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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.

From The Scotsman Pity this game isn't on TV tonight as I'm looking forward to seeing Hutton play.

Walter Smith insists the team cruelly branded one of the worst in Rangers' history have proved themselves to be one of the BEST. Gers gaffer Smith piled the praise on his Treble-chasing stars ahead of tonight's Co-op Cup quarter-final clash at Kilmarnock. After Sunday's storming Old Firm win over Celtic, the cup holders remain unbeaten in their best start to a season in 89 YEARS. Not bad for a bunch of long-ball bruisers not fit to wear the jersey! Smith said: "People are never happy. "There is a happy medium in every situation, but in our country we never seem to achieve that. "We were rotten and now we've been compared to really successful sides. "But we ARE a successful team and we have a strong group of players. "The challenge is to maintain the good start. "If this team is getting compared with teams of the past then that's fine, I have no problem with that. "I am as proud of this team as I am of any team I've managed in the past. "Particularly because the circumstances are so different. "They have a good work ethic in their play. They all work very hard. "We might not have what people consider to be star players, but we do have good players spread throughout our team. "They have accepted every challenge I've given them. "If everyone is starting to make comparisons, that's a step forward for this team. Because in the past they haven't been regarded as half decent. "The team wants to keep winning. "We have a lot of awkward situations because of the predicament we are in. "If you are setting out to try and win a Treble it would be very difficult for this group to handle all those games and achieve that." Such is their desire and collective will to win that this Gers side NEVER knows when its beaten. In five league games this season they have fallen behind. Five times they have come storming back to win. But the tests just keep on coming in a hectic programme. Smith added: "When teams stay together for a period of time then a spirit is forged. "That's not exclusive to Rangers. "Our group has played together for a number of years and in any walk of life there would be resilience if they have bonded well. "Our group has done that. "We've had the same group for a couple of years and they have got a strong bond. But we're asking an awful lot from the players, I realise that. This next stage, in the run-up to Christmas, will be crucial. "We have quite a number of games before the end of the year so it will be a big test." Smith will make several changes for tonight's clash against Killie. But he expects those who come in to reach the high standards which have been set. He warned: "It's about guarding against complacency. "We've just finished an intense seven days after the games against Valencia and Celtic. "Also, the lads who were away with Scotland played in the Czech Republic and against Spain. "These games are not just tiring in a physical sense, but mentally they are very difficult. "A game against Spain would be a drain on anyone especially given the manner in which they play. "You need high levels of concentration for all these matches. These are big games for all the players. "It helps the teams if they are not losing, but there is always motivation to win. You know you are going to face disappointments in a season - that's a certainty. "We have a decent level of confidence about us, but we have to be extremely careful." Gers will be without injured defender Sasa Papac at Rugby Park tonight, but Andy Webster could get a rare start. Smith added: "Papac will miss the game, but we have a situation where one or two could be doing with a rest. "The international lads, for example, have played a lot of football already this season. "The likes of John Fleck and James Beattie will feature." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3198108/Ticket-to-pride.html#ixzz13Y9ae9Al

As the cold of winter arrives in earnest, a familiar battle will take place in the East End of Glasgow this weekend as Rangers and Celtic meet in the first Old Firm fixture of this season. While different congregations at hundreds of churches throughout Scotland give their religious thanks, supporters of the Old Firm will be making very different prayers as their own idols take to the field on Sunday lunch-time. With both teams neck and neck at the top of the SPL, who will blink first in the world's greatest derby match? Confidence will be especially high in the away dressing room as Rangers remain the only unbeaten team in Scotland. Yes, Celtic (and Berwick) also remain undefeated in their league campaigns but the Light Blues have suffered no losses in other competitions which means an impressive start to the season. Of course the unmatched tribalism and bragging rights of an Old Firm victory means this would mean nothing if we did lose on Sunday so the pressure remains high on Walter Smith and his group of players. So far they've responded to this incredibly well; coming back from being behind several times and matching Europe's elite in one-off matches - home and away. Can they do the same against their greatest rivals? Perhaps the most bizarre aspect of our success this season will be the difficulty in selecting a team for this hugely important game. Using a 4-4-2 domestically we've looked less strong defensively but have scored 22 goals (6 more than Celtic) so far. Meanwhile, in Europe, an old-fashioned 5-4-1 has proven a surprise success enabling us to defend stoutly and counter-attack effectively in games where we know there will be periods we'll have to be patient. As such, our manager will have to decide which of these two markedly different strategies to select for a game against a Celtic team who are playing well and who are stronger at the back than in recent seasons domestically. However, they have conceded goals against tougher opposition so will Walter be tempted to be more adventurous? Another boost is that, other than the unfortunate Nikica Jelavic, apparently the manager will have a full squad to pick from. Not only has John Fleck recovered from injury but Lee McCulloch and Kirk Broadfoot will both supposedly be available after their respective strains. Conversely, this provides another dilemma in that if he does bring them back, who does he drop from a team who've played well in their absence? Starting with defence then and 5 of the players should pick themselves if fit. Allan McGregor, Steven Whittaker, Davie Weir, Madjid Bougherra and Sasa Papac will all play irrespective of a 4 or 5 man back-line. The only question will be does Smith supplement this well-kent unit with Ricky Foster or Kirk Broadfoot and dispense with an extra striker? This will be one of the key decisions of Smith's season so far and it is impossible to answer the question with any real confidence. Moving into midfield and one would expect the same group which has played against Motherwell and Valencia to good effect. Naismith, Davis, Edu and Weiss are all talented players but perhaps lack the steel required for the inevitable Old Firm physical battle. Therefore, if McCulloch is indeed fit, a recall for him is possible meaning Weiss or Edu may make way. Of course if Smith opts for a more orthodox 4-5-1, all these players may well feature which may arguably give us a better balance of attack and defence. However, the manager has been at pains to say he's not enjoying the necessary tactical changes between the SPL and Europe so another system (albeit one we've used well under Smith) may not be agreeable. This conundrum brings us nicely to our forward options. Obviously Kenny Miller will be favourite to assume the lone-striker role but will his disappointing misses of Wednesday night affect his confidence? With the Jelavic injury, we are limited in our choices for attack. Kyle Lafferty seems to be playing well so he will feature at some point; either as a partner for Miller or in a deeper role which he's not so convincing in. There is the chance that Smith will throw in a wild card such as John Fleck but given his lack of games that is improbable. All in all, with Celtic favouring an attacking outlook of late, I feel Smith will choose to maintain the European formation which has served him well so far. While this may appear overly defensive, in actual fact, it enables us to get bodies into midfield and attack extremely efficiently at any given time. Midfielders such as Davis, Weiss and Naismith are all natural attacking players so they should be able to support Miller easily enough while also doing the spade-work to help their defence. The only decision for Smith to make will be whether or not to stick with the inexperience of Edu or opt for the strength of Lee McCulloch. I certainly don't envy the manager his job this weekend! Possible team (5-4-1): :sw: :mb: :sp: :kb: :sn: :sd: :me: :vw: Prediction: Celtic 2 - 2 Rangers :spl: :robbo:

