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Last evening, watching BBC Scotland's piece on Rangers trials with HMRC, I wondered why Angela Haggerty was chosen to counter Craig Houston. The current on going gripe is with HMRC, where is their representative? How about one of any number of the usual suspects(a lot of them regular contributors to BBC Scotland) who rushed to put the boot into the club? Even a Mark Daly who won a prestigious award for his BBC Scotland documentary, 'the man who sold the jerseys'? BBC Scotland utilise considerable energy in maintaining their policy of, 'careful hate'. Cosgrove keeps up the ridicule, Spence pushes the envelope regularly, and the News Department never misses an opportunity to demonise and marginalise(who can forget the bouncing ball on perceived sectarian lyrics)? Careful Hate just wouldn't cut it, the momentum had been building among the Rangers support, harbouring a legitimate sense of injustice. Quelling such fires requires venomous hate. Angela has a long history of being supportive of Irish republicanism, including providing necessary mitigation on the awkward area of armed struggle. Angela has been all over the Rangers situation, like a rash. Lucrative too for Angela, as Editor of Phil McFournames collection of essays, entitled 'Downfall'. Angela would have been paid a fee for lat evening's appearance too. Now, Angela is a well practised contributor to social media and she is 'Friends' with lots, if not all the regular detractors of Rangers. I suspect a few BBC Scotland Producers liked the cut of Angela's jib yesterday : "the revenge frenzy being whipped up by the Scottish tabloids is shameful. They know what the Rangers culture is capable of" and, "Rangers are a social club for people still clinging on to a white British protestant identity that revolves around fancy dress". You can see the attractiveness of misrepresentation, the HMRC thing has become inconvenient; get Angela on to spit a bit of venom on to the frenzy. Remember, the tabloids are shameful, BBC Scotland is unfailingly moral.

McCoist in tomorrow's Scottish Daily Mail: ‘The sad thing is that, in our country, our vindication will stick in some people’s throats.' McCoist in tomorrow's Scottish Daily Mail: I will never forget some of the things which have been said and done to our club.' #Rangers

As most of our members know, two Admin representatives met with the full Rangers and Rangers International Board recently. Following that meeting, we e-mailed the questions our members felt the most pressing and most important to David Somers for him to circulate and respond. Mr Somers replied very speedily, although, after discussion between Admin, we felt there could have been more substance to the Board's response, as much of what was sent to us was general and in the public domain already. We sent back those responses with our criticisms and comments and asked for more detailed, more meaningful answers. Mr Somers has responded and sadly, we are not satisfied with what has been said. Here are the questions, the answers and the VB return of serve:http://www.vanguardbears.co.uk/vb-and-the-board.html

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert ready to offer Darren Bent and Alan Hutton lifelines Exiled high earners told to return to training with the first-team squad returns in July Paul Lambert is ready to take the drastic step of bringing Darren Bent and Alan Hutton in from the cold at Aston Villa. Lambert will offer the two exiled high earners a chance to revive their careers with Villa after talks with chairman Randy Lerner, in a move which will surprise the club’s supporters. Bent, Villa’s £24 million record signing, and Scotland international Hutton have both been told to report for training with the first-team when the squad returns for pre-season in July. Lerner is understood to have been influential in the move as he is keen for the manager to utilise players already on the wage bill and potentially avoid the need to spend money on new signings. Lambert said: “Everybody’s even now, everybody’s level. It’s public what’s happened [in the past] and now everyone is on the same level playing field. “Everybody knows the club is up for sale and it’s going to need everybody to pull in the same direction. The next few weeks and months are going to be testing, that’s for sure. “The only uncertainty we’ve got is how long before the club is sold.” Bent, who earns around £65,000 a week, has endured a turbulent time since Lambert’s appointment in June 2012. He was first made captain, then stripped of the armband and later consigned to the substitutes’ bench for most of last season. Last summer he was made to train with a select group of unwanted players, infamously branded the ‘Bomb Squad’, and made to change in a separate dressing room to the first team. He was then loaned out to Fulham for the season and scored only six goals. The former England international, 30, could attract interest from Turkey and the MLS this summer but will be given the opportunity to stake a claim with Villa if he remains with the club. Hutton, 29, has suffered even greater frustration, having never made a single appearance since Lambert’s arrival. Lambert admitted the former Tottenham Hotspur right-back has been ostracised due to his high wages of around £40,000 a week but he will now have a shot at redemption. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aston-villa/10845383/Aston-Villa-manager-Paul-Lambert-ready-to-offer-Darren-Bent-and-Alan-Hutton-lifelines.html

