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DAVIE WEIR insists Rangers won't suffer hell on Helicopter Sunday. Six years after Celtic came a chopper at Fir Park, Gers head to Rugby Park with their title destiny in their own hands. Beat Kilmarnock and secure the championship. It's as straightforward as that. With the engine purring and the rotors spinning in anticipation of more nerve-shredding last-day drama, Weir is taking nothing for granted. The Gers skipper said: "It has happened in the past where teams have slipped up when they thought it was all wrapped up and they ended up with egg on their face. "It is important we don't allow that to happen to us. "We have the opportunity in our own hands now and that is all you can ask for, but there is still one game to go. "We just have to concentrate on the job, prepare properly and give Kilmarnock the respect they deserve. "We just have to go out and try to play as well as we can play. "You have to put yourself under pressure, that is the nature of the game. "I don't think there are any written rules for this situation. There are no guarantees. "There is nothing that can prepare you for it. Everyone is different. "The thing is when people don't expect something there is always a chance of a shock. "It is important we don't allow that to happen at the weekend." Weir could potentially be skipper of Rangers for the final time tomorrow. The veteran Gers captain turned 41 in midweek and is out of contract next month. He insists he has made NO decision on his future. Weir added: "I don't know if it will be my last game. I don't think about it like that. "If it is then so be it. I am not going to spend any time worrying about it. "I am sure the result will have an impact on my decision. "If you are successful then you will want to carry on. "If you aren't you will question yourself. I will just have to wait and see." What is for certain is Gers can secure three-in-a-row in gaffer Walter Smith's last game in charge. A win over Killie will bag the title and bring a historic campaign for Gers to a glorious end. Weir knows exactly what's at stake at Rugby Park and he insists the players are desperate to ensure their boss bows out on a high. Weir stressed: "I don't think you can put into words what Walter has done. "We have all been speaking about it for long enough now. "I think that there has been so much significance on this game that things won't actually hit home until after he has left Rangers. "Then people can take into context what Walter has done over various periods of time and during different circumstances at the club. During the nine-in-a-row era he was bringing in top players, winning trophies and battling on the European front. "He came back for a second time when Rangers were in a certain amount of disarray, had hardly won trophies and had to fight it out to finish second. "He turned Rangers around very quickly and got them winning trophies again, competing in Europe, reaching a European final and winning the league. "When you sit down and look at what he has done you can put his record up against anyone." Indeed, Weir reckons Smith is up there with the true managerial greats. He added: "Walter will go down as one of the all-time Rangers greats. There is no doubt about that. "The manager plays down his own influence on things. That is the nature of the man. "It is no coincidence what he has done in his time here and the part he has played. "He is the driving force behind the whole club and the team. "I am sure he has the same influence over other aspects of the club. "If you asked any player or member of staff they would admit he is the man who dictates what happens. Through the course of the season Walter is very straightforward and tells you like it is. "He tells you what he expects from you and the demands of the club and the support. "He has seen it all before and the players hang on his every word. "We trust what he says and we try to follow it as best we can. "He is a really great presence to have at the club and he is somebody we have been lucky to have as manager." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3580191/Rhythm-n-blues.html#ixzz1MHMr2wr4

HE scored the goals but wants no part of any glory. Kenny Miller would be entitled to enjoy a Rangers' SPL title win as much as any Ibrox star. As he watches his former team-mates try to seal the championship from 2,000 miles away in Turkey, the Scotland striker has revealed that he virtually feels like an outsider looking in. Miller netted an incredible 22 goals in the first half of the season to send Walter Smith's side on their way. He's still the top flight's top scorer and will have more than earned his winner's medal if Gers clinch the league at Rugby Park tomorrow. Miller revealed: "Seeing the boys win the league would be absolutely phenomenal. I'd be thrilled for every single one of them because they'd totally deserve it. "I know I'd maybe be entitled to a medal because I played the required number of games. "For me it wouldn't feel the same as last season's title win. "I'm just being honest, I know I played a part but it's about the boys who are at the club now. "I scored goals in the first half of the season, sure, but it's winning games now that counts. This is the stage of the season when the pressure is really on. "If you lose your fifth or sixth game in the season you've got time to claw it back. "It's different in April and May - that's when it's vital. "That's why it's a strange feeling for me. I know I played a part and I'm proud of it - but I don't feel part of the squad." Rangers could clinch the championship on Helicopter Sunday as Celtic host Motherwell on the last day of SPL action. Miller insists he has NEVER doubted that his former team-mates could prove too strong for Neil Lennon's side. Delighted Miller added: "When I left in January I said that the boys would see it out and I still firmly believe that. "We're talking about a group of players who refuse to give in. "I've been in some great dressing rooms but nothing compares to what the lads have at Murray Park. It's just the best. "I had the most enjoyable two and a half years of my career there, that's for sure. "It obviously helps when you're winning leagues and cups. That makes it a whole lot easier. "The lads know what it takes to be successful, they stick together and refuse to give in to anyone. You can't buy that. "Thing went against us at times, especially with everything the club's been through in the last few years, but the spirit on the pitch was never in question." Miller is in no doubt why that is - the man he still calls gaffer. He added: "It's down to the manager, definitely. "The gaffer just seems to get the best out of people. "I have been in squads where players aren't playing and are unhappy because of that. "You would hear them mump and moan about the manager and that's never good for the team spirit but that never happens at Rangers. "It was the same when Walter was in charge of Scotland, he had the knack of keeping everybody happy even if you weren't one of the boys playing. "I don't know how he does it but he gets everyone pulling in the same direction and that's absolutely priceless when you're going for titles and trophies. If you could bottle what he has it would be worth a fortune. "Take it from me, it was genuinely a pleasure to go into work every day at Murray Park. "That's the way I felt about it and I know that's the way every other player at the club feels about it too. "For me it's been a massive driving force this season that the gaffer was stepping down because it means there was a group of players who are all absolutely desperate to make sure he leaves a winner." Miller has been glued to his TV in his Turkish apartment, watching Rangers as they try to clinch Three in a Row. He had seen Celtic move into pole position but Miller insists he knew there was still life in Rangers' title fight when the Hoops failed to beat them at Ibrox last month. Allan McGregor saved a late Georgios Samaras penalty, and Miller added: "For me that could turn out to be one of the key moments of the season. "You can talk about goals scored and games won but that save from Allan could be MASSIVE. "If that penalty goes in, the league's over. "Had Celtic won that game it would have been very difficult for the boys to come back. "The goalie stepped up and produced it when it counted and I just think it could be a save worth its weight in gold. "It could be such a defining moment in the season. "Celtic would probably have kicked on after that game had they got all three points." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3580014/Bond-of-brothers.html#ixzz1MHHEjYcO

