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Celtic's summer signing Joe Ledley is relishing playing in his first Old Firm clash against Rangers. More...

NEIL LENNON last night piled Parkhead pressure on Old Firm debut ref Willie Collum. The Celtic boss warned: Make sure it's not about YOU. Lennon believes Celts got a raw deal from Scotland's whistlers last season. The Hoops even lodged an official complaint with the SFA. Lennon has now demanded rookie Collum is at his best tomorrow, adding: "It's a difficult one for him. I just hope he has a good day and we're not talking about him after the game." Collum hopes the PLAYERS help him by behaving, but Lenny hit back: "The players' job is to win the game. "He's got two assistants and a fourth official to help him out. I don't think he needs players to help." Lennon was criticised by Dundee United boss Peter Houston for running down the touchline after Celtic snatched a late winner at Tannadice. He added: "Was I surprised by that? No, just disappointed. A lot of managers celebrate last minute goals." Meanwhile, SFA refs' chief Hugh Dallas vowed to fight to keep linesman Steven Craven in the SPL. SunSport understands Craven considered quitting after the furore surrounding last Sunday's game at Tannadice. But Dallas said: "I would be disappointed to lose one of our best and most experienced assistants." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3193407/Neil-Lennon-piles-the-pressure-on-Old-Firm-ref.html#ixzz13ALicGRV

There is an 18th century Vatican Edict banning rcs from becoming members of the Masonic Order, I wonder if Nuremberg Hugh is in danger of excommunication? Let me explain. These last two weeks, ra Shugster has utilised both the broadcast media(Radio Snyde) and the written press(Daily Retard) to articulate his belief in absolute secrecy. It's the trials of Shagger McGregor that has Nuremberg Hugh drawing his hand across his throat. A well used phrase by Nuremberg is, "natural justice", any contretemps with officialdom by his beloved Sellik has him in a lather demanding ra 'Tic receive natural justice. Shugster supports Peter Lawwell's latest correspondence to the SFA, a full explanation of referee, Dougie McDonald's thought process over the non-penalty incident at Tannadice on Sunday. Transparency is the word for today, or indeed any other day when mystery surrounds the green'n'grey happy hoopsters. If ra Sellik are not satisfied, Nuremberg is comfortable being the attack dog, demanding 'natural justice' for those wronged. He is prepared to go nuclear, and has done so on many an occasion, "it's because he's catholic and Irish" has become a constant refrain. It is sometimes shortened to, "are we reduced to what school did you go to" ie a plea for whoever is the current objective host of ra show to guillotine the debate because non-Yahoos are making salient points. However, on the McGregor issue, natural justice has been served because he has been punished for his wrong-doing. Beyond this, Nuremberg's mindset is closed. Allan McGregor has no right to know the identity of his accuser, nor the motivation of said accuser waiting 13 days to articulate his alarm at the Pittodrie incident. Further, the make-up and identities of the three man Disciplinary Panel should NOT be revealed either, "next they will be asking what school they attended, we know where this is heading". In summary, ra Sellik should always receive natural justice, Rangers are confined to mystery and ignorance. Maybe, Hugh Keevins' obsession with maintaining secrecy for only one half of the old firm, makes him only half a Mason? Perhaps, only half of him will be excommunicated?

CELTIC and the SFA are at loggerheads after the Hoops again complained about refs to Hampden beaks in the build-up to an Old Firm game. SunSport revealed yesterday that angry Celts chiefs had written to demand answers over Dougie McDonald's penalty U-turn at Tannadice on Sunday. Just eight months ago they complained to the governing body days before a game against Rangers at Ibrox, over what they saw as a string of high-profile derby decisions going against them. No one from the SFA was available for comment last night. But it's understood they are livid over what they view as Celtic creating unnecessary mischief by leaking a private letter to the media in the run-up to the opening Old Firm clash of the season. Celts, though, want a full explanation as to why McDonald awarded a spot-kick against Dundee United for Dusan Pernis' challenge on Gary Hooper, only to change his mind on the advice of linesman Steven Craven. They were also left deeply unsatisfied by the comments of refs' boss Hugh Dallas 24 hours after their 2-1 win. He claimed that Hoops gaffer Neil Lennon had 'accepted the decision was correct' in a post-match chat with McDonald. Lennon had to be calmed by the fourth official before being spoken to by McDonald on the touchline at the time of the incident. And yesterday Lennon told the club's website he still feels aggrieved. He stated bluntly: "I accepted the explanation, but still the decision rankles with me. "I did the interview after the game and then I went to see the referee. I accepted his explanation of why he changed his mind. But I still don't agree with it." Willie Collum will take charge of the Old Firm derby for the first time this weekend. Meanwhile, Rangers chief executive Martin Bain will today have a conference call chat with SFA counterpart Stuart Regan over improving disciplinary procedures. Bain, at his club's AGM on Monday, slammed the events which saw Allan McGregor charged and then punished with a one-game ban over an incident with Aberdeen's Chris Maguire at Pittodrie a full two weeks earlier. The news broke as the keeper was preparing to play for Scotland against the Czech Republic in a Euro 2012 qualifier. And his ban was decided on new man Regan's first day at the helm and only 24 hours before McGregor was outstanding against Spain. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3191673/Beaks-reffed-off-with-Celts.html#ixzz133rgk174

GAFFER confirms Kirk and Jig are available for Celtic clash More...