Veteran Brechin midfielder Charlie King got a rousing ovation when he took to the Glebe Park pitch on crutches to greet the Rangers XI for his testimonial match. City's longest-serving player, who joined the club in 2001, is likely to be sidelined for the rest of the season after breaking his right ankle, but the side sent from Ibrox featuring a number of first-team players marked the respect with which he is held in Scottish football. City got off to a cracking start and opened the scoring in five minutes when Craig Molloy knocked the ball in after it took a deflection off the kneecap of a defender. Two minutes later Calum Booth had a chance to double their lead after a great solo run down the left flank but his sharp-angled drive was well stopped by the Rangers keeper Grant Adam. The visitors levelled on 16 minutes when Rory Loy headed home from a John Fleck corner. Five minutes later Rory McAllister was given an opportunity to restore the home side's lead when he took a free-kick from the edge of the box but another great save from Adam thwarted him. Just after the half-hour City keeper Craig Nelson prevented the visitors going ahead when he blocked a Ross Perry header from a Sarin Kerkar corner. Rangers fought hard for the winner in the second half but the City defence proved unbreachable. City came close to breaking the deadlock in the last 10 minutes when Gary Fusco's cracking shot from 25 yards hit the outside of the far post. Attendance�619. Brechin�Nelson (Scott 46), McLean, Cook (White 46), McLauchlan (McKenna 46), Moyes (Johnson), Janczyk (Byres 46), Redman (Fotheringham), B Smith, McAllister (Millar 82), Molloy (Fusco 46), Booth (D Smith). Subs not used�Docherty. Rangers XI�Adam, McMillan, Wylde: Perry, Webster, Stirling (Naismith 81), Campbell (Wiktorski), Hutton, Loy, Fleck, Kerkar (Dick 81). Subs not used�Smith, Little. http://www.thecourier.co.uk/Sport/Football/article/6257/match-report-brechin-1-rangers-xi-1.html

Rangers have been dealt another major injury blow after John Fleck was ruled out of action for the rest of the month. The Ibrox youngster has been crocked since the start of August when he suffered a hamstring injury during a pre-season friendly fixture with Clyde. Walter Smith was hoping to have the 19-year-old available for this weekend�s clash with Dundee United at Ibrox with Fleck appearing to have made a full recovery from the injury that forced him to miss the start of the new season. Fleck has been back in full training for the last couple of weeks and he took part in a bounce match against Falkirk earlier this week and managed to come through it unscathed. But plans to introduce him back into the first team were crushed when the 19-year-old injured the same hamstring that has kept him on the sidelines for the last six weeks on the training field at Murray Park. The SPL champions are hoping the injury isn�t quite as bad as the original problem, but it is highly unlikely he will be in a position to play any part in Rangers� up-and-coming fixtures as he braces himself for another extended spell out of action. Fleck was desperate to make a major impact after penning a new deal last term and his efforts in pre-season earned him rave reviews from his boss. Although Rangers have won their opening four league games and secured a point away to Manchester United as they opened up their Champions League campaign, Smith is keen to inject more creativity into his side. That is something Fleck possesses, but Rangers will now have to continue without the services of the Scotland Under-21 star as they attempt to nurse him back to full health.

Can these four play together in our current set up? we're lacking creativity right now and with these four, our best creative players IMO, we somehow need them to get going together. -----------------Shagger--------------- ---Whittaker---Weir---Bougherra---Papac- --------------------Jig------------------ ----Weiss--------Davis-----------Fleck--- ----------Jelavic----------Miller----------- Thoughts?