CARLOS BOCANEGRA admits he would happily have spent all of the nine years he had playing in Europe at Rangers. The former USA international captain signed for the Light Blues in August 2011 but left on loan 12 months later for Spanish side Racing Santander after financial difficulties at Ibrox. Bocanegra then had his contract ended early by mutual consent last summer with his salary higher than Gers could afford. But the short time he did have in Glasgow made a significant impression on the Californian and hindsight tells him he’d have loved to sign for the club much earlier than he did. Now at MLS side Chivas USA, Bocanegra spent his day off yesterday travelling up the coast from Los Angeles to meet the touring Rangers squad at their pre-season base in Ventura. It brought memories of his stay with the 54-time Scottish champions flooding back as he spoke with manager Ally McCoist and some of his former team-mates. Popular defender Bocanegra experienced top-level football in England and France with Fulham, Rennes and St Etienne prior to his switch to Gers. But no other club got under his skin the way the Light Blues did and he said: “In football, you move so many times but when we arrived in Glasgow it felt like home. “We really embraced the city, the people were very friendly and it became about more than just on-field stuff. That was amazing. “Playing in front of 50,000 fans at Ibrox every second weekend and experiencing the support we got around the country otherwise was fantastic. “But my family and I loved the club, the city and the culture too. Everything came together in a really nice mix so when I had to leave it was a very difficult decision. “I would have liked to stay but there was the issue with my wages and I was trying to keep my national team dream alive ahead of the World Cup but we had dropped down the leagues. “The timing of things didn’t quite work out when I came to the club but I loved my time there. I really enjoyed it and I would have loved to retire there. “I’d have loved being there sooner. In all honesty, I’d have loved to go straight from Chicago Fire in 2004 to Rangers and played my career there. “Playing in the Champions League, winning titles and cups would have been great. The atmosphere there is amazing and I loved everything about being part of that club. “I guess the only regret I have is I didn’t get the chance to go there earlier but during my time at Rangers, we had a great team. “The level was high and I got to play in the derby matches. The short time I had there was special and I really cherish it because I know how lucky I was to experience it. “You always wish you can have everything perfect in life but being able to be part of Rangers for just a short amount of time was awesome.” http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/7209-playing-for-gers-was-awesome?

RANGERS are pleased to announce match ticket pricing for home games in the new SPFL Championship season. There are two categories of games for the 18 league matches played at Ibrox next season. Category A games are league matches against Hearts and Hibs, while games featuring the other seven teams in the division are in the Category B classification. Match ticket pricing for Category B games range from £17 to £29 for adults, £12 to £20 for concessions and £5 to £6 for juniors. Category A prices range from £21 to £33 for adults, £15 to £23 for concessions and £5 to £8 for juniors. Tickets for the first two games of the season – the Petrofac Training Cup tie with Hibs on Tuesday August 5 and the first league game of the season at home to Hearts on Sunday August 10, will go on sale online and via the Ticket Hotline from Friday July 18 with the Rangers Ticket Centre beginning to sell from Monday July 21. Matchday ticket prices are between 5 and 8% higher than the price of the equivalent Season Tickets for Ibrox next season. Rangers Chief Executive Graham Wallace said: “The new match ticket pricing structure provides excellent value for money in what promises to be the most competitive league in Scottish football next season. “Our policy is to keep tickets as affordable as possible – especially for junior supporters – while reflecting the increased standard of football our fans can expect with visits from both Edinburgh clubs the highlights of the fixture calendar.” “The excitement is building for the new campaign and everybody here is raring to go.” The Club is making special access arrangements to allow supporters to use the Ticket Centre while Ibrox is being prepared for, and then de-rigs after, the Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens. The Ticket Centre will be closed for the two days of the rugby competition on Saturday July 26 and Sunday July 27. Tickets can still be purchased on those days via the Club website or Ticket Hotline. The Club has produced a ‘Questions and Answers’ document that will provide supporters with most of the information they require about buying tickets. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE Q&A DOCUMENT http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/7180-rangers-announce-ticket-pricing