The Scottish Premier League is meeting on Wednesday to discuss plans to revitalise football in Scotland. Representatives from all 12 clubs are gathering at Hampden, with league reconstruction top of the agenda. Talks have been ongoing for weeks between concerned chairman, who privately admit that drastic action is needed to give the top flight a boost. If the majority get their way, the new-look SPL will welcome two new teams and become a division of 14. The favoured new set-up will also include relegation play-offs with a two-up, two-down system. BBC Scotland has gained access to detailed analysis undertaken by the clubs, who have been looking for the best way to fix what many see as a broken product. All options have been considered, from a top flight of ten, all the way through to a league of 24. Lists of pros and cons have been collated next to each option and a 14-team league is regarded as the favoured option. The plan is for each team to play each other once home and away (26 fixtures) before splitting into two sections, either six/eight or eight/six. Teams would then play other teams in their section once more home and away. It means those in the post-split section of six would play 36 matches and those in the group of eight would play 40 games. The SPL see the main benefit of this format as the balancing up the games after the split, since there has been controversy in recent seasons surrounding the disparity of teams facing more away games than others. Many fans favour a larger division still, but several chairmen are fearful of losing the financial benefits of playing the Old Firm clubs twice at home. They also believe that anything bigger than a 14-team division would dilute the appeal of the league to broadcasters, leading to reduction in much-needed media revenue. So what are the chances of plans becoming a reality? The SPL has discussed reconstruction in the past but inside sources suggest this time there is a genuine appetite for change. And there will need to be if the plans are to be signed off. If it goes to the vote then 11 of the 12 clubs will have to agree the same path forward. No decision is expected on Wednesday but those pushing for change would like to see a new set-up take off from next season. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9108392.stm

The first Old Firm clash of the season is almost upon us! Both teams are level at the top of the table and a SPL record will be broken if one of the sides can win this coming Sunday lunch-time. Thus, even more importance on a fixture which excites every football fan and the pressure on everyone involved will be cranked up another notch. I certainly don't envy match referee Willie Collum who will take charge of his first Old Firm match after making his Champions League d�©but last month! As ever, his every move will be micro-analysed; particularly by the home support who love nothing more than a Masonic refereeing conspiracy. Given Collum's interesting background as a religious education teacher at a Roman Catholic school in Bellshill, perhaps the Celtic fans may be more trusting than usual. To that end, they shouldn't really have a lot to worry about in an officiating sense at Parkhead. Incredibly it has now been over ten years since Rangers were last awarded a penalty there (by Stuart Dougal in August 2000) despite a range of strong claims during that period. An interesting anomaly then - especially considering Celtic have been awarded four of their own. For comparison's sake both teams have been given three penalties each at Ibrox Stadium over the same ten year period. Damn that Establishment! I guess one should have some sympathy for the officials when examining the Old Firm phenomenon. The scrutiny placed upon them is intense, often unfair and they don't have the benefit of countless slo-mo replays. Add in the increased chance of being hit by a variety of objects by angry home fans at Parkhead (ask Hugh Dallas and Fernando Ricksen to name but two people) or accosted by same (ask Dida, El-Hadji Diouf or even Gordon Strachan), then one can't blame referees for worrying about their person (or indeed their house windows, cars or gardens) when looking to give a decision against Celtic. After all, the Celtic support are infamous for their paranoia accompanied by violence. Just last weekend, lighters, coins and chestnuts were thrown onto the pitch by the Celtic support while their manager also physically and verbally abused the officials for having the temerity to rightly disallow a Celtic penalty. I guess they should be thankful mobile phones and bananas weren't added to the object list given they've both been thrown whenever a non-Celtic minded individual gets too close to the side of the pitch. The only surprising thing at Tannadice on Sunday was that no away fans fell/jumped from the death-trap of the Main Stand to make their point to the clearly cheating referee. Of course Celtic have supposedly been reported to the SPL for this poor behaviour. Well, their support have anyway - their manager's aggressive actions towards the officials have been excused. Perhaps someone will belatedly report him to the SFA in 11 days time for his touch-line ban? Just don't expect the club to act quickly, after all the perpetrators of the various objects thrown at Fernando Ricksen five years ago still haven't been caught. The message is clear. Give a decision perceived to be against Celtic and you'll be the subject of acute media analysis for weeks on end (see any official; not just in games Rangers play against Celtic per se either). Give a decision perceived to be against Celtic and your own job will become under threat while private investigators are hired to determine your background (see Mike McCurry and Hugh Dallas). Give a decision perceived to be against Celtic and be verbally and physically abused (see Neil Lennon as a Celtic captain and manager). Give a decision perceived to be against Celtic and run the risk of having a variety of bizarre (but painful) items being thrown at your person while your back is turned. Thus, ten years since Billy Dodds scored that penalty at Parkhead (don't worry Celtic fans you were 4-1 up at the time and Barry Ferguson was later sent off to compensate) will Willie Collum be able to ignore that message and judge every incident on its own merits in front of 50000 home fans just waiting to be offended at Parkhead? Or will he join the nine different referees since that day and look the other way when fouls are committed in the Celtic box? Personal safety or professional pride - I guess that isn't an easy question to answer when examining the Parkhead penalty peculiarity.

