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Sky Sports Victory Shield England vs Scotland Thursday 20th November, 8pm kick-off Huish Park Stadium, Yeovil LIVE on Sky Sports Scot Gemmill today announced his squad for Scotland Under-16's Sky Sports Victory Shield match against England in Yeovil. Scotland can no longer retain the trophy after set-backs against Northern Ireland and Wales but the side will be looking to bounce back against the Auld Enemy, two days after their senior counterparts take on each other at Celtic Park. Scotland Under-16 squad to face England: Goalkeepers Aidan McAdams (Celtic) Kieran Wright (Rangers) Defenders Daniel Baur (Heart of Midlothian) Tony Gallacher (Falkirk) Dan Meredith (West Bromwich Albion) Kieran Freeman (Dundee United) Lewis Bell (Celtic) Jason Krones (Rangers) Midfielders Liam Burt (Rangers) Lee Connelly (Queen’s Park) Connor McLennan (Aberdeen) Kristi Marku (Celtic) Jamie Barjonas (Rangers) David Turnbull (Motherwell) Forwards Jack Adamson (Hibernian) Jack Aitchison (Celtic) Zak Rudden (Rangers) Glenn Middleton (Norwich City)

According to the Herald: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/rangers-fans-up-in-arms-as-ashley-loans-club-1m-more.25855834 That's me sold..

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/charlies-sake-hope-rangers-cash-4610915#rlabs=1 JACKIE McNAMARA is desperate for Dundee United’s cash row with Rangers over Charlie Telfer to end. The clubs are locked in a stalemate over the Scotland youth star’s summer switch from Murray Park to Tannadice. Telfer has made four appearances for United – scoring in the 3-0 win over St Mirren earlier this month – while he made his one and only top-team appearance for Rangers as a sub in April. Under SPFL rules clubs can receive compensation for developing and training players under 23 who move as free agents. Rangers argue they are entitled to six years’ cash for the player between the age of 12 to 18. United, meanwhile, believe the Championship side should only receive money to cover two years since liquidation in 2012. Tannadice chairman Stephen Thompson was even claimed to have said “you’ve only got two years of history”. With both clubs unable to decide on a fee for the player the dispute will now be heard by an independent panel. And McNamara said: “For everybody it would be good if it was sorted, especially for young Charlie. He came in last week against St Mirren and he was excellent. “He was a bit unfortunate not to start the game at Motherwell on Friday but for all of us it would be good if we can get that resolved so we can move on. “There are all sorts of things come in to it, I’m not an expert on that. That will be up for the people in charge of the tribunal to decide.”

Email from RFC:

...as he reveals his part in Brian Kennedy's failed 11th hour Ibrox bid. THE former Ibrox boss vented his anger at chief executive Charles Green in a scathing attack on the Rangers boardroom chaos. GRAEME SOUNESS last night revealed he was part of Brian Kennedy’s failed 11th hour bid to stop Mike Ashley seizing control of Rangers. And the former Light Blues manager branded former chief executive Charles Green a “pr**k” during a scathing assessment of the never-ending boardroom chaos at Ibrox. Souness has told for the first time how he teamed up with old pal Kennedy last month when the Sales Shark owner launched a £3million rescue package after being approached by former chief executive Graham Wallace – only for the rest of the current regime to rubber-stamp take a £2m funding deal from Ashley instead. That setback came two-and-a-half years after Souness and Kennedy’s Blue Knights thought they had managed to get through the Ibrox front-door, only for disgraced Yorkshireman Green to grab control. Souness is angry about what has happened at his former club and concerned over Rangers’ future. But he reckons that would not have been the case had he and Kennedy got their way. When asked if he was also involved in the latest move, Souness said: “Yes. I had a week with Brian in Majorca three weeks ago. But if it’s not to be it’s not to be. ”It never got beyond a bid. And they never wanted Brian’s money this time either. “When we met a couple of weeks ago, we never went into detail because, the last time, we believed we had it. Brian believed he had it only to be let down and deeply disappointed. We even came up to watch a Rangers and Celtic game because we believed we had it. “I think this time around he was always thinking the worst. “Given the structure the way it is now I would think that’s it finished now. ”I’m angry about it and saddened by it in equal amounts because a lot has been allowed to happen. “I don’t want to get into being involved in a libel case. “All I would say is that if we had got it the people there would have had the club for the right reasons.” Souness believes the club has missed out by turning Kennedy down and added: “They certainly did the first time around. “It would have the right people running it for the right reasons. “That would have been Walter [smith] and I and the right person as the owner. All of us there for the right reasons. ”I don’t know how Brian feels right now but I think his attitude to it has changed now the other folk are involved.” Souness launched a scathing attack on Green as he revealed the Yorkshireman’s attempts to get him on board days before he completed his £5.5m buyout of the club’s assets back in the summer of 2012. He explained: “What is it? Two years since that prick had it? “The guy who knocked on my door one night asking me if I would get involved in it, with him. Charles Green. “Late one night about 11 o’clock, my answer was no. “I got a phonecall about an hour before that saying he was coming to see me. I had been asked to see him and I had refused. “I got a call an hour before to say he was on his way to see me. We went for a cup of tea at a hotel around the corner. “You’ve got me angry now… “Who knows what would have happened if we had got in? But I’ll tell you, the stadium would still be full.” Souness has no idea what the future holds now for Rangers under Ashley but said he had done a tremendous job with Newcastle. He said: “I don’t want to end up in court. “I wouldn’t be critical of Mike Ashley. He is a fantastic businessman who saw an opportunity at Newcastle and it’s very hard to be critical, having worked there myself. “I think he has done the right thing there. “What I worked there the largest shareholder was under enormous pressure to make changes too quickly. “He lived in the city. Mike Ashley doesn’t live in the city and has not listened to any fans forums or phone-ins. “He has stuck with his manager and it looks like he is getting the rewards of that. “That’s what it needed. It needs a strong owner and that’s what he is. Someone who has been supremely successful in anything he has touched. “I think in terms of Newcastle supporters they should be counting their blessings rather than being critical.” Souness also aimed a blast at those who celebrated Rangers’ demise when he said: “ All I would say is that all the people who enjoyed their demise, if they had their time again, would they have voted the same way? “Celtic getting gates of less than 20,000? I think it has damaged football, hopefully not beyond repair. “Football goes in cycles. Over a 10-year period, they say if you lose a support, it’s very hard to get that back. “I don’t know if it will get back. “Rangers will get back to the SPL, the Old Firm games will be enormous affairs again and the passion will remain the same. “But will it ever get back to where it was six or seven years ago? I very much doubt it.” Meanwhile, Rangers fans have written to stock market bosses urging them to investigate Ashley’s Ibrox power grab. The Rangers Supporters Trust has also raised a number of concerns about the current board’s handling of the League One champions, accusing them of a operating with a “reckless and irresponsible attitude to going concern status”. Newcastle United owner Ashley holds just under nine per cent of the cash-strapped Glasgow giants but has been effectively pulling the strings since the club was forced to accept his offer of a £2million loan. The terms of that crisis credit line allows the Sports Direct billionaire to name two directors to the Ibrox board. Former Magpies managing director Derek Llambias was Ashley’s first pick with the second yet to be revealed. Ashley also runs Rangers’ retail division – a deal which hands him 49 per cent of the club’s shirt sale profits – and owns the naming rights to the stadium following an agreement he struck with former chief executive Charles Green for just £1. Hampden bosses have already written to both Rangers and Ashley seeking “clarification” on the 50-year-old Londoner’s involvement. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/graeme-souness-vents-anger-gers-4611416

The reality of my Club recently crawling to Mike Ashley to ask for our latest emergency loan once again left me shaking my head in disbelief as yet another sad chapter in our history is scribbled on the back of an IOU note....... http://www.therst.co.uk/what-has-become-of-rangers/ Not much to disagree with

