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There has been much speculation this season with a few EPL clubs supposedly jossling for the signatures of our top performers. Hutton was pushed out the door at gun point after spurs gave our chairman an offer he couldnt (or more to the point wouldnt) refuse and if you listen to the rumours there will be a few more tempting bids comming his way. So given the success of the new team this season can we expect walter to put his foot down and demand that his squad remain intact? should we the fans demand consistency through the squad in order to maintain a standard that will see us compete and challenge in every competition as we have this year? We have had a great season so far. All done will a squad built in a short space of time and you have to give credit to Walter and his staff for their efforts. But it will be all for nothing if we cant build on our successes. we have to retain the quality that we have in order to maintain any level of consistency and success in the future. If we dont we will end up stumbling from season to season hoping for the best. Walter has had a fantastic return on his buys this season. Every player that has featured in the squad this season has played his part, quite exceptional given the amount of players comming through the door, that wont happen every season though. And If we go down the road of selling the likes of Cuellar and Mcgregor everytime an EPL club flashes it check book we are doomed. We have to hold on to the likes of these players if we are to have any foundation for the new season . If we dont then we only have to look across the city at our inbred neighbours to see what happens if you neglect your squad and look after your bank balance instead.

Kris Boyd insists the time is not right leave to leave Rangers, despite reported interest from Manchester City. The Rangers striker has cut a frustrated figure for much of the present campaign, as Gers boss Walter Smith has often elected to start with his top goalscorer on the bench. Boyd has hit a remarkable 24 goals this season, despite limited playing time, yet still he remains a player that divides opinion like few others. The Scotland international could well point to 50 goals from 54 league starts for Rangers - at Kilmarnock he netted 64 in 106 starts - but his critics harbour resentment at his lack of work-rate outside of the box. It was suggested in the weekend papers that Boyd could be a target for City in the summer, but the hit-man is confident he still has a future at Ibrox. Happy for now "It's not come to that stage for me, and I don't think it's come to that stage for Rangers either," he told Sky Sports News, when asked about a possible departure. "At the end of the day if the gaffer didn't want me then he'd come and tell me that it's time to find another club." Boyd accepts there are areas of his game that could be improved but of the opinion that goals win matches, he believes he has plenty to offer as Rangers chase a quadruple. "I don't know, at the end of the day I look at what I do inside the box - and it's good enough to win games," when quizzed on whether he needs to improve his overall game. "Obviously I'd like to add the other bits to my game but (Iain) Durrant used to say to annoy a couple of the lads at Killie, 'you get the bricks and he'll lay them'. "Even the best in the world can add to their game and I'm like that too. But first I need to get back on the pitch, working hard in training. "You need games to get really sharp, to improve the different aspects of your game that people go on about." Taken from SKy Sports website. Looks like he wants to stay and fight for his place. Good man!

I'll give Rangers first chance to sign me, says loan star Steve Davis Apr 16 2008 By Colin Duncan RANGERS' hopes of making Steve Davis' switch from Fulham permanent were last night given a major boost. The midfielder revealed he will give the SPL leaders first crack at signing him. The Ulsterman has been a revelation at Ibrox since arriving from Craven Cottage on loan during the January window and has played an integral part in Rangers' push for four trophies this season. Now Ibrox boss Walter Smith has made keeping him his No.1 priority this summer. The 23-year-old is receptive to the idea of furthering his career north of the border if Fulham decide to let him go. But with Middlesbrough, Everton, Blackburn and Newcastle all chasing the �£4million-rated star Rangers might struggle to match the financial package on offer in the Premiership. Davis said: "The most important thing for me is to see this season through first. We are still involved in three competitions at the moment and that's what I need to focus on. "When the season finishes I will go away, have a break and hopefully sort out my future after that. What I can say is that I will listen to Rangers first. If they are an option then it's something I will consider. "I grew up a Rangers fan and I have enjoyed my time here. It has been good for everyone and the fact we're in the semi-final of the UEFA Cup proves we are a massive club. "The manager is well respected and it was good to read that he wants to keep me. I have enjoyed working with him. "I haven't really thought about things and I suppose a lot will depend on what happens with Fulham." Instead of fighting a relegation battle with the Londoners, Davis now finds himself closing in on four trophies with his boyhood heroes. Yet, as he gears up for his second Old Firm clash the Northern Irishman admits he was surprised Roy Hodgson allowed him to move north. He said: "I don't know why Fulham let me go. Before I came here I'd started almost every league game but then there was a change in manager. I was out of the team and when I heard of Rangers' interest I went to see the new boss. "I didn't think he would agree to the move but he did and I'm so glad I came. I've been able to add to the quality that was already here and things have worked out well." Victory at Parkhead tonight would leave Celtic needing a miracle to overhaul Rangers in the title race and while Davis is confident he knows it will take another Herculean display. He added: "We had big performance against Sporting last week, probably the best I've been involved in since I came here. "We showed we are a good footballing side and there's no doubt we've taken a lot of confidence from that performance. But it will take a similar showing against Celtic to get anything at Parkhead. "Things have gone well for me since I came to Ibrox but there's a lot of football to be played and it's now a case of seeing it through. "This will be my first experience of Parkhead but I'm looking forward to it. "There's no doubt this game is huge just because of what is at stake. It's vital we get a result. "A draw would suit us more than Celtic but you don't go into any game looking to draw. We'll be going there looking to win." GET THE LAD SIGNED WALTER

Smith Keen To Keep Davis WALTER SMITH has admitted that he would very keen to sing Steven Davis on a permanent deal. The Nothern Ireland international has been a key player in the second half of the season with terrific performances in midfield since joining on loan from Fuilham. Given that the Craven Cottage side is threatened with relegation, Davis may see his long-term future elsewhere. Smith hopes that place is Ibrox. Smith said: "I haven't really spoken with Steven but I need to. His situation is different from Christian Dailly's because he was released by West Ham and free to sign for us whereas Steve is on loan. He will revert back to his club at the end of the season. "There is an option to make the deal permanent but that doesn't count for much. A lot of other clubs will be interested in him. "We would like to keep him but that might be a little more awkward than it looks."