Rangers midfielder Nicky Law promises his form won't dip this season now he is over his Ibrox learning curve. LAW admits it has taken him a year to understand what it takes to play for the Light Blues but he is now fully primed to shine for the entire campaign. PHYSICALLY tired. Mentally shot. Nicky Law admits he failed to hack a whole season’s pace at Rangers last term. But the midfielder is back refreshed and ready to go the distance this time around now he fully understands the strains of being a Light Blues player. Law confesses the second-half of last season was the biggest learning curve of his career. Superb for the first five months of the campaign, he was subdued and struggling for the next five as he lost the sparkle that had lit up his initial spell. Ibrox boss Ally McCoist had warned Law when he signed from Motherwell last summer it can take a full year to come to terms with the demands placed upon a Rangers player. Yet only when he experienced for himself the intense pressures could he fully understand. The Mancunian needed the summer to recharge. But he’s back and ready to see it through in the Ibrox side’s bid for the Premiership. Law said: “We played Dunfermline in the final game of last season on the Saturday and I was away on the Monday. “I had 10 days just to relax and do nothing. I needed it. The season dragged on with the league being won so early and everyone needed a break. “There was a lot going on, which has died down, and it was a strange season. “Everyone seemed to fire at the start. We showed what a good side we were scoring goals freely and not conceding. We were 15 or 16 points clear at Christmas. “In the two years I was at Motherwell, every single week was competitive and that brings the best from you. “I had my two best seasons as a player there form-wise and took it into the season at Rangers until Christmas. “I dropped off. I didn’t want to, I just didn’t hit the heights. I knew it myself but I just couldn’t get it back. “People expect the best and when we did dip, the fans are not stupid and they see it. “They think: ‘What’s happened to him from the first half of the season to the second half?’ You have 45,000 people on your back because they expect better and rightly so. “It is difficult, of course, and we laboured in games when we should have done a lot better. “The manager said to all of the new boys it can take a year to get used to everything. “That went for a lot of us with nine or 10 new boys not just in the squad but starting the matches. We were learning together when usually, it would just be one or two. “Did I learn more in six months than I have in the rest of my career? Definitely. “Rangers is a massive club. I told Stephen Craigan we’d more fans in Holland and Germany than we’d take with Motherwell down the road to St Mirren.” Law was in sprightly form during Rangers’ Highland Tour and is champing at the bit for tonight’s North American opener against Ventura County Fusion. The midfielder believes the entire squad is energised not just by the summer holidays but by the signings of the manager. Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd are back and Law reckons the injection of class and experience has lifted the troops. He said: “I felt back to my old self in the two matches and with the new lads coming in it’s given everyone a lift. “Linking up with Boydy and Kenny is great and you could tell straight away they know the game so well. “You can tell the standards set by the experienced ones who have been here before. “Even in the game at Brora, we were 1-0 down and it could have been more but Boydy and Kenny are onto you telling you it is unacceptable form, even in a pre-season game. “Ian Durrant says it before every match. There are no friendlies at Rangers. Even in the couple of weeks we’ve been back, you can see the change those two have brought. “Everyone is fresh and bang on it for an exciting league that will be much closer than last season.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-midfielder-nicky-law-promises-3862329