GARY HOOPER insists Celtic are the best team in the SPL - and they're ready to prove it by dumping Rangers. The hitman's double, including a 90th-minute strike, downed Dundee United yesterday. Victory pulled Celts level with leaders Gers on 24 points, and they are only second in the table because their goal difference is one less. Both Old Firm sides will put their perfect records on the line when they go head-to-head on Sunday. And Hooper, 22, said: "I feel we do have the best squad but I haven't seen all the teams yet. We're probably the best in the league in my opinion though. "We have a good team with all different nationalities bonding together and that showed out there against United. "Both ourselves and Rangers are now eight unbeaten and that makes it a big week. We have a great team spirit and we showed it out there. "We just kept attacking. We kept going and got the winner in the end. The fans played their part and I'm now looking forward to the Old Firm game. "If the whole team plays like we did here we'll have a great chance of making it nine games unbeaten." Hooper also has Kenny Miller in his sights. The Gers striker has scored 11 goals in club competitions this season after hitting the net against Motherwell on Saturday. Hooper now has five after almost six weeks out with a calf injury. He said: "The gaffer has brought me in to score goals. I'm proving that just now. "That is three in the league in two games now. I will just take it from there. My best tally in the Championship was 19. "The target for me is to beat Miller and to keep scoring. I'm near enough 100 per cent fit. Maybe a couple more games and I'll be there." Hooper was the one who hit the deck when ref Dougie McDonald pointed to the spot in the 70th minute yesterday. He'd been barged out the way moments earlier by Garry Kenneth but after play raged on he was felled after Dusan Pernis dived at his feet in the box. McDonald later changed his mind after talks with his linesman Steven Craven and restarted play with a bounce ball. Pernis did get a touch on the ball but Hooper reckons he was fouled on both occasions. He said: "It was a penalty. He got me first and then the ball. The linesman has only seen him get the ball and it was a bad decision. "There were two penalties as far as I was concerned. If I'd gone down with the first one it would have been a penalty and the second one was a penalty too. "It doesn't matter now because we have the three points and we can look forward to the Rangers game. The penalty decision certainly fired us up to go for the winner." Hooper had given Celts the lead after just 13 minutes after Anthony Stokes sent Mark Wilson scampering down the right. Wilson's cross put it on a plate for the Englishman to crash home high into the net. The �£2million ex-Scunthorpe star had other half-chances but after David Goodwillie's deflected strike had brought things level, he smashed home at the death. Hooper said: "It was a good performance. We showed good spirit and created a good few chances. I took two of them and the most important thing was we took the three points. "I wasn't surprised how tough United were because I've watched a couple of DVDs from last year. "They're a good solid team but we got the early goal and made it count before we got our late winner." Hoops boss Neil Lennon had made Shaun Maloney skipper in the absence of the injured Scott Brown. But the winner didn't arrive until Maloney was replaced by Paddy McCourt, who pulled on the armband then put in the initial ball that caused the confusion in the box for the goal. Lennon said: "Shaun has come through the academy and has shown great maturity this season. He's a player the fans can identify with. "He's a great role model not just for the fans but for the players as well. He's got a fight to get the armband off Paddy though as I think he is wearing it home! "We'd been toying with the idea of putting Paddy on but we were playing so well we didn't know who to take off. "But when it got so late in the game we felt we'd throw him on to see if he could create something. "Paddy makes an impact but the game should have been out of sight. The build-up play was breathtaking at times as well as the pace with which we attacked. "I always felt we may get something but their keeper was making great saves. We should have been two or three up at half-time but when we went in I was quite calm. "We had so much of the game and they scored with a deflection. For 30 minutes in the second half it was sheer quality. "Wave after wave of attack - and the fans have connected with the team and the team has connected with the fans. They had the whole place rocking. "It's important to keep the winning run going and it's important we get performances like that. "We went to watch Rangers on Saturday and they were impressive in the second half. "Something has to give next week. It's a challenge but we'll celebrate this result first." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3184402/Now-well-see-whos-tops-Gers.html#ixzz12h53eaqX

Rangers go back to the top of the SPL on goal difference ahead of crucial Old Firm derby. http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/2010/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=317:rangers-4-1-motherwell-player-ratings-and-mom-poll&catid=35:analysis&Itemid=67 I thought Sasa Papac had a great game but I'll give it to Naismith for his attacking contribution in the 2nd half. :sn:

RANGERS captain Davie Weir last night waded into the Allan McGregor suspension row and insisted the SFA have got their priorities wrong by banning players for innocuous offences while letting the "kickers" go unpunished. And Ibrox boss Walter Smith described the disciplinary system used when trying players by TV evidence as "flawed". The furore prompted new SFA chief executive Stewart Regan to issue a statement - and admit that procedures need tightened up. Rangers keeper McGregor will miss today's match against Motherwell at Ibrox after the beaks used TV footage showing him flicking a boot at Aberdeen's Chris Maguire - and missing - on September 26 as evidence of violent conduct. But his manager and captain believe the Scotland No.1 has been harshly treated - and Weir pointed to the yellow card shown to Hearts midfielder Ian Black the following week for a shocking challenge on Nikica Jelavic as proof that the SFA are not nailing the real offenders. Weir said: "Anybody who's spoken about it thinks it's a strange decision. To get suspended for not kicking someone seems a strange decision and then the lad who kicked Jela last week didn't get suspended. So there doesn't seem to be much logic to it. "It wasn't a tackle (from Black), he just kicked him. Tackles are part of football but this wasn't one. "The ones I see in England are mistimed tackles which happen, especially with the pace football is played at. That's what happens. But this was different. "I'm not here to change the system or dictate what's right or wrong but Jela is out for three months now because of that tackle. "Allan has been suspended when there's not been any contact so there doesn't seem any logic. I know there are rules and regulations but in this case it's obvious to everybody." Weir's boss Smith is just as unhappy. He said: "I think the process is if the game is on television then anything that appears on TV, the disciplinary body of the SFA will look at and then put it to the chief executive . "It is a flawed process. Ourselves and Celtic are on TV every week but it's flawed because it means for the other clubs it's down to whoever edits the stuff that appears on the telly. "Unless every game is shown it is unfair and that is something that has been flagged up to the SFA for a long time. McGregor's was an innocuous foul. It wasn't even a foul but that's how they see it and we can't do anything about it . "The other aspect is that it has got to be something that the referee misses. "For instance, if the referee gives somebody a yellow card then it's deemed to have been spotted and nothing else can be done about it - even though more stringent action might have been taken in their opinion, they just ignore it. "But if the referee misses it then they feel they are obliged to bring it up." Celtic boss Neil Lennon agreed with his Old Firm rival and said: "You are under the spotlight more when you are at the Old Firm and our games are televised more than the other teams so it would be a concern." SFA boss Regan, who had to deal with the McGregor case on his first day in the job, said: "The investigation process is designed to ensure violent conduct is eradicated from the game, whi le also providing a suppor t network for match officials who may have missed such instances. "There are elements of the process that I am not entirely content with. "I have requested a tighteningup of certain elements which I believe will help improve the functionality of the procedure." Smith is also unhappy with one of his players - midfielder Lee McCulloch, who will miss this week's three vital matches against Motherwell, Valencia and Celtic - after aggravating a groin injury playing for Scotland against Spain on Tuesday. Asked if he was disappointed that his player had chosen to play against Spain, Smith said: "A wee bit. Especially as he missed our game prior to playing."