Seems they have taken the bigot onto the coaching staff !! http://www.sportinglife.com/football/scottishpremier/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/08/04/03/SOCCER_Celtic.html Neil Lennon jumped at the chance to return to Celtic and admitted it was a "phenomenal" feeling to be back with the club he loves. The former Hoops captain accepted an invitation from manager Gordon Strachan to join his coaching staff, and Lennon will be on the frontline from the start in his second spell in Glasgow. His place among the coaches on the bench for Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Motherwell has been confirmed. The man with the enormous passion for the Parkhead outfit, with whom he won five SPL titles until leaving for a fresh challenge in England last summer, has now kicked his last ball in competitive football. The combative midfielder had been playing with Wycombe, bossed by fellow Hoops legend Paul Lambert, in League Two. But there was no stopping Lennon from heading north when the offer to rejoin Celtic came in. The 36-year-old said: "I am overwhelmed at being offered this chance to return to Celtic, a place where everyone knows my heart lies. "Obviously, it was a tremendous honour to play for Celtic and to captain the club. Returning to Celtic and being part of the coaching set-up is simply phenomenal. "I would like to thank Gordon for this opportunity and I look forward to doing all I can to play my part in achieving further success for the club." The former Northern Ireland international joins a coaching staff which includes assistant boss Garry Pendrey and first-team coach Tommy Burns. Burns is currently battling cancer for the second time but still coaches at the club and will continue to do so when his treatment programme allows. Lennon arrives without a coaching pedigree but his leadership and motivational qualities are in no doubt. He first joined Celtic from Leicester in 2000 for �£5.5million, joining former Foxes boss Martin O'Neill in Glasgow. Five years later he was appointed captain by Strachan in 2005, one of the former Southampton manager's first tasks after taking over from O'Neill. Lennon led Celtic to back-to-back championships, and to the last 16 of the Champions League last season, before leaving to join Nottingham Forest, who he left in January. In all, he won five SPL titles, four Scottish Cups and two League Cups with Celtic. As well as the Champions League achievement, Lennon also played a key role in Celtic reaching the 2003 UEFA Cup final. He has no doubt whatsoever the time is right to steer his career towards a potential future in management, and leaving behind his playing career became an easy decision. Lennon said: "It was an opportunity I couldn't refuse. Chances like this only come around once in a lifetime and I'm flattered to have been given the role." Strachan's side trail Rangers by six points in the SPL, and their Old Firm rivals are poised to unseat them as Scottish champions barring a late-season twist in the title race. Second-best was never enough for Lennon, and Strachan is relishing the return of his former skipper, and said: "Neil is someone who I am proud to have worked with previously and is a man who I have great respect for. "Neil has made a huge contribution to Celtic over a number of years and has been a major part of the club's success in recent times. "We were disappointed to lose Neil and he is someone who I was very keen to have back at the club. "With his qualities, Neil will be a very valuable addition to our (coaching) team and we are very much looking forward to working with him."

http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=187&Itemid=1 This coming Saturday sees the Trust's Annual Dinner to celebrate 5 great years of the RST. Almost all tickets are sold for the event but there are a few more remaining so the following news may help you decide on whether to come long. Top UK Comedians Geoff Boyz and Rod Woodward will be our main speakers along with the hilarious Bill Copland who shall be our MC for the evening. As usual with a Trust Dinner a host of ex-Rangers players are hoping to attend and we will be having a Q&A session with many of them. We're informed you yesterday that Johnny Hubbard, Billy Simpson, John MacDonald, Tam Forsyth and, 'the Goalie' himself, Andy Goram will be attending. Another special guest on the evening will be the inspirational John Smeaton who we're sure will need no introduction! We are now also delighted to confirm that Artur Numan will be attending with under 19 players Steven Kinniburgh and Ross Harvey who will be bringing along the trophies that the young lads won last season. These lads represent the exciting future ahead of the club and the Trust who are working very closely with Rangers Youth. Finally, the last (but not least) special guest will be Broxi-Bear who will be in charge of the recently won League Cup trophy which is hopefully the first of four trophies this season! An ideal photo opportunity! For more information regarding the event and how members can buy tickets please click here. Be sure to purchase your tickets quickly as late demand is sure to be very high. The Trust are also delighted to announce that we have negotiated a discounted room rate with the Crowne Plaza Hotel. For only �£89 one can book a twin/double room with B&B included for two adults. Simply quote the RST when booking! Many thanks for your continued support.

