in a boycott of Lloyds Bank can't be ruled out." http://www.rangersmedia.co.uk/homepage/index.php/component/content/article/41-finances/895-rst-qboycott-of-lloyds-cant-be-ruled-outq.html

RANGERS captain David Weir has accused the club's bankers of unreasonable behaviour in placing fresh restrictions on manager Walter Smith ahead of the forthcoming transfer window. The veteran defender is bemused by the policy, confirmed again by Smith earlier this week, which currently means no funds will be available to spend in January for either permanent or loan signings. With Rangers still in limbo as they await the outcome of the latest takeover bid for the club from businessmen Craig Whyte and Andrew Ellis, Lloyds Banking Group continues to dictate the financial management at Ibrox. Weir believes Rangers' bid to win a third successive SPL title this season and qualify for next year's Champions League could be seriously compromised if they are not allowed to strengthen the squad next month. "It seems illogical that we can't sign any new players in January," said Weir. "Given how successful we have been in reaching a European final and playing in the Champions League, reducing the wage bill and the squad at the same time, you wonder how much further you can go down in terms of numbers and still be competitive. "I'm an amateur when it comes to finances, but you look at the debt and the money brought in since the manager took over. You'd like to think that you could have wiped out the debt in that time with the money we've brought in. I'm obviously missing something." Lloyds last night declined to comment on Weir's criticism. Rangers' debt in their most recent annual accounts stood at �£27.1 million, of which �£22.3 million is owed to Lloyds and incorporates their long-term loan agreement with the bank and overdraft facilities. A two-year transfer embargo was lifted by Lloyds last summer, allowing Smith to spend �£5.25 million in transfer fees on strikers Nikica Jelavic and James Beattie and secure the loan signings of Vladimir Weiss and Richard Foster. That investment was offset by the sales of Kevin Thomson and Danny Wilson for �£4 million, however, while four other senior players left the club at the end of their contracts. Rangers raked in almost �£14 million from their participation in the Champions League group stage last season, allowing them to record a profit of �£4.2 million, and will earn even more from the current European campaign which has seen them finish third in their Champions League group to progress to the knockout stages of the Europa League. Weir is also concerned that they may face that challenge with their existing squad further diminished as prize assets such as Scotland goalkeeper Allan McGregor are vulnerable to potential transfer bids. "That's what the manager and his staff are fighting," added Weir. "You cannot underestimate the job we've done with one hand tied behind our back. "It's not inconceivable there could be departures next month. It's the reality of where we are at (with the bank]. It's no secret that, if a right bid comes in, then the player will go. We'd prefer everyone to remain and keep our best players to be successful, but it's out of our hands. "The tightness of our squad has been the basis of the success we have had in recent seasons, but that can change as well." Weir was speaking at Hampden, where he promoted ESPN's live coverage of SPL football over the festive period which will begin with Rangers against Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday. He was joined by Celtic captain Scott Brown, who made his return from injury as a substitute in his team's 1-1 draw at home to Kilmarnock on Tuesday night. The 25-year-old midfielder is likely to be restored to the starting line-up on Sunday when Celtic seek to put their recent stuttering form behind them for the visit of St Johnstone. But, while manager Neil Lennon is able to add to his squad next month, Brown insists Celtic already have the strength and quality required to overhaul Rangers and win the title for the first time in three years. "Our squad is probably the best in the league, to be perfectly honest," said Brown. "We've got around 25 or 30 player who can come into the first team at any time. We've pretty much got two good starting elevens. If we went through January without buying a player, we would still be fine. "We have a big game on Sunday and we need to keep close to Rangers before the Old Firm game at Ibrox on 2 January. "There is no real concern about our form. We are looking good in training and we are dominating teams in games. We are putting the ball in the box and we just need a bit of luck." http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Bank39s-tight-grip-on-spending.6670700.jp?articlepage=2

http://www.rangersmedia.co.uk/homepage/index.php/component/content/article/41-finances/754-stewart-regan-was-asked-to-apply-for-his-sfa-job.html It is becoming clearer by the day that something absolutely stinks about the appointment of Stewart Regan as chief executive of the SFA. Diligent work by a number of forums, together with the few remaining investigative journalists, has already uncovered the unsavoury link between Kevin Reid (Johnââ?¬â?¢s son) and his best buddy Paul Nolan of Nolan Partners, who helped the SFA to recruit Regan. As we know, Regan and Peter Lawwell worked together during their time at Coors. Also, Nolan Partners is a business supplier to Celtic. And unconfirmed rumour has it also that the SFA committee tasked with finding a new CE was headed by Eric Riley, Celtic director. All very incestuous so far. Now RangersMedia can reveal that Regan did not wake up one morning, see the SFA job advertised in Odious Creepââ?¬â?¢s Times of London, and think: ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ll have a bit of thatââ?¬Â. Oh no. Thatââ?¬â?¢s not quite what happened. You see, Regan got a phone call. From who, we donââ?¬â?¢t yet know. But it would be nice if we were told. I think we should be told. During that phone call, the caller suggested to Regan that applying for the SFA job might be a good idea. In fact the caller went further; the caller specifically asked him to apply. Now who was that caller? In true Cluedo style, I lay out before you the principal suspects: - John Reid in Dawn Primaroloââ?¬â?¢s boudoir with a half bottle of Cream of the Barley - Eric Riley in the Turncoat Inn with four hundred committee memberships - Peter Liewell in Japan with the ever increasing bank debt - Paul Nolan in Number 7 Restaurant with a job well done - Kevin Reid in a Parliamentary probe with access to Jack McConnellââ?¬â?¢s diary Perhaps we could even add Regan himself to the list: - Stewart Regan in Celticââ?¬â?¢s back pocket with utter incompetence Weââ?¬â?¢ll never know just who made the phone call. But we do know that the stink is now pervasive.