Fusion to Host Rangers F.C. (Scotland) in July Friendly Written by Danny Page One of Britain's great teams visits Ventura County for training camp, match on July 15th PURCHASE TICKETS HERE - http://www.vcfusion.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/Pages.Page/id/1076 Over the last eight years, Fusion has made a habit of bringing world class soccer to Ventura County, playing friendly matches against a handful of clubs from the English Premier League, as well as other teams from top leagues around the world. Today, Fusion is proud to announce an exhibition match against one of the UK’s most decorated and supported clubs, Rangers F.C. from Glasgow, Scotland. The match will take place Tuesday, July 15th at the VC SportsPlex in Ventura, California. Presale tickets can be purchased for $25 (Adult)//$15 (Youth 14 & under) at VCFusion.com, with ticket prices rising to $30 (Adult)//$20 (Youth 14 & under) at the gate on the day of the match, as available. Rangers F.C. has won 54 Scottish top-flight league titles, dating all the way back to the club’s first championship in the 19th century. “This is another special occasion for Ventura County Fusion to show it’s one of the west coast’s leading soccer franchises and bring a celebrated team to Ventura,” Fusion General Manager Ranbir Shergill said, “The match on July 15th against Rangers F.C. should be quite a thrill for our supporters, players, and soccer fans throughout Southern California.” Rangers last visited the United States in 2007, and are preparing for a key season in the Scottish Championship, the nation’s second division. Rangers will open their North American tour with a six-day training camp in Ventura before taking on Fusion. Rangers then head north to face Sacramento Republic FC on July 19. “The trip to America is a fantastic opportunity to re-introduce Rangers to the North American fans and I am confident the tour will be a success on a number of levels,” Rangers Manager and legendary midfielder Ally McCoist said, “We have a wonderful global fanbase and I am sure the members of NARSA (North American Rangers Supporters Association) will turn out in huge numbers at all of our games.” Ticket Availability and Pricing Tickets for this historic friendly are immediately available and can be purchased via phone (805) 830-8005 or on the team’s website, www.VCFusion.com. Tickets start at just $25 for adults and $15 for Children, with ticket prices rising to $30 (Adult)//$20 (Youth) on the day of the match. The match is expected to sell out, so please purchase tickets via the presale to guarantee your seat at the game. Rangers F.C. will be Seventh British Opponent Fusion has Faced With the upcoming match, Fusion continues its long-standing tradition of bringing renowned British clubs to the region. Fusion has faced half a dozen Barclay’s Premier League clubs over the years, including matches in Ventura County against West Bromwich Albion (2011), Swansea City (2012), Burnley (2009), & Portsmouth (2010). Fusion has also played exhibition matches against Everton (2008) & Manchester City (2011), although these games were not open to the public. About Rangers F.C. Rangers Football Club is steeped in tradition, has a rich and proud history and is a name that conjures up magical memories in the minds of thousands of supporters around the globe. The Light Blues are also one of the most successful club sides in world football - with a record-breaking 54 top flight League Championships, 33 Scottish Cup Final wins, 27 League Cup Final victories and one European Cup Winners’ Cup Final triumph to date. Rangers have made a number of memorable appearances recently in the UEFA Champions League, reaching the group stage 5 times in the last dozen years. During that span, Rangers faced a number of marquee European clubs including Manchester United and FC Barcelona. In 2008, Rangers defeated Panathinaikos (Greece), Werder Bremen (Germany), Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) & Fiorentina (Italy) en route to the 2008 UEFA Cup Final, a match they ultimately lost to Zenit St. Petersburg, 2-1, at the City of Manchester Stadium. Recently the Club won Division 3 and the Scottish League One title following administration. Since Rangers humble beginnings in 1872, the Club has earned a worldwide reputation and lifted many honors and accolades, including becoming the first club in the world to win 100 major trophies, a distinction earned during the 2001-02 season. About Ventura County Fusion The Fusion, established in 2006, plays in the Premier Development League (PDL) of the United Soccer League (USL). Considered one of the most successful franchises in the leagues history for multiple milestones. Since our inaugural season in 2007, the Fusion have reached the third round of the US Open Cup, claimed two Southwest Division Championships, and have been crowned PDL National Champions in 2009. Fusion has hosted training camps for more than a dozen Major League Soccer teams, and has met six Barclay’s Premier League clubs in friendly matches. Other past opponents include Chivas Guadalajara (MEX), Independiente (ARG), & GAIS (SWE). Fusion has also faced the national teams of Canada and Mexico as they prepared for major tournaments. http://www.vcfusion.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/pages.page/id/812/article_fuse/detail/aid/335

http://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/latest-news/258-book-review-born-under-a-union-flag-rangers-the-union-scottish-independence

[h=2]Club Statement[/h]WRITTEN BY RANGERS FOOTBALL CLUB "RANGERS Football Club Limited (the "Club") notes the findings of Lord Doherty in the HMRC case against Rangers Football Club plc (Oldco) and shares the views of many fans that so much of what later ensued at our Club following the start of that investigation was avoidable. "We are pleased to see the end of this sorry chapter in the history of Rangers FC, yet our greatest sympathy is with those who felt the pain of the last four years the most – our supporters. "In spite of almost unrelenting attacks and setbacks they have never flinched from supporting their football club with all their energy and resolve. "It is a matter for the authorities to explain their actions during this entire period that has seen the good name of Rangers severely damaged. "Our focus is on rebuilding the football club and getting Rangers back to where we belong. That, in itself, will help right some of the wrongs our Club and supporters have suffered over the last four years."