Croatia striker claims Gers interest Croatia striker Ivan Klasnic revealed after the draw with Scotland at Hampden Park that Rangers have made an approach to sign him. The 28-year-old came on as a substitue in the friendly on Wednesday night and could make a permanent return to Glasgow in the summer. Klansic has recovered after having to undergo a kidney transplant 11 months ago but so far German giants Werder Bremen have yet to offer him a new deal, meaning he can move for free this summer. Klasnic revealed former Rangers and Croatia striker Dado Prso has been advising him on life in Glasgow and that there has been interest from across the city from Celtic. He told the Evening Times: "I have had contact from a few big teams. Both of the Glasgow clubs, and Rangers have been very keen. "Of course I know all about the club after Rangers played Bremen a few weeks ago in the Uefa Cup, although I didn't play in those games because I was injured. "Dado has spoken to me many times about Rangers and I know what a fantastic club it is - he has been here with us this week at the hotel and you can see how much he loves Scotland. "It's a great club with an excellent stadium and amazing fans. "I will see what happens with my future, as there has also been contact with me from German clubs. "Bremen have said they will talk to me about my future and a new contract, but there has been nothing so far." - Was a fine player a couple of years back but not really sure how his whole injury worries have effected him (interestingly, he underwent 2 kidney transplants, one from each parent). But if he can get back to the form he was in a while back, especially when he's available for free, I'd take him in a second.

Calm Before The Storm So in Rangers terms, we have a quiet week ahead. After a hard fought victory over Hibernian, we have a weeks break (thanks to a meaningless and badly timed international friendly) before setting our sights on the small matter of the 2nd Old Firm game of the season. Once again, we did just enough to secure the three points against Hibs on Saturday and whilst the performance wasnââ?¬â?¢t entirely convincing, we are at the stage of the season where results are far more important than performances. JCD started the ball rolling with a fantastic finish from a tight angle (what a pass from Papac) and then Nacho Novo came off the bench to secure the points with a well taken goal of his own. As I said above, next up is our second encounter of the season with the hooped horrors from the East End. It should be the third and penultimate Old Firm game of the season, but we now face the prospect of three Old Firm games in quick succession and the league title is the only avenue now open to our bitter rivals as a source of silverware (no laughing at the back). We are still in pole position in the race for the SPL leading by 3 points and having a game in hand. The timing of our next league games may go a long way to deciding the destiny of the league title, so a victory on Saturday takes extra significance. As we showed in the previous encounter at Ibrox, we have the squad and the mentality to defeat the hooped horrors and go into the game with confidence and expectancy. Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s team selection will also be crucial as I firmly believe that if we attack Celtc from the start, take our chances and nullify them we will emerge victorious. Given that, I would start with the 11 below and will try to explain my thinking in their selection : Alan McGregor ââ?¬â?? A no-brainer ââ?¬â?? Scotland and Rangers best keeper at the moment. Kirk Broadfoot ââ?¬â?? has silenced his critics with some very decent and consistent performances. David Weir ââ?¬â?? All the experience in the world and appears to have put a shaky spell behind him. Carlos Cuellar ââ?¬â?? Simply outstanding ââ?¬â?? Player of the year by a country mile. Sasa Papac ââ?¬â?? Unspectacular, but very consistent in a position that is not his own Christian Dailly ââ?¬â?? A perfect guard for the back four and has plenty of experience. Also a threat from set-pieces. Stevie Davis ââ?¬â?? Been a great loan signing and will be busting a gut to be unleashed against the HHââ?¬â?¢s. Barry Ferguson ââ?¬â?? on his day the best player in Scotland by a country mile. Need his leadership qualities, drive and determination to shine on Saturday. Nacho Novo ââ?¬â?? His pace, trickery and directness will trouble Celtcs back line ââ?¬â?? has a fantastic knack of scoring in Old Firm games. JCD ââ?¬â?? Again, his pace and power will upset the Celtc defence and he knows where the goals are Now, the wide left position is the hardest to chose. In my opinion we have three options and all three have their own merits for starting the game : Lee McCulloch ââ?¬â?? his strength and power will upset their back line ââ?¬â?? dangerous from set-pieces and gives 110% Charlie Adam ââ?¬â?? not everyoneââ?¬â?¢s cup of tea, but undoubtedly our best deliverer of set-pieces. An area that can win you Old Firm games Stevie Naismyth ââ?¬â?? Pace and trickery would unsettle their defence So there you have it, but no matter what team WS picks (I can see him going along the same lines as the Bremen game at Ibrox where heââ?¬â?¢ll pick an 11 not to get beaten first and foremost), we as fans must get right behind them from the first minute to the last. As a wee prologue, here is a video of the day we turned Parkhead into a sea of Red, White & Blue - The Big Announcement Was out in Glasgow after the Hibs game on Saturday and was inundated with texts telling me that there was a ââ?¬Ë?huge announcementââ?¬â?¢ imminent from Ibrox. I then starting ââ?¬Ë?serial textingââ?¬â?¢ a few folks (sorry Del!!!!) asking if they knew anything about this announcement. As the night progressed, it appeared that this announcement had captured the imagination of the assembled Glaswegians as it the topic of conversation in most drinking establishments that we visited. I have to say that some were more interested that others though! Well, imagine my disappointment when I awoke (rather hung over I may add) to a text on Sunday morning from Rangers telling me that my season ticket would not be increased next season and that Rangers were giving away free tickets to the Sporting away leg. Now, donââ?¬â?¢t get me wrong, both are significant gestures by the club (I just hope that the hardy lot that follow follow Rangers all over Europe get first dibs at the Sporting tickets ââ?¬â?? I am not sure this will happen as 2 guys from our RSC who have 8 points with the TC were refused tickets for Bremen but guys with two points were successful.). The most significant part of the season ticket announcement is the decrease in prices for children. This is a wonderful gesture by the club as the children that go to games now (for as little as Ã?£7 per game as of next season) are the future of the club. For once, Rangers have actually gotten this correct. Anyway, I actually believed for one drunken moment that I would wake up on Sunday morning to the announcement that SDM had sold Rangers to someone who actually cares about us and who would invest in the club with a long-term goal. It was a brief and fleeting moment, but nice whilst it lasted. At least it wasnââ?¬â?¢t more ââ?¬Ë?moonbeamsââ?¬â?¢Ã¢â?¬Â¦.. The Dublin Loyal For every decision that our board gets right, they get another 10 wrong. One such example was the banning of the Dublin Loyal banner from Ibrox. I have just reading on another forum that the Dublin Loyal met with the club today regarding the atrocious decision to ban their banner. Sadly, but predictably, Rangers are standing by their initial decision to ban this banner. However, the guys from The Dublin Loyal have stated that the campaign to have this ridiculous ban overturned will continue and will distribute leaflets at the game on Saturday. I have said this for over 5 years, I really despair at the idiots that are currently running our club ââ?¬â?? as Frankie and the RST state, it is time we, the fans get representation on the board to ensure decisions like the above are rectified in a quick and efficient manner. Come on Rangers, overturn this decision now. Cammy F ââ?¬â?? Support The Dublin Loyal - We Are The Peopleââ?¬Â¦.