He did come out and say we should judge things at the end of the transfer window when it seemed we werent active at all in the transfer market. In typical Rangers fashion when it seems nothing is going to surface and within the space of 1 week we have a much healthier looking group with 3 additions yet Barazite and Welcome could have been added aswell but probably would have been too much. No doubt WS will be asked in this weeks press conference if he is finished in the transfer market and it will be interesting to see if he says we are looking at 1 or 2 others which would probably be a vertasile defender or centre midfielder. I do think we are still 1 short. Last week we had Davis with flu, McCulloch suspended and Fleck injured - thats surely going to happen again this season. Although id have no worries about playing Bougherra centre mid. People can be judgemental about the way we do business and how poor our scouting is at time but we still normally deliver.

YOUNGSTER now expected to be out for six weeks with hamstring problem More... JOHN FLECK is expected to be out for up to six weeks after tearing his hamstring against Clyde on Wednesday. It was initially hoped the youngster would be sidelined for a fortnight following the injury he suffered in the first half of the 2-1 friendly win over the Bully Wee. But further examinations have revealed the damage is more extensive than first thought and it's likely to be the end of September before he is back. That means Fleck could miss as many as six SPL games and the first round of Champions League fixtures. News the 18-year-old will be out for as long is a huge setback for manager Walter Smith, whose squad is already as shallow as it has been for many years. He said: "Unfortunately John will miss maybe six weeks with his hamstring injury, or at least up to that anyway. "Hopefully we can get him back a little bit quicker but we're looking at six weeks at the present moment. "That's a blow to him because he had started the season well and he has been playing well in the pre-season games he has had."

First half goals from Steven Naismith and Kenny Miller helped Rangers to a 2-1 friendly win over Clyde at Broadwood Stadium. Gers, who tackle Kilmarnock in their SPL opener this weekend, gave virtually the whole of their squad a chance to impress manager Walter Smith. No less than 19 players turned out for the Light Blues, including exciting prospect Jamie Ness in midfield. One negative for Rangers was the loss of teenager John Fleck, who had to be stretchered off after damaging his hamstring. Gers' bright start was rewarded with their opening goal on eight minutes when Naismith slid home beyond John Hutchison from Kenny's neat pass. Their second arrived on 24 minutes when Kenny capitalised on some poor defending before firing past Hutchison with a good finish. Clyde finished the half in the ascendancy and just a few minutes into the second half they pulled a goal back through John Stewart. Smith gave a host of youngsters the chance to shine late on and while they failed to build on their lead the friendly proved a worthwhile exercise. ======================================== Hope this isnt serious for Fleck - the last thing we need is injuries !

JOHN FLECK has told how Nacho Novo handed him a surprise leaving present when he quit Rangers last month. His No10 jersey. Fleck, 18, has worn No29 since breaking into the Ibrox first team. But Novo was desperate for him to have his prized shirt when he left Scotland for Sporting Gijon. Fleck said: "I didn't ask for the number. I didn't go and knock on anyone's door. "Nacho told the kit man he wanted me to have it. I wanted it and I'm happy to have it. "I've always worn ten in the youth team, all the way up, so it's great for me to have it now Nacho's away. "It was a great thing for him to do. "Hopefully I can keep it. I don't think it will put extra pressure on me, wearing that jersey. I am willing to stand up and fill it, but it's just a number at the end of the day. "It wouldn't matter if I had 50 on my back, I'd still give everything. "I haven't set a target for number of games, just more than last year. "I feel a lot fitter and stronger, so hopefully that will help." Fleck has been the next big thing at Rangers for a couple of years now. What people forget is that he's still only a teenager - he doesn't turn 19 until next month. The attacker said: "I've been about for the last couple of seasons and I should've done more than I have. "But I don't think anything stopped me. "The manager just knew what he was doing with me, when to play me and when to leave me out. "I've got to accept he made the right decisions for me. "It's obviously hard when you do well and then have a dip. "There's been a lot of expectation around me since before I even made the first team. But I just let it all wash over me. "To be honest, I think people sometimes expect too much of me. Maybe they do forget how young I am, because I've come into the first team at a young age. "I've obviously done well enough to get my chance. I have to take it. "This season is not any more important than any other one for me." This time last year Fleck was dropped from the top side - a harsh reminder to the youngster that he needed to buck up his ideas. He added: "It was bad at the time, but I can see now it stood me in good stead. "Obviously a few things like that happened last term. But we've put it past us and it's all good now. It was tough to be left out, difficult to go back to the reserves when you've been with the first team. "The boss took me aside and spoke to me quietly when he dropped me "There was nothing harsh, just a quiet word and that was it. Obviously he's the best man to make these decisions and explain them. "It's hard to keep your focus when you break into the side. "That's what the manager is there for, to keep you in or take you out when he feels it's the right time, whether you feel you're playing well or not." Fleck is with the same agency as Danny Wilson, who this month quit Gers and agreed a �£5million move to Liverpool. There was a time when it seemed Fleck also wanted out of Ibrox. But he nailed his colours to the mast by signing a new deal. Fleck added: "I'm really happy to play here. I've signed my contract and I'm happy with that. "Danny's left and he feels that's best for him. Good on him, good luck to him. "But for me, I'm a Gers fan and I'd rather stay here and try to get a game. "All the boys are doing well. I'm saying they're boys, but they're all older than me, guys like Jordan McMillan and Andy Little. "They're all doing great and hopefully they'll get their chance, same as me." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3074544/Perfect-10.html#ixzz0v7fFDHrp

Rangers striker Kenny Miller has admitted that Kevin Thomson's departure from the club is a 'blow'. . . More...

