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I feel sorry for the guy. He may not have had to stay on as manager but i think he deserved a little loyalty from Hearts in some kind of coaching function.

"RST members will be aware that four members of the Trust Board met with the Club�s Chairman and Chief Executive yesterday. The main issues discussed were around the current and future relationships between the Club and the Trust. We are pleased to report that the meeting involved a full and frank discussion and exchange of views and concluded constructively. Trust representatives briefly outlined a number of issues which members had raised, and it was agreed that correspondence would be considered prior to any possible subsequent meeting, following which a full report back will be given to Trust members." http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=219&Itemid=43

Can they not come for Barry Ferguson!!!! IT IS A JOKE!!!!!!! Well sort of.

Unfinished business For this to work we need to get the scouts off their arses and if Walter Smith is the man to lead the way is also debatable, given his record in actually playing young players. Davie Weir? I rest my case.

What a joke Hearts have become under Romanov. Murray certainly has a lot of faults but i hope to god he does not sell the club to an idiot as Romanov. I don't know if Frail was equipped to be the permanent manager but he should be treated with respect by the club he has done his best for.

Walter Smith: Judge Kenny Miller on the present, not the past :eek: I hope that statement is just a red herring, if not then i see the same midfield slog we have had for the last 3 years.

If you look at Lafferty's CV it doesn't really read that good but i suppose the fact that Celtic and a few other teams were desperate to get him must show he does have something. It will be interesting to see in the pre-season how good he is.

WALTER SMITH has told Kris Boyd he wants him to stay at Rangers - and guaranteed the striker a major role in his new-look side. Boyd is being chased by Championship outfit Cardiff who are expected to increase the s2.5million offer they had rejected on Friday night. The Scotland star does not want to leave Ibrox despite the arrival of three new hitmen and feels he can help Gers win the SPL and make an impact in the Champions League next season. Boss Smith shares that view and held a heart-to-heart with the player to assure him he will be a key man. The Gers gaffer knows Boyd guarantees at least 25 goals a season and won't authorise his sale. A source close to Boyd told MailSport: "Kris thought he may have to leave but has been assured he is in the manager's plans and is delighted because quitting Rangers is the last thing he wants. "Kris can now focus on helping Rangers and improving his own game. "The past few days have been unsettling but he now knows the situation and is happy the gaffer wants him." It is more likely Daniel Cousin will be offloaded for around s2.5million and Jean-Claude Darcheville may also be heading for the exit. Rangers have spent more than s6m in the past week to land Kenny Miller, Andrius Velicka and Kyle Lafferty. But rather than being surplus to requirements, Boyd will be given the chance to partner Miller up front, particularly in home games. Darcheville's future is now in real doubt yet he insists he'll still be at Ibrox next term to fight for a starting slot. The Frenchman said: "The fact Rangers have signed three strikers doesn't worry me - it excites me. "If we can strengthen all positions we'll have a strong squad and at a big club you need competition for places. "I love Rangers and am settled here. I don't want to leave." Meanwhile, Gers have snubbed three SPL clubs who want Alan Gow - despite trying to flog him to Burnley as part of the Lafferty deal. Dundee United, Motherwell and Aberdeen have all made enquiries but Ibrox chiefs would rather sell the 25-year-old to England. Gow will return for preseason training on Thursday but his future lies away from Ibrox and several Championship clubs could move in. **From sunday mail**

" I hope he stays but i must admit having 9mill to spend on a play-maker would make me really think about letting him go.