If Gretna go into administration on Monday and fail to finish the season our lead will be cut to only one point. Lets hope the SPL save them. A warning to other businessmen who try to live the dream.

Hutton will just have to keep him out of the team again! Dont like Bardsleys attitude but he is a better option than McNaughton and Alexander. However Hutton has this position his own for the next 10 years and Whittaker is fine back up.

There have been speculations, wishes, questions and rumours about Filip Sebo�´s football future. We are exclusively bringing you the only official version of the situation. "I am enjoying life in France. I have adapted well and work hard every day," said the player just before he boarded the plane to Metz, where his current team will face the home team on Saturday. "I take things as they come, day by day. Right now I am on a one-year loan in Valenciennes. We will see where I will be next season," the player said for filipsebo.com. He added: "Ibrox is very, very deep in my heart, especially people in Scotland, the fans. They mean so much to me. I want to thank every single one of them who supported me. I also want to thank the critics, they helped me improve and become stronger after my first season in Scotland. That is all I want to say now." At the end of the conversation with Filip, he mentioned the following: "You can contact my media manager Michal Matejovic regarding this topic and he will update you on the situation as we communicate every day. I am on a one-year loan in France and the season ends in May. It remains to be seen what happens after." It appears to be a matter of time in Filip�´s case. We asked his personal media manager Michal Matejovic, whether or not his client will return to Ibrox and what the situation is around this issue: "Fila" has been receiving hundreds of e-mails from people in Scotland. More than three thousand after he moved to France. The fans desperately want to know whether he will return to Ibrox. The support he receives over http://www.filipsebo.com from the Rangers supporters is enormous and myself having previously worked with other players, I have seen nothing like that before. Filip has really started to feel the "once a Ranger, always a Ranger" and I must say he was a bit shocked. Especially with Scottish people sending in photographs of tattoos with his name, naming pets after him, and travelling regularly to France to watch him play. For now, I can�´t say whether or not Filip Sebo will return to Rangers. But I will inform as soon as we move on in this situation. A decision should be made around April." Looks like it will be interesting to follow how things turn out. Just wanted to get people's thoughts on this. He's a forgotten man in a lot of ways, people tend to forget he is still a Rangers player officially. The part in this statement about the pets etc.. it really is amazing how such a mediocre player became such a cult hero at the club. I know he wasn't great and what-not, but there's this really small voice in my head who I'm trying to shut up telling me that I want him to come back and be a success. There was always something heartwarming being at Ibrox when we were comfortable in a match and he'd come on, try his best, fall on his arse and we'd all still shout 'Sebo' constantly.

This has happened to us for years yet Hearts stick up for there fans and demand explanations. Murray should take a look what Campbell Ogilvie is doing there and that is with a nutter as a chairman.

Seems there's no stopping Arsenal at the moment. Adebeyor seems to be a revalation since Henry has left and the fact Henry's absense is only mentioned in the fact that it seems to have brought Fabregas an Adebayor's game on only seems to add to this

