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http://www.therangersstandard.co.uk/index.php/articles/current-affairs/282-jim-spence-rangers-jibes I won't post the article as there are a few images used at the link for context... Suffice to say, poor Jum gets nailed by an on-form Chris...

Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has called up four players ahead of their World Cup qualification double header. Craig Bryson, Chris Burke, Kevin Thomson and Lee Wallace have been added to the squad after West Brom's James Morrison and Graham Dorrans withdrew. Strachan's side host Belgium on Friday before a trip to Macedonia the following Tuesday. Morrison withdrew with a groin problem while Dorrans's injury has not been disclosed. West Brom midfielder Morrison, who scored in Scotland's 3-2 defeat by England, suffered a groin injury in Sunday's defeat by Swansea. "He felt a pain in his groin just before half-time, the last couple of minutes in the first half," said Albion boss Steve Clarke. "The medical people will assess it but I would imagine he is doubtful for the Scotland trip." Scotland currently sit in fifth place in qualifying Group A with five points from seven games.

No-one likes a thorough examination. It could be a test for English, it could be a check-up at the dentist. God forbid, it could even be the prostate exam from an overweight medico with fingers like fairtrade bananas. This week saw the appointment of that bogeyman figure for many Rangers fans, Peter Lawwell, to the Professional Game Board of the SFA. Leaving aside the hilarious irony of anything connected with the game in our country having the sheer balls to call itself 'professional' - the name of the new league was, for me, the highlight of the summer, an act of self-mockery and criticism not seen since the Red Guards were touring the Chinese countryside in the 1960's - you'd think the raising of another Celtic employee to another administrative role ought to have aroused some examination. As things stand now with the SFL gone, the SPFL Board consists of Steven Thompson of Dundee Utd, Eric Riley of Celtic, Aberdeen’s Duncan Fraser, Les Gray from Hamilton, Mike Mulraney of Cowdenbeath and Bill Darroch of Stenhousemuir plus CEO Neil Doncaster. Even Celtic fans must realise Mssrs Riley and Lawwell's various roles raise some interesting questions. Is it good for the game, or their club? Is it good for them, personally? Can they avoid conflicts of interest, and can they operate best with a work-load of this nature? What does it say about the structures which oversee the much vaunted reconstruction of the game in Scotland? Gersnet poster Brahim Hemdani sums up the bemusement may feel when he said "Quite why the other clubs think that having two represetatives from one club in the top echelons of power is appropriate is beyond my comprehension but that is the state of play that we have to live with." I ask these questions because they will affect us, like every other club, and because the overall coverage of the move has been muted to the point of fearful censorship. Tom English has taken refuge in slating OF fans for being loonballs rather than look at the appointment itself, while no-one else seems to have mentioned it at all. Maybe no-one is a little concerned that one club looms quite so large over the landscape (you may recall Kenny Shiels swift demotion by the ever sensitive Pacific Quay from colourful entertainer to highly suspicious proto-bigot when he touched on this subject), or, more likely, maybe they're worn out by all these saga and don't care anymore. Dangerous attitude, if true. We need to care. My own view is that no-one from either Rangers or celtc should be on any governing body, nor anyone with a connection to them. Rules out a hell of a lot of people, doesn't it? But look at the history! Since the mid-1980's, the Old Firm have more or less run the game. First them then us have been, during that time, complete basket cases. Prior to that, with faceless, anonymous men who enjoyed the benefits, yes, but were primarily upholders of the game as a concept - that is, as a sport - Scotland actually did not too badly, certainly by comparison with its later, hideous self. Of the two potential scenarios - well meaning if possibly bumbling amateurs, or corporate OF types - one would have to be a follower of either side to support the elevation of the latter to the running of the game. If that maybe sounds like accusations of bias toward the media, maybe it is - given the outrage we saw over such issues as contentious capitalist contract practices and internal SFA inquiries, surely they would feel the make up of game boards also need a revolution? No? Happy to carry on as we have for thirty years, are you? Thirty years of continual decline and failure? Quite content to see the setup which has brought the game to the laughable stance of not even having a sponsor - bear in mind, this is a league which reaches both Rangers and celtc fans every week, that's market penetration many a company would give their right arm for; you are looking at well over 2,000,000 potential customers on a more than weekly basis being exposed to your product - and think this is a suitable plan for the future? Well, fair enough. Everyone's entitled to an opinion. But you can hardly be surprised when people raise a quizzical eyebrow, and wonder quite what the reason is for your optimism. celtc's current dominance is the reason put forward, I guess. That ignores their two decades of shambolic behaviour since the early 1980's; no doubt our period of insanity will be as quickly forgotten. It also forgets the wasteland that the rest of the game is; perhaps a momentary lapse in memory by our writers, or again, perhaps they just don't care. The game desperately needs diversity, in terms of cup winners and media coverage. We're unlikely to see the latter, since the media is as self interested as the next man. I can't see how having the people from the top club running the leagues will help create that diversity; the logical outcome will be a set up which favours that leading club. Cravenly avoiding the fairly obvious self interest inherent in this move, and whining about how Old Firm fans are loonies while you pretty much cowardly refuse to actually examine the move, won't impress anyone. Maybe, when this blows up in the face of Scottish football (as OF people running the game always will, in my opinion), those who have airily seen it through on the nod will have the guts to examine their own role in it. I won't be holding my breath, though. As the dire Neil Doncaster happily points out "“The relationship between the SPFL and the SFA is a good one and I think a much better one since the reconstruction’s completion on the 27th June.” This is unsurprising when the same people, two of whom are from the same outfit, sit upon these boards. If blissful happiness and an end to dissent is the aim, I can see the point. If running the game in a progressive and accountable way is the aim, it becomes rather more questionable. But questions are good, in a healthy democracy. We need our media writers to question, to examine. Their current craven obedience will be just something else we will all come to regret.

Haven't seen this on RM or here but according to the Daily Mail today McColl's gang tried to bring back McClelland as the chairman. Absolutely frightful stuff if true. A real return to the old days when he was Murray's puppet and presided over record levels of debt. I'm neither here nor there with the current board and prospective future board. To me they all remind of the South Park episode where a douche and a turd compete with each other. But it's absolutely disparaging that our prospective leaders want a return of one of our past failures.

I very much doubt it. Share Transfer to Killie Trust Marie Macklin cares passionately about the future of Kilmarnock FC and has always believed that community ownership is the best way forward for local clubs like Kilmarnock. Marie owns 46,677 shares in the club and will gift 45,677 shares to the Killie Trust. She believes that her shareholding on its own provides her with only minor influence but when combined with those shares already owned by the fans, could strengthen their collective voice and enhance their ability to effect change and help Kilmarnock FC in achieving its potential, for the benefit of the club and Kilmarnock as a whole. Marie’s passion for the club is undiminished and, as a businesswoman and life-long fan, she will watch developments at Kilmarnock FC with interest.