AT the request of Rangers Football Club, Sir David Murray and Martin Bain met today with Lex Gold, Executive Chairman of the Scottish Premier League. A frank and constructive discussion took place, covering a wide range of issues and concerns. The purpose of this meeting was to 'clear the air' and this was achieved. Going forward, this exchange of views has now provided a platform for the future and will help ensure the avoidance of difficulties encountered last year. A nice wee cup of tea and a friendly chat..................go on guys,you tell them

Will keep these posts separate from the main thread as the thrust is linked directly with Gersnet... http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=649&Itemid=1 Tennis, golf and RFC supporter group splits boring you? Time for The_Insider to tell you of the latest info he's heard regarding any comings and goings at the club. It's all good, clean fun so please don't get too excited (or more likely depressed) at the gossip we bring you in this light-hearted look through the transfer window... As usual we'll start with the players Rangers are interested in. Despite downmarket red-tops claiming war-chests of Ã?£20million, the money currently available to Walter Smith is nowhere near that amount. As it stands, despite raking in around Ã?£30million last season (from Hutton/Europe) the manager only has Ã?£6million to play with ââ?¬â?? plus any income from players who do leave. Kenny Miller has already arrived ââ?¬â?? much to the disappointment of many Rangers fans ââ?¬â?? so around Ã?£1.6million has already been spent. Because of this arrival Peter LÃ?¸venkrands will now definitely not be coming back to Ibrox. Not sure that will cheer up those of us still depressed at the return of Miller but I donââ?¬â?¢t think weââ?¬â?¢d have coped with two average ex-players coming back in one summer. Moving on, as he was in January, Kyle Lafferty is still very much in Smithââ?¬â?¢s sights. Able to play wide or in attack, the big Northern Irish player may be beyond Rangersââ?¬â?¢ current budget though. Rangers have offered Ã?£2.2million but Burnley are holding out for around twice that fee ââ?¬â?? with Celtic and Wolves the other clubs seriously interested. Rangers are also now monitoring the Dundee Utd midfielder Morgaro Gomis. The former Montpellier and Chelsea youth player has risen up the ranks quickly from spells in English lower league football before being signed by the Tayside club from Cowdenbeath. Impressive displays in three games against Rangers means the club may put in a modest offer for the Frenchman whose contract runs out next summer. Utd are also interested in a couple of Rangers fringe players so a swap deal may please both parties. All the above are hardly rumours which will excite the support so the pressure will be on the club to move on as many fringe players as possible to maximise the budget available to the manager. Several players are available and, while the club donââ?¬â?¢t want to lose prize asset Carlos Cuellar, The_Insider has heard the Spaniard actually has a Ã?£10million release clause in his contract. The player himself doesnââ?¬â?¢t want to go but after the Hutton debacle, who knows what his future will hold. Allan McGregor is another asset whose future is in doubt. Rumours have been abound for many months now that the Scotland international goalkeeper is interested in a move to Spurs. Gersnetââ?¬â?¢s information is that Smith will allow the keeper to leave for around Ã?£8million although Spurs prefer a stepped deal from around Ã?£5million. Despite paper talk of interest from various English clubs in Kevin Thomson the club have not had any offers for the player. However, the lad is looking to sign a new, improved contract and who can blame him a considering he also did his skipperââ?¬â?¢s hard work for much of the campaign. Rangers would do well to instil a disciplinary clause into any negotiations and save themselves some money ahead of his inevitable bookings next season. The strongest link out we have heard in recent days is that Jean-Claude Darcheville will be on his way in the summer. A Ã?£1.5million fee has been agreed with an as yet unnamed continental side so it appears the likeable French strikerââ?¬â?¢s Rangers career has finally been hamstrung. Thatââ?¬â?¢s all for this week, so if you can bear the excitement and tension, keep an eye on the site (and forum) for all the latest transfer gossip concerning the Rangers. :box:

http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=648&Itemid=1 After last weekââ?¬â?¢s playing staff report cards, itââ?¬â?¢s time to move onto some analysis of the management team. Walter Smith is certainly the main man here so, while Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowall have played their part and deserve to share in any praise/criticism, Iââ?¬â?¢ll concentrate on Walter. First off, I think we have to give praise where praise is due. When Smith took over in January 2007, the club were struggling badly, hadnââ?¬â?¢t won a trophy in over 2 years and the dressing room appeared split under the disastrous Paul Le Guen reign. The new manager identified the immediate problems and via some important signings begun the task of re-building. When he took over Smith was always at pains to say this would take time. He wanted to make the team difficult to beat first and foremost then move forward from there. In the latter part of season 2006/07, he did that ââ?¬â?? beating Celtic twice ââ?¬â?? and generally giving the fans something to buy into last summer. Further investment in the playing squad to the tune of Ã?£12million meant the chairman was also buying into this second Smith tenure in a way he didnââ?¬â?¢t with Le Guen. The signings Smith did make were greeted with conservativeness by the bulk of the support. Thomson and Weir (who arrived in January), followed by Beasley, Darcheville, Cousin, Gow, Broadfoot, Carroll, Whittaker, McCulloch, Cuellar and Naismith were interesting signings but none really captured the imagination of the support. Nonetheless, a large number of players did come in and the squad did look an improved one ââ?¬â?? if lacking in an immediate sense of excitement. The season started well. Championsââ?¬â?¢ League Group Stage qualification secured meant the risky financial gamble on MIH revolving credit facilities had been a successful one. A strengthening title bid and a decent CL campaign resulting in European football after Xmas suggested the club was back on the right track. What would 2008 bring? The answer was a European run none of us would have dreamt of, followed by the kind of disappointment that means the fans are once again nursing their depression during the close season. The Scottish Cup and CIS Cup wins were scarce reward for a roller-coaster season. Is our depression warranted then or should we concentrate on the positives ââ?¬â?? difficult as it may be after such a mentally exhausting season? A bit of both is how Iââ?¬â?¢d like to approach Smithsââ?¬â?¢ rating. Letââ?¬â?¢s concentrate on the negatives first. Despite the obvious problems with fixture congestion in the latter part of the season, it was a crushing blow to not win the SPL title. To lose a ten point lead in little over 6 weeks is unacceptable and Walter Smith must share responsibility for that. His inconsistent approach to team selection, personnel rotation and an overly defensive playing style meant while we were securing fine results in Europe, at home we could barely beat teams home or away. Quite simply because we were so defensive in Europe, we couldnââ?¬â?¢t switch to a more attacking frame of mind domestically when required. This resulted in the dropping of points which was unsustainable if we were to win the league. Essentially, as we did in Europe, Smith tried to defend his SPL lead as opposed to develop it via a fresh approach in terms of players and system on return from our UEFA Cup duties. Add in doubtful loyalty to under-performing players such as Broadfoot, Ferguson, McCulloch and Cousin then we had a team that was stumbling from game to game as opposed to striding through them. The style of play was bland, uninspiring, easy for opposition teams to play against and generally not good enough. Walter Smith canââ?¬â?¢t take the sole blame for losing the title thereafter but neither can he hide from it. What was obvious as the season went on was the distinct lack of creativity quality in the side. Injuries to our creative players (Beasley, Naismith and Burke) meant our direct style would be the norm despite indications earlier in the season that we could play attractive attacking football. Some fans advocated the return of Buffel or the introduction of Gow, Furman or Fleck to bring back some flair to the side but the fleeting glimpse in the less important games was our lot. We paid with this absence of a creative edge with the loss of the title. Of course there are mitigating reasons for Smithââ?¬â?¢s reluctance to be flexible. The number of games was unprecedented and unexpected. The fringe players available were hardly match-sharp, reliable or experienced. Changing the system too often could result in even more problems. We were still getting some positive results so why drop players? All these points are valid and should be considered when one questions the manager. We can also add in all the positives from the campaign. There are manyââ?¬Â¦. Walter Smith takes a lot of criticism for not being the type of manager who bloods younger players. I think that last season blew that theory out of the water. While we may not be playing the real youth per se - guys all 24 or under have formed the bulk of the team for large parts of the season. Broadfoot, Hutton, Davis, Whittaker, Thomson, Burke, Adam, Beasley and Naismith all played important parts in the squad while Smith also introduced Furman and Fleck into the first team. Even players like Cuellar, Papac and McGregor still have their best years ahead of them. The future of the squad is bright and Iââ?¬â?¢m confident that if a player is good enough, theyââ?¬â?¢ll play no matter their age. The next positive is one that has been missed in certain peopleââ?¬â?¢s haste to give our team the ridiculous anti-football label. Sure, at times we were too defensive and deserved criticism for that. However, every football team has to play to its strengths and our strength last season was our defence by far. Losing Alan Hutton and Alan McGregor reduced that effectiveness but the manner in which we defended in Europe is worthy of great praise. For many years people have wanted Scottish teams to be more mature, measured and intelligent in their approach to European matches and thereââ?¬â?¢s no doubt we achieved that to a reasonable extent last season. Add in some of the impressive results we did have last season - wins against the French and German champions, wins against other first class European opposition, wins against Celtic and our domestic cup successes means Smith can deliver in key games. The platform is there. All in all, I think we have to be measured in our analysis of the manager last season. I certainly donââ?¬â?¢t blame anyone for being wary for the future. Many of us remember Smithââ?¬â?¢s stubbornness and loyalty causing friction in his first spell at the club. Smithââ?¬â?¢s sides will always be more workmanlike than glamorous. Will he really ask difficult questions of Sir David Murray to ensure the club move forward again? Can he recover from the loss of the SPL title? To conclude, Walter Smith has achieved what he set out to do 18 months ago. Rangers are a difficult side to beat and we are now winning things again. The next stage is now even more important. Smith must bring genuine quality back to the first XI. Yes, weââ?¬â?¢ll need a small turnover of squad players (hence Kenny Miller) but we still require 3 top level signings on top of that - another defender, a creative player (wide or central) and a striker. If Smith can provide those imperative additions to the team then perhaps some of the recent criticism of what was still a decent season will be tempered somewhat. If not, then I doubt many fans will tolerate another season of defensive route one play with no title at the end of it. Neither would I blame them. Thus, the jury remains out then. Itââ?¬â?¢s up to Walter to show us he is the man to take us forward. We should get behind him to ensure that does happen. Walter Smith - 7