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/rangers-investors-sandy-james-easdale-4597710

woooooooooooooo

Sammy Reid who scored THAT goal for Berwick in 1967 passed away on Sunday,age 75.

http://www.therst.co.uk/rst-letter-to-aim/

ALLY McCoist has been heavily criticised and, at times, even derided for having Rangers games postponed during the last year or so. Fans of all football clubs like to go and see their side in action at three o'clock on a Saturday afternoon - at home especially. So when a match is switched to a midweek slot, for whatever reason, it tends to annoy supporters. The logic behind McCoist asking for fixtures to be called off - that three or more of his players are away on international duty - has not been widely accepted. When the Gers manager last invoked SPFL rule G7 and had last month's scheduled Petrofac Training Cup quarter-final against East Fife put back it upset many. Centre-backs Bilel Mohsni and Marius Zaliukas were called up by Tunisia and Lithuania respectively. Northern Ireland, meanwhile, placed Dean Shiels on stand-by. All three men had featured in the first team in the 2014/15 campaign. But not all of them were likely to kick off the last eight tie at New Bayview. In fact, it was not inconceivable that none of them would play. Surely, a lot of disgruntled fans asked, the Ibrox club has a strong enough squad to be able to cope with a meeting with part-time opposition from the bottom division without Mohsni, Shiels and Zaliukas? For followers of other clubs, meanwhile, it was nothing short of laughable that the once-mighty Glasgow giants appeared to be running scared of minnows from Methil. McCoist will argue that it is his responsibility as manager to put out his strongest possible side on the park irrespective of how lowly the opposition team are. He will also point to the fact his side has won all four of the games he has had postponed - against Dunfermline, Forfar, Cowdenbeath and East Fife - this season and last. Yet, whether you approve of his stance in these situations or not is neither here nor there in the case of the Championship match with Alloa at Ibrox this Saturday. For the club board to decree the match goes ahead without consulting with their manager on the matter is alarming and suggests all is not well in the relationship between the two parties. Yes, the future of the troubled League One champions remains, despite Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley agreeing to loan them £2million last month, shrouded in uncertainty. And, yes, playing the game against Alloa this weekend as scheduled will certainly ensure that much-needed revenue comes in to the stricken club as normal. It should also prevent Championship leaders Hearts pulling further ahead of Rangers at the top of the second tier table ahead of a massive meeting between the two sides at Tynecastle seven days later. But the decision on the Alloa match going ahead was a football one and should have been taken by Ally McCoist and Ally McCoist alone. That it was not was a disturbing development and has set a worrying precedent. What's next? Derek Llambias ruling that Jon Daly deserves a start up front ahead of Kris Boyd? David Somers insisting the side should set up in a 4-5-1 formation instead of a 4-4-2? The absence of Mohsni and Arnold Peralta will not impact on Rangers as neither man has featured for the first team in weeks. The loss of Lewis Macleod, however, most certainly will. It is no surprise McCoist is considering asking Scotland boss Gordon Strachan to release the midfielder for the game if he is not set to be involved in the Euro 2016 qualifier with the Republic of Ireland on Friday night. Macleod scored one goal - his eighth of the campaign -and set up Kenny Miller for another in an emphatic 4-0 triumph over Falkirk in a league game at Ibrox at the weekend. He was also the deserved recipient of the man of the match award. The 20-year-old, then, will be conspicuous by his absence if he is not in the Rangers team against Alloa. He certainly has been whenever he has been sidelined previously this term. It was no coincidence the Light Blues drew 1-1 with Alloa away and lost 3-1 to Hibs at home when the talented youngster was injured. Five of the eight points they have dropped in the league this season have been leaked without him. Stevie Smith will probably get the nod to stand in for Macleod and will no doubt acquit himself with all of his usual professionalism. But he is a specialist left- back and is not a like-for-like replacement. Having said all that, if McCoist's men, who have now kept six consecutive clean sheets in all competitions, continue to play as well as they have done in recent weeks against Barry Smith's charges they should collect all three points. Their performance against a decent Falkirk side was assured. A Nicky Law strike early on gave them the lead and subsequent efforts from Macleod, Miller and Nicky Clark secured another victory. The backline of Richard Foster, Darren McGregor, Lee McCulloch and Lee Wallace was once again rock solid. Steve Simonsen in goals was rarely troubled by the visitors. Hearts edged out Raith Rovers - a side that Rangers had thrashed 6-1 a few weeks ago - by 1-0 through in the capital on Saturday and maintained their four-point advantage at the top of the table. But the fact that Rangers have won eight games on the spin, letting in just one goal in the process, is rightly giving them confidence they can catch and overtake their main rivals for promotion back to the top flight. You would think Ally McCoist, the man responsible for orchestrating that run of form and for overseeing Rangers rise through the bottom two divisions, would be deferred to on football matters. You would be wrong. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/ally-must-action-cap-call-offs-at-rangers-187907n.25814885