Glen Gibbons: Ally McCoist’s claim to have as formidable a squad of players as any club in the country outside champions Celtic would do nothing to dispel the impression that his tongue these days is quicker than his wits. The words had hardly left the Rangers manager’s lips when his side were beaten 3-1 at home in a closed-doors friendly by Hibernian, who could not reasonably be described as the galacticos of the SPFL’s Premiership. The former striker’s readiness with the impulsive, unconsidered response may be rooted in his history as a media-friendly figure. He has, after all, been what is known these days as the go-to personality for the telling quote for as long as anyone (including himself) can remember. It is possible that McCoist has become so practised in the art of filling space that he cannot break the habit. Even so, he has been steadily compiling what might be called a portfolio of outbursts, some of them grossly ill-advised and even dangerous. McCoist’s errant views began at Dunfermline two years ago when, without having seen the incident, he insisted that Steven Naismith could not be guilty of elbowing Austin McCann because “he’s not that type of lad”. Naismith, of course, was caught on camera and suspended. There followed the infamous “we want to know who these people are” demand in the wake of the review panel who sat to consider Rangers’ rules breaches in the wake of their entering administration. A similar noise was made over the question of Rangers being fined for their indiscretions while Hearts and Dunfermline were not. On both occasions, the SFA revealed that McCoist (and, in the latter case, his chief executive, Craig Mather) already knew the answers. Perhaps most seriously of all, McCoist declared himself “appalled” by the arson attack on the bus depot which housed Rangers’ new luxury coach, clearly implying that it had been carried out by rival football fans. The subsequent police investigation disclosed that the crime was not related to football. If these previous retorts are a measure of his judgment, there is unlikely to be a stampede of punters desperate to plunge on Rangers for the only “major” left to them, the Scottish Cup. http://www.scotsman.com/news/glenn-gibbons-scots-send-in-the-clowns-1-3081141

KILMARNOCK could be set to offer Nacho Novo a surprise return to the Scottish top flight. Record Sport can reveal the Spaniard joined up with Allan Johnston’s squad at training yesterday and has been invited to return next week as the Rugby Park outfit consider signing him on a short-term contract. The former Rangers striker, 34, is a free agent after returning to Glasgow following three seasons in Spain at Sporting Gijon and Huesca. Novo has an offer to move to Greece but could be prepared to accept a less lucrative pay packet at Killie to live back in Scotland with his young family. The veteran had been heavily linked with a return to Ibrox after talks with manager Ally McCoist but he spoke exclusively to Record Sport last night to confirm he might now be Killie bound. Novo said: “There was a lot of talk about Rangers but the manager there never got back to me. “I was disappointed to be treated like that but don’t feel I need to prove myself to anybody. Kilmarnock have been great with me. “I really enjoyed my first day and was made to feel welcome by everyone. “I have offers and interest from abroad but my family situation is something I need to consider. I’ve hardly seen them for three years.”

Whats everyones favourite Gers kit?? Frankie, do you still have that link which you posted maybe 3 years ago with all Gers kits - Home / Away / 3rd? Without doubt for me the 1994-96 Adidas home kit...that's was off the hook!! And the purple 3rd kit in 1994-95 is a close second. Our away in 1992-93 with the Adidas equipment - white with red stripes on shoulder - that was quality also and reminds me of our Champions league venture against Marseille. Happy days.

NEW recruit Bilel Mohsni believes Rangers have the potential to win every league game this season after enjoying an emphatic start to the Scottish League One. The Light Blues sit at the top of the table with a 100 per cent record and 18 goals from four games so far. Mohsni is well aware that some teams will pose problems with their staunch defensive displays but he says Rangers have the quality to overcome every other side in the division. He said: “I hope we can win every game, although it will be difficult. http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/bilel-mohsni-rangers-can-win-every-league-game-1-3075505

I posted this in the footie thread,however I think it has a place here as he says ''He’s in charge of the biggest and most successful club in the country''. IF THERE was a Richter scale for Twitter then the news that Peter Lawwell had been appointed to the main board of the Scottish Football Association would have measured about a 5.5, the digital equivalent of a mighty earthquake. When the news came through on Tuesday there was a sudden tremor online, a reverberation that could have only meant one thing. Something had happened in Old Firm land. Again. There are very sound reasons why Lawwell should be on the SFA board. He’s in charge of the biggest and most successful club in the country. He’s run the finances of that club expertly. He has contacts and knowledge and experience. If it was any other country in the world then there wouldn’t have been such a hubbub about his nomination. The gist of the argument against it appears to be this: He’s Celtic and therefore anti-Rangers. He’ll have too much control. He’ll feather the nest of his own club and shaft the rest. Suspicion and conspiracy and poison, too, but not a lot in the way of commonsense. On Twitter the other night we waited for something that went beyond the usual one-eyed hysteria, some level of criticism of the appointment that had any merit. Eventually, a point was made quietly. And it was an interesting point, whether you agreed with it or not. Is it right that Lawwell should sit on a board that exists to protect Scotland’s footballing interests when his own club have argued for so long that the sooner they leave Scotland the better? That’s a legitimate talking point. Much of the rest of the reaction to Lawwell’s new role was depressingly predictable, though. After the online earthquake of Tuesday, the after-shocks will continue in cyberland for some time to come. http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl/tom-english-lawwell-s-sfa-appointment-causes-stir-1-3076647?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=dlvr.it

... you know, someone had to do it! I'll write and update a list of targets in the first post. Signed: - Nicky Clark (QotS, free, compensation, 3-year deal signed) - Jon Daly (DU, free, 2-year + 1-year extension deal signed) - Cammy Bell (Kilmarnock, 4-year deal signed) - Nicky Law (Motherwell, free, 3-year signed) - Steven Smith (free/Portland, 2-year-deal apparently signed) - Arnold Peralta (Vidal, free, 4-year-deal signed) - Ricky Foster (free, Bristol City, 2-year deal) - Biliel Mohsni (free, 2-year deal) - Kenny Miller (free/Portland, resigned) - Lee Robinson (QotS) - Tom Hateley (Motherwell, free) [ - Chris Humphrey (Motherwell, free, was in talks) signed for Preston North End] Gone: - Neil Alexander (end of contract) - Kane Hemmings (end of contract) - Kal Naismith (on loan, Accrington Stanley) + + + From FF ... Links galore ... The Express