NEW SFA chief executive Stewart Regan has pledged to bring greater haste and clarity to the organisation's disciplinary system after admitting his unease at the timing of Allan McGregor's one-match suspension. Allan McGregor, who was outstanding for Scotland against Spain, trains with Rangers yesterday, but the goalkeeper will miss Rangers' SPL clash with Motherwell today due to a controversial ban Picture: SNS The Rangers goalkeeper will miss his club's SPL match against Motherwell at Ibrox today because of the ban imposed for aiming a kick at Aberdeen striker Chris Maguire during a match at Pittodrie three weeks ago. The incident was not spotted by the match officials at the time but was subsequently referred by the SFA to its independent video review panel. To Regan's discomfort, the judgment on McGregor was passed on Monday, both the chief executive's first day in the job and the eve of the player lining up for Scotland in Tuesday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Spain at Hampden. Rangers manager Walter Smith yesterday described the situation as "embarrassing" and accused the SFA of ignoring "glaring discrepancies" in what he claims is a "flawed" disciplinary process. Within four hours of Smith making his comments at Rangers' weekly media conference, however, there was a response from Regan in the form of a lengthy statement in which he directly addressed the former Scotland manager's complaints. "In light of recent publicity surrounding Allan McGregor's retrospective punishment for violent conduct," said Regan, "I would like to clarify a few points which, hopefully, will better explain the process. "I can understand the media and supporter interest in the situation that arose at the start of the international double-header. The timing was unfortunate - and not how I intended to spend my first day in office - but the investigation process is designed to ensure violent conduct is eradicated from the game, while also providing a support network for match officials who may have missed such instances. "There are elements of the process that I, as a newcomer to the Scottish FA, am not entirely content with. I have already requested a tightening-up of certain elements which I believe will help improve the transparency and functionality of the procedure. It is my intention that formal notification of investigations will be made sooner and that a fixed timescale for any subseqeunt appeal is established. It should be noted that, compared to previous procedures, the current investigation system is now completed within a two-week timeframe and is therefore more efficient." Smith believes Rangers and Celtic suffer a disproportionate number of suspensions such as the one handed out to McGregor as a result of fixtures involving the Old Firm clubs being televised live more than any others in Scotland. Regan, however, dismissed that view. "While some of our more prominent clubs argue that their media exposure leaves them unfairly at risk of such investigations, I would point out that, adopting the same principle, they are also in a position to have a higher percentage of claims for wrongful dismissal acted upon," he said. "Furthermore, we have dealt with many cases from lower divisions using club television or analysis footage. "The process, when initiated by the chief executive, is referred to an independent review panel before being ratified by the chairman of the disciplinary committee. This is a far more streamlined process than previously was the case. It is the responsibility of the referee development department and disciplinary department to be aware of instances that may be worthy of investigation. This will be highlighted primarily by using television footage or feedback from the referee observers." While Regan seeks greater transparency in the SFA system, there will be no change to the anonymity of the pool of former players, managers and referees who make up the independent review panel. "It ensures a cross-section of opinion across the football family," added Regan, "but to reveal their identities on a case-by-case basis would be detrimental to the integrity of the process." Rangers' sense of disquiet over McGregor's punishment has been heightened by the serious ankle injury suffered by Nikica Jelavic during their match against Hearts at Tynecastle two weeks ago. The Croatian striker faces three months on the sidelines as a result of the damage caused by a foul from Ian Black. The Hearts midfielder was booked at the time by referee Craig Thomson, meaning no further action can be taken. "Allan has been suspended for not kicking someone while the lad who kicked Nikica doesn't get suspended," said Rangers captain David Weir. "There doesn't seem to be much logic to it. It wasn't even a tackle (from Black], he just kicked Nikica." Regan, however, will not seek to make any change to the procedure surrounding incidents like the one involving Jelavic and Black, insisting that to do so would undermine the match officials. "It has been mentioned that while the process deals with misconduct missed by a referee, it does not include instances where it is believed a referee 'maybe didn't judge properly'," added Regan. "This falls under the category of claims for wrongful dismissal, a procedure with which clubs are familiar. "It should be emphasised, though, that the investigation process is designed to assist match officials. To intervene in instances that fall between investigations into incidents missed by a match official and claims of wrongful dismissal would compromise the authority of referees in relation to the laws of the game." http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Allan-McGregor-ban-prompts-SFA.6584285.jp?articlepage=3

Doesn't sound serious!

