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ENGLISH football chiefs have hatched secret plans to invite SPL clubs into the Carling Cup. It could see Scots clubs involved from 2012-13 even if chief executive Neil Doncaster can convince SPL clubs to vote for league changes that will see the top-flight reduced to ten. SunSport understands that the proposal could be the first step towards a British Cup. Top brass on both sides of the border are eager to breathe fresh life into their League Cups. They believe bringing the two League Cups closer together could prove popular for Scottish and English fans. And a major change to cup competitions would also be on the cards if Scottish clubs accept a possible invitation into a merged tourney. Brewing giants Carling have just one year left on their sponsorship of the English League Cup. And anxious Football League chiefs in England are desperate for a bright new format to attract lucrative backing. A blueprint for the new-look competition would see the Scottish clubs enter at the second round. They'd face lower-ranking Premier League teams or Football League sides. But they could be pitted against the cream of the English game after that. It's hoped the proposed tourney would also be attractive to broadcasters and land a TV deal. And Football League bosses believe it could convince England's top clubs to field full-strength teams. The new-look Cup would have to win the approval of Football League clubs AND teams in Scotland. SFL top brass would be consulted to ensure there was no negative impact on the new-look Scottish Communities League Cup. But it's believed there is interest on both sides of the border in the concept of an all-British tourney. The idea was last floated eight years ago when clubs discussed a grand final between the winners of the Scottish and English League Cups. Peter Donald, the then SFL secretary, revealed talks for the match had made an advanced stage. Donald said at the time: "We have discussed it and we think it is a positive proposal. There would be considerable prestige at stake for the winners." Meanwhile, SPL clubs will meet to take a final vote on league reconstruction next month. Club chiefs gathered at Hampden yesterday to discuss plans to change the structure of the game. And Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne said: "I think it's still moving in the right direction. There is a bit of work to do." EDIT* it is in the Scottish sun now i like the idea of that! a few away trips down south!

ENGLISH football chiefs have hatched secret plans to invite SPL clubs into the Carling Cup. It could see Scots clubs involved from 2012-13 even if chief executive Neil Doncaster can convince SPL clubs to vote for league changes that will see the top-flight reduced to ten. SunSport understands that the proposal could be the first step towards a British Cup. Top brass on both sides of the border are eager to breathe fresh life into their League Cups. They believe bringing the two League Cups closer together could prove popular for Scottish and English fans. And a major change to cup competitions would also be on the cards if Scottish clubs accept a possible invitation into a merged tourney. Brewing giants Carling have just one year left on their sponsorship of the English League Cup. And anxious Football League chiefs in England are desperate for a bright new format to attract lucrative backing. A blueprint for the new-look competition would see the Scottish clubs enter at the second round. They'd face lower-ranking Premier League teams or Football League sides. But they could be pitted against the cream of the English game after that. It's hoped the proposed tourney would also be attractive to broadcasters and land a TV deal. And Football League bosses believe it could convince England's top clubs to field full-strength teams. The new-look Cup would have to win the approval of Football League clubs AND teams in Scotland. SFL top brass would be consulted to ensure there was no negative impact on the new-look Scottish Communities League Cup. But it's believed there is interest on both sides of the border in the concept of an all-British tourney. The idea was last floated eight years ago when clubs discussed a grand final between the winners of the Scottish and English League Cups. Peter Donald, the then SFL secretary, revealed talks for the match had made an advanced stage. Donald said at the time: "We have discussed it and we think it is a positive proposal. There would be considerable prestige at stake for the winners." Meanwhile, SPL clubs will meet to take a final vote on league reconstruction next month. Club chiefs gathered at Hampden yesterday to discuss plans to change the structure of the game. And Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne said: "I think it's still moving in the right direction. There is a bit of work to do." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/3534339/Carling-plan.html#ixzz1Jv28cXTx