MOST football fans in Scotland do not support Celtic. The majority are not Rangers fans either. MORI and Gallup do not exactly do polls on this sort of stuff so there is no way to be scientific about it, but maybe each of them has about 35-40% of the people who follow a team and the rest are shared around all the other clubs. What those of all allegiances are coming to terms with - whether they rejoice in the fact or resent it - is that Celtic have turned the Scottish game into a one-party state. For most of its history the league title has been an endless tennis rally between Celtic and Rangers, the championship switching from one to the other every year or two. Only now and again has one of them emerged into the clear daylight of a sustained period of dominance. Celtic won six in a row from 1905, Rangers five from 1927. In the late 1960s and early '70s there were times when it looked as if Jock Stein had built a force that would never be caught. When Rangers emulated Stein's nine consecutive titles - latterly buttressed by the bountiful revenue stream of the Champions League - it felt as if Sir David Murray, Graeme Souness and Walter Smith had moved the Ibrox club to a position of power which would obliterate any competition. And what happened? The Lisbon Lions era was built around Stein's individual genius and when his powers waned Celtic were drawn back into the pack. In the late 1990s Rangers grew old and tired, and misspent their resources, to the point a rebuilt Celtic got back among the titles. Currently the record books show only two consecutive league wins for Celtic but that is the equivalent of taking a snapshot of Usain Bolt in the early stages of a 100m race. Everyone can be pretty sure of what is coming next. At Tannadice on Saturday there were the latest renditions of a tune that the Celtic support has been singing for quite a while: "Here we go, 10 in a row." It's part-celebration, part-triumphalism, part-threat to you-know-who. There are 40 clubs which have long grown accustomed to the idea of having no real chance of being Scottish champions any time soon, and one which has a demanding fanbase unused to being denied anything for long. It is common these days to hear people talk about how Celtic have the potential to begin a period of unprecedented domination "if they use their money wisely". What they mean is that if Celtic keep running themselves prudently, employing the right manager and players, staying out of debt and always having money to spend to replenish a winning squad, it is going to take an almighty effort for Rangers to ever catch them. The apocalyptic scenario for Rangers is that Celtic keep getting into the Champions League group every year. They secured £20m in Uefa money alone last season and now they have another £16m this season. That is almost twice as much dough as Rangers raised from a one-off share issue. If Celtic pull off another two qualifications in 2014 and 2015 that would amount to around £80m washing into the club before Rangers even have the chance to take them on in the league. Given that all the fundamentals - season-ticket, commercial and sponsorship income - are otherwise broadly comparable between the Glasgow clubs, the long-term difference between them will be Champions League income. And that means that when a player's agent tries to bring a talent to Glasgow (the same player is often offered to both clubs at the same time), Celtic should be able to pay higher transfer fees and wages every time they both want the same man. All of this is a chilling thought around Ibrox. Horrifying, in fact. The Uefa golden goose that was once Rangers', and then shared, is now exclusively Celtic's. They can thank David Murray and Craig Whyte for that. It used to be the rest of Scottish football that was excluded at one or both of the Old Firm's expense; now Rangers are out in the cold too. Rangers have been in the Champions League group stage 10 times and Celtic are about to play in it for the eighth time. At a very conservative estimate (Champions League income has grown over the past 20 years) that is about £180m of Uefa money the Old Firm have enjoyed, in addition to their already vastly superior regular income. Last season Motherwell made around £195,000 from Uefa, and Hearts and St Johnstone £75,000 each - a tiny fraction of Celtic's £20m. The champions' excellent campaign also meant £100,000 in "solidarity" payments from Uefa for all other top-flight clubs, but that amounts to (welcome) crumbs. The Champions League embodies the concept of a self-perpetuating elite in which the rich get richer. When I spoke to a couple of SPFL Premiership club directors about how they reacted to Celtic generating Uefa income on a scale which makes it impossible for them to be given anything more than the odd bloody nose over the course of a season, one said: "It almost doesn't concern us. We're resigned to them always winning the league now and our competition is to finish second. Most clubs are happy for them to get into the group because it means a bit of Uefa money for us. It's probably very different for Rangers." Every empire falls eventually. The eras of Stein and Souness/Smith came to natural ends. Rosenborg show that even monopolising a country's Champions League access does not guarantee permanent rule. But Celtic's position of strength, and their advantages, are greater than any board of directors have known since Scottish football began. By Michael Grant (Herald)

What would be your full team if everyone was fit and eligible to play? I'll start it off with this XI :rf::sf: :ap::ib: :jd::al: No sitting on the fence with subs!

Now I'm not one to get paranoid, or tell people what to watch/buy and what not to watch/buy. But going on the BBC site to perhaps see the highlights, I was shocked to see not one mention of the game. When you think that there were 42,000 TV Licence payers at the match, you have to wonder at their bias and just downright cheek. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/scotland/

I was most impressed with young MacLeod last season. His injury was a major concern; however, he made it back for the final game but appeared tentative. My hope for this season was that he slowly and surely regained both confidence and form. He has surpassed my desire. He looks fitter, taller, stronger, and is aesthetically pleasing as ever. Seven games has seen him play across every midfield position, mostly in the left berth. His first touch is always twinned with ensuring his head is up and assessing options. Yesterday's goal was the epitome of this trait and it highlighted another increasingly obvious quality, game awareness. I have two fears. Where will he play next week? Templeton will be left midfield, Law in the centre, and Crawford/Peralta compete for the right berth. The other obvious candidate for centre is Black, I would prefer MacLeod. Further, can the club hold on to him beyond this season? I believe he has a big future and wonder if the club in it's current predicament can fulfil?