RANGERS Football Club can this afternoon confirm the signing of Marius Zaliukas on a two-year deal. The Lithuanian defender joined Ally McCoist’s squad in Brora last week and during his second trial spell with the club he impressed both in training and in a 45-minute run-out against Brora Rangers at Dudgeon Park. Having successfully completed his medical he will now travel with the League One champions to North America tomorrow. Zaliukas came close to agreeing a deal with the Light Blues last September but after training at Murray Park he moved to Elland Road instead. Prior to that the 30-year-old centre half spent seven years in Edinburgh with the Jambos and captained the club Rangers will face on the opening day of the Championship season at Ibrox. In total he played 220 times for Hearts following his move from FBK Kaunas in his homeland and scored on 14 occasions. Manager Ally McCoist has already added one central defender to his pool this summer with ex-St Mirren stopper Darren McGregor putting pen-to-paper on a one-year contract on June 11. With Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd also returning to Ibrox last month, Zaliukas’ decision to join Rangers is another boost for the manager and the club as the preparations continue for a massive year in Scottish football’s second tier. http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/7183-zaliukas-joins-gers Hopefully an end to Jig at the back, thank goodness. Zaliukas will surely be the No. 1 choice CB with Faure but more likely Mohsni.

teams: Germany: Neuer, Howedes, Hummels, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Ozil, Klose, Muller, Lahm ©, Kroos, Boateng Argentina: Romero, Garay, Zabaleta, Biglia, Perez, Higuain, Messi ©, Mascherano, Demichelis, Rojo, Lavezzi Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy) 2-0 Germany for me. Klose and Muller. point on referees, I think they have generally been good and let play flow, except the European referees who I thought have been very picky. PS I'm watching BBC coverage as I cannot stand Adrain Chiles

Christian Nerlinger has delivered a blow to Rangers chief executive Graham Wallace by rejecting the chance to become the club’s new football operations officer. The German, who played for Rangers between 2001 and 2004, held talks with Wallace about returning to Ibrox and filling a role similar to the one he previously held at Bayern Munich. The pair met twice in recent weeks but Sportsmail understands that, after careful consideration, 41-year-old Nerlinger has decided to decline. The appointment of a new football figurehead was one of the key recommendations of Wallace’s 120-day business review of the club. Had Nerlinger accepted, he would have been responsible for player identification and recruitment. Rangers boss Ally McCoist would have welcomed assistance in that department but any new appointee would essentially have assumed some of the manager’s duties. Ultimately, McCoist is understood to favour the establishment of a new scouting system, an area that has been neglected during the attempts to recover from financial meltdown. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2690180/Christian-Nerlinger-turns-chance-Rangers-football-operations-officer.html

Dont know if this has been covered or not , but who exactly is paying for this tour , we are taking a playing squad of 25 plus management and backroom teams , there must be the bulk of 40 plus in the party , yet we are playing basically junior teams by Scottish standards , so given we are struggling financially , the question is who's footing the bill for this little extravaganza

http://metro.co.uk/2014/07/12/north-korea-media-tells-country-that-its-team-has-reached-world-cup-final-4796033/