THE date is July 1, 2020 and Rangers' manager Barry Ferguson and his trusted assistant Lee McCulloch are plotting the club's defence of the domestic treble they won during the 2019/20 campaign. This might sound a bit far-fetched at the start of 2008 but Barry has revealed that he will take his first tentative steps into the world of football coaching at the end of this season with his good pal Lee. The Gers' captain, who celebrates his 30th birthday tomorrow, insists that he will play at the top level for at least another five years but is already making plans for when his glittering career comes to an end. Becoming the boss at Ibrox may be a distant dream for Fergie at this stage of his life but who is to say it will not become a reality in the future. If someone had said during the nine-in-a-row era that legendary goalscorer Ally McCoist and his partner in crime Ian Durrant would be back at the club as part of Walter Smith's coaching staff in 2007 they would probably have been locked in a cell in a straight jacket! McCoist and Durrant, of course, were famous throughout the 90s for their larger than life personalities and electric wit but as time has past both have become highly skilled coaches in their own right. Following in their footsteps is something that appeals greatly to Barry although he is the first to admit that he has a lot to learn as well as a lot to offer. Having made his debut against Hearts at Tynecastle on the final day of the historic 1996/97 season he has now played at the highest level for more than a decade and feels that passing his vast experience to the next generation of football stars in Scotland would give him a great deal of satisfaction. He said: "I have decided that I am going to do my coaching badges this year so that is something I am looking forward to. "I have been mulling it over for the past couple of years and finally decided to give it a shot. "The biggest thing for me would be to train young players and pass on my experience to them. "I think I would get a lot out of that but we will see if I can pass the badges I take later this year. "Myself and big Lee are going to do it soon and we will see where that takes us. "I know that Nacho did it with my brother Derek last year so if he can pass I am sure I do it also!" Hitting the big 'three zero' might be a frightening prospect to some footballers who view this as the end of their prime. Ferguson, however, insists that he has never felt better physically and feels that he is at currently at his peak in terms of fitness and stamina. He said: "There is no doubt that I feel fitter now than I was when I was 21 or 22. "Obviously when you get older you look after yourself a bit more than when you are young. "When you are in your early 20s being fit comes easy to you but I have learned a lot over the years and I am sure I will be able to play for the next five years no problem at all. "Rest, of course, is an important aspect as you get older but to be honest I would rather play in every game as oppose to train all the time. "That is not to say that I do not enjoy training because I do and I think I am working harder now than I ever have done at Murray Park. "My fitness is probably at the best level it has been in a long time." Like most people Barry feels the last ten years have flown by in the blink of an eye but having gathered eleven winners' medals during this time he has a lot of fond memories to look back on. Four League Championship medals, three Scottish Cup and four League Cup successes have cemented his position as a Gers' great but he is greedy for more and believes that Walter Smith's current squad have what it takes to bring the glory days back to Ibrox. He said: "I do not want to think about hitting 30 and, to be honest, I can't believe where the time has gone. "But to get eleven medals from my time at the club is a great achievement and I am sure I will win plenty more in the coming seasons. "I am back enjoying my football again and the whole place has been given a huge lift with the new management team coming in so hopefully I can win many more trophies before my career comes to an end. "Everyone can see when they walk into Murray Park that it is a happy place right now and that is the way it should be. "You should always feel happy coming into a place like this on a daily basis but in the past there were some players who did not feel like that. "But Walter and his staff have come in and changed everything. You look forward to going to work which is great for everyone." With Rangers currently in the midst of yet another hectic schedule of games it is not surprising that Barry will be spending most of his birthday at a hotel in Edinburgh with his teammates prior to Sunday's Scottish Cup fifth round tie against Hibs. The champagne will have to be put on ice until after the trip to Easter Road but he is hoping to make it a double celebration by securing a win against Mixu Paatelainen's side. "I have said many times that I am happy when the games come thick and fast. "People often ask me if I am tired if I play Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday but in this day if you prepare right and look after yourself you should not have any problems. "This week we have played against Hearts in the League Cup and then we follow that be taking on Hibs in the Scottish Cup. "As a footballer that is something you just have to accept and I will be looking forward to going back to Easter Road. "I think our 2-1 win there on December 29 was possibly our best performance in a long, long time but they now have a new manager in place so I expect them to be a different proposition to the team we faced prior to New Year." A daunting thought for most, I'd imagine! Happy Birthday none the less!

Samaras is on his way right now for a medical Marcus Bent is likely to be as summer signing A board meeting called for today to discuss Hutton's future, Hutoon says he wants to stay at Rangers and win the SPL Will keep you updated with anymore news