THERE is one word which sums up how I feel when I think of the friendship I developed with Davie Cooper while the pair of us were at Rangers together in the 1980s. It is the same word which explains my emotions when I recall being on the same pitch as Davie, even as he produced pieces of genius on a regular basis for the team he adored. That word is blessed. Even now, reflecting on his career, I still regard myself as being blessed to have gained the chance to live and work and share football memories with Davie, whether at Ibrox or when we were in Scotland squads or just chewing the fat about the game we loved. There were always myths and misconceptions surrounding Davie. Some people believed that he sold himself short by not spreading his wings and playing in England, for instance. But the reality was that he loved his family, he was true to his friends and he idolised Rangers throughout his life. It spoke volumes for his determination to stay close to his roots that his whole career was spent at just three clubs – Clydebank, Rangers and Motherwell – in the west of Scotland. Yes, he was an insular guy, in as much as he had his routine and the people he wanted to be around, but what’s wrong with that? In the modern age, some players seem to move from club to club almost every year but Davie was faithful to those he trusted and he should never be condemned for showing loyalty to those who supported him. In my opinion, it should be quite the opposite. Part of the reason for him not leaving his homeland was his shyness – he just wasn’t comfortable being in the limelight – but the man had a passion for football and I still remember the look on his face in the tunnel before big matches. His eyes lit up and he was 100 per cent committed and buzzing. He was a complex lad but one of the tragic aspects of his untimely death in 1995 was the way in which he was becoming more outgoing and blossoming. And then he was gone. I honestly believe, towards the end of his playing career, that we were about to see another Davie Cooper, somebody who would have been a terrific coach and inspiration to young players in Scotland because he was so enthusiastic about football that it rubbed off on those around him. You could see him growing in confidence, thinking about his future. He never talked himself up and was one of the most grounded boys I ever met but I noticed a change in Davie after he came back from the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. It was almost as if he had begun to recognise that there was a big, wide world out there and he wanted to be part of it. Davie was misunderstood. He had his mood swings but they weren’t an offputting aspect of his character. If anything, it was an endearing quality when he used to have a moan to his mates because it played right into our hands and we ribbed him about it and that provoked good banter. It also demonstrated how much he cared and how professional he was in his attitude – some people, when they are bestowed with remarkable gifts, take things for granted and fall into the trap of believing their own publicity but Davie never did. On the contrary, and having talked to fans at Motherwell and Clydebank who regard him as the greatest player to wear their jerseys, Davie was one of life’s perfectionists wherever he went and there were no airs and graces, just a deep desire to be involved in football. Some tried to argue that he wasn’t the most dedicated of trainers but that has been overstated. He wasn’t too keen on the running sessions but, if you threw him a ball and asked him to practise, he would be there until midnight and be the happiest man on the planet. The conditions never bothered him and I have spoken to supporters who share my belief that he had it all and perhaps never fully appreciated how many of his compatriots were enthralled by the way he could light up any game with a feint, a shimmy or a mazy dribbling run which was worth the admission money on its own. These kinds of people are rare in sport so they should be cherished. Somebody such as Davie wasn’t merely a footballer – he was an entertainer and one of the best. I feel blessed for another reason. That is because my sons have the opportunity to enjoy Davie when he was at the height of his powers, thanks to the wonders of new technology. The great goals, the mesmerising artistry, the outrageous pieces of trickery – they are there on YouTube or DVD and I would advise any youngsters with an interest in football to check them out. Davie asked for little when he came in through the door at Ibrox every morning, except for some tea and toast and a quick glance at his paper. Flash cars, fashion accessories and the trappings of fame held no attraction for him and that was another of his best attributes. Essentially, he was one of the old school, a modest lad who was happiest on his home turf. A real local hero of his generation. I have never forgotten Davie and I never will. The fashion in which he was taken from us at just 39 was very, very cruel. But it does mean his talent never ages. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ally-mccoist-pays-emotional-tribute-2242522?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has admitted he is keen to lure veteran striker Kenny Miller back to Ibrox. The Scotland striker is currently under contract with the Vancouver Whitecaps until the summer of 2014, and McCoist has yet to hold any talks with the player. Rangers remain under a transfer embargo and can recruit only free agents on September 1, and under the terms of Miller's contract with the MLS side, McCoist would not be able to sign him until January at the earliest. But speaking after a 2-0 win over Berwick in the Ramsdens Cup, McCoist said: "Kenny would certainly interest me, I would be lying if I said he didn't interest me quite a lot. "If there was an opportunity to get Kenny, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't explore that. We will have to wait and see. "I keep in touch with Kenny, but I haven't spoken to him since the day after the England game. In terms of the possibility of him coming here, I haven't spoken to him about that. "I wouldn't rule it out. I'll certainly be making enquiries in the next wee while. If it's a possibility, it's an avenue we would look to possibly pursue. "I don't know if Kenny would want to come, if we could afford him. There are millions of questions but I do think we need another forward." McCoist also expects some of his players to depart the club before the current transfer window closes next week. He added: "That's a possibility. There have been one or two enquiries made about one or two of our players. "But it would be unfair of me to mention them because the players don't know yet and it's miles away from anything concrete happening." Goals from Barrie McKay and Andy Little secured victory over Berwick and McCoist said: "I thought it was a solid performance and a well-deserved win." http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11788/8892872/ally-mccoist-keen-to-bring-kenny-miller-back-to-rangers

NICKY Clark has not played a competitive match since finishing the season with Queen of the South four long months ago. And the young striker has not kicked a ball for Rangers in a friendly since the meeting with Newcastle United at the start of this month. But he is more than capable of netting the goals that secure victory over East Fife on his return to action at Ibrox on Saturday. And he can grab a fair few more as the club continue "The Journey" back to the top flight of the Scottish game. That was the opinion of left-back Lee Wallace today as he looked forward to the return of the 22-year-old predator. Cammy Bell and Clark are the only players manager Ally McCoist can field as trialists in the SPFL League One fixture this weekend. Jon Daly and Nicky Law have both played in three matches - against Brechin, Stranraer and Airdrie - and are not allowed to feature. Ricky Foster, Bilel Mohsni, Arnold Peralta and Stevie Smith are unavailable because the last club they were registered with was not in Scotland However, Wallace, who has struck a rich vein of form, is confident in the prolific marksman. "I think we all saw in pre-season exactly what Nicky Clark will bring to the team," the Scotland cap said. "Like the other players who have come in to the club during the summer, he has a lot of quality and I am sure that he is going to score a lot of goals. "We have only been able to play a couple of the new boys in each league game so far this season, but they have certainly made a big difference for us. "I am sure Nicky will do well for the club when he gets a chance. We saw in the last game that he played against Newcastle what a talent he is. "He was up against a Premier League side that was fielding players who cost millions of pounds. But he was not daunted by that and gave them a difficult evening. "I am sure he is really looking forward to getting back involved in the team and then playing regularly after September 1. I know we are all looking forward to him playing again." Wallace's lung-bursting runs up the left flank have resulted in Rangers scoring several goals this season. The defender has been impressed by how another of the new arrivals, former Dundee United striker Daly, has carved out chances for his team-mates. And he believes the Irishman will go from strength to strength now he has finally netted his first competitive goals for the Govan club. Daly bagged himself a double in the second half of the 6-0 annihilation of Airdrie at the Excelsior Stadium on Friday night to end his barren run. Wallace said: "I have played against Jon before so I know what a handful he can be for defences. He has great finishing capabilities. "He didn't take long to show people at this club what he was all about after he arrived here. He scored in training and in pre-season. "I am sure that having the manager to speak to when things were not falling for him was helpful. But we always knew he would be a goal threat. "He has been getting himself in good positions to score in all of the games that we have played and it was only a matter of time before he hit the target. "I am sure that he will go on now and score a lot of goals for us. Like all the players who have come in, he has got real quality." Rangers have won all three of their League One games against Brechin, Stranraer and Airdrie comfortably this season and have scored 13 goals in the procees. But Wallace stressed the Third Division champions would not be taking East Fife lightly when they square up to them this weekend. He said: "We have to make sure we play to our best every time that we take to the field no matter who the opposition is. "We represent Rangers and we have to remember that whenever we play." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/wallace-expects-new-blue-nicky-clark-to-display-his-quality-134683n.21991221