....and beat Celtic to one last Premiership title before I go. Kenny Miller has revealed his wish to retire as a Rangers player, ideally with the parting gift of one last top-flight winners’ medal as he plans to plunder more prizes before hanging up his shooting boots. The 34-year-old is back with the club for a third spell this summer and would like to make his return signing the 10th and final move of his nomadic career. Miller flew out to Los Angeles on Saturday as Ally McCoist’s squad embarked on a four-game North American tour that will take the striker back to Canada, where he starred for Vancouver Whitecaps in a previous pit-stop. For Miller, though, there is no place like the football home that he regards as Ibrox. Yet this is no comfort zone for the former Scotland international, who stresses his ambitions stretch further than helping hoist Rangers into the Premiership next May. He would love to finish his playing days with his current employers and, feeling fresh into a new pre-season, has no interest in setting a time limit on that. So he still has a top-flight title challenge within his career compass and a desire to add to the three Scottish Premier League medals he won for Rangers back in stint two under Walter Smith. Miller’s motivation on the first step towards that goal is to contribute sufficiently to a successful promotion campaign against former club Hibernian and Hearts so that he earns the optional year on his new Rangers contract. He’ll then take aim at bigger prizes. ‘You never know because if they kick me out of the door at Rangers after a year, I’d imagine I’ll still want to play on,’ said Miller. ‘But it would be my intention to finish up here. I’ve got a year with a year option, depending on games. So it’s pretty much on me. ‘As long as I’m fit, playing and performing then, hopefully, it will turn into another year. It’s going to take a good season this year for us to get there and then obviously some serious competition next year to get back challenging. ‘But that’s the aim for me anyway — to be back at the top of Scottish football where we belong. To top things off would be to win the league back in the Premiership. ‘Rangers shouldn’t go in to any competition thinking of accepting second best, so that’s what we’ll be aiming for next year if we get there. ‘I hope to be around for that. I want to play as long as I can. I feel strong and fit right now. Of course, only time will tell if the performances follow but, if I do that, then there’s no reason why I can’t be around for a bit longer.’ The highlights of Miller’s 67 goals in 147 appearances so far for Rangers were in SPL and Champions League competition. The second tier of the Scottish game, though, is nothing new to him. As an Easter Road teenager, he played seven games either side of a loan spell at Stenhousemuir as Hibs bounced back at the first time of asking in 1998/99. Franck Sauzee, Russell Latapy, Paul Hartley and Mixu Paatelainen were among the heroes of Alex McLeish’s team that year as crowds flocked back to Leith to see a team canter to the First Division title. Not since that campaign has there been such a buzz about the division now known as the Championship. As Miller recalls the year that one of the traditional top-flight teams had to claw their way back up, he admits he can’t wait to sample the curiosities of a season like no other as three giants of the game collide in an unfamiliar environment. ‘I made my debut the season Hibs got relegated and made a few appearances while the team was promoted,’ he said. ‘It was a big season for me. They brought Latapy and Sauzee — that pair must have sold 5,000 tickets alone each week, given the standard of players they were. ‘Hibs had a fantastic season. To draw those players to the club was phenomenal and what they went on to do was amazing. ‘A winning team on the pitch can create a fantastic atmosphere within the club and the crowds were up. I can see big crowds and huge games in this division. It’s going to be a fantastic season and one I’m really looking forward to. ‘To come back to Rangers not in the top division is incredible in itself but for Hearts and Hibs to be there also is phenomenal. I never thought I’d be back playing against them in the Championship. ‘It will be a competitive league and a big challenge for us. But it’s a challenge I feel this squad probably needs after the last couple of years. ‘No disrespect to the opposition Rangers have been facing but I feel the challenges coming our way this year will really raise the standards of the players we’ve got.’ Miller and strike partner Kris Boyd were reunited last weekend as both players got off the mark on a two-game Highland tour. The next phase of pre-season will involve the long-haul journeys to which he was accustomed as a Vancouver Whitecap. After games on the west coast of the United States against Ventura County Fusion and Sacramento Republic FC, Miller returns to British Columbia for a game against Victoria Highlanders a week tomorrow, before the final game with Ottawa Fury on July 23. He called Vancouver home for two years after joining the Major League Soccer side from Cardiff City midway through their 2012 season. Under the Scottish coaching team of Martin Rennie and ex-Scotland international defender Paul Ritchie, Miller helped guide Whitecaps to a first-ever appearance in the MLS Cup play-offs that year. However, he admits there were facets of professional life in Canada that he found difficult to embrace. ‘If you are a guy like myself who if he doesn’t win the weekend is ruined, then that side is not there so much,’ explained Miller. ‘You see others who don’t have that. It’s not that they don’t care — far from it — but just not as much as I did. ‘In Scotland, you lose and you don’t want to go out. It’s straight home on a Saturday, a Chinese and the X Factor. Here we live, breathe and eat football. Across there, it’s not quite as life or death as it is for us. I found that mentality towards it a bit hard to get used to. ‘This is not any slight on anyone I played with. It’s just the way they are brought up. This has been my life since I was four. Ever since I could walk, I had a ball at my feet. ‘I’d argue till the cows come home that it doesn’t mean as much to them, whereas it’s a way of life for us. That’s what I’ve come back to at Rangers. ‘Vancouver is a beautiful place and there are amazing cities to live in or visit for players going to MLS. ‘There’s a more relaxed lifestyle, so I can understand why people want to do it. I’d just say it’s a very different attitude to football. ‘I was grateful for the opportunity as it was something I’d always talked about trying. I enjoyed some aspects but not others. I was fortunate that there were British guys as coaches, we had good people in charge. ‘Being so far from home and away from friends and family is always tough, though. ‘Towards the end, I had an eye on moving home somewhere — and Rangers was always that No 1 option.’ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2690178/Kenny-Miller-exclusive-I-want-finish-career-Rangers-win-one-Premiership-title-I-go.html