, McCoist: I'm ready for Rangers job but Walter Smith's enjoying life so much I could be waiting a while yet Oct 15 2010 By Hugh Keevins ALLY McCOIST should be ticking off the games on the fixture list with the excited air of a man about to be involved in a historic change of power at Rangers. But the Ibrox icon has admitted he's too busy watching another club legend enjoying himself to admit that the heir will eventually stop being spare and assume control at the end of the season. Walter Smith is about to face three games in eight days which could have a rocket-fuelled effect on what's supposed to be his farewell to the manager's office. The man who steadied the ship when it threatened to capsize during a time of upheaval has done such a good job his team face up to Motherwell, Valencia and Celtic with a so far flawless SPL record and remain unbeaten in the Champions League too. Whether it's a man savouring his last days of high office or the ageless exuberance of someone who has always enjoyed his work, Smith looks to be in his air-punching, jig-dancing element at the moment. McCoist said: "To be honest I'm loving it watching Walter loving it. "I would never tempt fate when it comes to this business of the takeover. If it happens, I'll be ready for the job. There'll never be any doubt in my mind about that. "But six months is a long time in football and I'm not counting my chickens about anything, on or off the park, until it actually happens. "Walter's thriving on life at the moment and Kenny McDowall and I are enjoying him feeling this good. If ever there was anyone who deserved to be as happy as he is at the moment it's the gaffer. "But there's no hesitancy on my part when it comes to accepting responsibility. "Maturity comes to everybody at some stage and I enjoy the fact that players will come to me for information or an answer to anything that's troubling them. "I don't think they'd be at a club like Rangers if they were relying on me to carry them but I appreciate the fact they've got respect for my experience of what the club's all about and what Rangers require of them. That's part and parcel of my job." Rangers returned to normal yesterday at Murray Park following the break-up of the squad for international matches. The domestic and European schedule that awaits them offers no time to reflect and insists on the team hitting the ground running at Ibrox tomorrow. McCoist said: "What happens between now and the end of the game against Celtic can only be described as monumental. "Trepidation? Definitely not. "Enjoyment? Absolutely. "What a time to be a Rangers supporter, never mind a player or part of the management team. "When we played, and defeated, Bursaspor at Ibrox two weeks ago I don't think I'd heard the crowd make noise like that for years. "There's a fans' realisation now that this tight squad they support can no longer attack the way it once used to. There's a tactical caution that's understandable and allowable in their eyes. "No other Scottish club can enjoy the varied challenges Rangers have on their plate right now and handling these matches should really prove why all of us deserve to be employed by the club." Motherwell's management team of Craig Brown and Archie Knox will act as a reminder to McCoist of what good guidance can achieve. Poking fun at his impression of them being Stadler and Waldorf, McCoist said: "I was so glad when they came out of that balcony on the Muppet Show and went back into the game. Wee Broon gave me the majority of my caps when he was Scotland boss and for that I am duly grateful. "He made a terrible blunder not taking me to France 98 but, sitting where I am now, I know no manager is free from making mistakes. Archie's a man I regard as a friend and someone I can call on a regular basis. "It's no surprise these two wily old men have lifted Motherwell to third place in the table. That's what good coaching does for you. "I thought Motherwell would miss Jim O'Brien when he left at the end of last season but they've come up with Jamie Murphy and Chris Humphrey instead and they've been marvellous. "If Rangers want to go into the first Old Firm game still holding on to maximum points then we'll need to remember that Motherwell got a 3-3 draw the last time they were at Ibrox." McCoist said: "I can understand why something like that would be said, but I can't see the comment having any basis in fact. "The league can look a certain why while presenting a distorted image. Look at the number of games Rangers have had to win by the odd goal this season. "Kilmarnock and St Johnstone lost by that margin and we had to fight to win by the odd goal at Hearts, with an injury-time strike, and Aberdeen. It also took another late, late goal at Hamilton. "It might look easy if you haven't been part of those games but we've had it tough all right. "But, like Walter, I'm really into this season. I feel the happiness of someone who's in a good place at work and at home. "But I'm also in football and I know that a week can change the complexion of everything in your professional dealings. "That's why we'll go into this monumental schedule of games we have staying tight-knit, guarding the players in training so they avoid stupid injuries and hoping to avoid any unforeseen mishaps." Ally McCOIST last night urged the Rangers fans to enjoy a good bucket at the weekend. Rangers Charity Foundation has allowed a bucket collection at Ibrox tomorrow in aid of the Davie Cooper Centre, an organisation that has now gained planning permission to build a park for special needs children named in honour of the Ibrox legend. Ally said: "It's hard to believe Davie's been gone for 15 years but if anyone has to support such a worthwhile project named after him it must be me. "It'll be a proud and happy day for me when I see the park for the children completed. "Rangers against Motherwell is the perfect day to hold the collection because Davie was a massive figure at both clubs."

One of my all time favourite players together with Colin Stein. That tackle on Mick Channon and that wonderful full blooded trickle over the line still stand out in my mind as if it was yesterday. The tackle on Channon would have been punished today as it was from behind but it really was the most fantastically timed tackle you will ever see. As i remember it Forsyth slid his foot between Channons legs and knocked the ball back towards his own goal. One second earlier or later and he would have probably caught Channon and pulled him down for a penalty. Am i right in thinking he was a decent bowls player in later life?