A Celtic fan who made monkey gestures towards Rangers player El Hadji Diouf during an Old Firm game has been jailed for three months. Sean Smith, 19, from Spittal, South Lanarkshire, taunted the West African striker as he took a corner kick at Celtic Park on 20 February. He admitted committing a racially aggravated breach of the peace after being reported by fellow Celtic fans. Smith was also banned from attending football matches for five years. Sentencing him at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Sheriff Lindsay Wood told Smith he had pleaded guilty to "despicable racist behaviour". "You thought you were making a fool of the player but you were actually making a fool of yourself. Continue reading the main story ââ?¬Å?Start Quote I can see no alternative to a custodial sentence to mark the court's disapproval of such behaviourââ?¬Â End Quote Sheriff Lindsay Wood "You have brought shame on the club you support and on Scottish football generally." Sheriff Wood noted that Smith had been drinking before the game, but said this was "no way to go to a football match and appreciate it". He added: "I have to look at these matters in the context of an Old Firm match where tensions are running high and I can see no alternative to a custodial sentence to mark the court's disapproval of such behaviour." Defence lawyer Raymond McIlwham told the court that his client has received death threats as a result of what he did. He also added that Diouf has a bad relationship with Celtic fans. Mr McIlwham said: "The relationship between the player involved and the Celtic fans has been a difficult one. "That in no way excuses Mr Smith's actions but it's conceivable that another player may not have roused that level of passion in a supporter." The lawyer added that his client is ashamed and now "deeply regrets" what he did. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-13361478

Frankie well done posting and answering the many points brought up today , you certainly more than held your own , also what a bunch of deluded bitter clowns that lot really are . What is it they use as a motto " never beaten always cheated " they actually believe that pish , well done yet again .

WALTER SMITH has been asked the same old question time and time again. How far can he take this Rangers team? Only one answer matters now. He has to take them only 21 miles down the M77 to Kilmarnock on Sunday, where an invading army of supporters will follow having readied themselves for an almighty celebration. The Old Firm rivalry is too intense to allow for much in the way of grace or magnanimity. Since they lost to Inverness Caledonian Thistle last week Celtic supporters have confessed to finding it especially hard to accept that defeat surrendered the initiative to such a ââ?¬Å?poorââ?¬Â Rangers team. Thatââ?¬â?¢s been the label attached to Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s side from the start. This is no vintage Rangers side, that much is obvious. Itââ?¬â?¢s not a team that strikes fear into opponents like many of its predecessors could. Itââ?¬â?¢s short on players who can really entertain, as opposed to being admirable and effective. But Rangers arenââ?¬â?¢t gearing up for a coronation by accident. Hereââ?¬â?¢s where it sounds as though theyââ?¬â?¢re being damned with faint praise: Rangers are resolute. Theyââ?¬â?¢re disciplined and committed. They grind out results. Detractors go as far as to accuse them of anti-football when they go 4-5-1 in the more difficult games. Smith has lived with that since returning to the club in 2007. But what does ââ?¬Ë?grinding out resultsââ?¬â?¢ mean, if not that they tend to prove week after week that they are better than whatever is put in front of them? They have been consistent. If they win at Kilmarnock they will finish the season on 93 points. The last team to do better than that was a Celtic one under Martin Oââ?¬â?¢Neill which included Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, John Hartson and a high-calibre supporting cast. Only one Rangers side ââ?¬â?? the Alex McLeish side which won the title on goal difference in 2003 ââ?¬â?? has ever finished on more than 93 since the Scottish Premier League was formed. They won their first nine league games including an Old Firm derby, not tasting defeat until the end of October. In the first half of the season they dropped points in only four games and the same statistic applies to the second half of their campaign, so far. Celtic might privately turn their noses up at this Rangers side and reproach themselves for not having put them away, but the fact remains that Rangers have made few mistakes. They were often behind Celtic, but they had games in hand and always showed the nerve to win them. Before a ball was kicked Smith lost his top goalscorer. Midway through the campaign it happened to him again. Coping without Kris Boyd was manageable because of Smithââ?¬â?¢s last big transfer, the purchase of Nikica Jelavic, but when Kenny Miller fled to Bursaspor in January it seemed that the writing was on the wall. By then Jelavic had been lost to an injury which robbed him of 17 games in his first season in Scotland. Where would the goals come from? Smith has recently felt free to admit that in January he suspected that Rangersââ?¬â?¢ number was up, that they didnââ?¬â?¢t have the resources necessary to sustain a league challenge all the way to the end. Celtic, remember, were maintaining a decent pace themselves and took all six points from the first two Old Firm league games in 2011. His players responded. Rangersââ?¬â?¢ season has been a tale of a dependable back four, a midfield of enormous industry, and one striker whose goals propelled them through the first half of the season and another who got them through the second. ââ?¬Å?Weââ?¬â?¢re a team that defends from the front,ââ?¬Â said goalkeeper Allan McGregor yesterday. ââ?¬Å?Our strikers always work hard to close the ball down, our midfielders work back just as much as they get forward and the lads at the back have been great.ââ?¬Â The defence has kept 18 clean sheets in the league. They havenââ?¬â?¢t conceded an away goal in the championship since a 3-0 defeat at Parkhead almost three months ago. They havenââ?¬â?¢t let one in at all in their last five matches. Itââ?¬â?¢s a unit built on familiarity and trust. Inevitably there have been moments when David Weir has looked his age ââ?¬â?? he turned 41 on Tuesday ââ?¬â?? but his intelligence, awareness and experience has seen him through another fine season. The degree of understanding and unity through the back four is also evident in the team as a whole. No wonder, considering how few changes have been made. Weir, Steven Whittaker and Steven Davis have all appeared in over 50 matches and McGregor, Madjid Bougherra and Sasa Papac are not far behind. The midfield has usually included four from Davis, Steven Naismith, Maurice Edu, Kyle Lafferty and Lee McCulloch. The loss of the latter was one of two grievous injuries which caused Rangers real grief. The other was to Jelavic. The first half of the season belonged to Miller, who had scored 22 times ââ?¬â?? including two at Parkhead as they won the seasonââ?¬â?¢s first derby 3-1 in October ââ?¬â?? before a startling move to Bursaspor. Jelavicââ?¬â?¢s return came just in time for Smith. He was hurt at Tynecastle on October 22 and didnââ?¬â?¢t make it back until being named as an unused substitute on January 15 against Hamilton Academical, the very game in which Miller made what turned out to be his final appearance. Smith needed him to deliver. Rangers had wobbled without their Ã?£4m man. Since returning the Croat grew into the player they hoped they would get for that fee. He has scored 14 times in 20 appearances since returning from an ankle operation, including goals which proved to be the winner in three games. McGregor, Whittaker, Weir, Naismith, Miller and Jelavic have been the cornerstones of a campaign in which they have won more league games than Celtic and scored more goals than them. They have had their setbacks: they lost 3-0 to Hibs at Ibrox, they failed in two out of three attempts to beat Inverness, and they managed only one league win in four Old Firm games. But theyââ?¬â?¢ve been there or thereabouts since day one. How far can Smith take this Rangers team? To within touching distance of one last trophy presentation. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/how-far-can-rangers-go-it-looks-like-all-the-way-1.1100979