EXCLUSIVE: Emilson Cribari rejects chance to quit Ibrox EMILSON CRIBARI has rejected a move to Greek side Xanthi – leaving Rangers boss Ally McCoist in a sweat over any late transfer activity at Ibrox. By: Scott Burns and Michael Baillie Published: Mon, August 26, 2013 The cash-strapped Light Blues were willing to let the Brazilian defender, below, go to free up wages to help bring in Bosnian international Boris Pandza and keeper Steve Simonsen. Xanthi’s offer was relayed to Cribari’s agent but the player made it clear he is happy to remain at Rangers, where is one of the higher earners, to help the club progress up the leagues. There is still interest in the 33-year-old from across Europe and he could yet be persuaded to leave if the right deal comes up before the close of the transfer window on Monday. The League One leaders are trying to move out some of their fringe players and are even willing to loan out younger members of their squad to free up money. McCoist remains determined to strengthen his defence and has been on the trail of Pandza for much of the summer. Rangers chief executive Craig Mather has been in discussions with the 26-year-old’s representative over a possible deal. McCoist said: “I know Craig spoke to the agent. I haven’t spoken to Pandza for three weeks. “We just need to get a bit of activity in players going the other way, as I think that would probably help. There are one or two players I would like to bring in. McCoist, who has already spent all of his summer budget for new signings, is keen to bring in another striker, and Express Sport understands his interest in bringing Kenny Miller back to Ibrox is not dead. The 33-year-old, above, recently penned a six-month extension with Vancouver Whitecaps but the Ibrox club have kept in contact with the player’s agent and are confident of forcing through a deal if they find the funds. Vancouver are desperate to keep Miller but the player himself could force any deal through as he is keen to return to Scotland over the longer term. The former Hibs, Wolves, Celtic, Derby, Bursaspor and Cardiff frontman retired from Scotland international duty last week. http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/424798/EXCLUSIVE-Emilson-Cribari-rejects-chance-to-quit-Ibrox

There is still work that Ally McCoist would like to carry out on his Rangers squad. He continues to monitor trialists, is keen on a centre-back and a centre-forward and there is interest from other clubs in "one or two" of his players. These are the routine tasks of a manager, but they also provide a refuge for McCoist. When he talks about the off-field issues at Ibrox, he has increasingly been referring to fatigue, among the fans, among the football community, perhaps even for most of those involved. Every week tends to bring a further development on the boardroom saga at the club. Since answering back to the criticisms of Charles Green when the former chief executive returned, briefly, as a paid consultant, McCoist has maintained the stance this his business is the team and his players; what happens in the boardroom is down to the directors. He returned to that theme yesterday, acknowledging that the continue drama at Rangers needs a conclusive ending. "Being a fan, ex-player and now manager, I just want what's best for this club," he said. "Everyone is reaching the stage where we're saying 'let's get this sorted and move on'. When I talk to Sandy [Jardine], wee Willie Henderson, big Tam Forsyth, everyone is of the same opinion: 'C'mon, let's sort this out and go forward'. If that's ex-players talking, it'll be echoed one thousand times by the supporters, but I'm optimistic that the off-the-park stuff can finally be sorted out." It is likely to be six weeks before the club holds its annual general meeting, at which a group of disgruntled shareholders will also table five resolutions seeking significant changes in the boardroom. The accounts are due to be published in the meantime. McCoist has become well-versed in financial issues that most football managers would not expect to encounter - "it's opened my eyes to a lot of avenues I'd never have imagined I'd go down," he said - but it will be a measure of his own progress if the exploits of the team do not add to the commotion. The season is in its infancy, but Rangers fans have taken heart from the performances of their side. The loss to Forfar Athletic in the first round of the Scottish League Cup will continue to irk them, but otherwise Rangers have shown signs of a stronger mental attitude, more variety and dynamism to their play and, crucially, a more emphatic sense of purpose. Airdrieonians were eventually swept aside last Friday night, with the kind of ruthless intent that McCoist has been demanding of his squad, and even if one game is not emblematic, the general sense is of progress. "We've miles to go and we've had one great second-half against Airdrie, so no-one's getting carried away," said McCoist. "The squad's getting better with the players we've brought in. People have to remember we lost £40-50m worth of talent [last year] and brought in free transfers, but we're delighted with the progress we'll make this year." Steve Simonsen, the former Dundee goalkeeper, and Sam Kelly, the 19-year-old former Everton midfielder, have extended their trial period at the club, while McCoist retains an interest in signing the Bosnian defender Boris Pandza. Negotiations are continuing between Craig Mather, the Rangers chief executive, and Pandza's agent. Several clubs are also keen on taking Scott Gallacher, the Rangers goalkeeper, on loan, with McCoist keen for the player to gain regular first-team experience. Cammy Bell, the former Kilmarnock goalkeeper, is one of the eight players who have agreed to sign as free agents on September 1, when Rangers' registration embargo ends. He could even feature as a trialist in Saturday's match with East Fife at Ibrox, after which McCoist will be able to choose from a full squad of players. The visit of Berwick Rangers in the Ramsdens Cup tonight is not incidental, since McCoist wants to foster a hardened winning attitude within his squad. It is also an opportunity for some players to prove their worth before potential replacements are eligible to play from September 1 onwards. "If you're Berwick Rangers, you're delighted we're not allowed to play any of our new players," McCoist said. "But I'm more looking forward to the game than having any worries because the boys that will play, those that didn't play on Friday, will know that's what expected." http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/miles-to-go-but-mccoist-confident-of-moving-on.21981607