From STV. He's been shit hot for us this season so it was only a matter of time before the EPL clubs were sniffing about.

First off I am gutted , to put so much into a game against a very good team , with what can only be described as the most make shift of make shift teams and come so close to getting something was agonising , yes it was a penalty and yes we coud have went more gung ho , but to what end , reality beckons and the Europa league at the moment is our standard , as much as it irks me to admit it . Now the big decisions must be made irrespective of ownership issue's money must be made available and replacements/adissions must be brought in , and not to sit on the bench , we do have players coming back we do have young players that can supplement the squad but they cannot be relied on ,Webster will never be seen , Jelavic will take time to regain his fitness ,will MacGregor or Bougherra still be with us , all must be addressed as well as Miller's contract issue. It would be criminal to expect Ally to sort out this next summer , for we have a great chance now to really punch a serious hole in the manky mob's finances and confidence by pushing on and winning the league this season.With the current squad it's a massive ask and to be honest the players are letting no-one down however it would be suicidal to expect this run , domestically , to continue . Lastly I thought the support were magnificent tonight and it was brilliant inside the ground ........

Just found this on NewsNow - http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/2010/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=339%3Arangers-track-bundesliga-sensation&catid=1%3Aarticles&Itemid=67 This one too - http://www.rangersmedia.co.uk/homepage/index.php/component/content/article/41-finances/740-rangers-scout-p3m-rated-striker-cisse.html

Our squad is threadbare and out of necessity many youth players will likely be required. Which ones do you think should play? Which are good enough? John Fleck has for some time supposedly been the player of the future. He did seem promising but was often moved around positionally and never really found his groove. From what I can see his ideal position seems to be a 'classic no 10' type player off the main striker, or on the left in a deep lying forward role in a 4-3-3. I think he's 19 now and at an age where he really needs to start playing first team football more often. Jordan McMillan was meant to also have a good future, at 22 and seemingly miles off the first team what chance does he have? Is he good enough? It's good to see Hutton and Wylde coming through, who else could make the grade? With the state of our finances and the global economy, kids really are or should be the future. But it's a case of if they'll get a chance and whether they are good enough. In the last 10-15 years there has not been a plethora of talent coming through the Ibrox ranks but things do look a bit better.

Shorerdbear discusses the alleged financial improvements we've seen at the club over the last year and asks just who is responsible for them. BEGINS In the last ten days a new wave of optimism has entered the psyche of Rangers fans - brought about with three new players being signed up. Signing players during pre-season is the done thing for football clubs; however, for Rangers fans last summer was the first season ever where new arrivals never materialised. According to the media it wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be the last either! We all knew the reasons why this was the case and for the most part, did not want to accept them. Pride can get in the way of logical decision making and when it comes down to football fans' expectations, business decisions can conflict with football ones. Walter and his players entered the 2009/10 season as champions. However, with no new arrivals to freshen the squad up, Walter faced the enormous task of challenging and retaining the title. Like the great managers of the past, Walter stepped up and delivered title 53 and secured the all important Champions League place and all the riches that comes with automatic Group Stage qualification! Moreover, we won the league against a backdrop of uncertainty via financial results and a rival who would do anything to discredit the success of Scotlandââ?¬â?¢s greatest football club. Across the globe success has always bred contempt; however, in some parts of Scotland - it only breeds paranoia and delusional thinking. To mould a winning team and hold your integrity intact takes a special type of person and thankfully - in Walter Smith - we have exactly that. Whether or not we win this years league championship, Walter can bow out with his head held high in the knowledge he played an integral part in turning the fortunes of Rangers around. The next name I mention may flabbergast fellow bears, it might even have them reach for the ââ?¬Ë?log offââ?¬â?¢ button. But, when a business model is failing and no investment is on the horizon, drastic measures have to be taken and it is usually in the way of ââ?¬Ë?cutsââ?¬â?¢! Donald Muir, ââ?¬Ë?the enemy withinââ?¬â?¢, was and in some parts still is seen as the devil. The shareholders voted against his appointment but when they roughly make up about 10% of the clubââ?¬â?¢s shareholding, it really didnââ?¬â?¢t mean much apart from a show of suspicion towards a man who was seen as the final nail in the coffin of our great club. However, Muir has remained steadfast in his approach to turning Rangers financial fortunes around. If he hadnââ?¬â?¢t, then we might not have signed three new players and perhaps Walter might not have had the chance to spend over Ã?£4 million on one player, the largest fee the club has spent on one transfer since Mikel Arteta was brought over from Spain. Weââ?¬â?¢ve heard all the ââ?¬Ë?rumoursââ?¬â?¢ of infighting on the board, threatened administration from the bank and that Walter might walk if he is not supplied with all the tools to challenge for honours. All blame has been directed towards Donald Muir and his alleged employers. Indeed, these perceived rumours might hold some water and perhaps somewhere down the line we might find out whether they were true or not! Now weââ?¬â?¢re reading published articles from the BBC that the debt has been ââ?¬Ë?substantiallyââ?¬â?¢ cut down and that there could be more arrivals to the playing staff. This would not be possible without drastic cuts in other expenditure; moreover, the current board seemed at a loss as to where they should make those cuts. Enter ââ?¬Ë?the enemy withinââ?¬â?¢ who, through his job role, and past experiences took a look at the club accounts and went about making tough and unpopular decisions that seem to be starting to reap dividends. Financially, weââ?¬â?¢re not out of the woods yet. Although, there is a clearing and this season is just as important as the last two. We have a squad more than capable of winning the league and with a ruthlessly business minded man on the board we may be on the cusp of a brighter future than we had been anticipating due to past mistakes. We have all thanked Walter up to now. Perhaps weââ?¬â?¢ll thank Donald Muir, ââ?¬Ë?the enemy withinââ?¬â?¢, sometime in the future?