17 Apr 2011 THE question you have to ask Rangers fans who sing sectarian songs is this: do they really care about the club? Because if you do, it has got to stop and it has got to stop now. You canââ?¬â?¢t just say it is a tiny minority that do it, or alternatively that it is all of the fans, but a good percentage of Rangers supporters are still singing these songs. It is something Rangers have been fighting against for years, and I donââ?¬â?¢t know if they will ever be able to change it, but they canââ?¬â?¢t ever give up trying. Just when you hoped it might have gone away, suddenly it has raised its ugly head again over the last season or so. I was very young when I went down to Chelsea to start my football career but my dad brought me up in Ayrshire as a Rangers fan. I went to the Scottish Cup final with him in 1976, when they beat Hearts 3-1 and Derek Johnstone scored a couple. We were in the Hearts end because there were so many Rangers fans there. But I never went to many games and I swear I never had a clue about the songs. I remember once I arrived at Rangers as a player, the fans would try to get me to play the flute and rubbish like that, but I didnââ?¬â?¢t play along at all. I didnââ?¬â?¢t know the songs, I didnââ?¬â?¢t know the words, and I didnââ?¬â?¢t want to know. Things are changing now and the fans have got to realise that some things are no longer acceptable. It is like racism, which has moved on hugely since the Mark Walters situation arose with the banana throwing. Times are moving on and fans have got to do the same with sectarianism. I know these fansââ?¬â?¢ mindset. Some of them will never change. It is defiance. Now they are humming these songs at games, so they are determined to get their message across whatever. But if they are not going to change for themselves, they should change for the sake of the club. The Rangers fans that are doing it are doing the club harm. They should be trying to help, but instead they are making it worse. The last thing the club needs is to be tarred with this. Pictures of games being played behind closed doors will affect the image of the club in the eyes of the world and the potential Ã?£2 million loss is the last thing the club needs financially with the way things are, and in the throes of a takeover which may or may not go through. The Craig Whyte deal is already taking so long, and this kind of thing could drag it on even further. I never played in a game which had to be played behind closed doors due to crowd misbehaviour but the closest I got was that famous game in Tallinn when I won my first full cap for my country. The Scotland fans were all there but it was eerie. Donââ?¬â?¢t get me wrong: I think Uefa are making an example of Rangers, I really do. They are using Rangers as an example to stop sectarianism across Europe, because there are other clubs out there that do it. I understand what Martin Bain is trying to say about it and he has to defend the clubââ?¬â?¢s interests. But that is not the same as saying Uefa are somehow in the wrong on this. They made their point about the PSV game away, and now they are making their point about the PSV game at home. You canââ?¬â?¢t say Rangers are unlucky or being picked on or that it is just a witch hunt. The phrase ââ?¬Ë?witch huntââ?¬â?¢ suggests people are looking for things that arenââ?¬â?¢t there. This problem is there for all to see. I donââ?¬â?¢t think if you are a Rangers director you could say otherwise. I want to speak about football, not political stuff. But the main talking points in Scottish football havenââ?¬â?¢t been about the football: there have been refsââ?¬â?¢ strikes, Celtic versus the SFA, now Paul McBride versus the SFA and Rangers and sectarianism. There needs to be a change in mentality given the way that Scottish football is going and the sooner we change it the better. You wonder how are we going to get the TV deals and sponsorship we need to make Scottish football better again. We start a campaign in this country then we forget all about it. Then suddenly it gathers pace again and we bring it back out. Once a month we should have an anti-sectarianism mission just like the Show Racism the Red Card campaign. Letââ?¬â?¢s keep it in peopleââ?¬â?¢s minds. I grew up knowing about sectarianism but not knowing about it, if you see what I mean. But my wee boy is into football now and he doesnââ?¬â?¢t have a clue about it. It would be great if we could keep it that way. I HAD a pop at Aberdeen in last weekââ?¬â?¢s column and they seemed to be fired up against Rangers in midweek. I expected that and I am sure they will be up for the game against Celtic this afternoon. I would never doubt their professionalism or how much they want to win but I just donââ?¬â?¢t think they are good enough and I expect Celtic to go through. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/rangers-fans-must-face-the-music-billy-dodds-1.1096666