On Saturday, not long after the Stranraer match, the club published a statement entitled, “For the Avoidance of Doubt”. The article was written under the tag, ‘Rangers Football Club’, although almost everyone acknowledges that it was probably penned by the club’s Director of Communications, James Traynor. Although the statement was generally well received by Rangers fans, it was more noticeable for what it didn’t say, rather than what it actually did say. Whilst the statement is welcome, it is long overdue, and I doubt if it will have any substantive or meaningful impact on the serial Rangers haters who constantly misrepresent and malign our club. I suspect that most Rangers fans consider the statement to be much too terse, and would have preferred a more comprehensive, robust and forceful statement. Certainly given the nature and content of the statement, it is noticeable for its failure to comment on the serial offenders at Rangers who consistently utilise the local anti-Rangers media to further their own agendas, or censure those Rangers bloggers who are aligned with one side or another in the current Boardroom wars, and who often give interviews to the local rags, including the Daily Record. In fact it fails to confront the leaks that are clearly emanating from Ibrox, and it doesn’t ‘sit well’ with the fact that our board of directors, club officials and employees regularly utilise the local rags for their own ends. Fine words from James Traynor – but actions speak much louder than words! It is for that reason I have penned an alternative version of “For the Avoidance of Doubt”. For The Avoidance of Doubt (Alternative version) “Rangers Football Club is aware of wildly inaccurate stories circulating on various websites and would like fans to know that these flights of fancy will be monitored by our lawyers. Where it is considered necessary, we will instruct our lawyers to initiate legal action against the owners and administrators of any website, or any other media vehicle, that publishes (or disseminates by any other means) material that is inaccurate, libellous or misrepresents the club’s position in any way. The club will keep fans advised of any action initiated as a consequence of this monitoring process and will provide regular updates on the club’s official platforms. In particular, our lawyers are examining a malicious piece which seems to suggest that the club does not own its facilities. That suggestion is, of course, utter nonsense, and the club wishes to make it unequivocally clear that the club owns all of its facilities in their entirety. We urge Rangers fans to treat these idiotic and lumbering articles with the contempt they deserve. Better still, ignore them completely. However, we acknowledge that many fans may wish to analyse and assess them and, where appropriate, respond to their misrepresentations by means of their own websites and blogs. Indeed the club recognises the very practical assistance provided by the fans in monitoring these articles and responding in circumstances where the club is, either, unable or unwilling to do so. But we must also stress we cannot waste time responding publicly to every blog or ridiculous claim against the club, although we acknowledge the magnificent work that has been done by Rangers fans in challenging the reprehensible Rangers Tax Case blog; BBC Scotland’s consistent misrepresentations and its inaccurate and biased reporting; the vindictive and malign blogs of those such as Alex-Thomson of Channel 4, Phil Four Names, Paul McConville and, of course, those journalists in the mainstream media such as Graham Spiers, Tom English, Keith Jackson etc. who continually misrepresent, and unreasonably, attack our club. There is also a dangerous proliferation of anonymous obsessive’s on various social media sites and we will not give them any credence, although we will continue to monitor the material they publish and seek to identify the source of any leaks, particularly where specific material is proven to be genuine correspondence emanating from Rangers Football Club. In such circumstances we will take appropriate action against any director or officer of the club who is found responsible for leaking confidential information including, if necessary, precautionary suspension and summary dismissal. Nor can we react to every journalist and publication that appears to pursue an anti-Rangers agenda; publications such as the Daily Record which today boasts yet another headline which does not accurately reflect what manager Ally McCoist said in his press conference yesterday. The paper’s intent is clear, and we urge our fans to see it for what it is, as we urge those prominent bloggers who are closely aligned to the Club, and prepared to give interviews to the Daily Record, and provide them with information relating to the business of our board, its shareholders and the club’s operations, to desist forthwith. In this regard, the club will make every effort to ensure that no member of its board, any shareholder, club official or employee will provide information to, or give interviews to, the Daily Record or any of the other recognised anti- Rangers media. If Rangers fans want the truth they will find it only on the club’s official platforms, and we will make every effort to ensure that, from this point onward, there is substantive and meaningful information available to fans on the club’s platforms in relation to current anti-Rangers news stories, statements that misrepresent the club’s stated position and those that are causing significant concern to the fans. This is particularly relevant given the current boardroom upheavals. Finally, Jack Irvine of Media House does not speak for this Club, although we can confirm that he and Media House currently represent the interests of the Easdale brothers who are major shareholders in Rangers Football Club.”

SO MANY voices in this Rangers saga and so many mixed messages, so much contradiction to pile on top of the poison that has reigned in the place for far too long. Dire warnings from Dave King that the club is living beyond its means and is heading inexorably for the rocks again and, on the flip side, Ally McCoist looking to sign a reserve goalkeeper (is there nobody there already who can warm the bench for the season?) as well as two others. The club appears to be bleeding money. They have burned their way through their share-offering revenue – supposedly £20 million-plus – and have £10m left in the bank and overheads that are eye-watering. And yet the manager is carrying on – being allowed to carry on – spending where there is no need. No need whatsoever. Three more players might increase Rangers’ winning margin in League One. Big deal. They might give them an extended run in a cup, but is it worth it? More mouths to feed, more money going out, more pressure on a club’s finances that concerned Rangers fans are bending over backwards to have a look because they fear the worst. Is there nobody at Ibrox prepared to cry “Stop! We need to cut costs not add to them”? Apparently not. Contradiction upon contradiction. Yesterday, more of it. Sandy Easdale sent a message out there via his PR man, Jack Irvine, who came blinking into the light having spent so many years operating in the shadows. Laughably, Irvine attempted to portray his client as a man who would sooner jump in the path of one of his buses than do anything to damage his beloved Rangers. What is required desperately at Rangers – before it is too late – is transparency. The bonnet needs to be lifted on the club’s fiscal reality and the suspicion is that it had better happen quickly. For all their faults, the trio of Jim McColl, Paul Murray and Frank Blin want to do this in rapid order. That’s their modus operandi. Easdale doesn’t want it to happen. He has called the prospect of an EGM and a possible over-throwing of the board an “appalling waste of money”. He has, through his PR man, said McColl and company are wasting their time and that they will end up looking embarrassed. That is to say that seemingly an overwhelming body of the Rangers support are also wasting their time in their pleas for proper financial transparency. Easdale, it would appear, thinks everybody in the Rangers fanbase should pipe down with their complaints. He – or his man – calls the whole thing “boardroom nonsense” Boardroom nonsense? Quite a description, that. Just a little bit of an understatement, wouldn’t you agree? Tuesday is when the Rangers board meet to discuss Charles Green’s role as consultant. By rights, Green will be stripped of his position, if only for his capacity to cause humiliation to all those around him. That’s a long-honed skill of the Yorkshireman and his cohorts and it’s going to be difficult to stop. Green holds a lot of aces at Rangers. He’s going to take a bit of shifting. Overseeing all of this, of course, is Craig Mather, the chief executive who has to, on one hand, appease the Rangers support and, on the other, attempt to neutralise Green’s addiction to mortifying public utterances that send those at Ibrox into apoplectic fury. Mather, it has to be said, is not exactly a leader of substance. You might remember that, back in June, he borrowed a move from the Green playbook by trumpeting his desire to go after Rangers’ enemies, a carbon-copy of the tactic deployed by Green at the outset – and one that worked very well with the fans until they could see through him and his money-grab. “There will be times when you [the support] want us to tackle our enemies and it will seem like we’re somehow reluctant to do so or that we don’t care,” he said. “You might believe we don’t feel hurt to the same extent as you, but we do. Sometimes you have to wait. We’ve chosen, and we will continually choose, the right moment to strike. Please, never believe that I or any other directors don’t know the names of the people who have tried to damage this club. We know them all. We know what each one’s tried to do and I can assure you we will never, ever forget about that.” This was populist claptrap at the time and it’s populist claptrap that Mather has singularly failed to back up. Rangers’ enemies? Does he – or anybody else at the club – seriously believe that the media, the BBC in the main, are the club’s major enemy? If they do, God help them. Their analysis is desperately skewed. The main “enemies” are surely the ones who are wearing – or have recently worn – the Rangers blazer. The Greens, the Imran Ahmads, the Brian Stockbridges. Stockbridge is the financial controller at Ibrox. A few weeks ago at a fans meeting he was asked how much of the share-offering money remained in the club bank account. He didn’t know. Or didn’t want to say. A few days later he appeared in a tabloid saying that, er, nothing was left. Nothing. A financial controller? What, exactly, is he controlling when vast bonuses are given out to himself and Green for the pitiful honour of winning the Third Division. Big salaries and 
100 per cent bonuses. That’s not control, that’s the very opposite. Where is Mather’s ire at these people? It doesn’t exist because he is among them. Mather doesn’t know who the real enemies are. On Tuesday he, and the board, will have a chance to right a wrong and remove Green, a man who, it is said, is prepared to support Ahmad in his multi-million pound legal action against the club. With friends like that… Mather has said other things. He went after the SFA, for instance. Another Rangers enemy and more populism. The chief executive demanded answers from Hampden about the different punishments doled out to Hearts and Rangers in administration. He made great play of this in a statement. He wanted to know if it was one rule for Rangers and another for Hearts. He was going to press the SFA to explain themselves. All of this gave the impression of a man taking on the Rangers haters. It was bunkum. His anger and his call for transparency didn’t even amount to him taking the time to send an e-mail or write a letter to the SFA asking for clarification. A warrior in his statement and a pussycat thereafter. The SFA did, indeed, provide clarification, but not because of an official request – that’s normal procedure – but because they wanted to highlight what garbage Mather was talking in his phoney call to arms. The SFA statement was a deconstruction of Mather’s earlier position. Why had the SFA fined Rangers, Mather had demanded to know. Answer: Because Rangers asked them to. To Tuesday, then. And the hope that those seeking clarity are not once again painted as the enemy by the incumbents who want an end to mere “boardroom nonsense”. The reality, as most appreciate now, is far bigger than that. http://www.scotsman.com/news/tom-english-rangers-and-the-need-for-transparency-1-3051356?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