While some fans are just about ready to jump off the Kingston bridge in their own little worlds of doom and gloom, it pleases me to see that even hardcore followers are still being pragmatic and optimistic about our future - . http://www.rangersmedia.co.uk/homepage/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=479%3Aup-and-coming-players-201011&catid=41%3Afinances

From the Daily Express, worthy of its own thread given the quotes on our policy: http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/185245/EXCLUSIVE-Walter-Smith-wants-wide-boy-for-3-in-a-row-bid/ Seems we don't want any new strikers and we're concentrating on a creative players. Fair enough from me.

Attacking midfielder John Fleck has played down suggestions that he is Rangers' answer to Wayne Rooney. More...

John Fleck has revealed he has started back pre-season training weeks ahead of schedule in a bid to make a major impact at Rangers this season. The 18-year-old has been back at a deserted Murray Park this summer, working on his own to help improve his fitness levels ahead of the new campaign. Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s players arenââ?¬â?¢t expected back for pre-season training until July 5 ahead of their trip to Australia and Fleck is so determined to hit the ground running that he is doing rigorous workouts on his own. Fleck said: ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve been back up to Murray Park between a couple of breaks to work on my fitness levels and hopefully get myself ahead of the game. ââ?¬Å?I want to give myself as good a chance as possible to impress and hopefully force my way into the team more this season. ââ?¬Å?I have been doing some running around the complex as well as some gym work. ââ?¬Å?There isnââ?¬â?¢t anyone around the place as most people are away on holiday and doing different things. ââ?¬Å?You obviously have to have a rest and Iââ?¬â?¢ll have another short break now before getting stuck back into it again. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m sure most of the lads will be doing bits and pieces on their own anyway and youââ?¬â?¢ve got to look after yourself during the summer. ââ?¬Å?We are always given instructions and things we can do to take away with us at the end of the season. ââ?¬Å?But the more fitness work I can get under my belt this summer, the better condition I will be in for the start of pre-season training. ââ?¬Å?I know itââ?¬â?¢s a big season for me and I want to give myself the best possible chance of doing well. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve now had a couple of seasons under my belt in the first-team and Iââ?¬â?¢ve obviously made a number of appearances and played in some big matches, including the Old Firm, so Iââ?¬â?¢ve now got a bit of experience behind me. ââ?¬Å?But I want to be as successful as possible and put myself as strong a position as I possibly can for the beginning of the season.ââ?¬Â Like every young player, Fleck is desperate to make an impact and isnââ?¬â?¢t content to simply make up the numbers within the Rangers squad. It is that attitude and determination, combined with natural ability, that has made his manager Walter Smith consistently refer to him as a huge talent and someone he believes will go on to become a top player for the Light Blues. Although he has been in and around the first-team for a couple of years now, Fleck is still awaiting the opportunity to become a regular but the youngster appreciates it is easier said than done when you are coming through the ranks as a major club. ââ?¬Å?I think people have to try and appreciate how difficult it is for a young player to break into the first-team at Rangers and stay in the team every week,ââ?¬Â explained Fleck. ââ?¬Å?The manager has always said, in regard to both myself and Danny Wilson, that there would be times when weââ?¬â?¢d be left out the team as he felt it would be in our best interests and that is what has happened. ââ?¬Å?There is a massive pressure and expectation on the team to win every single game and win trophies and it was fantastic that we managed to win the SPL title and the League Cup last term. ââ?¬Å?To be involved in that is a truly wonderful experience for the likes of myself. ââ?¬Å?Like any player, I want to play as often as possible and Iââ?¬â?¢m just looking forward to getting back into pre-season training, getting as fit as possible and then hopefully do my talking on the park and help the team build on last seasonââ?¬â?¢s success.ââ?¬Â The good news for Rangers is that Fleck has already committed his long-term future to the club having penned a new three-year deal towards the end of last term and he is thrilled at having his future resolved. He said: ââ?¬Å?I was delighted to get everything sorted out in regard to my contract as it allows me to focus fully on my football. ââ?¬Å?Talks were ongoing for quite some time, which is often the case, and there was some speculation at the time that I was perhaps looking to move on ââ?¬â?? nothing could have been further from the truth. ââ?¬Å?It was always my intention to sign a new deal with Rangers.ââ?¬Â http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/john-fleck-s-summer-plan-to-get-him-ahead-of-the-game-for-rangers-1.1036750

Who would you field??? At the moment Id opt for a 3-5-2. ______________________McGregor_____________________ _________Webster______Bougherra_____Papac__________ ______________Edu____________Thomson______________ ________Fleck___________Davis___________McCulloch___ _________________Miller_______Lafferty________________

Seen as there is a strikers thread... Im a bit more concerned about our defence next season more so than the strikers. We have Miller, Lafferty, Velicka, Fleck and Naismith who can all play upfront and non are likely to leave. Granted the quality isnt the best its ever been but the numbers are ok. But with the futures of Bougherra, Wilson and Broadfoot not certain we should be on the look out for a centre half. Can Weir really perform another year? Will Webster be fit? (seems to have a jinx when pulling on the blue). If 2 of the 3 mentioned stay it solves a few things but if all 3 left we are in a mess. Papac can operate at centre half temporarily but if he does that leaves us without a LB following S Smith's departure. Whittaker can switch to LB but that means either Broadfoot (if he doesnt leave) or Little (who hasnt impressed) at RB.