Hi, I am wondering (if it is possible or likely) where I would be able to enquire about getting corporate sponsorship for a charity event I am taking part in to raise funds for the Rangers Charity Foundation and UNICEF? My thought was maybe the guys that are in the Rangers Matchday programme that have sponsored a player, or players, for the course of a season. I guess it's safe to assume that these guys have an interest in the club. I have raised just shy of �£150 (so far) and wondered if a corporate sponsor may put down �£20/30/40/50 if the donation was made against their name. Is there anyone who you think would be willing to do this sort of thing? I might be showing naivety here - however, i'm just trying to think of other ways to raise money. What do you guys reckon? Cheers, Picco

Hi folks, I’m raising money for UNICEF and the Rangers Charity Foundation using JustGiving and wondered if anyone would be willing to sponsor me for 50p (or anything you can afford). This is for the "Walk with Walter" around the Ibrox pitch 19 times (one for every trophy won by Sir Walter) with Walter, Coisty and Durranty. Anything you can donate would be very much appreciated! It's all for a really good cause! I'm really hoping to get to the Ã?£100 mark and i'm slowly, but surely, getting there. :smile: You can make a donation via my page: http://http://www.justgiving.com/Craig-R-Morton. It's easy, fast and totally secure. JustGiving sends your donation straight to and, if you're a UK taxpayer, automatically reclaims Gift Aid on 's behalf, making your donation go further. What’s more, JustGiving will never spam you or sell your details. I hope you’ll join me in supporting. You can use PayPal - even easier... Thanks, Picco

World Exclusive: Qatar royal family plan Ã?£1.5bn takeover of Manchester United 18/12/10 By Paul Smith The most famous name in English football is the target for the next wave of Arab invaders. Across Manchester arch-rivals City are already owned by the Abu Dhabi United Group, led by billionaire Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Now Qatar Holdings, an *investment vehicle for the Qatari royal family, are pursuing the Ã?£1.5billion *takeover of Manchester United. The Gulf state of Qatar has already *landed the right to stage the 2022 World Cup finals in an audacious international coup. The Qataris have also accumulated a huge range of trophy assets in *England. These include the Harrods store and spectacular London properties such as One Hyde Park, the Shard of Glass and the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square. Last week the Qatar Foundation, the charity wing of the ruling *family, bought the sponsorship rights to the Barcelona shirt. It was a declaration of their *intention of getting Qatar accepted as a global football brand. Qatar Holdings is the third largest shareholder in car-maker VW and has a stake in Porsche. Its chairman, Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani (right), who is also Qatarââ?¬â?¢s prime minister, is keen to add to their portfolio of *investments and sees United as an iconic *acquisition. The arrival of the Qatar billions would pave the way for the end of the controversial Glazer family reign. The Arabs can satisfy any request for proof of funding from the Glazer family in the United States and are also willing to fund a massive *transfer fund for manager Sir Alex Ferguson. Unitedââ?¬â?¢s massive fan base around the globe are certain to welcome the change of ownership from the *controversial Glazer regime. The American family seized *control for Ã?£790million in 2005. But the *Americans have incensed United supporters by borrowing against the clubââ?¬â?¢s assets. They loaded Ã?£716m in debt against the club provoking outrage among United fans who believe too much of the clubââ?¬â?¢s income was being *directed to pay prohibitive interest payments. A few weeks ago the Glazers did reduce Unitedââ?¬â?¢s debt by paying back around Ã?£200m in PIK loans. These were payment in kind loans from three hedge funds that were charging 16.25 per cent in annual *interest. Many City observers *believed that reduction in debt could spark a Glazer sell-off. There were even rumours that the funding for the change had come from overseas investors keen to take a stake in United ââ?¬â?? but the Glazers denied this. A group of United fans *calling themselves the Red Knights did try to launch a takeover coup a few months ago but backed off when they *discovered the Glazers would not entertain a bid of around Ã?£1bn. However, the Qatar Holdings have set aside around Ã?£2.5bn in funds to purchase the club and provide Sir Alex Ferguson with unlimited spending power in the transfer *market. So far the Glazers have resisted attempts to drive them out of Old Trafford even though the fans have been so critical of their reign. Now the scene could be set for the Glazers to leave with a massive profit. Qatar Holdings have been linked with a host of European *giants including Barcelona, Real Madrid and Unitedââ?¬â?¢s Premier League rivals, Chelsea, Liverpool, *Tottenham and Newcastle. However, United have always been top of their wish list. The purchase of United would leave the club debt free and the most powerful club in the current transfer market. And even neighbours City, with all their wealth, may find it hard to compete with the potential red *revolution. http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/World-Exclusive-Qatar-royal-family-will-pay-1-5bn-to-buy-Manchester-United-article654051.html