SITTING in his garden in Edinburgh, surrounded by his begonias and geraniums and the two golden rabbits that sit as ornaments overlooking his freshly cut grass, Sandy Jardine is laughing. Black humour in everything, he says. One minute he is talking about the cancer of the throat and liver that brought him to death’s door, talking about the Friday his wife and children were sent for because the medics weren’t sure he was going to make it through the night, then he’s chuckling at the memory of something else that happened to him on this journey. “This is a brilliant one. You’ll like this.” He is in a nice quiet room in the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, a Hibs fan as his principal carer. “I won’t give the boy’s name away, but he was a great old lad. I was really weak so I needed somebody to help me shower and he’d come and wheel me in on a chair and I’d just sit there and get myself washed. It could be quite a feat some days. “One time, I had a sore back and I told the boy to leave me a bit longer so I could let the water ping on the sore bit. He says, ‘Aye, nae bother, Sandy. I’ll just shut the door and wait outside’. I’m doing that and then the fire alarm goes off. I’m thinking ‘What the hell is going on now?’ He comes in and he’s as confused as me. ‘What’s that about?’ Hadn’t a clue. The fire brigade came in the room and they were looking about everywhere. The Hibs lad was saying ‘There’s nae fire in here boys. I’m telling you’. They’re pacing around my room and I’m still in my chair in the shower not knowing what the hell is happening. Apparently, I was in the shower so long the steam had set off one of the fire alarms and triggered an emergency. My back felt a lot better afterwards, though!” It’s Thursday and Jardine, 64, is looking well. He’s in a world now where little things mean everything, where going an extra 250 yards on his walk every day brings him great satisfaction, where cutting the grass in a oner and not the stop-start style of before gives him a boost. The other day he drove to the shops for the first time in seven or eight months. Felt fantastic. “See those begonias? There was a time when I was bringing them on in the greenhouse and thinking that they’d outlast me. You’re carrying on with your daily life, out the door to Ibrox or Murray Park at ten to seven pretty much six days a week and coming home to work in the garden and then everything’s in slow motion all of a sudden.” This is how it was for the gentle colossus of Ibrox, the man – the gentleman – who played 674 games for Rangers, scoring 75 goals and winning 14 major trophies. He went to the doctor with a sore throat which turned to be three cancerous nodes. Cancer of the throat, Sandy, they said. Sorry to have to tell you that. Jardine was thinking that cancer meant a death sentence. So far, so grim. He went for a scan and they found something else. Dark spots on his liver. Secondary cancer. Marvellous. They said they’d do the liver first and, once he’d recovered, they’d get to work on the throat. “I said ‘What happens if I don’t want to get the treatment? She says ‘You’ll probably be dead in six months’.” Everybody says the same things about Sandy Jardine. Naturally, they say he was a wondrous player, which he was. They say he is a lovely man, which he is. And they say he’s a fighter, and there is no doubting that either. Before he went in for the operation on his liver he intentionally upped his exercise to make himself stronger for the battle ahead. He walked more, he played more golf , he went in there in the best of condition and then he got an infection and could have died. That’s the truth of it. His body rebelled and he spent 12 days in intensive care talking gibberish to his kids, who remind him of it now with a smile. “They operated and ended up taking 80 per cent of my liver away. Funny, isn’t it? Not a smoker, not a drinker, physically fit, yet that happens. Then I got that infection and, on any one of those 12 days, I could have died. One Friday the whole family got called in because they thought I might not make it. The reason I made it is because I had a really high fitness level. They opened me up again, cleaned me out and it worked. I got out on the 24th of December. That was the biggest Christmas present.” If, in your mind’s eye, you can see Jardine marauding up the touchline in blue or maroon, then here’s another image to conjure with. After he came home, he almost had to learn how to walk again. He suffered a panic attack in the process. Then he got on top of it, walking to the wall near where we are sitting and back again, then walking to the front door, then extending it out of the house and up to the turn in the street. Little victories, every day. But that was just the first half. There was still radiotherapy on his throat to endure. Thirty doses with his head bolted into a scanner that zapped the same spot over and over, each of the sessions lasting ten minutes. He says all of this with not an ounce of self-pity. Mostly, he is grateful. Grateful to NHS hospitals – the Royal and the Western in Edinburgh – grateful to the doctors and nurses, grateful to his family and friends and to the Rangers supporters, but above all to his wife, Shona. “My wife never wants mentioning but she’s been fantastic. I wouldn’t have made it without her. “Because you’ve been in football and you’re used to fighting for a victory and fighting for a cup then everybody presumes that dealing with stuff is second nature to you but I’m just like anybody else. I’ve got my wee faults and insecurities and that. I mean, I have a very positive attitude but, when you find out you have cancer, you look in the paper and it suddenly feels like everybody is dying of it. So-and-so has died and so-and-so has died. It’s negative and negative. You look at the adverts and it’s ‘X number of people have died of cancer in the last year but with your donations we’ll beat it’. But what about all the people who have survived? How about a positive message. Ten years ago 40 per cent of people survived cancer and now it’s 80 per cent. Something like that. When you’re trying to recover you don’t hear about people surviving, you just hear about people who are dying.” So many things gave Jardine strength, though. He had messages from all over Scottish football. Rod Stewart sent him an email. Hazel Irvine sent him a card that moved him. Mostly, it was ordinary people getting in touch and their letters, in their thousands, meant the world to him. “When I went back to Ibrox in March for the East Stirling game I just wanted to say a thank you to the supporters over the microphone. It might have sounded corny but it was something I wanted to do. I was very humbled. When I heard they were clapping every two minutes I thought that was fantastic. I was there last weekend and it was just brilliant.” What he sees at Ibrox – off the field at any rate – is ugliness and upset. There’s always been power battles at Ibrox, he says, from James Bowie versus Bill Struth and even before. “What these people have got to remember is that, whoever takes the club, all they are is custodians. The life of the place is the fans. Some of the old guys have been supporters for 80 years. Sons, fathers, grandfathers going in there for long before we were born and will be going in long after we’re gone. We’ve had boardroom battles but it was kept within the four walls. Let them get on with it but what they’ve got to remember is don’t embarrass our club. I speak on behalf of the fans now. They’re sick of it. They want to get on with it.” A boardroom battle, of course, is no kind of battle, not in the world Jardine has been living in for almost a year now. He talks about “crossing over” into a new reality when he was told he had cancer and he’s not sure when he’s ever going to cross back. “It’s in remission and I’m doing well but I don’t know, the doctors don’t know. You go for a test in three months and if it’s clear you go back in six months and then maybe a year. But, at Christmas, I could have been dead. Every day’s a bonus.” n Sandy Jardine will be honoured by supporters, former players and friends at a tribute dinner on 27 October at Glasgow’s Thistle hotel. Tickets from Laura.Phillips@scsgroup.co.uk. A donation will go to Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre in Edinburgh http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/rangers-legend-sandy-jardine-on-battling-cancer-1-3051261