My mate told me today that Kenny Miller is in talks with West Brom. My mate is an accountant and has had dealings with Miller and his finances in the past. Apparently a Turkish club, have also been sniffing about. Selling him would be an absolute farce!

I do fervently hope that no one is silly enough to post this on certain sites, it could lead to a ban for infringing the rules, or worse exercising free speech and keeping the proletariat informed of true developments. http://www.rangersmedia.co.uk/homepage/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=567:dave-kings-rangers-shares-seized-by-south-african-taxman&catid=41:finances

Northampton_Loyalist examines the positives behind the club's challenges and suggests prudence may indeed be the long term solution we want for a successful club. http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/2010/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=284:what-doesnt-kill-you-can-only-make-you-stronger&catid=1:articles&Itemid=67

When Rangers head off on their long-haul flight to Australia tonight, there will be plenty of time for Walter Smith to occupy himself with blue-sky thinking. Sleep is unlikely to come easily to the Rangers manager as he continues to mull over the financial nightmare that plagues his dream of landing the kind of player that will bolster a threadbare squad ââ?¬â?? and generate a ripple of excitement among the fans. Economy class will be the ticket with no chance of a Very Important Player upgrade. Michael Tongeââ?¬â?¢s name may not be on the passenger list when the plane taxis down the runway at Glasgow Airport. But by the time Rangers return from their tour Down Under on August 2, the Stoke City midfielder could well have landed at Ibrox on a season-long Ibrox loan agreement. The Englishman is one player definitely on Smithââ?¬â?¢s in-flight radar and a former Ibrox apprentice reckons the former England Under-21 star would be a shrewd acquisition. Barry Nicholson played alongside Tonge during a loan spell at Preston North End and reckons he has all the hallmarks to make an impact down Govan way. Tonge may carry a bargain tag, but Nicholson is convinced the fans will warm to player who carries a bit of quality. The former, Rangers, Aberdeen and Dunfermline player said: ââ?¬Å?I think Michael would do really well at Ibrox. ââ?¬Å?When he was younger he was very highly rated and he was one of those players who was talked about a lot when he was still a kid. ââ?¬Å?It has maybe not quite gone according to plan for him over the last few years, but he is a really good player. ââ?¬Å?He is very comfortable on the ball, he has good technique, he is a good passer of the ball and he is also able to create things. ââ?¬Å?When he was at Preston he made a good impression and I think heââ?¬â?¢d be ready for the step up to Rangers. ââ?¬Å?He is not really an out-and-out winger. I think if he went to Ibrox he would play the way that Steven Davis last season and always look to cut inside. ââ?¬Å?He is very clever at doing that and seeing the forward pass that can then open something up.ââ?¬Â The days of multi-million pound household names arriving in Glasgow are over, at least for the time being. Right now, the climate is one of prudence and purse-tightening, a fact reflected in the sheer number of players in the last 12 months who have swapped the SPL for the Coca-Cola Championship. Nicholson understands the reasons for this, but he remains a staunch defender of the Old Firm ââ?¬â?? and what they can bring to the table of any player with a hunger to parade his skills in a unique setting. He said: ââ?¬Å?Everyone I have spoken to recently seems to go on about the decline in standards in Scotland. ââ?¬Å?That may be the case, but you have to hope that there are some young players coming through who can help to change that. The Championship and the SPL are probably on a par in terms of the level the games are played at. ââ?¬Å?But the Championship is a lot tighter because there are more teams who are of a similar standard and with the same kind of finances available to them. ââ?¬Å?I still think that a player moving from Stoke, say, as Michael would be, and going to Rangers is a big step up. ââ?¬Å?Aside from anything else, Rangers will be playing Champions League football this coming season and that is a huge draw for most players. ââ?¬Å?Everyone wants the chance to play at that kind of level and even just in terms of size and stature, both Rangers and Celtic are huge clubs. They still have big reputations and while they canââ?¬â?¢t spend the way they did, they still give players the chance to play in front of 50,000 supporters week in, week out. ââ?¬Å?There are not too many clubs in Britain who can make that boast. At the same time, I can understand why so many players have moved out of Scotland to come down here. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢d have to say from my own point of view that I am enjoying my football down here. I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be in any rush to move back, although I still keep an eye out for the SPL scores. ââ?¬Å?It would be nice to see the profile of the league rise a little and if there were some decent European results this season it would go a long way to helping achieve that.ââ?¬Â A flight of fancy that Walter Smith would definitely share.