RANGERS Football Club picked up a coveted accolade at a top awards bash in Glasgow last night for its educational work in the community. The Club's Study Support Centre, and various other educational initiatives organised via Rangers Football In the Community and The Rangers Charity Foundation, was recognised with a 'Big Tick' at the Scottish Business in the Community Awards ceremony. Dominic Sharkey (left) collects award for Rangers Study Support CentreThe Awards for Excellence, which are supported by the Scottish Government, are the most rigorous awards recognising responsible business practice in the UK today and winners have to demonstrate a strategic and long-term approach to creating partnerships which have a measurable and enduring impact. The ground breaking Rangers Study Support Centre was launched in November 2001 and has since inspired thousands of children from across the city, with over 140,000 separate visits being made to the Centre to date. The quarter of a million pound facility was the first of its kind in Scotland and uses football as a vehicle to stimulate and motivate young people to learn. It aims to develop literacy, numeracy and IT skills, as well as develop confidence, self-esteem and motivation. Staffed by qualified teachers, the Centre has developed a curricular designed to enhance and complement the young people's school work while also presenting them with new and exciting ways of learning. Through debating sessions, interviews with players and tutorials in football business and marketing, students are encouraged to think for themselves and enjoy an exciting, proactive learning experience outside the usual classroom environment. In addition to its educational focus, the Centre also runs a series of dance classes to promote health and fitness and offers workshops to tackle issues such as social equality, fair play and sectarianism. Study Support Centre Rangers Chief Executive Martin Bain commented, "Rangers Football Club is delighted to receive this coveted recognition for our work in the community and our investment in the education of future generations via our Study Support Centre and other educational initiatives. "Football has the power to capture the imagination of young people and by harnessing their interest and increasing motivation the Club and Glasgow City Council Education Services have really helped them reach their potential. "The results the Centre has achieved have been staggering and along with our other projects via the Rangers Charity Foundation and Football in the Community, have made a lasting impact on young people in Scotland." Samantha Barber, CEO of Scottish Business In the Community said: "Corporate responsibility - the willingness of companies to go beyond what is expected of them to contribute to building a sustainable Scotland - is powerful and can have a definite and positive impact on our society."