Q a potential hiding in this game if England field a strong team. The biggest gulf in class between the 2 squads in the history of the fixture. But as its 3 days before the Premier league starts it could be an England B team. Not one Rangers player in the squad - that could be a first! But 8 former players. Despite not having the quality of McAllister, Collins, Ferguson, Lambert etc its still a decent balanced squad and better than what we had under Berti Vogts reign. Considering the SFA/SPL management have done a wonderful job ruining the game its about as good as can expected. Lee Wallace should have been involved though.

http://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/latest-news/155-mccoll-the-messiah-some-key-questions From a cursory look across the various forums this sunny Wednesday morning, I note Jim McColl et al appears to be requesting EGM support from the Rangers supporters who are shareholders (apparently around 12% of the whole). Fair enough and not an unexpected development but this is actually an important issue so please allow me to labour the point somewhat. First of all, I'd fancy, under normal circumstances Jim McColl would be exactly the kind of investor and/or board member and/or outright owner our fans would literally carry up the marble staircase to victory. He's substantially rich, apparently a genuine fan and his business reputation is clearly impressive given his various successes. What's not to like? Unfortunately, as we know, the situation at Ibrox is far from normal and McColl’s influence with specific regard to Rangers has hardly been impressive in recent times: 1. McColl has been involved with previous failed bids – including an aborted attempt at fan ownership in conjunction with the RST and purportedly a rejected post-D&P deadline bid for the club along with Walter Smith last year. Has he learned from these experiences? 2. McColl has always come across as reluctant at best and quirky to a fault when it comes to Rangers. Sure, a football club can’t be seen as a sound investment by someone used to making money rather than losing it but, if he’s a fan, then his involvement would only ever be an emotional one anyway. Where does he draw the line between personal concern and business? 3. Fan trust of anyone involved is at an all-time low. The most recent regimes from Sir David Murray and Craig Whyte have failed completely whilst the current incumbents are struggling to retain supporter backing with a variety of poor decisions. Thus, anyone who wants to control Rangers has to accept public scrutiny will be higher than anything they’ll have experienced before. Does that fit with McColl’s preference for remaining in the background? 4. His current share-holding is hardly impressive (even if he may have the backing of others). No-one knows just how many shares McColl owns but it must be lower than the LSE-notifiable 3%. Is that reflective of his overall interest or just someone who prefers to stay under the radar? Just how much money is he willing to spend? 5. McColl and/or his group have never made their plans clear and, in fact, it's impossible to tell from one day to the next if they want to buy the club and/or if they just want to be a short-term controlling bloc to ensure ‘effective’ ownership (perhaps via a new share issue) is transferred to someone else like Dave King. How exactly do they see the club’s financial future? All these valid questions means, instead of having the automatic backing of a huge majority of supporters (and indeed other shareholders), many people are - quite rightly - less than clear about what he's offering. Ergo, to make calls for fan backing without being completely open on his intentions is not the best strategy in my opinion. Indeed, it could be said he’s suffering from the same problems the Blue Knights stumbled into last year; namely failing to grasp supporter attention amidst a variety of strategic errors. To conclude, I'll say again: Jim McColl should be the right man for the job, but the very fact we have doubters (based on constructive criticism rather than daft stuff about his politics), doesn't reflect well on his efforts so far. Thus, I'd argue that McColl still has a bit of work to do if he wants to be successful; even if the fact he's come this far suggests he's clearly confident. However, if it's a straight choice between a Charles Green and a Frank Blin along with an Imran Ahmad and a Jim McColl, I don't see many fans opting for the former. Of course, as always, it's not as simple as that so McColl and his group would be well advised to avoid complacency and/or assume fan backing. If not, he only needs to phone Paul Murray to release what over-confidence can do to your reputation. What Rangers fans want more than anything is a well-run, self-sustainable club. If McColl can provide that, then great but instead of hiding from the debate on how this can happen, why not show the support why you’re the right man for the job. That’s real leadership quality and, if the plans are viable, then backing would be a given. Over to you, Jim…