Saturday, 9 October 2010 JOSEF GOEBBELS was the evil genius who was Adolf Hitler's Propaganda Minister during Nazi Germany's tyrannical genocide . He was a thoroughly disgusting, odious and evil man. But he was, in the dark arts of spin doctoring, most certainly a genius. The Goebbels technique was simple. He believed that if you told the biggest lie possible, and told it often enough, people would believe it. It is a technique of spin doctoring which is still alive and well to this day, and many believe it was one of the reasons the now totally discredited New Labour government held on to power for so long. But Goebbels, and the less evil, but nevertheless still odious pratctioners of the dark art - Damian McBride, Jo Moore, Charlie Wheelan and Alistair Campbell among them - have a new recruit to their ranks. He is called Anonymous. Now, regular readers will know I always refrain from repsonding to comments, as many of them, which appear to come from a small but dedicated group of folk with little regard to the truth or facts, are not worth bothering about. So too are the many equally inaccurate jibes about me on a personal level. Even those who approve of my writing style will never sing, there's only one David Leggat, for there are quite obviously a lot more folk named David Leggat. There also appears, to my trained eye, to be some sort of concerted campaign by the enemies of truth and reasonable free speech, to try and goad me into making some sort of outrageous statement. It's almost as though there is one "mind" behind it, orchestrating and directing. Maybe even script writing too. But sorry, whoever you are, your attempts will win no Oscar. Not even a Tony. However, I do wish to turn to the comments posted at the end of my blog JELAVIC'S INJURY, which went up on the LeggoLand site on Wednesday, 6th October. In it, I mentioned the removal of a film clip of Ian Black's tackle on Jelavic from YouTube by the SPL, and added that this is the same SPL which has ordered Rangers to play five away matches following the six of their Champions League ties. I asked if a pattern could be detected? Enter Anonymous, posting a comment on October 6 at 16.48, which followed the Goebbells technique and attempted to tell the big lie, while at the same time seeking to justify the lie by trying to smear my journalistic integrity and ability. According to this particular Anonymous: "The SPL fixture list is computer generated at random, and is drawn up months before the Champions League draw is made. A little thought about facts may have made you come across as a slightly credible journalist instead of being small minded and lacking in journalistic training." OUCH! Well, no, actually. This big lie is easily shot down by showing both my credibility as a journalist of 44 years experience, plus my journalistic training. You see, the official UEFA webite first revealed the schedule of dates on which Champions League matches would be played during season 2010-11, on Monday, APRIL, 19, 2010. The schedule of Scottish Premier League fixtures for season 2010-11 was published on JUNE, 17th, 2010. Good! I'm glad we've cleared that up and shown the big lie to be just what it is. A WHOPPER! And as for the claim the SPL fixtures are completely computer generated at random.... That is so very stupid that anyone who makes such a claim needs the truth explained to him very slowly indeed. Computers do nothing by themselves. They have to be programmed and given human direction. There is nothing random about a computer. It takes human instruction. How, for instance, when the SPL decided to have the Old Firm match played over the New Year period, did the computer generate that? All by itself, and at random? PRECISELY! I refer all of the above to another, who I suspect may belong to the same circus as Anonymous and the man who will never win an Oscar. Or a Tony! This guy - or is it a gal? - calls themselves Daytripper. Daytripper's comment was that I seemed to struggle with the facts. No, just in explaining them in such a way that even the lowest common denominator will be able to understand. A thankless task, and one I freely admit is often beyond me. But then again, just what is it Daytripper is tripping on? And so let us return to the original point made in JELAVIC'S INJURY, the one I made about BBC seeming reluctant to show it over, and over, and over, again, and again and again, and that the SPL had had it removed from YouTube. Another Anonymous - they're a big clan - commented on 6th October, at 14.08, that anyone with a computer could find a clip of it. I am indeed indebted to him, for it led to me sound the bugle call for reinforcements, in the shape of a young and much more computer literate pal. He found it on the link k21swj.gif I watched it over and over and over, and again, and again and again. You should too. See what you think. Just don't tell Anonymous. Or he'll reach for his Goebbels manual and try to make you believe another big lie. Anyway, we all know what happened to the evil and odious Nazi Minister for Propoganda. Don't we? http://davidleggat-leggoland.blogspot.com/2010/10/goebbells-or-anonymous.html

We or rather the english are on the road to ruin........the danger is that they may suck us into their house of cards, with promises of untold riches, which is in truth crippling debt. The warning signs are there for all to see. They will need us.... the Old Firm.... more than we will need them. Manchester City have swept past Manchester United in the pay league for players, the club's annual report revealed. The figures also show details of City's astonishing spending spree on players and salaries which have led to record losses of �£121.3million. Although City's turnover increased by 40% to �£125m this has been swamped by total salary costs of �£133.3m, a �£50m rise on a year ago. That puts City - bankrolled by Abu Dhabi-based owner Sheikh Mansour - ahead of United, whose wage bill is �£123m, and Arsenal (�£110m) and closing in fast on Chelsea (�£142m). City chief executive Garry Cook said the losses "should come as no surprise" but that the club would now scale back on new signings.