This could get interesting! Sir Awex has made his way over to Austria to see him. I wonder if he will make him sit in the stands

After the longest season I or anyone else can remember, I can honestly say that I am not yet missing the football one bit. Normally by about this time after the season ends I am already getting bored with no game to look forward to or just been to, but the run-in to the end of last season was exhausting. I suppose I would be feeling a bit better about things had the season ended better for us, and I am still bitter about losing to Zenit in the biggest Rangers game I have been to in my life but I am quite enjoying no games to go to at the moment. I also make sure I avoid the papers during the silly season when we are linked with so many different players who wont end up at Ibrox. I take the approach that only when I get the official text from Rangers that a player has signed do I believe it, and this keeps the blood from boiling at some of the rubbish that is written in a desperate attempt to continue to sell papers when there is nothing genuine to say. Having just joined the forum here today can I say hello hello to all the bears and bearettes on here and hope to have many good discussions about the Rangers in the future.

Read this today on the BBC site - Personally I'm not sure about him. Started off well but over the past few weeks he hasn't performed particularly well. What do you guys think?

As always, when Rangers are under attack, the critics play the sectarian card, although it is hard to see what part sectarianism played in any disorder last week. But some just can't resist putting Rangers' Protestant traditions in the firing line, their fans' so-called bigotry and the songs they sing are highlighted, as if a different mindset would induce instant sobriety and a more placid response to a frustrating situation. Big-screens have blanked on numerous occasions in the past, most noteably during the screening of World Cup games in various towns in England, and the reaction of those at the venues was almost identical to that of the Rangers fans in Piccadilly Gardens last Wednesday night. Yobs act as yobs because they are yobs, not because they support a certain football team or claim allegiance to any particular religion. If Manchester had occurred twenty years ago, Rangers' enemies would have focused on the club's refusal to sign Catholic players, placed responsibility for the trouble at the door of sectarianism and called on the club to open its doors to all. In 1989 former Celtic favourite Mo Johnston was signed amidst much controversy and the Ibrox dressing-room has long since become a multi-cultural workplace. Rangers have had a Catholic captain, a Catholic chief executive and a Catholic manager (although Paul Le Guen's ill-fated time in charge probably did more for anti-Catholicism than it did for integration!) but sectarianism is still the stick used to beat Rangers. "The signing of Johnston was a very significant point in how our club was portrayed," Steven Smith pointed out. "Rangers had done what so many had been calling out for them to do, the club had deprived the critics of their ace card, yet the attacks have continued incessantly and no less vociferously, perhaps even more so. The motives of our club's critics have been exposed as a sham." The harsh facts of life are that, regardless of the religious make-up of the team, Rangers will remain a Protestant club, just as Celtic will continue to be the flagship for the Catholic population despite the prominence of so many Protestants in their history, because the bulk of the fanbase comes from one community. This may change with the passing of time but, when kids are separated at the impressionable age of five and educated differently, the clever money will always be on the great divide being maintained. Any suggestion that a more ecumenical outlook from Rangers fans would have led to events unfolding differently in Manchester last week is, at best, misguided�or more probably and more sinisterly, further evidence of an ongoing demonization of Rangers and their supporters. As the journey homewards continued with growing exasperation from the within the car, the news that Manchester City Council wouldn't be screening the Champions League showdown at Piccadilly Gardens was nevertheless welcomed from the back seat. "The screens probably wouldn't work anyway, trouble would kick-off�and they'd blame it all on us!" Greater Manchester Police's subsequent denial of a victory parade for United's Champions League winners is confirmation, if ever it was needed, that the force just can't handle big crowds. The F.A. would do well to minimize Manchester's inclusion in any future bid to bring a major football occasion to England.