Felt it was unfair to blame only the Trust in the other thread so have expanded upon my thoughts here... The Failure of the Fans Groups In light of the ownership debacle at Rangers and the continuing supporter frustration over our finances and long term planning, is it about time we, the supporters, examined our own representative vehicles and ask ourselves if they're doing the job they were set-up to do? Before I begin, undoubtedly some people will see elements of this article as unfair criticism or as some sort of attack on individuals/other websites but I'd like to refute that immediately as the criticisms within also apply to my own time as a board member of the RST and, thus, my own failings. I'd like to also make clear these complaints don't just apply to one specific organisation but all the groups that purport to represent us. First of all, I find it astounding that in the last year or two the profile and active membership of these groups has not increased when one examines the various ongoing issues surrounding the club. Unfortunately, these groups don't seem to accept this or, if they do, lack the humility and vision to take steps to address it. For every excellent initiative they do have (e.g. GersPride, NARSA conventions, fan forums and the recent Trust family day), there are many more opportunities that seem to be ignored. It is clear the bulk of Rangers fans are not interested in becoming active members and there must be various reasons why. We can speculate and, while apathy is the main valid argument, there must also be a reason for this apathy when there remains a clear and present danger to our club's future. Of course two titles on the trot will be enough for many fans to gloss over our financial challenges. But most bears I speak to - and certainly large amounts online - are frustrated enough with the situation and are exasperated with the club's attitude towards the fans. They demand improvement. Therefore, there does appear enough people interested in supporters representation to make an independent group such as the Trust especially viable. But the groups themselves seem to lack the ability to turn interest into members and/or projects for everyone to place their weight behind. As such, it is all too easy for the club to ignore very fair statements such as the one the RST made yesterday. At GersPride last year, I believe the Trust board members talked about unity and leadership. Sure, they may have a reasonable working relationship with the Assembly and Association but what is coming from this other than the prevarication that there is no fan division when challenged about this unfortunate byproduct of past arguments? Not much unfortunately. I remain a huge supporter of fan involvement in the club - especially from an independent viewpoint, free from official constraints. After all a strong Trust would mean a stronger fan-base and, despite my own past problems with the organisation, I believe there remains enough talent within it to find improvement and deliver genuine representation to our support. Unfortunately, it is also clear that it is being held back from doing the proper outreach work it needs to achieve its goals. I certainly don't envy the work required to address that - after all, some of the criticism we see is unfair, overly strong and far too personal - but if the Trust really wants to grow, then brave faces must be put and true leadership must occur. The same applies to the other organisations who struggle to even gain the profile of the shareholder-based group. The Trust and the Assembly certainly have a solid base from which to build from. They have easily accessible websites, reasonable finance, plenty of interest and tens of thousands of fans to aim for online and offline. They even have a captive audience of 50,000 people at Ibrox every other week. Add in NARSA, ORSA and all the RSCs then the market is huge - even if I appreciate not always easy (or cheap) to tap into. Why then do we not see them step beyond the confines of Follow Follow (in the case of the Trust) often enough or the BlueNose.co.uk (in the case of the Assembly)? I don't just mean reps visiting other sites and collating information/floating ideas but regular offline meetings to share information and explore strategies together. I'd pay a tenner to help fund either of the organisations willing to go to their members for input. I'd pay more if some sort of socios project can be explored. Almost one year on since I submitted the STS project (itself far from perfect obviously) to the club and fan groups, the Assembly have had one such meeting at Ibrox for selected fans. The Trust have had GersPride which was open to all. Both were interesting and welcome events which had the potential to be repeated regularly - even on a smaller scale to reduce costs. Such meetings need to be more often, more accessible and debate opened up on their own websites (and beyond) to really involve their members. Even better if they could involve credible people within the support - such as club figures, former players, successful businessmen and celebrities. Only then will fans find the transparency and pro-activeness that may catalyse their own interest and make them feel like they're actually members of something instead of just numbers attempting to justify their existence and/or club budget. Indeed, for no large, public fans meeting to have been organised in light of recent events this year is nothing short of negligence by all the fan organisations. Imagine the momentum and pressure that could have been built up if a few of these had happened? Imagine the divisions that could have been healed by olive branches being offered by those elected to lead? Imagine the genuine information that could have been shared to avoid rumours and scaremongering that has blighted our recent title win? This was the ideal opportunity to build and improve. Has this open goal been missed? It is clear that supporters representation remains a key component of any club improvement in the coming years. Our unmatched annual investment is recognised by the club and yet we can't seem to formalise it - despite the promises of the esrtwhile chairman a few years back. That is a promise the supporters groups have not pressured on him to deliver. Probably because they realise deep down, they lack the ability to do so because they are so flawed themselves in so much that they don't have the clear backing of enough fans. Therefore, the current outreach activities of a few (often overly defensive) reps posting conflicting information on one chosen forum and the official reps of another group not even contributing to their online community, is hardly conductive to increasing memberships and influence therein. Sure, some websites may not make themselves attractive for constructive debate giving such reps convenient excuses not to take part, so the critics themselves are not free of blame. But when one suggests they can represent and lead, such challenges should be overcome when looking at the bigger picture. Yet still, the participation in our supporters groups appears to be at an all-time low despite the obvious problems at our club. That doesn't make sense and must be examined - no matter if the answers aren't easy to admit. Unfortunately, as it stands, I see little evidence of supporters led change outwith the usual soundbites in the media. I want to be proved wrong. To that end, one must ask do these organisations even want an active membership? Or are our supporters groups as inaccessible and unrepresentative as the club they regularly complain about? We deserve better.

For you financial junkies. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/premier-league-finances-the-latest-club-accounts-1904909.html

It maked me wonder what colour the sun is on some peoples planet, when I read this drivel. http://www.rangersmedia.co.uk/homepage/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=412:lloyds-warned-at-agm-that-rangers-supporter-pull-out-could-cost-p2b&catid=41:finances