JELAVIC'S INJURY DO YOU remember when Kyle Lafferty cheated against Aberdeen to get Charlie Mulgrew sent off? And do you remember too, the number of times the incident was replayed on television? Can you also remember when Lafferty was sent off against Hibernian this season, and the amazing amount of airtime on television this incident was given ? Then, can you remember when Kevin Thomson was sent off against Hearts at Tynecastle last season, and the number of times his silly sideways lunge was repeated on the box? Now hit the fast forward button and let's return to Tynecastle and highlight the moment when a terrible tackle from behind - outlawed by FIFA - by Ian Black on Nikica Jelavic, injured the striker so badly he had to fly home for surgery and is not expected to play again for anything up to four months. But where have all the television replays been of the tackle from a match shown live on ESPN? That's a tricky one, for it has been hard to catch up with them, as on Monday and Tuesday night's Reporting Scotland - the licence fee funded national broadcaster - it appears we are in the midst of some old fashioned height of the Cold War Kremlin-style cover up. And as far as that modern phenomenon, which has fast become an old reliable, YouTube? Well, anyone trying to find the Black tackle which crippled Jelavic there will draw a blank, and be met with the message.... "The clip of the Black tackle on Jelavic has been removed from YouTube due to a copyright claim by the Scottish Premier League." That will be the same Scottish Premier League who have ensured Rangers must face five away matches on the weekends following their six Champions League ties. Does anyone detect a pattern here? Rangers player sins, his sin is missed by the referee, but caught on camera and his sin is shown over and over and over, again and again and again. Or, Rangers player sins, is caught by the referee and punished by him with a red card, and the sin, again caught on camera, is repeated on television over and over and over, again and again and again. As opposed to Rangers player is the victim of a bad tackle - one which many believe merited a red card ,but which was dealt with by a yellow - and is badly injured. And the result??? Blank screens! People are therefore robbed of their right as licence payers to see the clip again and again and again, over and over and over on BBC Scotland's Reporting Scotland at the peak tea time viewing hour, in order that they can form their own judgement. Rangers supporters though must be indebted to Keith Jackson of the Daily Record and Scott Burns of the Scottish Daily Express, for their interviews with Jelavic. It's taken Black long enough to issue a public apology claiming it was an accident, and that the Rangers man was too quick for him. But Jelavic, as quoted in the Record and Express, is having none of it. If the public were given the opportuinity by the BBC, the state funded broadcaster, to view the incident from all the angles - as was the case when Lafferty and Thomson sinned - then a judgement could be formed on whether Black was unlucky, and Jelavic even more unlucky. Or not! That would be justice. For Black, and for Jelavic. For, as I have often stated, for justice to be done, it must be seen to be done. One reporter, who has the inside track at Ibrox, says that senior Rangers sources are seething with anger. The speculation is one senior source is Walter Smith. He spent over �£4m of the meagre transfer budget afforded him by the club's Lloyds Bank paymasters on Jelavic, and the striker was showing every sign of forming an intelligent and lethal partnership with Kenny Miller. There was also - in a sort of perverse way - the bonus of the fact he is ineligble for Europe, meaning Rangers were hoping to look to Jelavic as an injection of fresh legs to the team for the next four away matches they have been ordered by the SPL to play immediately after Champions League ties. His loss in the Champions League - a tournament Rangers cannot possibly hope to win - was therefore balanced by the rest he would have ahead of SPL games, as the champions bid to retain their domestic crown. That benefit would have been seen next when the first Old Firm game of the season takes place at Parkhead a few days after Rangers must face the team settling Spain alight right now, Valencia. Now Jelavic - as a result of the injury he suffered following the tackle by Black, - will not only miss that match, but may still be sidelined when Celtic visit Ibrox on January 2. His injury may turn out to be a Marco Negri moment for Rangers. Whether that proves to be the case or not, in the interest of justice - for Black as well as Jelavice for it would give the Hearts man a chance to prove his claim of his lack of malice - the incident in which the Rangers man is the injured party should be given the same television prominence as those occasions when it has been the Rangers player who has been the sinner. Over and over and over, again and again and again. Pretty hard to disagree with any of that

SPECIAL memorial service to be held at Stadium on Jan 3 More...

David Edgar on death threats A RANGERS fan club boss told last night how he quit his post after receiving terrifying death threats - from GERS supporters. David Edgar revealed that after he criticised the club's board last year he was warned he'd be attacked if he was seen at Ibrox. One sick fan even posted a package of maggot-covered rotting meat to his home. Shaken Edgar, 32, spoke frankly about his ordeal only days after he resigned as spokesman for Rangers Supporters Trust (RST). And the Gers diehard admitted he suffered a nervous breakdown after leading calls for a fans' takeover at Ibrox. He also hit the bottle as his marriage to wife Lisa, 32, fell apart. Edgar became the public face of the We Deserve Better Campaign, which the RST launched in January 2009 after a string of poor on-the-pitch results and dire financial predictions at Ibrox. Now, in his new book 21st Century Blue, Edgar tells how he was singled out by raging fans. He said: "I received some death threats. Worst of all, they were from fellow Gers. "Stuff arrived in the post graphically depicting what would happen to me if I didn't shut my mouth." Edgar said the threats started after he took up his RST post. He said: "I'd be sent letters threatening to kill me, with cut- up newspaper headlines spelling out the words. "Another time someone sent a package of meat and maggots to my house - with a note saying, 'Next time you see this, it will be your insides'. "And when we started the We Deserve Better campaign things stepped up again and became more sinister. I would get verbal attacks whenever I went to Ibrox - and a text message said that if I was spotted around the club, I would be attacked." Edgar claims Rangers chiefs also turned on him. He said: "The club went on the attack, launching a full-on assault on me personally. I was called a glory hunter and was cited as the reason for things being wrong with the club." The football fanatic, from Ayrshire, admits he turned to drink to cope with the pressure and his crumbling marriage. He said: "My life fell apart. I split up from my wife and suffered a breakdown. The constant stress definitely had an effect. "I was drinking to excess every day. Wine, whisky and lager - I got caught up in binge boozing. "I told a doctor how much I was guzzling and he just shook his head. I realised I had to give up or I was going to DIE." Now, after losing three stone in weight and resigning from the RST, the dad-of-one has a new partner and says: "I am sober, happy and settled." But memories of that turbulent time will stay with him. He told how Rangers owner Sir David Murray summoned him to a face- to-face meeting at his plush Edinburgh HQ last year. The showdown came after he attacked the tycoon in a radio interview. Edgar recalled: "As I walked in, Murray was on a telephone barking commands, but he motioned for me to sit down. "When he'd finished, he said, 'That's me just concluded a �£25million deal. That's the kind of thing I do in a day.' I'd like to say I was nonchalant but this was a new world to me. "I just wanted us to be a bit better at set-pieces, for crying out loud." Edgar also uses his book to defend Paul Gascoigne, 43, over an incident at an Old Firm match in 1998 when the Gers legend pretended to play a flute. Gazza was fined by Rangers at the time and widely criticised for stirring up sectarianism. But Edgar says: "He mimicked an Orange Order flautist. "As far as I know, the Orange Order is not an illegal organisation. So what's the problem?" Edgar also slags off the home grounds of Gers' biggest rivals, referring to Celtic Park as "The Potato Bowl" and "Girodome". And turning to Aberdeen FC's stadium, he states: "Going to Pittodrie just isn't a pleasant experience in a, 'I hope I don't have to touch anything in this place and get home without contracting rabies' kind of fashion. It's an absolute s***hole." Last night a source close to Edgar said: "His book will get under the skin of a lot of people - that's what David intended. He feels he was treated badly by people at his beloved Rangers." 21st Century Blue: Being A Bear In The Modern World, will be published next month by DB Publishing, priced �£12.99 http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scot...x-torment.html