Maybe if your own players had tried a bit harder against Caley you may not be in the position you are in Lenny

CRAIG WHYTE has revealed his joy at finally taking over at Rangers and insists the key is to bring more trophies to Ibrox. Whyte finally took his seat in the Ibrox stand as the club's new owner for yesterday's 4-0 win over Hearts. And he was delighted at the reception he received from the fans as Gers took a massive stride towards Three-in-a-Row. He said: "It was absolutely fantastic and a really enjoyable day. I received a good reception from the supporters. Sir David Murray"It has been a long time coming as it has taken more than six months to conclude this deal. So it was a good moment for me. "It was a fantastic performance from the team - better than I could have hoped for. Now we just need to make sure we win the next two games to retain the league. "Rangers are a fantastic club and we can achieve a lot. "We can expand the commercial activities and the branding but it all comes down to doing well on the field. That's the most important thing. We need to keep winning trophies. "I'm a passionate Rangers supporter and that's a big part of the reason I bought the club. "At various points, to be fair to Sir David Murray as well, I think both of us kind of said: 'Let's forget about this and walk away.' But I persevered and I'm glad I did." Whyte paid tribute to Murray and outgoing gaffer Walter Smith as he prepared to launch a new era under manager-in-waiting Ally McCoist. He said: "What David has achieved has been tremendous. He was involved with the club at a unique period when it was possible to buy the best players in England and bring them here. "Unfortunately that's more difficult to do these days. So what David has managed to do for this club shouldn't be underestimated. "Walter is a legendary manager and Ally knows he has a hard act to follow. Let's hope he can do just as well." Whyte brought his father Tom to Ibrox yesterday and recalled how they attended games 30 years ago. He said: "My dad used to bring me here when I was nine or 10. We sat in the Copland Road stand. "So it was nice to be back here today, only this time as owner of the club. "I always enjoyed coming to the games. It was great beside the fans. "You can't sing songs when you're in the directors' box so in some ways it's more fun to sit in the stands. "Watching the football is nice but this is also a business. I plan to get under the covers of the business and there will be a lot to look at. I still have to meet the management team and speak about their plans. "But the focus in the next week or so is to win the league. I don't want to do anything to jeopardise that." Whyte has inherited McCoist as the club's next manager but has no problem with that. He said: "Ally is a Rangers man through and through. I'm sure he'll do a great job. "I had a very brief meeting with him a few months ago but I expect to sit down with him in the next few days. "I think we might need four or five players. I'll do what I can to help." So far i like what i hear. No over the top statements.

STEVE Davis last night revealed he wants to extend his stay at Rangers. The Northern Ireland international is out of contract at the end of next season but is keen to get tied up on a new long-term deal. Davis knows a contract extension could depend on Craig Whyte's proposed takeover being completed and insists that is more important than his contract talks. The 26-year-old midfielder is one of Rangers most prized assets, along with goalkeeper Allan McGregor and Madjid Bougherra, and would attract interest from the Premier League if the Ibrox outfit were forced to cash in during the summer. Davis has been a key member of Walter Smith's second stint at Rangers, having been signed initially on loan from Fulham in January 2008 before joining in a �£3 million move at the end of that campaign. Davis admits he is happy at Rangers and not interested in moving on as he wants to stay at the club. Hopefully after that, the boys who are coming towards the end of their deals can look at sorting something out Davis said: "It's just a matter of seeing what happens with the takeover first and everyone is concentrating on that just now. "Hopefully after that, the boys who are coming towards the end of their deals can look at sorting something out. "There are a couple of us in the same situation and I would like to stay on because there is no better club to be playing at in the world from my point of view. "If you ask any of the boys, they will tell you this is a great place to come in and work at every day. "Even with the tough times we've had, we're settled as a group and a lot of that can be put down to the manager and his backroom staff. "They have kept us away from a lot of the stuff behind the scenes and made sure this is an enjoyable place for us to be at. "We've had a good amount of success over the last couple of seasons. I'm happy here and hopefully I can extend my stay." Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/244827Steve-Davis-tells-Rangers-he-wants-to-stay-longer#ixzz1LTDY8il1

Hopefully our home form improves and Celtic's stays the same as tonight. Lets not count our chickens just yet though.

ALLY McCOIST admits he'd never have dreamed of being Rangers manager when he hung up his boots to become a telly celebrity. Now the Ibrox gaffer-in-waiting believes he has finally shed the cheeky chappie image that made him a star on Question of Sport - and feels ready to defy the cynics who don't think he has the experience to succeed Walter Smith. In an interview to be broadcast on ESPN, McCoist said: "If you had said to me 10-15 years ago I'd have the opportunity to manage this club I would have thought you were mad. Absolutely no way. "Fifteen years ago I probably started doing my badges and before that I wouldn't have thought I would have stayed in the game. "Then you realise how much it means to you and how important it is to you. You take your coaches badges and enjoy your coaching. "It's been quite a long journey to get here - it's not the most orthodox way of getting in to management - and when you put it like that it's a lot of madness and great fun. "The different stages of my life have been wonderful experiences. I've always said playing football was the best thing I could ever do and this is the next best thing. "I was lucky to be on the other side of the camera as well, going to Champions League matches and finals was wonderful. "But playing is the best and coaching and management second best. I have been very fortunate." The happy-go-lucky persona that made him such a natural in front of the camera could have been his downfall when it came to being taken seriously by a dressing room seeking leadership. But there has always been a steely undercurrent that drove McCoist to become the club's greatest goalscorer. Anyone still under any illusions about McCoist's ability to go toe toe with a rival need only look at the notorious touchline bust-up with Celtic boss Neil Lennon at the end of the Scottish Cup replay at Parkhead in March. But McCoist shrugs off both the misconception about his cheeky chappie image and the controversy surrounding the spat that saw both clubs hauled before the Scottish government. He said: "Neil and I are absolutely fine. The best way to describe it is we have a healthy respect for each other and we know the difficulty of the jobs involved. "We speak after the game, have a bottle of beer and a glass of wine, that's the way it should be and will always be. "There has been a lot written and said because we had a little fallout - I fallout with the missus every day. It's pathetic. You saw what happened in the Barcelona v Real Madrid game. "Neil and I would have got six months if that was us! In comparison ours was pretty tame. There is certainly no problem with Neil and myself. "The cheeky image doesn't bother me because to a certain degree I've made my bed with the chatshow and Question of Sport so you don't knock it, it was magic fun. "I think anybody who knows me and even the vast majority who don't would appreciate football after my family is the most important thing in my life and I want to do well. "You don't succeed if you're not dedicated and true to what you want to do and I'm certainly that about football. "I'm 48 now and have been involved in the game a long time. I'd like to think I certainly know the club, having played here for 15 years and I have been back with Walter for four-and-a-half years. "I was also with Walter in the national team so I don't think anything is going to happen that will shock me. "I don't underestimate the task, that's for sure. I feel I'm really ready for it." So ready that McCoist has already begun to beef up his backroom staff with former team-mates John Brown and Neil Murray recruited to his scouting network plus, of course, his assistants Kenny McDowall and Ian Durrant. But no matter how many trusted lieutenants he has McCoist admits his greatest advisor and confidante will always be the mentor he is preparing to replace this summer. He added: "Without doubt, I'll have Walter on speed-dial. I make no apology for the fact that man will be getting phoned twice, three times a week. "But I have assembled my own coaching team. We've got Neil and John in the scouting department and very good they are too. I have worked with them a long time and know them well. "It's important we have a good squad outwith the playing staff and that's why we have appointed these two guys because we've got the utmost respect and faith in them to do their job. "I've known Ian for 100 years and Kenny a lot longer than people would think. "They are good people, they know their jobs well and we've all got that in common. We hope to do well." Slovak superkid Vladimir Weiss will NOT be back at Rangers next season, says his father. Vladimir Senior, who is manager of Slovakia, admitted Man City are unlikely to find a place in their team for the winger but ruled out another loan deal with the Ibrox club. He said: "Our priority is Spain - I want to send Vladimir to a strong European league. We may also consider Italy or Germany. He's had about 10 enquiries." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2011/05/04/ally-mccoist-i-m-ready-to-take-over-as-boss-of-rangers-but-walter-smith-will-be-on-speed-dial-86908-23106241/