I see the SFA have charge Tonev with racist abuse, using the Duncan Ferguson affair as a precedent should the Police now step in and charge this guy after all he has alledgedly broken the law and the confines of a football pitch doesn't exempt you from prosecution if you break the law.

According to Companies House, Sandy Easdale and David Somers were today appointed as directors at Rangers Retail Ltd for TRFC. http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk//wcprodorder?ft=1 They replaced Wallace and Nash. I'm sure they'll keep everything sweet for the interests of Mike Ashely.

Very random topic but what are your memories of him? I was very young when he played for us but recall him being a decent player despite his size and was ruined through injury. Am I recalling correctly?

...after bust-up with Rangers boss. GORDON claimed he wasn’t offered a contract by Gers in the summer – only for McCoist to insist he was given the option of signing. CELTIC keeper Craig Gordon has told Ally McCoist there will be no clear-the-air talks after his bust-up with the Rangers boss. Gordon claimed he wasn’t offered a contract by Gers in the summer – only for McCoist to insist he was given the option of signing. He also claimed Gordon hadn’t bothered calling him back but the Hoops No.1 said: “There’s plenty of things that could come out but won’t. “If he wants to say anything more it’s up to him. But I’m done with it.” Spending two years on the sidelines fearing for his career has given Gordon a great sense of perspective. So it’s not too surprising that a spat with McCoist has left the Celtic keeper unruffled. The 31-year-old spent a long time in the wilderness following his release by Sunderland in 2012, fighting for fitness as a knee injury continued to plague him. Celtic eventually handed Gordon a route back into the game this summer and he has rediscovered the kind of form that made him Scotland’s undisputed No.1. But he trained with Old Firm rivals Rangers before pitching up at Parkhead, although Gordon claims he wasn’t offered a contract by the Ibrox club. That was disputed last week by Gers gaffer McCoist. The fact Celtic then landed Rangers in the draw for the League Cup semi-final added even more spice to the row. But Gordon has already drawn a line under the matter and won’t give McCoist a call to clear the air before that cup clash early next year. He said: “I don’t want to get into a war of words. It’s his prerogative to say what he wants. “Those things should have stayed between us. If he wants to make those make comments that’s entirely up to him. “I know exactly what happened and I’m comfortable with everything that has gone on. “It’s up to him, it makes no difference to me. “I haven’t spoken to him. I don’t know if he wants a phone call or not but now we’ve been paired together in the League Cup, it’s probably unlikely. If he wants to say anything more, it’s up to him. “But it won’t be coming from me. I’m done with it.” Gordon has more important things to worry about and hopes his injury problems are now over after becoming a Hoops regular. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-keeper-craig-gordon-says-4596752?