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http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=587&Itemid=1 From the Rangers FC plc accounts - 30/06/2007 "Net debt at the year end stood at GBP16.5m (2006 - GBP5.9m). The increase in the net debt position from last year primarily reflects the trading loss in the period, working capital movements, investment in the playing squad, and costs associated with the exit from our retail operations." [1] Obviously since then we've also spent around Ã?£12million on transfers (including Carlos Cuellar, Steven Whittaker and Lee McCulloch as well as signing on fees and other associated costs). Our reasonable performance in the Champions' League and the expected sale of Daniel Cousin would probably cancel most of that out. As such, when Rangers release their interim accounts at the end of February, I think it's fair to say that the status quo will be the case when we examine the news with regard to the net debt figure. Given our current 4 point lead in the SPL and our continued presence in all other competitions (including the UEFA Cup), the relative financial gamble taken by the plc board has paid off. Now, as we all know, despite the various sound-bites and extravagant media fairy-tales about Ã?£700million Ibrox regeneration projects, Sir David Murray has been actively trying to sell the club over the last 2 years. Several parties have showed an interest but for whatever reason nothing concrete has resulted. The most obvious reason for that is the increased debt from 06-07 as well as other limited ways for any investors to A) make money or B) be imaginative with almost all club revenue streams being outsourced in the medium-long term. Add in an unsuccessful team for nearly 3 years, Rangers FC are not the glamorous investment opportunity that we all like to think they are. As such, the question that would immediately arise for a chairman who wants to sell is – how can I improve the situation and how can I make the club more attractive to any buyers (let’s not mention large-scale investors as we’ve not had any now for a long time)? That’s a very difficult question to answer and one he’s tried and failed to since 2005. Any solutions have been running out. Step forward Alan Hutton. Hutton has been outstanding since around November 2006. Even under Paul Le Guen he regained the form he showed when he initially broke into the team under Alex McLeish and since then he’s grown in stature at every level. Outstanding Champions’ League performances and Man-of-the-Match displays for Scotland have helped his value soar beyond that of any outfield player in Scottish football history. No shortage of teams have expressed an interest with Spurs being the first to offer a Ã?£10million package to entice the player to London and the wages gravy train that is the English Premier League. Thus, if you deduct that Ã?£10million from the figure in the opening paragraph you have a much improved financial situation to report. In many ways such transfers are the only way our team can compete in monetary terms with the bigger European leagues. Quite simply, we need to survive and profiting from our improving youth system is one such source of oxygen – no matter how disappointed we’d be to lose our better players. Meanwhile with the club leading the league, the fans reasonably happy with progress and consultation reports complete into expanding the stadium (although not to the scale mentioned in the media), suddenly the ‘For Sale’ sign above our stadium seems much more alluring to buyers. More so, if automatic CL qualification is secured and (as revealed recently) the club are again negotiating with the ‘European Club Association’ – an independent body but recognised by FIFA/UEFA. I think it’s fair to say no Rangers fan wants Alan Hutton to leave. However, the above shows that his sale makes business sense from every point of view. Most fans will be happy with a reduced debt offering further opportunity for more transfer funds (who can remember the ‘Capucho Days’ of earlier this decade?) while other fans will be happy that the chances of the club administration and owner moving on have increased. Nevertheless, business sense doesn’t always win trophies in football. That’s what we all want. The SPL championship must return to our club and it’s up to Sir David Murray to deliver it. The sale of Alan Hutton may well be the right thing for the future of our club but compromise must be found in terms of ensuring that when we do have to sell any key players we can still compete successfully. That’s a challenge we’ve failed upon in recent years and another season without domestic silverware is wholly unacceptable. We have to decide what the costs will be in changing that and are we willing to pay them? [1] - http://www.plusmarketsgroup.com/story.shtml?ISIN=GB0007237380/GBP/PLUS-exn&NewsID=25453

http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=582&Itemid=1 As we approach the last 7 days of the January transfer window and lose our most prolific league scorer, The-Insider once again lets us know of the rumours (yes, rumours not fact!) that he has been hearing over the last few days. First off, with Daniel Cousin signing for Fulham all the debate is who will replace him and how much of the �£3million will Walter Smith get to spend. The answer is not very much as once all the parties get their hefty cut of the transfer fee; and Rangers still looking to address their debt, that will only leave around half of the initial �£3million figure. It must disappoint and concern all Ranges fans that in seasons where they continue to support the team so strongly financially (despite no success and little defence from the club when criticised) that certain people continue to make so much money out of transfers. The three most common names linked with a move are S�¸ren Larsen, Luke Moore and, now, Kyle Lafferty of Burnley. Of those Larsen is the most affordable but Rangers retain an interest in all three. Larsen and Lafferty offer the most direct replacement in terms of style of play while Moore has already visted Murray Park and has viewed property in the West End of Glasgow. Unfortunately, Villa want �£3.5million for his services and, at this stage, Rangers cannot afford that fee. To counter the finance issue, as revealed last week by Gersnet, Alan Hutton's Rangers future is still very much in the balance. As we told you last week, Spurs increased their weekly wage offer by over 50% after dealing directly with Rangers and not Hutton's agent. Since then Hutton has sacked his agent John Lonergan and any move to London is still on the table with Rangers being keen to sell. Certainly with Ehiogu and Cousin now having left the club and no replacements brought back in, further pressure will be on Sir David Murray to buy - more so if Hutton and/or Buffel also leave. As we said last week, two or three suitable signings could mean the difference between a title-winning side and not winning any trophies whatsoever. The-Insider will keep you informed over the next week.