See a tasty wee run of fixtures: Buraspor H Hearts A Motherwell H Valenica H Scumtic A Whilst the Champions League games might prove an awkward distraction to our SPL aspirations it's what supporting Rangers is all about. 2 games against top European opposition sandwiched between and Old Firm and two games with Hearts and Motherwell. Most of these are winnable so bring it on!

Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot makes Celtic favourites to win this season's league title. Can someone kindly quote me where Kirk even remotely implied timmy's favourite? He said they have an advantage through not being in Europe, but where's his concession that they are ahead in the title race?

ALEXANDER hopes to put pen to paper within next ten days More...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/sep/17/spl-restructure-old-firm-reserve-teams Whilst I welcome changes being made to the SPL, I'm not sure 46 games a year is feasable! Will it mean the retiring of the League Cup?

As the transfer window 'slams' shut (why does it never close softly given the usual anti-climax?) at last Scottish football fans across the country can judge the comings and goings at their clubs and decide just how competitive they'll be this season. Thus, at Rangers, after a summer of scaremongering and torment, do we have a stream-lined squad capable of retaining the SPL title or is Celtic's bloated brigade a better strategy for success? An immediate comparison of the two squads in quantity terms shows Celtic have at least 25 players available to Neil Lennon who have all played first team football and could be considered genuine contenders for their first XI. Meanwhile a look at Gersnet's own squad page shows we're less well endowed with only 19 players maximum who can be considered demonstrable candidates for our team. That is a fair difference in personnel numbers before each manager has to look to the McGinn's/McGowan's or Shinnie's/Little's in their reserves when injuries and suspensions inevitably take their toll. So, quantity-wise Celtic undoubtedly have the edge. But what about quality and how do other factors affect both teams' chances of success? Rangers, while losing several players over the summer, still have a strong core to their first XI. Indeed, McGregor, Bougherra, Davis and Miller can justifiably be considered the best players in the SPL in their respective roles. These four players will be key to our chances of success and the loss of any would be a huge blow at any given time. Nonetheless, they are backed up with other reliable and proven colleagues. Certainly, as it has been over the last two seasons, consistency of selection will be one of Rangers continued strength this term. Several players have experienced what it takes to win league titles and Rangers first XI is still very strong in every department. Add in a few signings with the potential to improve this, the loss of players like Wilson, Thomson and Boyd may not be the demoralising blows they seemed at first. In fact it could be argued that while Rangers do have a smaller squad, we do have a better one. Of course squads cannot be discussed without examining the people responsible for instructing them each week. In that respect Rangers have a big advantage on their rivals with Walter Smith and Ally McCoist now having worked together successfully for several years. They know what it is like to win (and lose) while dealing with the unavoidable stresses associated with such difficult jobs. Unfortunately, they'll have to be more flexible than ever with Rangers likely to play at least 6 more games than anyone else via their involvement in the Champions League. This is where our smaller squad will certainly be a handicap. Moving onto Celtic, while they definitely have the kind of numbers to make a strong challenge this year; they do lack other qualities when compared to Rangers. They lack the same core of proven players and the luxuries of a larger squad brings with it the difficulty of consistency of selection - a conundrum Tony Mowbray struggled badly with last season. Therefore, while players like Juarez, Ledley, Stokes and Hooper are solid buys, just how quickly will they gel and how happy will other players be when they are left out? Obviously this is where Lennon's managerial inexperience may count against him. He has made wholesale changes to the squad after not being slow to blame the players for their lack of success last year. Ergo, it will be interesting to see how he deals with any bad times that come his way as he'll be unable to blame them solely this time. Not to mention when players ask why they're not playing this week because of having to accommodate a rotation process due to squad size. All in all it is difficult to make a clear-cut case for Rangers or Celtic winning the title this season. Both have their strengths and weaknesses which will be key as the season progresses. Proof of just how tight this will be can be found by looking at the top of the SPL table after just 3 games. Quality versus quantity it is then - to the victor the spoils! :robbo:

Dermot Desmond believes it is only a matter of time before the Old Firm join the Premier League. More...