Im quite confused how this works. Roman owns Chelsea correct? Well if Chelsea has to pay the money back to Roman then wont the money come from the owner - Roman?? If not, then Chelsea are going to make Leeds look like a success!! If Chelsea dont win the CL tomorrow then it wouldnt surprise me if Roman walked.

Firstly the game itself. I thought we played reasonably well. First half we sat a bit too deep as usual and Zenit struggled to break us down. As such, they seemed to sit back a wee bit in the second half, allowed us more space and possession which then enabled them to play their effective attacking game. Essentially the match came down to two mistakes. Our dreadful throw in which the Russians capitalised from. And Nacho Novo/Lee McCulloch getting in each other's way and missing the game's best chance. Who knows what would have happened if we'd taken that? It wasn't to be though but we can hold our heads high and be proud that we managed to get so far and were just a ba' hair away from getting a result. Now onto the rest of the day: 1. There is no excuse for the behaviour of whatever fans caused the trouble at Piccadilly Gdns. I seen Rangers fans and Russian fans involved and these people should disgust any reasonable human being. 2. Quite clearly the local authorities could not cope with the incredible numbers of fans who travelled. Not sure what the final numbers were (it's impossible to say IMO) but there were too many fans in too few areas. I spent most of my pre-match time in Portland Street and next to the Piccadilly fanzone. It was all good natured fun but I was worried that hours and hours of drinking, coupled with the sun and minimal police presence could result in issues later. Trouble was inevitable IMO. 3. I was down with 4 mates - 3 of us who went to the game and one without a ticket who stayed behind to try and get into the fanzone to watch. He couldn't get in and quickly saw the screens were buggered. Unfortunately this seemed to cause problems with people throwing objects. My mate tried to tell a copper but the police sergeant was more interested in chatting up his female colleague. My mate then watched the game in Yates Bar and didn't see any trouble there - a hundred yards or so from the Gardens. 4. After the game we walked back towards the Gardens to meet my mate. On the way, around 5 or 6 police vans sped past us (they were based in a retail park - 60 second drive from the Gardens) so we knew there was a possibility of trouble. We kept walking though as we couldn't get through on the phone to our friend (the networks were problematic all day - still getting texts now!). Around 100 yards from the Gardens (CoM side) we could see the police vans halted but nothing seemed to be happening. We got a bit closer and then we could see around 100 fans challenging the police vehicles. We seen a few bottles being thrown by people with Rangers tops on and by people with Zenit flags. But the trouble was NOT that bad. 5. At this point one of the van doors opened and around 10-15 riot police got out. I thought thank goodness, they'll challenge these idiots and stop the problem. Bizarrely (and was actually very funny watching from the side of the street) they ran from one of the vans, across to another and got in. The vans then reversed, put their lights on and drove away - reappearing seconds later from another side street. It was surreal. Best way to describe the police response would be to compare it with a faulty GTA game engine. No organisation, little aims and crazy driving. 6. As this was happening, obviously we were a bit worried for our own safety so we doubled back 20 yards and walked round the block. By the time we got back round to the place where the trouble had been (2-3mins later) the trouble had ended (or moved). We found our mate and moved on to try and get the train back to Widnes (or elsewhere) since the city centre was still heaving and some pubs had closed. 7. We walked down to the Edwards train station to find all the trains had been cancelled. Replacement buses were to be used instead. Unfortunately, this was not suitable given the numbers of people still needing transport. Thousands of people were at the station but only 4 buses were put on in the 2 hours we stood there waiting for transport. One to Blackpool, one to Warrington, one to Liverpool and one which the fella said 'would go everywhere but take hours'. We decided to start walking out the city centre - still packed full of people trying to get transport home - and get a taxi asap. Eventually (and luckily) we managed to get one around 2 miles out and were over-charged by around �£30 for the privilege. 8. All in all, we still had a great, great time. Our hosts were very hospitable and the craic between the Russians, Rangers and Mancunians generally excellent. Unfortunately, there was just far too many people and trouble was inevitable. I honestly think it would have happened with any club if they took this sheer number of fans to such a game. Law of averages suggests neds, yobs, hooligans and whatever would have had their small time of day and I'm just gutted it's the huge majority of decent, law-abiding Rangers fans (and Scottish people) who have their name tarnished by a small number of mindless idiots. Fortunately, these idiots were minimal and hopefully everyone concerned can learn then lessons for future events.