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/8654665.stm Sir David Murray insists "limited funds" are available for Rangers boss Walter Smith to purchase new players. The former chairman, who controls 90% of Ibrox club, told BBC Scotland that directors are planning to help the club through its wait for a buyer. He said the sale of his stake is the remit of chairman Alistair Johnston. Murray insisted it was "obvious" that Smith will require investment after reducing the squad to ease the club's finances with a reduced wage bill. The delay in Murray selling his stake in Rangers continues, while London-based Andrew Ellis carries out background research and mulls over a bid reported to be worth �£33m. Murray was commenting as he filed the accounts of his company, Murray International Holdings, which control of more than 90% of Rangers as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Murray's company reported a �£175m loss, mainly through write-downs in its property portfolio, and also through the price of metal falling sharply during the 17-month accounting period to the middle of last year. Rangers suffered a �£12.7m loss and saw its debt rise to �£31m during the year to June 2009. There's no truth to the bank wanting to ring fence the season ticket money Sir David Murray However, Murray is confident it will turn a profit in the current year and next, having just re-qualified for European competition next season and Smith will be in a position to add players to the Ibrox roster. "There are limited funds available to strengthen the team, which is necessary, and Alistair Johnston and the board are drawing up a business plan for that," said Murray. Murray has denied there was any cross-guarantee of funding between Rangers and other parts of his business empire. However, he has had to disentangle the cross-guarantees used between other divisions. Rangers debt levels are being reduced under pressure from Lloyds Banking Group and are expected to be closer to about �£20m by June. The former Ibrox chairman firmly denied reports that the bank is insisting on using ticket sales revenue to pay down any of the club's debt. "There's no truth to the bank wanting to ring fence the season ticket money," he said. Responding to reports that Rangers are under investigation by HM Revenue and Customs, the former chairman said the club would respond robustly. He added: "Lots of football clubs and other businesses are in a similar situation."

Last week the club sent out the season ticket renewal letters for season 2010/2011 - both by traditional post and by email. With a 53rd SPL title within reach and prices frozen for next year, surely everyone will be sending their payment back asap to ensure their seat at Ibrox! After all, the following promise in the letter will allay any fears we may have... Positive words then and I certainly appreciate the thanks for the supports' ever loyal financial and emotional investment each year. Some may find it patronising but I feel the gratitude is genuine enough - certainly retaining over 40,000 season ticket holders will be a big challenge for the club over the coming months. I know I can't be the only bear weighing up his options due to personal circumstances. And that is where the second part of the quoted statement comes in. Outwith the difficulty of finding the �£400+ to pay for the actual ticket, how can we be 'certain' our support will be 'rewarded'? To be clear, I don't expect success every year - that is unrealistic even if Rangers are capable of winning the SPL title at any given time. Similarly, I realise reaching a European final is a once in a generation event and even managing to qualify for (never mind from) a Champions' League Group may soon prove extremely challenging. As such, when I pay my �£400+; I don't do it because I expect success and silverware but simply to retain a close, emotional involvement with the club I love and supply one small investment towards achieving said success. On the other hand, what I do expect is the same commitment, emotion and investment from those connected with the club. Fortunately, for the most part, we do get that in return - even if it could be argued there remains a large gap between the support and those who run the institution. However, just what are the club doing to ensure we remain competitive? This season has seen many exciting aspects - from being on he brink of winning the title, to being unbeaten against Celtic, to winning the League Cup with only nine men - all with an admirable record in terms of statistics and value for money for those of us who renewed this time last year. Indeed if we do secure the title, it will be one of the most satisfying (and important) I've ever experienced. Nevertheless, there are many worries for the Rangers support which may accompany any title-winning hangover. First of all the club's ownership remains in doubt and, despite the manager's words in the season ticket renewal letter, he has been extremely vocal on this issue. Ergo, can we genuinely expect to keep our key playing assets as well as the moderate number of players whose contracts run out next month? Certainly it seems far from clear who will and who will not be here next year. Astoundingly even the management team are not guaranteed to be in charge. Just what influence do Lloyds Bank have on our great club and where does MIH sit - other than being a heavy burden on our immediate future? Furthermore, despite our good performance domestically, in Europe we have been poor now for two seasons on the trot and with an ever-weakening squad, there is little to be excited about in terms of improving on that record next season and beyond. Given the impact European football has on our finances, how does the manager and those who run the club expect to address that crucial challenge over the coming years? To conclude, I don't doubt the vast majority of fans will renew their season ticket - myself among them. And those that are unable to do so (for whatever reason) will likely be replaced by new fans that can. However, just how sincere are the words from the Chief Executive quoted above? Just where is our money going and how will it be spent? To maintain the 'spirit and unity' you mention in the letter, we need to know exactly what you are doing to reward our continued investment and loyalty. Actions speak louder than words. Why not start by making it completely clear just what the future holds for every Rangers fan.