By Gary McDaniel So it has come to this, our referees have decided that enough is enough and they're taking strike action in demonstration as to the constant flack they have been subjected to recently. I say good on them. Celtic chairman, John Reid, is without doubt the Keith Flint-esk firestarter who has been regularly stoking the flames on the burning issue of referees, especially Dougie MacDonald. Mr Reid is adamant heads should role as the heinous crime of a lie has been told to their manager Neil Lennon and the SFA match observer. Now I don't condone lying and I�m sure as his time as a politician John Reid would never condone such a thing............. Oh hold on wasn't he a member of the Blairite New Labour party which was built on the foundation of spin? Wasn't he once a prominent member of our government's cabinet? Let us remember that John Reid was part of one of the biggest lies in our country's recent history in the run-up to the war in Iraq. He was privy to information of claims of 45 minute warnings and weapons of mass destruction, which all turned out to be a load of nonsense but yet thousands of Iraqi's lost their lives and many of our troops were killed, all for what? We were then told that the removal of Saddam Hussein was part of the plan, didn't remember being said on the run-up to war? Change of story there, doesn't that sound familiar? He was part of a government which deviously set about ditching bad news on the day of 9/11. Ok he wasn't directly involved in that but that all stemmed from the culture being set by the party he was a member of. So how many heads rolled after the PR disaster which was the Iraq war cover-up? Erm one, namely a Dr David Kelly who took his own life. Now Mr John Reid wishes to see P45s issued within the SFA and to Dougie MacDonald over the Tannadice incident? A lie, which I agree was stupid, but which was taken without real thought. A decision which in essence did not have any real effect on the outcome of the game in Dundee. Compare that to Reid's political decisions in the past. Yes, he has a cheek to sit in Parkhead and believe he has the moral high ground. I have a lot of respect for Celtic Football Club and many of their fans for what they have done for Scottish football. Their achievements abroad. The behaviour of their fans when following their team in Europe over the decades. For me though, the likes of John Reid and Peter Lawell are tarnishing that image. I would have more respect for them if they cleared the smokescreen and laid their cards on the table and openly admitted that they believe that there is a valid question about the integrity of Scottish referees. I might not agree with them but I would respect their bluntness. I've been over this ground in a previous post about referees but we seem to forget how invaluable they are to our game and the fact that, like us, they are human beings. They are committed to the job and have taken up the call in which the vast majority of us wouldn't touch with a barge pole. They face, not just stick from managers and players, but also from fans whose abuse is much more colourful. Who in their right mind would run the line and suffer constant verbal attacks from fans questioning their integrity, their eyesight but also the much more darker issues of having their sexuality questioned, members of their family verbally abused and threats to their personal safety? Imagine its like a taxi driver having every fare in his cab hurling abuse at him or a call centre worker being told were to stick their double glazing on a regular basis. You would pack it in after a while for your own sanity. We now live in a culture were football referees are now constantly in the spot light. Many ex-referees are TV pundits or have their own columns in national newspapers. This didn't happen 20 years ago. We are fascinated by officials and the decisions they make. It frustrates us and it annoys us but we accept, well I do, that they have taken an honest decision in relation to an incident. We have a situation in which players earn thousands or millions of pounds. They have the life style they desire, the house they dreamed of, the sports car they sought after and the eye candy on their arm they thought was never possible when they were a plukey wee pubescent teenager. They virtually do what they want. They can demand more money and sign up to lucrative sponsorship deals. But when they run out onto a football pitch and have a referee blow the whistle and tell them its not a penalty, they blow their top. How dare this authoritarian weasel that I have no respect for tell me I'm wrong. Let us all remember players and managers never get it wrong? They never lie or cheat? No no never. Yet their behaviour is never regularly punished by their club. A manager rarely criticises one of his players for diving to get a penalty. They never take action when their players hound match officials to get an opposing player red carded. No its