ROSS McCormack became the second-most expensive Scottish striker of all time yesterday, but was then accused of being disrespectful and aggressive to the owner of Leeds United. McCormack, 27, moved in an incredible £11m deal between two clubs in the English Championship, joining Fulham on a four-year deal with an option of a fifth. Steven Fletcher, who cost Sunderland £12m, is the only Scottish striker who has ever moved for more. McCormack could make his Fulham debut in a friendly at Motherwell on Saturday. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/mccormack-chided-after-11m-move-to-fulham.24710478

Looking forward to reading and reviewing this book in the coming few weeks: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Born-Under-Union-Flag-Bissett/dp/1910021121/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1404410171&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=Born+Under+a+Union+Flag%3A+Rangers%2C+Britain+and+Scottish+Independence I know Ally and Alan (and the other contributors) have worked hard on this so it should be an interesting read and useful accompaniment to the Referendum debate.

Saturday 12 July 2014 RANGERS fans are proposing to surround Celtic Park with a "wall of blue" during the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Supporters on social media websites have said that chants should be heard from inside the stadium as part of a demonstration, and that signs should be created that will be seen from the air, with pictures of the event to be beamed throughout the world. The proposal comes after HMRC lost its appeal in the so-called Big Tax Case this week. Fans have said the club was unfairly targeted by HMRC, setting off a chain of events which eventually saw Rangers liquidated and the club relegated to the fourth tier of Scottish football. It is proposed that on July 23, fans will carry banners with messages including "Justice For the Rangers Support" and "We Demand Answers". Chris Graham, a spokesman for the Union of Fans, said that while the plan had nothing to do with his organisation, he was not surprised to hear that supporters were looking to express their frustration. "Over the past four years, it's been open season on the club and its fans, with allegations of cheating," he said. "It doesn't surprise me that fans want to vent their anger." If fans wish to march as part of any demonstration, an application will have to be made to Glasgow City Council. However, they will not need permission for a static demonstration. A spokeswoman for Police Scotland said: "The event will be policed appropriately." http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/commonwealth-games/cwg-news/rangers-fans-plan-to-stage-protest-at-opening-ceremony.24735084

Did I hear the orange bloused presenter say Rangers were relegated and stripped of titles ? Could have misheard the last bit. Otherwise what a waste of time. Pity it hadn't been Forlanss or Bluedell or BH or some other articuLate bloke with a bit of expertise to argue the case. According to Haggerty Rangers didnaemwin the tax case, so they didn't . Fair enough. The HMRC appeal was for the most part refused. Slight difference but largely the same outcome. But, she says, there will still be money due to,the taxman so we'll all have to putmthatnin our pipes and smoke it. I reckon this dame has a future on Radio Bahgdad.

.....for £8.5m if not for the 'big tax case'. SHEPHERD held crunch talks with Charles Green two years ago but says the legal battle with the taxman scuppered any hopes of becoming a majority shareholder in the ailing club. FORMER Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd last night lifted the lid on his failed bid to take over Rangers. The renewable energy tycoon revealed he was close to securing an £8.5million buyout of the Ibrox outfit in 2012. He held crunch talks with Gers’ chief executive Charles Green at the exclusive Loch Lomond Golf Club. But Shepherd said the club’s long-running legal battle with the taxman scuppered any hopes of becoming a majority shareholder in the ailing club. He said he was wary the legal battle could affect the profitability of the club despite assurances the purchase of the “newco” would not be affected by the former club’s tax dealings. Shepherd, who has never before spoken about his attempt to buy Gers, said: “We looked into it but we unfortunately couldn’t make any headway with Charles Green. It was impossible to agree a deal at that time. “The tax legal proceedings were still ongoing. “We were assured the company was OK but it certainly didn’t do the deal any good. It was always in the background and it was always hanging above us.” He added: “Nobody really knew what decision was going to be made at the end of the day, whether the club was going to be hit by millions or walk away paying a small amount. “No one knew how you could keep the proceedings away from the main company even though we were assured that it was not going to be an issue.” It is understood that Shepherd, who made more than £50million from the sale of Newcastle United in June 2007, was also wary of making a deal with Green. A source close to the talks said: “Freddy didn’t want to get involved with Charles Green. He didn’t think he was the right man to be handling his life savings. “Freddy was due to become a majority shareholder in the club but it ultimately didn’t happen and the whole deal collapsed.” Sir David Murray accuses taxman of sticking knife into Ibrox club as HMRC lose appeal Shepherd’s revelations back up David Murray’s claims on Wednesday that the potential £46million tax bill at stake in the legal case had deterred potential buyers when Craig Whyte snapped up the club for just £1 in 2011. Even when the “newco” were established, the spectre of the case left Shepherd doubting the wisdom of getting involved. He said: “We didn’t think it was the right time because of the difficulties the club was going through. “Charles Green approached us and asked us if we were interested in buying such a huge club. “It’s a worldwide brand known all over the world. That’s why we thought we might be able to get involved in it. “With a club the size of Rangers, they should not have had the problems they’ve had. It’s a great club and hopefully the current owners can push it back to where it was.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-newcastle-chairman-freddy-shepherd-3841624