http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=578&Itemid=1 With the January transfer window already half-way closed, itââ?¬â?¢s time for Gersnetââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Ë?The-Insiderââ?¬â?¢ to divulge what heââ?¬â?¢s been hearing deep in the fitness rooms of Auchenhowie. First off, to the disappointment of most Rangers fans, it seems the Alan Hutton saga is NOT finished. After turning down a deal of Ã?£20K p/week and considering the immediate thoughts of his heavily pregnant partner, it was felt Hutton would be staying at Rangers until the summer at least. However, Spurs were keen to get their man and our mole has told us they are confident Hutton will move south next week for Ã?£8million plus add-ons which take the deal up to around Ã?£10million. The London club increased their wage offer to Ã?£33K p/week and the lad understandably felt this money was too good to turn down for the long term future of his family. He is genuinely disappointed to be leaving Rangers but it appears the club administration were keen to move him on considering the money involved and the fact Steven Whittaker can slot in immediately at right back. This leaves the question of how much of this money will be invested back into the team. Information is tight in this regard but thereââ?¬â?¢s no doubt SDM would be under pressure to use the money if suitable players are available. One such player is SÃ?¸ren Larsen of FC Schalke in Germany. As Gersnet revealed last year, the club are scouring the German leagues for players and the huge Danish international is one player that has come to light. He would be available for around Ã?£1.5million and with the future of Daniel Cousin still doubtful, Walter Smith sees the player as an ideal replacement for the lone striker role. It is expected that two other players will follow Larsen through the door before the end of January. One is Portsmouthââ?¬â?¢s Matthew Taylor who would at last fill the gap Rangers have at left-midfield while providing further cover for the left-back position. Taylor would cost a fair bit more and would also command the kind of wage that does not fit the current club structure. However, Rangers are still very hopeful that a deal can be done in keeping with the finance available. Depending on other players linked with moves out of the club (including Thomas Buffel, Ugo Ehiogu and Alan Gow), Rangers will make one more signing before the end of the month. German defender Frank Fahrenhorst is still one central defender that may fill the bill as the manager looks to positively influence the reliable Cuellar/Weir pairing. If Andy Webster can prove his fitness and sort out his contractual issues that may not prove necessary but rumours are abound Walter Smith has lost patience with the Scotland internationalââ?¬â?¢s situation. What is for sure the next two weeks will be extremely interesting. Circumstances can change quickly and while most Rangers fans would prefer Alan Hutton to stay at the club, if he does leave its vital the money received is invested back into the team to ensure the strongest possible challenge on all competitions ââ?¬â?? especially when one considers the congested fixture list. Being four points clear at the top of the table should not mean we are resting on our laurels. Two or three suitable signings could mean the difference between a title-winning side and not winning any trophies whatsoever. The-Insider will keep you informed over the next fortnight. :box:

Hello Rangers Fans! I require the assistance of football fans around the country. I have just launched a new website which I thought might be handy to all you travelling fans. http://www.footballstadiumguide.co.uk . The site offers fans the chance to read up on teams and grounds before they make the trip, get directions to the stadium, find out the best places to park where to eat and drink etc etc The thing that is different about this site to the ones already on the net is that this one is similar to Wikipedia and allows fans like yourself to sign up and contribute. I hope you can find 5 minutes to sign up and post a few bits, add it too your favorites and use it in the future, hopefully in the next few weeks it will become the hub of all away day travel. Cheers

Four points clear again then. After a couple of unconvincing but completely imperative away victories, is the league in the bag or are some bears counting their chickens a little bit too early? Certainly I can understand why some will be feeling confident. The wins achieved last week were the kind of games we just havenââ?¬â?¢t secured three points in recent years. All too often we drop points in games against so-called lesser opposition in matches where more brawn than skill is required. As such, while weââ?¬â?¢d all like to see silky soccer and three goal wins, sometimes one just has to settle for keeping possession and relying on our strikers taking their chances when they come. Thus, although we could easily have dropped four points against Gretna and Caley, the team should be praised for working hard and securing wins in these difficult matches. Especially when one considers our enforced fortnight break which was always going to affect our sharpness and fluency. The next month will be huge in terms of determining our success this season. We have matches in all four competitions and the outcome of these games will show just how capable we are of competing on all fronts. For most Rangers fans the SPL title will take obvious precedence over the UEFA and domestic cups. At the same time though, weââ?¬â?¢ve not won a thing for nearly three years so we should rightly be looking to win everything. That may not be realistic (especially in European terms) but our ambitions should be high and when we have played well this season we have competed with the very best Europe has to offer. To be able to do this weââ?¬â?¢ll need a strong squad with reserve players capable of coming in. Losing the outstanding Kevin Thomson for the next 6 weeks is a big blow and we can ill-afford further injuries in central midfield. Barry Ferguson has not had his best season but has shown signs of a return to form lately. Similarly, Brahim Hemdani offers a composed holding player and his class shines through on most stages. Losing either of these players in conjunction with Thomson could be a fatal blow even if Dean Furman is impressing at reserve level. As such, with ten days to the closure of the transfer window, Iââ?¬â?¢d be looking for Walter Smith to strengthen this area. Rumours are rife about who is leaving and who may be joining. Hutton, Cousin and Buffel all said to be on their way out while Larsen and Moore apparently close to coming in. All things considered, continuity must take precedence over money but if Hutton especially is to leave, this bear would like to see a significant portion of any transfer income invested into a new creative midfield player. For most of the season weââ?¬â?¢ve lacked such a player so if we could secure one (even better if theyââ?¬â?¢re left-sided) that could not only provide the spark the team needs but the depth talked about above. Similarly, Ugo Ehiogu has moved back south, so another centre-half is still appealing. Carlos Cuellar has proven a snip at Ã?£2.3million so if we could spend this kind of cash on another similar player, this would bode well for our title challenge. Davie Weir has done very well but has also shown glimpses of poor form, while his lack of pace and deep positioning does affect the team tactically. If Andy Webster can prove his fitness then he could save us money but relying on him is rather risky given his record and contract problems. The reason Iââ?¬â?¢m perhaps being overly analytical here is that I genuinely feel we are only two or three players away from having a real decent side. Considering the average age of the squad, the relative inexperience of some, the Scottish backbone and the potential to improve, a reasonable financial investment into the team could yield real dividends. Ã?£12million was spent in the summer ââ?¬â?? a fair amount in todayââ?¬â?¢s SPL financial climate ââ?¬â?? but if we could spend some more now (but only on the right players) such a gamble could bring the SPL title home to Ibrox and provide the foundations for more success to come. To conclude, we are more than capable of winning the SPL (and more). However, we should not rest on the laurels of a four-point gap and if SDM is serious about the clubââ?¬â?¢s long term future, further investment is required to maximise our chances of bringing the successful times back. Public sound-bites and moonbeams about regeneration and stadium redevelopment may be exciting and ambitious but first and foremost I want to see Barry Ferguson lift the SPL league trophy in May. Then we can decide on how to build further on this and finally take Rangers FC into the new millennium. http://www.gersnetonline.net/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=581&Itemid=1