Now I'm not into conspiracy theories but does in not seem strange that Motherwell "rested" three first choice players against Celtic, with the kicker being, that all three were former Rangers youth players: Ross McCormack, Stephen Hughs and Graeme Smith. Do you not think that these three would be far more motivated to give Celtic a bloody nose than most players and therefore if he was going to "rest" anyone should he not have chosen three others and given the three former gers, tonight off instead? It all seems a bit too coincidental to me from a man who supports Celtic and has a future eye on the manager's job at CP... The fact that the Celtic minded are into conspiracies only adds to the likelihood that they actually participate in them...

"Everyone in Scotland has made it quite clear they won't do anything for Rangers. We just have to do the best we can. "They all made it perfectly clear there is no willingness on anybody's part to give us anything. The extension to the league they've agreed on is purely because it's physically impossible to fit the games in so they weren't doing anybody a favour by extending the season. They just had to do it. "There has been no willingness at all to help Rangers, so they're not going to help us now, are they? "If there was going to be an opportunity to help they could have done it by now. It's been a few days since we reached the Final. "The Russian league made their intentions quite clear from the start. In Scotland we've had a couple of days, we've not heard from anybody, so we play. "I think the SPL could have helped us. I think they could help any Scottish team in this situation." Reading Walter's quote above drives home to this bear how true that is,'' No-one likes us''. Trying to read it without blue tinted specs here, we have a man / manager who is well respected throughout the football world,well certainly UK,who is never anything but honest,fair and can take defeat and criticism with dignity,telling IMO the honest truth about the feelings of Scotland and the other teams in the SPL towards Rangers FC. It really makes me sick to the bottom of my stomach how corrupt and bias everyone is towards us,not sour grapes by the way. The only way we can stick two fingers up at every one is to do the unthinkable QUADRUPLE,I so dearly want this to happen for that reason alone,so we can say we did this despite everybody trying their best to make sure we don't win anything. I just hope Rangers FC remember this in future and when they are asked to help out with the moving of fixtures or postponements the say SHOVE IT RIGHT UP YOUR ARSES. Remember...........WATP.

While I believe we will win the SPL and Scottish cup,we now have a real chance to win the UEFA Cup as well.However if I had to choose between the SPL or the UEFA Cup,I honestly think I would take the UEFA cup now that we are in the final,we can win the SPL anytime in the future but it may be a long time before we get into a european cup final again.

http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk As you will see, the Rangers Supporters Trust have implemented a rebranding initiative to coincide with some very exciting times for the Trust. Over the years the RST have been misconstrued and many people have been unsure of who we are, what we are and our intentions. The new branding clearly evokes our intentions - The heart of the club. We have Rangers at heart first and foremost. We love Rangers Football Club and we are passionate about the future of the club. We know that the Rangers fans like ourselves are the lifeblood of the club and the RST is the Heart ensuring the fans have a strong say in Rangers Football Club. Together, we are the people, and together we can give the club a healthier future. The Rangers Supporters Trust - The Heart of the Club