As Walter Smith has seen off yet another manager across the city, Tony Mowbrayâ��s ultimately disastrous reign draws certain parallelâ��s with that of Smithâ��s predecessor at Ibrox. Paul Le Guen arrived in Govan to much fanfare and acclaim. The relatively youthful manager came to Scotland with a mightily impressive C.V. from his time at Lyon where he continued their domination of French football whilst punching above their weight in the Champions League. The job that awaited him at Rangers was markedly different to that of the French cracks. Rangers were not, at that time, top dogs in Scotland. Indeed we had fallen quite low under Alex McLeish after a couple of years of fantastic success. Le Guen was charged with returning us to the top of the pile in the SPL whilst utilising the nous of a more tactically and technically gifted foreign coach to elevate our performance and results on the European stage. The oft debated question on internet forums such as Gersnet was whether or not our fans had the patience to accept a couple of years of obscurity and a lack of trophies whilst the Frenchman modernised the club; changing attitude and habits and attempting to develop a conveyor belt of youth talent to supplement the squad. Clearly with the global economic crisis affecting the banks generosity putting greater strain on our finances allied to the fact that our income is dwarfed by that of Europeâ��s other top leagues (even the Championship has a far more lucrative t.v. deal than that of the SPL) a change of tact and direction was required. David Murray and many fans believed this bright young manager was the man to facilitate this change. Where this plan falls down, and this is something that confuses me, is how short term failure leads to long term success. We have seen over the last two years how badly we depend upon the Champions League bounty to break even or turn a small profit. Without the short term success, we do not have the financial clout to put in place the long-term vision for the club. An effective and efficient scouting system and a productive youth and modern youth academy requires considerable start up and running costs. Part of PLGâ��s master plan, and that too of Mowbray it seems, was to dismantle the current squad. Weed out the bad influences and those who would hinder the endeavour to completely rebuild and reinvent their respective clubs. Recent media reports suggest Celtic wasted somewhere in the region of �£20 million on Mowbrayâ��s vision including payments to West Brom for his and his assistantsâ�� services, financing his transfer dealings and his subsequent pay-off. PLGâ��s net spend was minimal and he graciously turned down his right to a substantial pay-off. However, he also did not spend all available cash when the problems with the team were easily identified and rectified immediately by Smith. So to successfully revolutionise a team and a club as a whole requires an enormous amount of finance currently not available to the Rangers management team. If our ultimate aim is to build a club and a team capable of sustaining itself and punching above its weight in Europe as the likes of Ajax and Porto have done previously, how then do we achieve that. It seems blindingly obvious that if this reconstruction requires serious financial muscle and Rangers rely heavily on the Champions League fortunes to prop up our balance sheet that our long term target must be made up of series of short term successes. Winning the SPL title year-on-year (as much as that is possible) and securing passage to the CL group stages must be the cornerstones, the pillars of this strategy. Walter Smith may operate with a tried and trusted strategy, a pragmatic approach that many view as safety first. A potential 6 trophies in 3 full seasonâ��s in charge including likely back to back titles will allow us to firstly stabilise, and if success is built upon, strengthen our financial position and build towards a more exciting and profitable future. This idea that we must take several steps backwards to take a large step forward has never added up when analysed rationally. It makes far more sense to build from a position of sense. It is doubtful it is even possible to prepare for long term and greater success without these short term victories. Walter Smith may not be the man to lead the club towards this future vision, but when he hangs up his managerâ��s clipboard he will leave the club in a far stronger position for a forward thinking bright young manager, like a PLG, to realise the clubâ��s lofty ambitions.

Celtic fans were today counting the cost of Tony Mowbrayââ?¬â?¢s disastrous nine-month spell in charge. It could effectively cost the Parkhead side Ã?£25million. The club is potentially 16 points behind Rangers in the title race and this seasonââ?¬â?¢s failure to make it through the qualifying stages of the Champions League left a gaping hole in its finances. Between Ã?£8m and Ã?£10m can be expected to be banked from the group stages of the Champions League and it is a problem Celtic will have to address again this summer. Even if the club hangs on to second spot in the SPL, it will face tough qualifying games to try and make it into the European group stages. Celtic paid Ã?£2m in compensation to West Brom to land Mowabray. It is believed he had a notice period in his four-year deal that means the club has to shell out only a limited level of compensation, but the tally to pay him off, as well as assistants Peter Grant and Mark Venus, has still added up to a further Ã?£2m. Mowbray has returned to his wife and three young sons in England after making a hasty retreat from Celticââ?¬â?¢s Lennoxtown training ground yesterday afternoon. The fact his family never moved to join him in Scotland suggested his time at Celtic was always destined to be for the short-term. Fansââ?¬â?¢ favourite Neil Lennon will assume control, along with former Celtic defender Johan Mjallby, and the move has been welcomed by supporters. ââ?¬Å?He is a guy who knows what the club is all about,ââ?¬Â said fan Paul Brady. ââ?¬Å?He has a bit of fight and heart about him and he might steady the ship until the end of the season. ââ?¬Å?The big fear after the debacle at St Mirren was that we would not even be able to beat Ross County in the Scottish Cup. ââ?¬Å?There is a question mark over Neil in that he has no senior managerial experience, but he knows Celtic inside out. ââ?¬Å?He also knows the players and will be well aware there have been a few of them hiding this season. I hope he will kick a few backsides and galvanise the side between now and the end of the season.ââ?¬Â The Celtic bus was met by an angry mob of around 100 fans on Wednesday night after their 4-0 defeat by St Mirren and while Mowbray jumped in his car, Peter Grant tried to offer an apology to the support for the shambolic display. Another fan, David Beattie, believed Mowbrayââ?¬â?¢s time was up and welcomed the changes. ââ?¬Å?Management, in any business, is about results ââ?¬â?? itââ?¬â?¢s as simple as that,ââ?¬Â he said. ââ?¬Å?Mowbrayââ?¬â?¢s results have not been good enough and that is why it was inevitable he would lose his job. ââ?¬Å?The important thing is to get someone in this summer who gets time to organise his squad before the Champions League qualifiers.ââ?¬Â Another fan, Paul Gillespie, 35, said at Celtic Park this morning: ââ?¬Å?I was at the St Mirren game and for me it was the final nail in the coffin. Mowbray was not a good Celtic manager and it was time he went. ââ?¬Å?If we get the right sort of manager we can still win the league. ââ?¬Å?Mark Hughes would be my choice. He has the right character and with the right resources would be a good manager.ââ?¬Â Celtic supportersââ?¬â?¢ chief Peter Rafferty welcomed the short-term appointment of Lennon and was philosophical about Mowbrayââ?¬â?¢s dismissal. ââ?¬Å?It was inevitable,ââ?¬Â he said. ââ?¬Å?It is no surprise because of the way results have been going. The St Mirren result was just one too far for many fans and the manner in which we were defeated did not go down well. ââ?¬Å?Lennonââ?¬â?¢s appointment gives the board the chance to get organised for the summer and get a manager in place who has plenty of time to prepare for next season.ââ?¬Â

From the times: Remember seeing a fan on SSN screaming abuse at him as he came out the club around the time they were in court with HMRC. That bloke was quite right imo.