WALTER SMITH'S final act as Rangers boss will be to try and bring Kyle Bartley back from Arsenal. SunSport can reveal Smith has pledged to successor Ally McCoist he'll make a call to Gunners manager Arsene Wenger. And McCoist hopes that will lead to stopper Bartley returning north on a season-long loan. The 19-year-old proved a big hit during his nine games for Gers before cruelly being struck down with a medial ligament injury in the final moments of the home Europa League tie against PSV Eindhoven. It came just three days before the League Cup final triumph over Celtic and ended his season. Bartley, who would be interested in a second spell at Ibrox, returned to Arsenal to begin his rehab and has been told he should recover in time for pre-season training. Gers first-team coach Kenny McDowall, who will step up as Ally McCoist's No2 at the club, revealed: "We haven't spoken to Arsenal yet. "Walter, though, is going to speak to Arsene Wenger at some point and ask the question. "We'd love to have the big fella back and it would only be for another loan. "It's no secret the lad came up here and did well and enjoyed himself. "Kyle's a top player and fitted in perfectly here. "But it would have to be that Arsene was agreeable and felt it was good for Kyle to return to us. "I wouldn't see Arsenal wanting to sell him, so that's why it'd be a loan." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3559854/We-want-our-loan-star-Bart.html#ixzz1LEyiQAa4

SPL - Rangers baffled by royal tribute Sat, 30 Apr 16:13:00 2011 Rangers could face FIFA action over a Royal Wedding tribute printed on the shirt of captain David Weir. The defender wore a shirt paying tribute to Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge during Saturday's 5-0 win away to Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League. The embroidered slogan said: 'Congratulations William & Catherine 29th April 2011.' The act is technically in breach of FIFA regulations, which prevent players from making religious, political or personal statements, and it is understood Weir was also unaware of the tribute until kick-off. Rangers manager Walter Smith also claimed he had no knowledge of the message, saying: "I didn't know it was there. Sorry, I can't enlighten you at all. It must have been the kit man." The traditionally Protestant club this week received a UEFA punishment for the singing of sectarian songs during a Europa League fixture against PSV Eindhoven earlier this season. They also came in for criticism for allowing the distribution of thousands of Union Flags at last weekend's match against Celtic. Matches between the Old Firm rivals this season have been marred by crowd trouble and confrontation between players and coaches from both sides.

Matt Dickinson Chief Sports Correspondent 17 minutes ago It was the game of zero tolerance against sectarianism, when police snatch squads would target troublemakers at Ibrox in the aftermath of the bomb sent to Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager. A day when Rangers and Celtic would stand united against any form of bigotry or intolerance and instruct their supporters to focus on the football. Enough was, finally, enough. So what did Rangers do? They allowed a small Union Jack flag to be placed in every seat of a home supporter. There were 40,000 of these flags, supplied by the Rangers Supporters Assembly, and every one approved by the club hierarchy. I rang Rangers yesterday to ask why, exactly? The Union Jack is not an official symbol of Rangers FC. It is not part of the club badge, not on the shirt. It is not to be found on any page of the Rangers website. A shirty spokesman, dismissing the inquiry as a nonsense, said that it was the flag of his country and the British Isles. But there are dozens of British clubs and none of the others ever hand out Union Jacks. If Rangers wanted to give the team a show of support, why not simply hand out regular club flags and scarves? Why endorse a provocative symbol of tribalism, on the very day when both clubs were meant to be going out of their way to calm their fans? The spokesman could not wait to get off the phone, although, before he did so, he pointed out that Rangers had no intention of complaining about the tricolours flown by the Celtic supporters. As if that made everything all right. Apologists will say that the Union Jack is only a flag, a common one, and not an incitement to send parcel bombs to football managers. But it has nothing whatsoever to do with football. In the context of the Old Firm, it has been hijacked as a sign of lasting enmity, of division, entrenching the idea that one club, for now and evermore, will represent the Protestant sector of Glasgow and the other the Catholic. One club handing out Union Jacks cannot possibly take us any closer to the day, however far away it may be, when Rangers against Celtic becomes a ââ?¬Å?normalââ?¬Â sporting rivalry, defined by geography, not historical or religious baggage. A day when the Old Firm becomes like Red against Blue, City against United, Milan against Inter, rather than the poisonous stirring of an ancient religious divide. The bomb intended for Lennon has focused attention on the murderous imbeciles, but there will always be extremists. The battle is surely more importantly won over the centre ground, the reasonable majority. This is the job of driving sense into the ââ?¬Å?90-minute bigotsââ?¬Â as they were described in 2005 by Lawrence Macintyre, the head of safety for Rangers at the time, when he talked of fans with Catholic friends and workmates who became filled with hatred on a Saturday afternoon at Ibrox. ââ?¬Å?If we can get the person that doesnââ?¬â?¢t mean it then weââ?¬â?¢ll isolate the real racists and real bigots in numbers that are manageable to deal with,ââ?¬Â he said. Does anyone seriously believe that the best means of education is for Rangers to hand out Union Jacks? To make such a point to the club yesterday was to be brushed off like an idiot. But then I met the same dismissiveness when I went to my only Old Firm derby at Ibrox a few years ago and expressed amazement that a giant Union Jack was being waved in the centre circle before kick-off. It seemed bizarre then and, given the tensions around Lennon, the ritual seemed even more extraordinary on Sunday. There seems to be an acceptance that these two clubs will always represent a sectarian divide, and the best that can be done is to contain the worst violence and the worst chanting rather than to eradicate the problem altogether. But it has to be asked whether such an approach will ever make sufficient progress. Many well-intentioned campaigns and initiatives have been launched in recent years, only to founder. The charity Nil by Mouth was established after the 1995 murder of a young Celtic fan, Sense Over Sectarianism, a joint-initiative, was launched in 2001, and Jack McConnell, then the First Minister, brought together a summit in 2005 that led to tougher legislation. Alex Salmond, the First Minister says the anti-sectarian laws will be toughened further in the coming months. We can add the Pride over Prejudice campaign launched by Rangers, Bhoys against Bigotry by Celtic and Bigger than Bigotry. No doubt there are others. The treatment of Lennon, the victim of a street attack in Glasgow in the past as well as having the threat made on his life, suggests that this problem is no closer to being resolved and that the clubs have to take a stronger lead. Condemning bombers is the easy part. Rangers will insist that they do plenty, but that has not been the impression given in the past 48 hours, on or off the record. They should pay more attention to their manager, the wise Walter Smith, who talked last week of how the sectarian problem had been tolerated for too long, and his relief that he was retiring. ââ?¬Å?To be quite honest with you, Iââ?¬â?¢m quite glad to be getting out of it,ââ?¬Â Smith said, which was a terribly sad admission from a man steeped in Rangers since he was a lad. So that is one manager driven away and another who might have been killed. And a stupid club who think there is nothing odd, amid all this trouble, in handing out 40,000 Union Jacks.