DEREK JOHNSTONE today demanded an apology from some of the most high-profile names in Scottish football in the wake of Rangers' victory over the taxman. He said: "A lot of people in the game should hang their heads in shame. Rangers are owed a huge apology." HM Revenue and Customs this week lost their appeal to the 'big tax case' verdict that ruled Rangers were not guilty of wrong-doing during Sir David Murray's time at the helm. The spectre of the case cast a huge cloud over the club before a disastrous chain of events unfolded that led to Ally McCoist's side dropping down to the Third Division two years ago. On Wednesday, the Union of Fans hit out at SFA chief Stewart Regan, Neil Doncaster of the SPFL, Stephen Thompson, Rod Petrie, Peter Lawwell and lawyer Rod McKenzie for their actions and comments during Rangers' troubles. DJ told SportTimes: "They all came to the conclusion that Rangers were guilty before anything was proven. "They all had their say and every one has been proven wrong. "The most famous two words that were spouted was 'sporting integrity'. Well, where is the sporting integrity in what has happened to Rangers? The club and the fans have been proven right. "I hope the club are recompensed for everything they have missed out on in the last two years." Despite being cleared for the second time in the courts, the ruling is a bitter-sweet one for Rangers fans and the club as Ally McCoist's side look to complete their journey back to the top flight this term. But Johnstone insists the actions of some should never be forgotten after Rangers and the Light Blue legions were vindicated once again. He said: "A lot of people in the media jumped on the bandwagon as well. It was all built on ifs, buts and maybes, and too many people lined up to stick the boot into Rangers. "It was absolute rubbish. I think there should be many, many apologies sent to Rangers in the next few days. "It is good that it has all come out and Rangers have been vindicated. That is fantastic. "But there are a lot of people who will have their heads buried in the sand and will be keeping a low profile in the next few weeks." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/rangers-legend-demands-apology-over-ebt-debacle-170696n.24723784

League Cup draw on Thursday Wednesday 9th July 2014 by SPFL The draw for the first round of the Scottish League Cup will be made at the Bet Butler Stadium, home of Dumbarton FC, on Thursday 10 July at 2pm. The 30 clubs who competed in the Scottish Championship, League 1 and League 2 in 2013/14 are involved in the draw, which is seeded and will be conducted by Danny Lennon and Kenny Shiels. Ties are due to be played on Saturday 2 August but the game involving Rangers FC will be rescheduled due to Glasgow 2014. Seeded clubs Dundee Hamilton Academical Falkirk Queen of the South Dumbarton Livingston Raith Rovers Alloa Athletic Cowdenbeath Morton Rangers Dunfermline Athletic Stranraer Ayr United Stenhousemuir Unseeded clubs Airdrieonians Forfar Athletic Brechin City East Fife Arbroath Peterhead Annan Athletic Stirling Albion Clyde Berwick Rangers Montrose Albion Rovers East Stirlingshire Elgin City Queen's Park Dates for ties 2014/15 First round Saturday 2 August, 2014 Second round Tuesday 26 August, 2014 Wednesday 27 August, 2014 Third round Tuesday 23 September, 2014 Wednesday 24 September, 2014 Quarter-finals Tuesday 28 October, 2014 Wednesday 29 October, 2014 Semi-finals Saturday 31 January, 2015 Sunday 1 February, 2015 Final Sunday 15 March, 2015 http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/league-cup-draw-on-thursday-78/

Rumours in Twitter land and elsewhere that case has been dismissed. Any info?

A look at Europe's "second best" youth academy and how we can learn from it http://rfcyouths.wordpress.com/2014/07/08/fk-partizan-belgrade-youth-school/