Just one question for the money guy's. On reading that Ellis isn't that rich would it be possible just to buy DM out and still leave the club in debt.

This, then, is where we stand as the group considering a takeover of Scotland's champions-elect enters into a period of due diligence, during which they will consider the club's finances in detail. Assuming it is all not some Rangers-driven wheeze to boost season-ticket sales, Ellis must have something that appeals to the club – if not money, then the strategy that can provide it – but if he is being manipulated by the wrong men, it will count for nothing. +++++++++++++++++++++ The irony is that another council-related development plan has been suggested as a possible incentive in the takeover of Rangers. Less than two years ago, the club were in discussions with Glasgow City Council, which agreed in principle to sell them land in the nearby Hinshelwood area. The talk was of a multi-million pound hotel and retail complex that could lead to the redevelopment of Ibrox Stadium. http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sos-sports-columnists/Paul-Forsyth-Andrew-Ellis-uncovered.6150348.jp Notwithstanding that the land negotiations are not as recent as the rags would have us believe, do Rangers in fact own the land has it been sold to the club, or is it still only in principal, if we do not own it how is it to be purchased if that is the aim. If as the writer alludes to it is all a bums on seats wheeze, there is only one possible suspect, some people never step down.

Barry Ferguson has spoken to STV Sports Centre about the ââ?¬Ë?Boozegateââ?¬â?¢ scandal and the lasting effect it has had on him. In the full interview he speaks of his regret over the ââ?¬Ë?Vââ?¬â?¢ sign incident, his admiration for Craig Levein and how he still has to consider his future for Scotland. Ferguson spoke at length about his career at length, from his early days when he feared he may be too small to make it as a professional footballer to the current success he is enjoying at Birmingham City. The former Scotland captain also set the record straight on the scandal that saw him excluded form the national team and insisted he did not direct any gestures at the Tartan Army. ââ?¬Å?People were having a go, saying 'that's to the Scotland fans and the Tartan Army',ââ?¬Â he said. ââ?¬Å?Well, if that was to the Scotland fans, I'm doing that to a lot of my pals because they were in the stand. It was nonsense and it was nothing to do with the fans. ââ?¬Å?It was 24/7 cameras and press. It wasn't fair on the other guys, who were trying to build up to a big game on the Wednesday. I want to slap myself every time I see it.ââ?¬Â "I was stupid, I was first to admit that," Ferguson added. "The biggest thing I admit was the thing I did on the Wednesday night. I look back now and I cringe. That's the one thing I would turn back. "Every time there's something about Scotland, that's flashing up. I want to smash the TV every time I see it. But what can I do? It's happened and I can't change it. But what I can say is that I was totally wrong. I admit that." Ferguson also spoke about Rangers, the club that remains closest to his heart. The midfielder has been watching his former team-mate Kris Boyd banging in the goals at Ibrox but admitted he would love to team up with the striker at Birmingham. The former Rangers skipper insisted that Birmingham were his top priority but said he still checked for Rangers results every weekend. He admitted the club will always be important to him. ââ?¬Å?It was time for me to go,ââ?¬Â he admitted. ââ?¬Å?Time for me to make a clean break but listen, I was at the club from eight years old. You always want them to do well.ââ?¬Â Plus video interview: http://sport.stv.tv/sports-centre/161771-full-interview-barry-ferguson-on-his-scotland-regrets-rangers-finances-and-how-he-almost-quit-football/

Cash-strapped Portsmouth have asked the Premier League for permission to sell players outside the transfer window. However, BBC sports news correspondent Gordon Farquhar said he believes the transfer window, which ended on 1 February, is a Fifa regulation. "I don't think it's in the gift of the Premier League to allow Portsmouth to sell players outside of it," he added. The club confirmed: "We have put in a request to the Premier League to sell players outside the transfer window." There are two transfer windows a year in England, running from 1 January to 31 January and from 1 June to 31 August. However, if the window is set to close on a weekend it can be extended because of administration reasons, hence the most recent transfer window closing on 1 February. 606: DEBATE They simply cannot grant this as it will open the floodgates... famouszukeeper Pompey, who are believed to be about �£60m in debt, have not identified any specific players for sale but reports suggest Algeria international Nadir Belhadj, midfielder Kevin Prince-Boateng and young defender Marc Wilson could be made available. Portsmouth have already had four owners this season and are understood to be in negotiations with two buyers who are interested in taking them over. The south-coast club, who are bottom of the Premier League, survived a winding up order last week but were forced to deliver a detailed statement of their finances to both the High Court and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on Wednesday. And they face another winding up petition from HMRC over an unpaid �£11.7m tax bill on 1 March. Hong Kong-based businessman Balram Chainrai became the club's fourth owner of the season in early February when he secured 90% of the club's shares after previous owner Ali Al Faraj defaulted on loan payments due to Chainrai. Portsmouth are eight points from safety in the top flight and their players have been paid late on four occasions this season. The club are also involved in a separate dispute with former owner Sacha Gaydamak over whether they have missed a deadline in paying a �£9m chunk of the �£28m they owe to him. The Premier League recently withheld �£2m of transfer payments and a �£7m slice of television revenue to divert to Chelsea and Watford for the signings of Glen Johnson and Tommy Smith respectively. The Fratton Park outfit are also being sued by former defender Sol Campbell for �£1.7m for unpaid image rights. Meanwhile, a financial expert says Portsmouth face a very real threat of extinction because of their financial problems and he believes administration is an unlikely option. "Arguably, the level of debt associated with this case will mean that it is unlikely that a suitable or willing benefactor will be found," said Simon Wilson, a partner with restructuring experts Zolfo Cooper. To continue to underwrite the club would most likely result in greater losses at a later date Financial expert Simon Wilson "Portsmouth therefore face the very real threat of liquidation because it is increasingly unlikely that an administration order will be sought or granted. "In this eventuality, the players' contracts are no longer assets of the club and it would lose its membership of the Premier League. "The role of the liquidator would be to realise whatever free and available assets still remain. "The value of these assets would be nominal. While the unsecured creditors, including HMRC, would likely see no return from such a process, it is not in their interests to continue to support a business that is simply not viable and has no financial substance. "To continue to underwrite the club would most likely result in greater losses at a later date. This would be an unprecedented case in the realms of the Premier League and would throw light on the fact that clubs can no longer rely on 'white knights' to rescue them from financial ruin. "Many football clubs have allowed their levels of debt to grow to immense proportions. These debts cannot be serviced and investors simply don't have the appetite or ability to take on such poor business propositions." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/portsmouth/8522283.stm