Right now I can't deny our squad is thin, and definitely needs some additions this summer. Whether it gets any is another question, but looking at the players we definitely have right now, the first team doesn't seem quite so bad as what I'd originally feared. If you tweak the formation to a 4-3-3 we're still left with a pretty robust midfield and attack. The defence is definitely a question area, but let's see what we definitely have: :sw::aw::sp: :sd::me::kt: :sn::kl: I mean it's not all that bad is it? Davis gets to play central midfield, with Edu in the holding role. Lafferty plays as a left prong in attack, while Naismith showed his value in the Cup final. And a resurgent Webster is a decent option at the back. And we still have Broadfoot, Alexander, McCulloch, Velicka, Fleck in reserve. I'm not saying it's a world beating squad but it's not that bad. And with the possibility of new signings, if that happens, we look better than maybe we feared we would.

So, we're seeing Thomson linked with Middlesbrough, and according to this and other stories, so is Novo: Then you have Wilson who is almost certainly going to Liverpool: And the likes of Smith and Beasley already announcing their departures while Weir and Broadfoot sit there out of contract, as Hannover supposedly bid �£1M for Lee McCulloch. Add to that the fragility of our most valuable assets Bougherra, Boyd and McGregor, not to mention the small chance that there may be some interest in Davis, and by Christ we've hardly got any players left. If all the players leave who it's rumoured will or definitely have (including the out of contracts), then we're left with: Alexander, Papac, Webster, Edu, Naismith, Lafferty, Fleck, Miller, Little, Whittaker. That's McGregor, Weir, Bougherra, Wilson, Thomson, Davis, McCulloch, Novo, Boyd, Smith, Beasley potentially all leaving. This could be a summer of more upheaval than I can remember seeing at Ibrox for a long long time.