The 15th of April has no apparent importance in the broad scheme of things but two stories in the media and over the internet sites jumped up and stood out for me above all others. Phil Mac Giolla Bhain�s attack on Stephen Smith. Phil in contact with, The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Woman Teachers(NASUWT) attacked Mr Smith for being a member of the Rangers Supporters trust and defending the singing of the famine song. The fact is Mr Smith did not claim that the singing of the song was right. He claimed that the response to it was over the top. If I reverse my car into another parked car I can officially say I was in a car crash. While being factually correct it is really an over the top statement. The same can be said be said over the Famine song. The song in itself is a just cheap ditty taking the mickey out of those plastic paddies whose only glimpse of the emerald isle is looking at duck island in the Kelvingrove park duck pond, with green coloured sunglasses on. It would seem if you want to be offended then you can be offended. The Scottish courts have however declared that it is a sectarian song and therefore people should refrain from singing it otherwise they are open to prosecution. Seemingly also on the 15th of April Phil Mac Giolla Bhain released information on his blog, against police wishes, that Niel Lennon had received bomb threats. On the 16th of April the story was pulled from his blog as he probably realised he had full coverage without consequences. Phil Mac Giolla Bhain�s claims to be a knight In shining armour against social injustice against Irish \Catholics stops when it comes to the truth . I find it weird then that the top story from Reuters on that day was that a Belgian catholic priest thought it was okay to have sex with his 12 year old nephew because he didn�t resist. Strange that Phil Mac Giolla Bhain who claims to be a top journalist and fighter against social injustice never mentioned that on his blog I guess his social injustice against Catholics stops at the border of Govan.

HE could barely sign autographs for crying. Vladimir Weiss had tears rolling down his face as he sat among Rangers fans on Sunday. But it wasn't the 0-0 draw with Celtic that turned him into an emotional wreck. It's the thought of never playing for the Ibrox club again. Weiss, 21, joined Walter Smith's side from Manchester City at the start of the season. But after breaking a bone in his foot last month his time at the club is effectively over. That hasn't brought an end to his love affair with the Ibrox fans, though, as he joined them for the Old Firm title crunch. Weiss posed for pictures and signed his name while singing 'Glasgow Rangers, champions' at the top of his voice. But when they responded by chanting his name at half-time Vlad has revealed he completely lost it. He told SunSport: "I never got the chance to say goodbye to the fans. "That's one of the reasons I went to Sunday's game. "I wanted to spend some time with them at Ibrox - show them the appreciation I have for the club. "I left the stadium with nice memories. "It wasn't the result we wanted. But I enjoyed being in with the supporters for an important game like that. "I just came to Rangers looking to play football, but the club has now found a place in my heart. "The fans were brilliant towards me and showed that at half-time at the Old Firm match. "They were clapping their hands and singing my name - I just sat there crying. "I know it sounds silly but that's the truth. "It was so emotional for me and it's something I'll never forget for the rest of my life. "People surrounded me, asking to have their picture taken with me, and that was the least I could do. "It was just so special and although it made me cry I really enjoyed it. I went to the game with friends and we were in the corner of the stadium right beside the Celtic supporters. "It was all good fun. If I'm honest I was kind of giving it to them a little bit. "It was brilliant - singing 'Glasgow Rangers, champions'. I was also kissing the Rangers badge while pointing at the Celtic fans. "I think our fans loved it but I did too." Weiss was back in Manchester yesterday when SunSport caught up with him. His season is over because of a fractured foot. But the wee fella insists it would break his heart to think he will never get the chance to play for Rangers again. He added: "Honestly, I'll never forget my time with Rangers. "My future is uncertain at the moment. "I have returned to Manchester City because of the foot injury I have - and who knows where I'll be playing my football next season. "I have been told by the manager that I can return in pre-season and fight for my place. "But we all know I need to play games next season. "There is a lot of things I need to learn in football and I'm not going to learn them on the training pitch. "The next year is crucial for me. "I think I will go on loan somewhere to get games because that's what I need more than anything. "If I return to Rangers, then great. "But if it doesn't happen then hopefully one day in the future I will get the chance again. "I want to go back to Ibrox at some stage in my career. "Before I signed I didn't really follow the Scottish league. I wasn't a fan of Rangers or Celtic - but now I am. "I'm going to be a Rangers fan for the rest of my life." Vlad plans to return north before the end of the season and watch Rangers in action again. He's got a vested interest. There's a title medal at stake and he refuses to give up on it. Celtic moved into pole position in the title race after the 0-0 draw at Ibrox on Sunday. They're one point behind the Ibrox side but crucially have a game in hand, away from home to Inverness Caley Thistle. But Weiss insists nothing is certain yet - convinced Celts will still slip up between now and the end of the season. He added: "I still think it's up to Rangers. "For me the boys played better than Celtic on Sunday. They now have three hard games away from home. "Obviously if they win all their games they'll win the league - but I don't think that will happen. "Rangers need to go out and give everything in their games and see what happens. "I am confident the squad is strong enough to do it. "And I'm pretty confident Celtic will not win every game between now and the end of the season. "For me, I'm still hoping to get a winner's medal - I still believe that can happen." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3546693/Gers-fans-left-me-in-tears-Im-praying-I-play-for-Coisty-next-season.html#ixzz1Ka2mMedh