RANGERS chairman Alastair Johnston believes the remaining 13 games of the SPL campaign hold the key to the Ibrox club securing a healthier, long-term financial future. Speaking as Rangers published half-yearly accounts which reveal an operating profit of �£13.1 million for the six months to 31 December 2009, Johnston admitted the value of Champions League qualification cannot be overstated in addressing the prospects of reducing his club's �£31million debt and attracting new ownership and investment. The Scottish champions' interim figures also showed a turnover of �£37.8million, directly attributable to their participation in the group stage of European football's elite club competition this season. Twelve months earlier, on the back of elimination from the Champions League in the second qualifying round by Lithuanian side Kaunas, Rangers posted a loss of almost �£9million and turnover of just �£20.1million. The contrast is startling and illuminates Rangers' need to retain their domestic title this season. With Scotland's Uefa co-efficient ranking in freefall, it is likely to be the last year for some time the SPL champions will qualify directly for the lucrative group phase of the Champions League. Rangers, who squeezed into the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup last night with a 1-0 win over St Mirren, are ten points ahead of Celtic at the top of the SPL with 13 games to play, leaving them on course for a championship success which would underpin Johnston's quest to steer his club out of their current fiscal storm. "The main thing for us at the moment is the short term and focusing on matters on the field," Johnston told The Scotsman last night. "The next ten weeks will impact significantly on how we aspire to make progress for the club. "The figures we are announcing today are pleasing and they show just how crucial it is to be in the Champions League. We have to sound a note of caution, because we still face many challenges, but clearly getting into the Champions League again would be of significant benefit." Johnston succeeded Sir David Murray as Rangers chairman last August during a period of turmoil for the club as their finances came under intense scrutiny from Lloyds TSB. While he concedes the bank's ongoing involvement in the club's affairs is "not desirable", Johnston sought to ease concern among supporters as he insisted it is currently to Rangers' benefit. "Looking back to August, when Lloyds TSB were taking a more than unusual interest in Rangers, we have to be satisfied with where we are now," he added. "We were successful in persuading them that their immediate reaction, which was to look to downsize the club, was impractical and particularly unwise in terms of maintaining the club's value. "We reached an agreement with them which is not ideal for either party but is practical in the circumstances. In no way would I criticise the fans who are entitled to voice their opinions. But as far as our relationship with Lloyds goes, it is working. We need them at this point in time. Murray (International Holdings) are not going to put any more money into the club, so we need the bank. They have been left holding the baby after the economic crisis hit Murray. The bank are our stop-gap measure." Donald Muir, the corporate troubleshooter appointed to the board to oversee the club's financial restructuring, has become the focal point of protests from Rangers supporters, but Johnston called for understanding of his fellow director's position. "To say Donald Muir is conflicted may be overstating it, but he is wearing two hats," said Johnston. "He is a non-executive director of Rangers and is expected to work within that role. He also represents the Murray group of companies, so in that role he is seeking to liquidate to Murray's advantage. "In terms of a possible new owner, there is activity, but it is like shadow boxing at the moment. I would hope something will happen sooner rather than later, but there has to be understanding and probably compromise. It will be challenging going forward and hopefully we can adjust the current business plan which was the subject of Walter Smith's ire recently, rightly so in my opinion." Smith had expressed his frustration at the restrictions placed on him in the transfer market where Rangers have now not paid money for a new player since August 2008. Johnston praised the veteran manager for his part in achieving ongoing success for Rangers despite those handicaps and is hopeful Smith and his assistants Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall will be in a position to agree new contracts this summer. "The guys know our position," he said. "Walter is at the stage of his career that whenever his time at Rangers does end, he will probably go and play golf. With Ally and Kenny, who are a bit younger, we are dealing with different scenarios. Walter is keeping an open mind at the moment. Whatever happens, history will show that Rangers were very fortunate to have him as manager during this period." Emerging from the January transfer window with the loss of only Pedro Mendes and Jerome Rothen was regarded as something of a bonus by Rangers but the club face further uncertainty at the end of the season when several players, including top scorer Kris Boyd, are out of contract. Boyd has decided to wait until the summer before making a decision on his future. "The offer to Kris Boyd remains on the table," said Johnston. "We hope he will stay but circumstances outwith our control, such as offers from English football, could persuade him to leave. We can't control the environment we are in when it comes to contract negotiations." KEY FIGURES TURNOVER �£37.8m Up by �£17.7m OPERATING PROFIT �£13.1m Up by �£17.0m OPERATING EXPENSES �£21.0m Down by �£3.6m http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Rangers-progress-in-cup-.6082665.jp