From Sporting Life The Clydesdale Bank Premier League season will be extended by four days to May 22 if Rangers reach the UEFA Cup final. The Scottish Premier League have revealed two provisional fixture lists, one which will be implemented if Rangers beat Fiorentina in their European semi-final, and the other for if they are beaten by the Italians. Both fixture lists include a run of two SPL games in three days for Rangers, who would have to play the Scottish Cup final two days after their final league game if their European run continues. If they miss out on the UEFA Cup final, which takes place on May 14 in Manchester, Rangers must play St Mirren on May 13 and May 15. That would allow the season to end on schedule, on May 18. However should Rangers overcome Fiorentina those dates would become unsuitable. Walter Smith's side would instead face Motherwell on May 17, rather than travel to Aberdeen the following day, which was due to be their final game of the campaign according to the original fixture list. They would then play St Mirren on Tuesday, May 20, and face Aberdeen on Thursday, May 22 - two days before their Scottish Cup final date with Queen of the South. The other matches involving top-six sides - Dundee United v Celtic and Hibernian v Motherwell - would also be played on May 22 to ensure the season finishes for each club at the same time. Because Fir Park would be required on May 17 if Rangers reach the Manchester final, Gretna's final match would have to be moved and a date of May 8 has been pencilled in by SPL chiefs. Rangers' outstanding games against St Mirren and Motherwell presented the SPL with their problem. SPL secretary Iain Blair said: "It is well documented that this has been an exceptionally challenging season in terms of fixturing. "The combination of a number of diverse circumstances has produced unparalleled scheduling problems. "The publication of these two models now gives our clubs, their fans and our broadcasting and other partners early notice of when these games might be played. "Our aim throughout has been to protect the integrity of our competition, balance the interests of our member clubs and have regard to player welfare and fixturing precedent. The models we have prepared seek to discharge this aim. "Both models reflect the fixturing complications the SPL has faced this season. "The first model will be adopted if Rangers FC fail to beat Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup semi-finals. "The second model exceptionally provides a modest extension to the season to enable Rangers to represent the SPL and all of Scottish football in the UEFA Cup final. "It reflects the fact that the outstanding fixtures cannot reasonably be played in the available time and will involve some disruption for a number of our clubs. "This model will involve moving the last round of top-six games to Thursday May 22. "It is clear that future requests for changes to our scheduled fixture list will have to be compelling before approval is given." Games have been postponed for varying reasons this season, with four put back to later dates following the death of Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell in December. Eight have been postponed due to waterlogged pitches; the two games involving Rangers and Celtic ahead of Scotland's crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy were called off after a Scottish FA request; and Rangers succeeded in a request to have their SPL game against Gretna postponed in December to afford them extra preparation time for their Champions League game against Lyon. ===================================== SO if we make the UEFA final we have to play that Final on May 14, followed by a game on May 17 and May 20, May 22 in the league and then the SC Final on May 24 - Gee, thanks SPL. That is a ridiculous run of games and the sole reason it seems they are doing it is such that the SC Final is the last game in the calendar - move it back a week or two. Even if we don't make the UEFA final we are being asked to play May 13, 15 and 18 to close out the season - again, 3 games in 5 days and the Tims think everyone is trying to help US win the league - aye, right !! Why not stretch the games at least a bit - May 13, May 17, May 20 - then the SC final on May 24 ? If this was the Tims being faced with the same fixture back-log and being asked to play 5 games in 10 days there would be outrage.

From todays Record. Davis inches closer to signing for Rangers Apr 19 2008 Chris Roberts Scottish Cup Special... FULHAM boss Roy Hodgson is willing to accept a cut-price s3million bid from Rangers for loan star Steve Davis in the summer. Hodgson sees no future for the Northern Ireland midfielder at Craven Cottage and would be willing to let him leave for s1m less than the fee paid to Aston Villa in July 2007. That is good news for the Ibrox money men and boss Walter Smith, who has made him his No.1 signing target. The only problem for Rangers would be if Fulham are relegated to the Championship and sack their manager. A new boss, with John Collins tipped to take over, might want to recall Davis and block his full-time move to Scotland.