RANGERS fans have been warned that the eyes of the world will be on Ibrox today and they have been urged not to do anything which would further besmirch the club's name in the wake of being charged with two counts of sectarian singing. The result of the Old Firm game will go a long way to determining who wins this the Scottish Premier League title and Strathclyde Police are bracing themselves for what they say could be a "perfect storm", while the clubs are doing everything they can to head off any trouble. Following mayhem on the pitch and off it during last month's Scottish Cup replay, the Scottish Government hosted a summit. However, with heightened attention on today's game in the wake of revelations about Neil Lennon and high-profile Celtic fans being sent letter bombs, and Rangers being charged with two counts of sectarian singing by UEFA, fans are fearful of further embarrassment today. "At this moment in time things have taken a step back to the bad old days and that is a situation that no decent person wants," said John Macmillan, general secretary of the Rangers Supporters' Association. "This is bringing the club into disrepute, it's bringing the good supporters into disrepute and the whole game into disrepute. The cameras of the world will be on this game and, if the fans behave the way they have in recent times, then it will be a shameful situation and that's why we are appealing to fans to bear in mind just what is at stake and cut all the silly nonsense out. "It is obviously a very tense situation but I hope that with the statements we have had from both Walter Smith and Neil Lennon that fans will see sense and just go out there and support their teams and enjoy a good game of football. "Of course we are hoping for a Rangers win but I'm just asking the fans, regardless of the situation, to stay calm and don't bring the club into any more disrepute because we are in enough trouble as it is." The clubs have appealed for common sense, while extra police have been drafted in and fans have been warned that those caught singing sectarian songs will be arrested. Macmillan said: "Some of the songs sung on both sides are nothing whatsoever to do with football. There is no point harking back to the past when people say the clubs thrived on this kind of business ââ?¬â?? and I'm not going to suggest that they didn't do that ââ?¬â?? but we have (all] moved on. "The filth that is coming out of the mouths of some supporters is just not acceptable in today's world and we have to do everything possible to stop it." Recalling incidents in the past where fans reported unsociable behaviour to the club's head of security, he urged fans to do the same again in an attempt to rid the club of some of its more bilious elements. "If you phone in and give them the seat number they would do something about it. I would encourage all decent fans to take a note (of seat numbers] and report them and we will at least get some of them rooted out. "This is a society problem but that's no excuse for ignoring it at football matches. We have to keep working at it ââ?¬â?? the silent majority have to be involved." http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/football/Rangers-Supporters39-Association-urges-fans.6756902.jp?articlepage=2

No bulky letters, no padded packages and no crudely-wrapped parcels. Just a plain, simple message: Stop, before you kill someone. You have already scarred and maimed Scotland's image. Please, let that be enough. Fortunately the potentially lethal devices posted to Neil Lennon and some high-profile Celtic fans and officials haven't led to any loss of life or injury. But if the morons who are sending these packages get lucky, just once, the consequences could be horrific. This has to stop. They have to be stopped. And so, too, must the singing. Surely we've had our fill of that as well. The Old Firm meet up at Ibrox tomorrow for the final time this season and if there is an ounce of decency left among the people who have been shaming Rangers they'll change their tunes. Not because it's Easter Sunday or because UEFA are homing in Rangers. Just because it is wrong. The songs and chants are anti-Catholic, primitive, offensive and also illegal. They are an affront to all of us and Scotland cannot take much more of the publicity it has had to endure this past week even though we are far from a nation of bigots. The vast majority of us are not anti-Catholic or Irish and it is wrong to suggest we are anything other than a country willing to absorb and embrace other races, minorities and cultures. It really is okay to be Scottish. Of course many of us have links to Ireland but many of us prefer to promote our Scottishness first and that should never be regarded as some kind of denial of or insult to another country. Anyone who says it is lacks tolerance. But if we don't confront the deranged who are casting us all in a dark light we might get to the point where we will be ashamed to belong to this country. But not yet. This is a decent place, even if among us there are twisted bands of bigots who use Rangers as a platform from which to lay down the soundtracks to their grotesque images which present us as a nation of poisonous and violent madmen and women. We're not, although the people who are posting explosive devices undoubtedly are and we should be clear they are not doing this in our name. And the people who sing the songs do not act for us either. Neither do those who are fond of throwing out lines that Scotland is institutionally biased or that sectarianism is endemic. None of them speak on behalf of me and I believe I am a fairly typical Scot. The overwhelming majority of Scots are decent and tolerant and we support Neil Lennon against those who want to do him harm. He is a football manager who believes passionately in his club and their fans and that is not a crime. Neither is his faith but there are dangerous people out there who see him as an affront to whatever it is they stand for or believe. Hopefully they'll be rounded up and put where they belong but in the meantime, can the Ibrox chanters do the right thing and shut up. If they have any intelligence they'll realise by now they've gone too far and that the club they claim to support don't want to be associated with them. If they can't see that and pipe down they should be rounded up by Strathclyde Police and taken away. And when they are the rest of us should stand and applaud. But before the police have to act, messages slamming sectarian behaviour and songs should be flashed up on the Ibrox screens - that's if they are still working properly despite the maintenance cutbacks - in the names of chairmen Alastair Johnston and John Reid and chief executives Peter Lawwell and Martin Bain. All of them should be united in their condemnation of anyone who wants to sing about Fenians and Huns or insult the Pope or the Irish. And let's have none of the IRA chants either. These are not political chants. These are downright offensive and these people do not speak for us either. It is asking a lot but we have to hope and believe the players will behave as well. They also have a responsibility to keep a grip on their tempers even though this game will have a massive bearing on the championship race. If we are asking fans to show more respect and tolerance the players must do the same, even in a game which is bloated with importance. If Celtic, who appear to have greater energy and flair than Rangers, win they would be even more confident and unlikely to drop points in the run-in. Same with Rangers, although they do have a weary look about them. They beat Dundee United 4-0 away last week but the Tannadice side finished the game with only eight men. Walter Smith's players will have to find added zest from somewhere and hope they can cope with the tempo which Celtic will want to dictate. And of course, there is the Lennon factor itself. The packages meant for him and the way he's been forced to live his life this year with 24-hour protection have drawn the fans and players to him in a way no other manager can have experienced. They want to win the title for him and that could be telling in tomorrow's match. But Celtic are also a better and more exciting side than Rangers and this added twist should make them even more determined. They want to protect and reward their manager and that could be crucial. However, there is a resilience about Rangers and if they can stand their ground in midfield they might just take the sting out of Celtic. But to do that Smith needs huge performances from Steve Davis, Mo Edu, Jamie Ness and Stevie Naismith. And, of course, he needs Nikica Jelavic to damage Celtic's defence. If the Croat gets the supply he will be a real threat. Rangers, you imagine, will need to score first because they have to put pressure on Lennon's men. They need to put doubt and fear into Celtic, especially at the back. But there is something about this Lennon side. They are brimming with confidence and belief and tomorrow just might be the day they wrench the title from Rangers' grasp. Of course it is never wise to predict which side will win any Old Firm encounter but since the outside world probably thinks we are all insane by now, Celtic just might win this 3-1.