http://www.rangerssupporterstrust.co.uk/rstsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=170&Itemid=1 As part of our ongoing consultations with various police forces across Scotland, the Trust would like to inform our members that we will be meeting with Northern Constabulary (NC) in early 2008. NC have been most helpful with regards to many subjects and we look forward to working with them in the near future. The Trust hopes other police forces and relevant organisations are also eager to open channels of communication to ensure Rangers fans are fully consulted on matters of mutual interest.

McFadden is a good player but going above 4 mill to get him is pushing his worth to the limit imo.

Well it has been a while since my last taxi so i will start by digging into the past, to open. First of all i will start with Aberdeenââ?¬â?¢s plight in Europe. They went to Spain and got caught up in crowd trouble with Spanish supporters. Seemingly they took a right baaa-tering . Spanish police surprisingly failed to arrest any sheep supporters, donââ?¬â?¢t you just hate when you canââ?¬â?¢t find a PEN, when you need one. It was reported that one Aberdeen supporterââ?¬â?¢s girlfriend was raped. A Spanish police spokesman said an arrest was immanent, as not many Spaniards wear wellies. They then went on to meet Copenhagen, in a do or die final game. They brilliantly won 4-0. A case of the sheep shagging the Vikings That shatters the old history books. News out of Pittodrie this week is that Aberdeen are skint. Although they have a Diamond and a Hart they havenââ?¬â?¢t got a Nickel-son. They are in fact hoping to grow in the future they have named their kids club after Angus the Bull. I am not sure the sheep around Aberdeenshire will be happy with that. Poor Artur Boruc was sidelined for a while with a foot injury . Stupid dick is always shooting himself in the foot. Celtic have rewarded him with a massive new contract, not bad for someone as dependable as an American opinion poll. He has dropped more this year than the pound has against the euro. After his run of mistakes he tried to pick himself up, and failed. Celtic have signed a new German left back Andreas Hinkel but i have a wee conspiracy feeling over this one. I think it is just to justify singing ââ?¬Å?Go home ya hunââ?¬Â The Celtic board will do anything to cover their supporters chants. Big news over the last few weeks was Alan Huttonââ?¬â?¢s supposed 9 million pound transfer to the Spurs and the reason why he wanted to stay at Ibrox. Well i got the reason from a good source. He heard that the spurs attack were Bent and Keane. He didnââ?¬â?¢t fancy the move after that. Funniest joke i heard over the holiday period, was that Rangers had failed in a bid to sign Mohamed Sissoko from Liverpool. It failed because you are not allowed to call a teddy bear Mohamed. Finally Celtic are doing everything possible to bring Koki Mizuno, another Japanese star to Scotland. Many people think he would be nuts to come to the Spl. I guess it would make him a Koki nut. TAXI!!!

Larsen agent in Ibrox talks over possible �£1.4m move Rangers have been offered Soren Larsen, the Danish international striker, as a potential replacement for Daniel Cousin. Larsen is available for �£1.4m from the German side, Schalke 04, and his agent, Ivan Marko Benes, met with Rangers chief executive Martin Bain yesterday to discuss a possible move for the 6ft 4in centre-forward. Rangers have also been linked with a move for the Hearts goalkeeper, Steve Banks, after Derby County reached agreement to take Roy Carroll to Pride Park. Paul Jewell, the Derby manager, had hoped to have the Northern Ireland goalkeeper at training this morning, but Walter Smith was only willing to sanction the transfer if he had another back-up to Allan McGregor in place. "The chairman has spoken to his agent and Walter Smith and hopefully we can get that one over the line today or tomorrow," said Jewell. "If he comes, Roy Carroll is a top-class goalkeeper." Banks has reclaimed his first-choice status at Tynecastle after the recent failed experiments with Eduardo Kurskis and Anthony Basso. Hearts caretaker manager Steven Frail is reluctant to lose the Englishman, who also doubles as goalkeeping coach, but moving to Rangers would be more lucrative for him. Benes left Bain with a DVD of Larsen's scoring feats for club and country in an attempt to expedite a deal. Rangers are in the market for a centre-forward regardless of Cousin's future but while no deal is imminent, Larsen fits the bill. He scored six goals in his five international matches for Denmark two years ago and has been nicknamed Die Waffe - The Weapon - for his prowess alongside his countryman and former Rangers attacker, Peter Lovenkrands, in the Bundesliga. He has scored 17 goals in 55 starts but wants a new challenge. He would cost around �£1m per year in wages but his physical prowess is ideally suited to the rigours of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. Eintracht Frankfurt, Wolfsburg and FC Copenhagen have already enquired about the 26-year-old - who was linked with a move to Celtic in August 2006 - but Larsen has no intention of returning home to Denmark. Smith was at the Emirates Stadium last night on a scouting mission at the Carling Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. Bolton and Middlesbrough have been alerted to Cousin's situation. Rangers are confident they can keep the striker, who signed a three-year deal in August, at least until the end of the season but may find a bid of around �£3m irresistible.