Another fine article from Andy_Steel - enjoy! http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/2010/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=269:walter-and-me-in-the-garden&catid=1:articles&Itemid=67 A beautiful, sunny weekend saw me stride confidently toward the garden, planting out some vegetables (I know it's too early, but needs must sometimes) tidying up the last of the daffodils, exhorting my raspeberries on with words of encouragement, and scowling at my gooseberry bush, which refuses to die despite my best efforts. Anyone who has ever 'enjoyed' a gooseberry crumble or tried to prune the spiky plant in question will understand my hatred for it. Another chore was the pruning of my honeysuckle, which was wildly out of control. Luckily, with this sort of Lonerica, one can hack it quite brutally and the plant will recover in 18-24 months or so, producing a fine new growth and flowering shortly thereafter. As I stood there, lopping shears and secateurs in hand, my recurring obsession with seeing life in terms of football kicked in once again. How like Walter Smith I am, I mused, as I cut back here, trim there, and await the new shoots that I can enjoy in years to come. But will Walter, or his successor should that be the case, be able to cut back hard and recover? That's plainly an unanswerable question. Only the coaching staff of our reserve and youth teams will know if we have a crop of players similar to Manchester United's all those years ago. Even they can hardly give a definitive reply! But we all know well enough that the pruning will happen. A question we can answer is, how do we deal with it? Listening to the radio this week, a theme which has cropped up often has been the impending exodus, mostly to England, of the best of Scottish football this summer. Reynolds, McArthur and so on are expected to head to the Championship while their predecessors, Adam, Dorrans and the like, aim for the Premiership. And the adjective which has been used to describe this is usually 'sad'. Apart from the fact that the resumption of this trade - for so long the lifeblood of our teams - will provide a welcome source of income, and exposure for our players, we have to view it as an opportunity. As the older, better players move on, they leave a gap which needs filled; and for once, for the first time in a long time, they will not be replaced by European players of no great ability, other than that of drawing a handsome salary. It will be Scots players who get the nod; players who know what the fans want, since they were fans only a few months ago. Not all of them will make the grade, I suppose, indeed most of them will end up doing the rounds of the lower leagues here and in England, while some will drop out of football altogether. At Rangers, we can at least hope that some of our young replacements will be of a standard that gives them a fighting chance of succeeding. John Fleck, Jamie Ness, Greg Wylde - I'm no expert on Rangers beyond the first team and so offer no comment on the strengths and weaknesses of these and others lads. But I'm willing to give them a chance to shine, to grow and to blossom into the superstars we all hope for. Maybe, when I'm looking at my honeysuckle in the summer of 2012, admiring it's star shaped flower and enjoying the sweet scent, I might think of the players who have delivered title 55 to Rangers, and remember when they first emerged into the first team. And no doubt if they have, they too will be contemplating a move to sunnier climes, and the internet fan will be thinking about who is coming through next. In the garden of Rangers everything is not always rosy; how can it be? But I console myself with the thought that the soil is fertile, there are plenty of willing helpers, and that so long as that remains true there will be seeds waiting to be sown. We may see a brutal summer, but it may lead to a bright future after all.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks-ignore/walter-smith-needs-assurances-if-success-is-to-continue-1.1026091 Analysis by Darrell King Share 0 comments 7 May 2010 Walter Smith will receive the silverware this Sunday, but will he get the answers? The weekend ahead promises to be one of the most crucial in Rangersââ?¬â?¢ history, as a behind-the-scenes search for clarity on the future goes on, against the backdrop of the clubââ?¬â?¢s first home SPL trophy presentation day in seven years. Smith is becoming an increasingly frustrated figure, and justifiably so. None of us, try and probe as we might, are likely to find out the full extent of the fires heââ?¬â?¢s been fighting in the past year or so. But the clock is now ticking on the most important issue at any football club ââ?¬â?? just who is the manager going to be? Unless Smith is given guarantees in the next few days that there will be funding to repair a squad that has been hacked at and systematically downsized over recent transfer windows, then he is almost certain to walk. And who could blame him? He has been happy to operate without a contract from the end of January until now, just in case a new owner arrived and didnââ?¬â?¢t fancy him, thus removing any compensation bill to bring in a new man. But isnââ?¬â?¢t Smith entitled to now put himself first over club politics? After everything heââ?¬â?¢s given to Rangers, over many years and not just this second spell, he has earned the right to be treated in a far better way than this. He knows the problems and the issues. In fact, he is the man who has brought many of them into the public domain. More than that, Smith has continued to drive the message in bold red warning letters to the heart of the supporters ââ?¬â?? many of whom still appear to be in denial ââ?¬â?? much to the annoyance of faceless men who have barked orders behind the scenes that he should be silenced. He was one man they could not control, and they dared not push him too far given the chaos that would have ensued had Smith departed during Rangersââ?¬â?¢ title defence. But his patience is now being tested. And if he does go as a result of more financial restrictions being imposed ââ?¬â?? and as of yet budgets have still to be agreed between Rangers and Lloyds ââ?¬â?? then there could be an almighty backlash from a support which holds him in as high esteem as they have done at any time in his two tenures. For instance, last Friday ââ?¬â?? after a week in which the club was again rocked by in-fighting in the wake of revelations that a tax investigation was being conducted with regard to payments made into playersââ?¬â?¢ off-shore accounts ââ?¬â?? Smith met the press to reiterate the need for investment and a plan to take Rangers forward. Almost as he was speaking, Sir David Murray was announcing to the BBC there would be a ââ?¬Ë?limitedââ?¬â?¢ budget for players, which was in stark contradiction to his successor Alastair Johnstonââ?¬â?¢s revelations days before that they still had to meet Lloyds to discover what the business plan would be, a process that will begin next week. With those kind of mixed messages, what chance does Smith have? He has pencilled in 16 players for next term, including the injured Andrius Velicka, two goalkeepers, and two kids in Danny Wilson and John Fleck. He knows that will simply not do. The business plan must identify what will happen to the Ã?£55,000 per week that would be freed up from the possible exits of six out-of-contract players ââ?¬â?? Davie Weir, Kirk Broadfoot, Kris Boyd, Nacho Novo, Stevie Smith and DaMarcus Beasley. Smith knows he needs at least six new players. Does he get that money? Does he get hard cash for transfer fees? And how much? What level of player is he pitching at? These are the issues he must have resolved before any call can be made on what he does next. In the midst of all this, Smith also had to cope with the revelations attributed to would-be buyer Andrew Ellis, who was forced to break cover when the content of his chance meeting and blether with a Sky TV presenter ended up becoming public knowledge. Smith would be offered a new three-year deal, Ellis said in a hurried public declaration, adding that he would offer a life presidency title to Sir David should he gain control ââ?¬â?? which he hoped would happen in three to four weeks. Clearly irked, Smithââ?¬â?¢s response to this was that ââ?¬Å?maybe the chap concerned should speak to me first before speaking about meââ?¬Â. Given the men have never shared a conversation, just what was Ellis thinking about? That episode has only added to Smithââ?¬â?¢s frustration. But there are two key situations at Rangers right now. Firstly, the immediate future of the manager and the budget for next season with, as we have revealed, senior figures inside the club still fearful of what conditions the bank will try to impose when Johnston meets them face-to-face at the start of next week. Secondly, the ownership issue, which is no further forward. As we stated last week, there are many inside Ibrox who simply do not believe Ellis will follow his interest through, unless there is some hidden business going on behind his proposed takeover that has yet to be unearthed. Time will tell on that, but he has no plans to meet Johnston in the immediate future according to his people, which does appear strange. As does his lack of urgency in calling Smith. Ellis, in fact, is close to being bracketed in the ââ?¬Å?put up or shut upââ?¬Â category that was outlined by Murray in reference to other interested parties last week. But will any of them? The ownership issue, however, is of less immediate concern to Smith. Assuming the budgetary issue is resolved to his liking, then the matter of finding a new owner would be no more than a sideshow, a bearable distraction. It would have no material effect on his day-to-day running of the team, as long as he has the appropriate financial plan laid out, guaranteed, and is allowed to manage without interference. Smith simply wants to know what Rangers 2010 will look like ââ?¬â?? then he can make a decision. While he wants to see the clubââ?¬â?¢s long-term future resolved as much as anyone, itââ?¬â?¢s what he will have to play with in terms of his team for next season that holds the key right now. Undoubtedly, people like Johnston, chief executive Martin Bain and the supporters want to see Smith given the resources to rebuild and strengthen a team that has won six trophies in three years. Unfortunately, they donââ?¬â?¢t hold the key to that. The bank do. And given their actions over the past 18 months, will they sanction what Smith needs? If they donââ?¬â?¢t, things may be about to get a lot messier ââ?¬â?? and the most important man of all could be lost in the fall-out.