John Reid's surprise decision last week to scrap his plans to challenge Gordon Brown prompted a welter of speculation in Westminster. Just days before, as bruiser Mr Reid was positioning himself to take on the Chancellor, his enemies in the Labour Party were queueing up to reveal why they considered him a liability. Their accounts centred on drink-fuelled indecent proposals he allegedly made to one of Mr Brown's closest allies, Treasury Minister Dawn Primarolo. And the claims are thought to have been one of the reasons Mr Reid pulled out of the Labour leadership contest and announced he is to resign as Home Secretary when Tony Blair steps down next month. Mr Reid is said to have asked Ms Primarolo to go to bed with him during a Parliamentary trip to Berlin when he phoned her at a hotel bar from his room. And later at a bar in the Commons he is alleged to have told her: "I want sex with you" and "You want it too." Both times, an outraged Ms Primarolo, who is married to union official Ian Ducat, told Mr Reid to stop pestering her. Mr Reid declined to comment yesterday and a spokesman for Ms Primarolo said: "She is recovering from major surgery and is not in a position to comment on this or any other issue." The first of Mr Reid's obscene proposals - both of which are thought to have been made when he had been drinking - happened during an All-Party Defence Study Group visit to Germany shortly after the Berlin Wall came down in 1989. At the time Mr Reid was married to his childhood sweetheart Cathie, who died in 1998. Ms Primarolo was 35 and had been in the Commons for only 18 months. A Labour source said: "We had all been out to dinner at an Army officers' mess. We were in the bar. The phone was near and the barman said 'It's for Ms Primarolo.' "It was John. He invited her up to his room. She said: 'Why on earth would I want to go to your room?' "He said, 'I think you are grown-up enough to know what for. I'm waiting for you, the door is open.' "She said 'I am absolutely disgusted' and banged down the phone. "She thought it was Ian - whom she married shortly after the Berlin trip ringing her. She blew him off the phone and said 'How dare you speak to me like that.'" Ms Primarolo told friends it was not the first time Mr Reid had "pestered" her. But she refused to complain to Party chiefs, insisting she could "handle" him and had told him to leave her alone. The second incident, shortly before the death of then Labour leader John Smith in 1994, when Mr Reid was Shadow Defence Secretary, was witnessed by several people. One said: "John came lurching up and said to Dawn 'I want to have sex with you, I want to f*** you, you want it as well." Ms Primarolo's friend and neighbouring Bristol Labour MP Jean Corston intervened and, according to a source, told Mr Reid: "You are a disgusting creature. Get away from her," adding: "That's it, I'm going to report him." Ms Corston, who is now a Baroness, told colleagues she raised the matter with John Smith, commenting: "It won't be happening again." One Labour insider said: "Dawn was on the verge of tears. She said Reid had been harassing her over a period of years and had propositioned her in the bar. It was very painful for her." When Mr Reid was summoned by the Labour leader, he gave Mr Smith a sealed envelope containing his resignation and told him that if he misbehaved again, Mr Smith should open it. Mr Reid was true to his word, gave up alcohol overnight and rose fast through the Labour ranks. He has since spoken of his battle with the bottle, saying: "I didn't have a problem with alcohol, I loved it. I decided the best thing I could do was not to drink. "The best way for me to make sure that circumstances would never arise is just to stop something completely. I'm a hundred per cent guy." The Labour-supporting Guardian newspaper said last year that in his younger days Mr Reid was a 'huge womaniser' who regularly went 'partying with a succession of girls until 4am, returning to his wife at dawn." It added: "Drunk one day in the Commons he tried to force his way on to the floor to vote. When an attendant stepped forward to stop him, he threw a punch." Mr Reid married his second wife, Brazilian film-maker Carine Adler in 2002, three years after introducing himself at a party with the words: "I've been admiring your a***." Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-454473/The-day-leadership-rival-John-Reid-propositioned-young-Brown-ally-Dawn-Primarolo--drank-again.html#ixzz1KIF8EPBD

Peterborough United ââ?¬â?? Craig Mackail-Smith could be on his way to Glasgow Rangers this summer Peterborough United's in-form striker Craig Mackail-Smith is a summer transfer target for Rangers according to a source close to the player. The 27-year-old front man sits proudly at the top of the League One goal scoring charts this season, with 25 goals in 41 league appearances for the Posh. His impressive performances have attracted the attention of a number of potential suitors with Gers boss Walter Smith reportedly dispatching scouts to run the rule over Mackail-Smith in recent weeks. Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson is almost resigned to losing his star striker in the summer, particularly if his side fail in their quest for promotion back to the Championship. A move to Ibrox would likely be an appealing option for the newly-capped Scotland international, who could develop further under the stewardship of Blues legend Ally McCoist, who is set to take over the reigns at Rangers this summer. Mackail-Smith has also caught the eye of a number of clubs in England, with the Daily Mail reporting that Norwich City came in with a firm offer of Ã?£2.5million to secure his services at the end of the season, only for Peterborough to knock back advances. Having plied his trade at non-league sides St Albans and Arlesey Town, the hitman got his break when he joined then-Conference side Dagenham and Redbridge. After three prolific seasons at Victoria Road he was snapped up by Peterborough, where he played a major role in taking the club from League Two to the Championship. His career looked set to continue on an upward spiral despite the club's immediate relegation last season, and now his fine form could land him a move to Glasgow Rangers which would put him firmly in the frame for more regular international action with Scotland. Mackail-Smith was recently rewarded for his impressive performances when he was named League One Player of the Year, and was also included in the PFA Team of the Year. It's almost certain that he will leave Posh at the end of the season, with Rangers seeming the most likely destination for Mackail-Smith to continue showcasing his talent. http://www.givemefootball.com/scottish-premier-league/rangers-in-shock-united-link-to-fergusons-star-str

Saying he admires Gaddafi, saying Magic should move on? What next is he going to come out with...