Will we see movement on those fronts this week? I could be miles off but I see it as.... 1. SFA grant permission for Ashley to increase his holding above 10% 2. Easdales possibly sell theirs to Ashley and depart 3. Chosen CEO employed 4. Accounts published 5. AGM date announced with many moonbeams

What was/is their motivation for getting involved in Rangers? I've heard/read alsorts, such as they were 'sucked in' by Green and probably now wish they didn't get involved, or they were identified by Green to be his group's front after he made his supposed exit, or they were hoping to have sold up and been out with a good profit by now, or wanting some level of respectability that a Rangers director brings (or at least used too, what with the procession of chancers we've had lately), or even they are genuine Bears who want what's best for the club................ Interested in hearing opinions on why they got involved.

Despite previous cancellations due to international call-ups, the Alloa chairman Mike Mulraney has confirmed to me on social media that RFC have said next week's match at Ibrox will go ahead as scheduled.

Wee Gordy and Mark McGhee no brainer !

The Rangers Supporters Trust today announced that it has formed Fleshers Haugh Limited to produce a range of merchandise whose profits will be used to purchase shares in the club. Trust Chairman Gordon Dinnie said – “For a number of months now we have been selling red and black shirts but it’s obvious from the demand that fans also want other forms of merchandise. We set up Flesher Haugh to develop a range of quality merchandise which will be a credit to the club’s traditions and generate funds which will enable fans to buy more shares and make the club stable.” “I’m asking for fans with experience and skills in merchandising, design and manufacturing to come forward to help us build an enterprise which provides a real fans alternative.” More information to follow. http://www.therst.co.uk/latest-rst-statement/

http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/rangerstv/item/8064-90-in-90-rangers-v-falkirk

...then renew battle with English rival. RANGERS star Lewis Macleod is delighted to be in Scotland squad for Friday's clash with Ireland but he already has eyes renewing a rivalry with the Auld Enemy. LEWIS MACLEOD admits he has an old score to settle with the Auld Enemy. The Rangers striker was part of Scotland’s Under-16 side that lost 2-1 to an English team that included Liverpool starlet Raheem Sterling. The Victory Shield defeat in 2009 at Tynecastle provided a glimpse into the future – and fast forward five years, the two graduates will be reunited at Parkhead next Tuesday. Macleod’s promotion into Gordon Strachan’s senior squad for the double-header against Ireland and Roy Hodgson’s men is more about gaining experience than game time. But the midfielder insists he’s desperate to get up close and personal once more with Sterling – and hopes for a happier ending. Macleod was awarded the Young Player of the Month trophy for October and he said: “You could tell Sterling was going to be brilliant. “His career has really blossomed and he’s gone from QPR to become an influential player at Liverpool. “Raheem is different class. There will be teams looking at him in January. He’s the type you want to play against. “I would be delighted to get any sort of game time with Scotland but I know it’s not going to be a quiet match against England. But it would be a great experience. “There were thousands of fans at the Tynecastle game in 2009. “We lost because of a dodgy decision by the ref. “It was 2-1 but we scored first and played well. I was taken off after about 60 minutes but it probably was my fault for the first half. “Hopefully things go better in the next couple of weeks. “Back then I was nervous and it will pretty much be the same come the next two games. The atmosphere will be electric.” The meteoric rise from Murray Park hopeful to the brink of his first international cap has been stunning but Lewis admits there’s time for some of the class of 2009 to follow his trail. And the 20-year-old is adamant Strachan’s policy of promoting the kids is starting to pay dividends. He said: “There were a lot of good players in our Victory Shield side. Islam Feruz played up front for us that day and big Jack Grimmer was the captain. “There were a lot of players you expected to go on and do good things. There is no reason why they still can’t. “It just shows you how far I have come that I have been called up. “Wee Ryan Gauld wasn’t in the same team as me as he was a year younger. It is good to see the likes of Andy Robertson, Stevie May and myself getting called in. “It just shows you the gaffer is not scared to call up the young players. “I can’t see too many from that England U-16 team who have come through. There is a guy at Reading called Daniel Redmond who came on as a sub. And Nick Powell is at Man United and a good player. “But it just shows how long ago it seems as all of their team were sought-after players. “It takes an awful lot to reach the full England squad so all credit to Raheem as he’s been brilliant.” Macleod admits playing for his country at senior level was beyond his wildest dreams but that reality will come a step closer when he meets up with the rest of the Scotland squad today. He said: “You always have aspirations to do better. You don’t really think about that at the time as it looks such a long way away. “Back then I was only about 14 or 15 years old but it’s good that I’ve come through the ranks for both club and country. “This is the best week of my career. I don’t expect too much when I go away with the squad but just to be there and experience it for myself will be great. “It is a huge difference to go from playing Cowdenbeath the other night to getting a chance to play Ireland and England at Parkhead. “I haven’t spoken to Strachan. It’s my first time with the squad so I can’t expect to get a lot of game time. “Hopefully the experience can be beneficial for years to come. I will try my hardest so hopefully I can impress him and possibly be involved in future squads. There has been a change in the Scotland squad and it looks quite promising. The manager has them playing good football.” Macleod will also get the chance to meet a childhood hero when he trains alongside Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher. He said: “I wanted to be like Darren growing up. He was at the heart of things and it doesn’t get much better than playing for Man United. “He’s the type of guy I looked up to and you want your career to go the same way. So it will be weird to train with these guys next week.” If Macleod is given his debut he’s vowed to hang on to his first Scotland top. He said: “I might be greedy and keep that for myself.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/pound-sterling-rangers-youngster-lewis-4596946