DAVID Weir arrived at Ibrox as a stop-gap central defender on a short term salvage mission. It has turned into a quite remarkable three-and-a-half-year extension of his top flight playing career which will see him savour both collective and individual glory on Sunday. In the afternoon, the Rangers captain will step forward to collect the SPL trophy after the final match of the champions' season at Ibrox against Motherwell. A few hours later, Weir will be the centre of attention at a gala awards dinner in Glasgow when he receives the Scottish Football Writers' Association's Player of the Year honour. Weir, who will celebrate his 40th birthday on Monday, has earned the grateful and enduring affection of Rangers supporters for his contribution to the on-field success they have enjoyed over the past three years against a backdrop of financial uncertainty. His longevity and consistency has defied logic. The veteran defender has missed only three SPL matches since Walter Smith recruited him from Everton on an initial six-month contract back in January 2007. Six major trophy wins and a Uefa Cup final appearance later, Weir continues to shrug aside talk of retirement. "I'm keen to play on and enjoy it," he said. "But it would have to be right for me and not just for the sake of it. Until something is put in front of me, I can't give a definitive answer. "I genuinely don't know what will happen in terms of staying at Rangers. The manager has been asked the same question about his own future and I don't think we are in a position to answer. No-one knows how the land lies at the club or how it will lie. It's a case of wait and see. "There are six players out of contract, including me, along with the coaching staff. It's a strange circumstance, but that's the way it is. I would imagine it might be quite late in the summer before a decision is made about me." Weir may not be short of alternative options. He is close to completing the full set of coaching badges and is sure to be regarded as a suitable candidate for a step into management. While he maintains his policy of never trying to anticipate what the future holds, however, Weir is fairly certain he will not seek to combine playing with a coaching role. "I don't think player-manager is doable for me," he said. "It's a hard job. Playing is hard enough without being a boss too and having to compromise on both jobs. I'd never close any doors, but I'd say it is unlikely. "I just hope to stay in football. It wouldn't be through choice if I found myself out of the game. I love the game, whether it is playing it, watching it or talking about it. But there are a lot of people out of a job in football and chasing just a few posts. "Football is changing and you have to be realistic as a lot of people want jobs. I've done well out of the game, so I won't feel hard done by if I don't get a job. But I hope to stay in football one way or another." Wherever his career path takes him, Weir will always cherish the time he has spent wearing the colours of the club he supported as a boy. "It has exceeded expectations, without a shadow of a doubt," he added. "I just came to Rangers for a few months, to try and help stabilise the club. The target back then was just to make sure we finished second in the SPL. By Rangers' standards, what we were aiming for was not high. "So to go from that to winning championships and cups has been incredible. You can't underestimate the achievements here over the last three years and how the manager has turned the club around during difficult times. "You don't really get time to savour things here, because there is always another story breaking about Rangers and another game to get ready for. But maybe when the season ends on Sunday, we can take in just how big an achievement it has been to win the title again. "I don't really think about winning the league on a personal level, but I am looking forward to Sunday and the trophy presentation. It is a massive achievement. Retaining the trophy was huge for us. We won it last year after chasing Celtic all the time. "That was a massive sense of joy, but this year was a new challenge and a bigger test. It was a relief to win it because it was harder. I'm proud of this, because good Rangers teams in the past haven't won championships. Hopefully this means the current crop will be remembered as a good team." Weir's coronation as Scotland's top player at the age of 39, the oldest winner of the award, may be regarded as evidence of a lack of quality among his younger colleagues. He insists, however, that the Scottish game has cause for optimism. "I genuinely don't think we are in too bad a shape," he said. "I watched Sunderland against Manchester United last week and two Scots, Craig Gordon and Darren Fletcher, were the best players on the pitch. Then you look at the Championship, where guys like Charlie Adam are outstanding every time you see them play. "There is still Scottish talent out there, just maybe not the strength in depth of it that there used to be. But we do have people coming through, like Danny Wilson and John Fleck at Rangers. There are a lot of good things happening in Scottish football." While Weir was typically self-effacing when informed of his Football Writers' Association's Player of the Year award, he was clearly thrilled to see his name added to a star-studded roll of honour stretching back to 1965. "I must admit, I did look up the previous winners and that's when it strikes home what it means. It goes all the way back to the likes of John Greig and Billy McNeill, so to be in that company is great." :spl: http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Evergreen-Weir-not-ready-to.6279136.jp

Rangers FC secured another league title against Hibernian at Easter Road, breaking our own world record taking our tally to 53 SPL title wins, with Kyle Lafferty scoring the only goal of the game with a fine finish to start the party for the travelling fans,having the League Cup already safely in the Ibrox trophy room the double was achieved in what has to be one of the toughest seasons for Walter Smith and his team. It would be understandable then if the players switched off for the rest of the season and start thinking about their Holidays with their families. Not this team, they went up to Tannadice with nothing to play for and the fans travelled up to continue the party that was started at Easter Road. WS took the opportunity to rest several first team players and give some of the fringe players a run out. Despite this fixture being a tricky one normally during the season they could have been forgiven if they drew or even lost, however Rangers went out and attacked DUTD from the start and were rewarded when King Kris scored his 100th Rangers goal within two minutes, a feat that he has to take a massive amount of credit for proving he has no challenger in the SPL when it comes to finding the back of the net, and the whole team showed what they are made of with a great performance and effort gaining another 3 pts when wee Nacho scored with a good run and neat finish, special mention to young Fleck who was involved in everything good that Rangers did. Onto the OF game tonight at the piggery. Is this a meaningless game???, I think if you asked the fans the answer would be not a chance, beating the BHEASTS at any time is a must and under no circumstances do we want the wee bigot getting a first win of the season in an OF game,I want to piss all over them in their own midden and shut all the moaning MOPES up for another season at least, let's have a party and let them know WATP Ask the same question to the Rangers players and I'm in no doubt the answer would be the same,well maybe not the '' wee bigot '' bit . However this team have shown over the course of the season that they are made of stern stuff, the kind that makes CHAMPIONS :spl:. Make no mistake here regardless of what we hear from our players there is no way they are going to allow this greeting faced piss poor team take anything from this game as I'm sure they will have read all the crap spouting from some of the C****c players,past & present,and will want to go out and show what CHAMPIONS :spl: are made of and I for one think we will come out of the midden with a convincing win.I have a feeling this game is going to be quite an explosive event with the BHEASTS doing everything and anything to beat the CHAMPIONS:spl:, which of course includes diving,fouling and cheating at every chance they get, as they always do,and expect the ref to have a busy night and have no doubt the wee bigot will have them wound up into a frenzy, but I have faith in this group of players,they know what it takes to win games and that is why we are simply the best. However should we get beat we will still be having a party at the piggery as CHAMPIONS:spl: As for the team that Walter Smith will put out??, again as has been all season who knows what players will take up the fight but I'm pretty certain it will be the strongest team we have and one that WS will be confident of getting another win against the BHEASTS, after all he is the daddy in these fixtures. BHEASTS 1 CHAMPIONS:spl: 2