TANNADICE for trophies. It's been his glory ground, his stadium for success. Walter Smith has known nothing but joy down the years at the home of Dundee United. But slip up there tonight and he knows his career could end with him being left with NOTHING. Smith's best days as a player were at Tannadice. He was then Jim McLean's No2 when United won the league title in 1983. But that was only the beginning of his glittering career at the top of the Scottish game. Tannadice was with him at various landmark steps along the way. As Graeme Souness' right-hand man at Rangers he barked instructions from the away dug-out as Trevor Steven scored to win the Premier League. Seven years later Smith watched his emotional skipper Richard Gough lift the same trophy as his heroes clinched a historic Nine in a Row. It surely couldn't get any better than that. But Smith returned as Ibrox boss for a second time for yet more tears and triumphs. This time a 3-0 victory at DD3 7JW two years ago stopped Gordon Strachan's Celtic winning the SPL. Whatever happens tonight Smith would be forgiven for standing back at the end and savouring a long goodbye. This will almost certainly be the last time he sets foot in the place as a boss. But the Rangers manager is totally focused on one more title win before he goes. Ironically, it's United at home in Rangers' last game of the season and Smith's last game in charge. But tonight's clash against his old club has to be dealt with first as he dreams of ending his illustrious career on an all-time high. At 63 he's earned his retirement, earned the right to step to one side. And he jokes that he can't wait to let Ally McCoist take over in just six weeks time. But deep down this is a man as determined as ever to see out his tenure in style. That didn't happen when he stood down in 1998 - Celtic putting the brakes on Rangers' ten-in-a-row bid. And that's the driving force behind this season's bid for domestic title success. Smith's squad is leg-tired and weary, players who have had every ounce of energy squeezed from them. And no one appreciates that more than the man whose job it is to pick the team. But Smith believes the hardest part of the campaign is over with Gers ready, fit and refreshed for the big run-in. He said: "If we still had 10 or 12 games to go then, yes, fatigue would be a worry. "But once you start to get down to the last six games then you can see the finishing line. "You know what you have to do if you are going to have a successful end to the season. "So I'd hope that in itself would banish any kind of fatigue the players might have been feeling. Also, after this game and the Celtic match on Sunday, we have two midweeks without a game, for the first time in a long time. So that should refresh us too. "But the best thing to keep us refreshed is winning games. "That's what we need to keep our eye on tomorrow night and get back at a United side that beat us at Ibrox recently. "But I do feel the players are starting to pick up again, mentally and physically. "When you reach this stage if you don't have an appetite for the title fight then you really do have a problem. "Our boys have shown a good mentality over the past couple of years and hopefully will show it again." Managers everywhere are judged on their signings. And when Smith thinks back there have been more successes than flop failures. The days of Brian Laudrup and Paul Gascoigne are gone. But Smith is thrilled the �£4million paid out for Nikica Jelavic is looking like good value for money. He added: "He's a good lad, his attitude is good. The reports we had when watching him were that he had a lot of ability but also had a good approach to the game. "We sent people to see him play and what came back was that his attitude was always excellent. "He always wanted to win and that competitive streak is a big part of the overall package." Smith's competitive streak is as strong as ever. He revealed last night he turned down a job offer from the English Premier League to stay with Gers last summer. Smith added: "When you leave a job at 63 everyone assumes it's because of your age. "It doesn't necessarily mean that I am going to retire. "If the right opportunity arose elsewhere, then of course I would consider it. "I've had opportunities to go back to England on a couple of occasions, the most recent being at the start of the season. It was a good Barclay's Premier League club. "But I didn't think that it was right to leave Rangers when I had just agreed to stay for one more season." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3534204/The-long-goodbye.html#ixzz1Jv2z3jkk

WANTAWAY Rangers star Madjid Bougherra has been warned he's going NOWHERE. Algerian stopper Bougy revealed last week his plan to quit Ibrox this summer. But Gers boss Walter Smith last night warned that contracted players will NOT be sold - and Bougy admitted he is NOT a certainty to leave the club at the end of the season. Smith said: "The whole thing about the summer will be about the club's overall circumstance. "Everybody says that people will be leaving but I don't see how we have the capability to let anyone leave. "We have reached the stage where if we sell players and can't re-invest then Rangers won't have a team for next year. "But I don't know what will happen. That is something for the future." Bougherra, who still has a year left on his current contract and rejected a new deal, returns from injury for tonight's vital SPL clash with Dundee United at Tannadice. And Smith admitted: "We're glad at the minute to have Bougherra back. "He has played well for us over the season and are just pleased to have Madjid fit again." Bougherra held talks with Gers chief executive Martin Bain over a new deal seven weeks ago. And although he turned down his offer on the SAME money he's currently on, the stopper insisted last night his future has still to be decided. Bougy, 28, said: "I am focusing on giving the title to Rangers and then I'll talk about transfers at the end of the season. "There are some possibilities but I like Rangers and this is a very big club. I have a contract until 2012, end of story, so we have to wait to the end of the season." Smith, meanwhile, has heaped praise on Steven Whittaker for the job he did in central defence while Bougherra was injured. He said: "He's not just been useful for us when Bougherra's been out - he's been doing it for us all season. It's not often you have one player playing in six different positions for you over the course of a season. "We had a fair idea we would need to move quite a few of them around this season, but Steven's been invaluable for us because he's so able to do it. "Even in a one-off game, there are very few players who could move from right-back to outside-left but he does it. "He does the whole lot without complaining. So he has been terrific for us this season." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3534377/Dont-bank-on-a-move-Bougy.html#ixzz1Jv0owJKh

From The Evening Times. I don't know why any EPL club would want WS going by his record when in charge of Everton. His tactics wouldn't work down there. Teams play fast, attacking football down there. Out of interest, who do you think this club is? Villa? Newcastle? West Ham?

So, weââ?¬â?¢re under investigation again from UEFA because an organisation that meets at Celtic park and is run by Piara Power, whoââ?¬â?¢s close to Dermott Desmond, Celticââ?¬â?¢s owner, has videoed Rangers fans singing The Billy Boys in a European tie. Letââ?¬â?¢s face it, only the naÃ?¯ve would believe that an organisation run by a Celtic fan would never single us out for ancient terrace chants. Terrace chants that are no different to the ones you hear the length and breadth of Britain on a match day. Of course, FARE are fair, they took action when presented with evidence of racial abuse hurled towards Rangers players at a recent Old Firm game. No, wait, they havenââ?¬â?¢t acted on this, instead they have completely ignored this fact. Even after The Rangers Supportersââ?¬â?¢ Trust chairman, Stephen Smith, raised the issue on national television. However, with the impending fine or playing in an empty stadium in the post, it's now time to re-evaluate where we sing certain songs. I love The Billy Boys, but it is now clear Ibrox or away grounds are not the platform for it. Not my preferred course of action but this is the world we live in, sadly! What we can do though, is channel our energies into exposing certain organisations for they what they really are and what their agenda actually is. For this to happen in an efficient manner it would require all fan groups, forums and supporter clubs to put aside their differences and work together for a brighter future for our club. This is how we could turn recent events into a positive. There is a clear split within the Rangers supporting fraternity, a split that needs resealed if weââ?¬â?¢re to move in a forward direction. This might open up old wounds but should we let personal differences get in the way working towards our club moving back to the top of football again where we can be viewed as a powerhouse again? I can already hear the ââ?¬Å?heââ?¬â?¢s naiveââ?¬Â or ââ?¬Å?itââ?¬â?¢ll never happenââ?¬Â chants emanating from the web as this is read. We love, in all our glory, belting out The Billy Boys. What if we were to come together and work in unison that lets us belt out ââ?¬Å?We are the peopleââ?¬Â where it would actually mean something? Is it not most fans dream to have an actual say on how our club does business? Perhaps by coming together we could show the club and new owner in waiting that we can contribute more than just our hard earned cash. Is it possible for Rangers fans to take the ââ?¬Ë?can doââ?¬â?¢ approach and actively work on exposing corrupt organisations and investing in the future of the club which will not just to keep us afloat but will allow us to reap the benefits of our own endeavours? What camp are you in? The ââ?¬Å?It will never work campââ?¬Â or the ââ?¬Å?can doââ?¬Â camp? I see the opportunity, do you? Published on the forum I moderate on but Frankie can do his thing with it if he wants. I know we spoke about bridging gaps between fan groups and perhaps recent events could be a catalyst for it.

I hope he is not frightened into bending down to the tims as he was at that decision.