Ally McCoist will be given a £10 million January transfer budget, courtesy of controversial Mike Ashley. Ashley has all but confirmed he will front the funds, with an Ibrox source telling us the board have been told to "use the funds effectively to push the team through to a cup final and back to the Premier League." The source said the decision was highly influenced by Ashley's close friend & Ibrox adviser Derek Llambias, who believes committing these funds to the club will not only strengthen the team, but strengthen Ashley's position with Rangers supporters.

I don't use twitter but facebook in particular is hard going. It's not just the fact that the views are so ignorant and misguided (eg one of the main pages has everyone discussing who will be signed with Ashley's 10m ), but the level of intelligence seems very low. People write in illegible English and generally do not represent our support well. Does this say something about our support or is it the platform? There's not a single person here who is incapable of conversing in legible English but on our fan facebook pages you are hard pushed to find anyone making well constructed arguments.

I know a fair number of members have already signalled their intention to attend this event but I thought I'd share this main site article for those that may have forgotten about it. Only 4 weeks to go! http://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/latest-news/291-your-invite-to-the-gersnet-christmas-dinner OK, perhaps a Spanish tapas restaurant doesn't offer up immediate thoughts about the baby Jesus and/or Roast Turkey with all the trimmings but our previous event at the wonderful Malaga Tapas earlier this year was such a success, we simply had to return again next month for our Christmas dinner. Not only will we have another wide range of tapas and side-dishes available to enjoy, Barca '72 legend Dave Smith will also be giving us a talk on the most successful period of his eight-year Rangers career entitled 'the road from Nuremberg to Barcelona' and will be answering our questions thereafter. The affordable cost of this event is £19.50 per person which includes a primer plato of meats and bread and choice of paellas after the tapas - effectively at least six different tapas (x3 per person) and three different paellas which really is superb value. Depending on numbers we may be allocated the private cafe next door to the main restaurant and once again owner Cristobal will ensure we have an excellent time! Malaga Tapas has been widely reviewed to a superb standard online - please check TripAdvisor and the 2014 edition of The List for evidence! The date of the event is Saturday 6th of December at around 5.30pm. Rangers are scheduled to play Cowdenbeath at Ibrox that day (KO 3pm) so that should leave plenty of time for attendees to nip round to the restaurant which is also in Glasgow's Southside on St Andrew's Road. Further information on the restaurant can be found here and you can register your interest (or pay a deposit) via our forum here. I hope to you see there!