Rangers in crisis ââ?¬â?? Douglas Park has spoken to director Dave King, but admits takeover is ââ?¬Ë?impossibleââ?¬â?¢ because of tax investigation For sale ââ?¬â?? but whoââ?¬â?¢s buying? Darrell King Share 0 comments 28 Apr 2010 Douglas Park, the businessman who has interests in several car *franchises and a coach company, last night confirmed he has spoken with Dave King, the South Africa-based *millionaire Rangers director who remains interested in taking over the club. Park told The Herald there was a ââ?¬Å?real willingnessââ?¬Â from several individuals who want to help the Ibrox club out of their financial plight. However, with the revelation that an HM Revenue and Customs investi*gation is ongoing into payments Rangers made into playersââ?¬â?¢ offshore trusts over the past decade, Park conceded there would have to be certain conditions agreed with Rangersââ?¬â?¢ owners, Murray Inter*national, and the clubââ?¬â?¢s bankers, Lloyds, before any deal could be done. The SPL championsââ?¬â?¢ debts are still hovering around the Ã?£30m mark, and the HMRC investigation could lead to a tax bill ââ?¬â?? the exact amount yet unknown ââ?¬â?? having to be met if the club is found to have a case to answer. When asked if he had held discussions with King over a potential buy-out, Park would only say: ââ?¬Å?I have had meetings with Dave King since January, but the contents of our discussions are private. There are people out there with a real willingness to put millions of pounds of their own money into the club to try to address the current situation and return the club to stability. However, unless certain conditions are met, it would be impossible for anything to proceed. ââ?¬Å?At the moment, the bank are in total control of the situation as the season-ticket money, and any Champions League money, comes in.ââ?¬Â Rangers are anxious to discover as soon as possible the bankââ?¬â?¢s plans for the biggest revenue stream into the club, season-ticket monies that annually amount to between Ã?£18m and Ã?£20m, with sources telling The Herald there are fears this money will be used to attack the overall debt as the wait for a new owner goes on. Last night, Rangers were guaranteed automatic entry to the Cham*pions League group stages next season after Bayern Munich overcame Lyon 0-4 on aggregate in France. The German side, along with Barcelona and Inter Milan, who contest the second semi-final tonight, are all guaranteed to play in the 2010/11 group phase courtesy of their domestic league positions and, therefore, an automatic position has been freed up for the champions of Scotland. There are people out there with a real willingness to put millions of pounds of their own money into the club to try to address the current situation and return the club to stability. However, unless certain conditions are met, it would be impossible for anything to proceed. Douglas Park This will generate revenue of around Ã?£15m for Rangers and, again, answers are being sought from the bank as to what will happen to that money, and how much will be put into the business plan for the season ahead. Rangers issued a statement last night denying that Champions League income ââ?¬Å?had already been ring-fenced by the bank to reduce the clubââ?¬â?¢s debtââ?¬Â. However, when our sister paper the Evening Times broke the story yesterday, their suggestion was that senior sources at the club feared the Champions League and season ticket money would be used to address debts, not that it had already been agreed. The statement added: ââ?¬Å?Discussions with the bank in relation to the business plan will take place in the coming weeks. The club would also like to reiterate once again that at no time has director Dave King made an offer for the purchase of Rangers.ââ?¬Â Manager Walter Smith has expressed fears since last October over the future of the club, but he will say nothing else on the financial situation, or his own contractual situation, until being informed by the board of what the business plan is. Smith is almost certainly unwilling to commit to another season at the helm if the club is going to continue downsizing. At the moment, with six players out of contract, *Rangers are scheduled to return for pre-*season training in July with a squad of 14 first-team players plus two goalkeepers. Of that number, three are young players in Danny Wilson, John Fleck and Andrew Little, while another is Andrius Velicka who is unlikely to be match-fit for the start of the season after nine months on the sidelines with a knee injury. They could be open to predators in the transfer market for players such as Madjid Bougherra, Steven Davis and Allan McGregor, with no guarantees that any money from sales will be allowed to fund replacements. There has been no scouting network in place because of the financial cutbacks over the past six months; while the pre-season tour planned for America, including a money-spinning Old Firm match against Celtic scheduled for Boston on July 21, *cannot be confirmed until a management team is in place for next season.