all accepted as part of the game. Referees are demonised by many quarters from within the game but we also forget the other role in which referees play. Not only do they have to judge if a player has dived or feigning injury but they are there to protect the players. It is the job of the man in black to blow the whistle and ask for urgent attention for a player who has a head knock. It is them who decide when a pitch is unplayable and is threatening the well being of those playing on it. It is them who red card a player, not to annoy a manager or fans, but to punish a player for recklessness which could threaten the career of an opponent. We sometimes forget that. We have also heard calls for referees to reveal the team's they support. What a load of nonsense. Which referee would put their career at risk by revealing that they support one of the top clubs in this country? For example how could they excel in the profession if they were forced to reveal they supported one half of the old firm? They wouldn't get on the UEFA or FIFA list to officiate top international or Champions League games as they hadn't been able to referee a top SPL match due to their integrity being questioned. They are professional and wouldn't wish to put their career in jeopardy. Do we do the same when a former Celtic player returns to Parkhead? Like when Henrik Larsson scored for Barcelona in front of his adoring fans? No he's a footballer doing the job he is employed to do, no matter the opposition. Imagine that in the last game of the season Celtic need to beat Aberdeen for the title and it's late in the game, finely poised at 2-1 in favour of Celtic. The Dons have a corner which lands at the feet of Zander Diamond (a well known supporter of his bhoyhood heroes) who is in front of goal 6 yards out. He skies is shot over the bar and the final whistle blows. Would we suggest he did it deliberately? Make-up your own mind, but I would hope he just fluffed his lines. So what does the future hold? Well I don't think Celtic will give up on this issue lightly until a certain few go through the exit door at Hampden. What makes this whole episode ironic is that you could say that while this whole issue has blown up, Celtic's performances on the field have suffered. Has Neil Lennon's focus been distracted? What you may find is that in the end Celtic may have scored an own goal by allowing an ever increasingly tired and threadbare Rangers' side remain top of the SPL. http://www.theawayend.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=468%3Athe-hypocrisy-of-john-reid&catid=59%3Agary-mcdaniel&Itemid=119

TENNENTS hand over shirt sponsorship rights to UEFA for Valencia game More...

Wayne *Rooney paid for *secret hotel sex sessions with a Ã?£1,000-a-night prostitute while his wife Coleen was pregnant with their son, the Sunday Mirror can *sensationally reveal. The Ã?£100,000-a-week Manchester United and England icon slept with brunette Jennifer Thompson, 21, seven times over four months. And, astonishingly, he even flaunted her on a string of dates to VIP haunts in *Manchester, including bars, clubs and the cityââ?¬â?¢s 235 Casino. Last night a humiliated Rooney was confessing his disgrace to *childhood sweetheart Coleen, who took him back in 2004 after the Sunday Mirror twice exposed him for cheating on her with prostitutes. Rooney now expects betrayed Coleen to throw him out of their Ã?£5million mansion in Cheshire and begin moves for an *explosive divorce. He told a pal *yesterday: ââ?¬Å?My life is in ruinsââ?¬Â¦Iââ?¬â?¢ve been so stupid. Coleen wonââ?¬â?¢t forgive me this time. She will leave me.ââ?¬Â As with the downfall of philandering golf legend Tiger Woods, Rooney fully anticipates losing sponsorship deals worth Ã?£6million a year which depend on him *maintaining his family man reputation. Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, escort girl *Jennifer said of multi-millionaire *Rooney: ââ?¬Å?He sent me SIM cards full of text *messages and spoke to me on Skype using a false name. Whenever we met for sex, it was always in the same hotel.ââ?¬Â It is understood that Rooney, 24, booked Jennifer from an online agency in Manchester which promises its clients ââ?¬Å?ultimate discretionââ?¬Â after she was recommended to him by a pal. Their first meeting was in July last year at the Ã?£300-a-night Lowry Hotel in Salford when devoted Coleen was five months pregnant with their son Kai. Well-spoken Jennifer ââ?¬â?? whose middle-class parents live in a Ã?£300,000 detached home in a leafy suburb of Bolton ââ?¬â?? *provided Rooney with ââ?¬Å?anything goesââ?¬Â sex. After two two-hour romps with him at the Lowry a week apart from each other, she was dropped by her agency when she took bookings from him direct in order for her to avoid paying *commission. The sex sessions then *developed into longer, more intimate ââ?¬Å?datesââ?¬Â, often lasting five or six hours during which time he would arrange for room service to deliver dinner and champagne at the five-star Lowry. On each occasion, he paid her Ã?£1,000 in cash for her company. A friend of Jenniferââ?¬â?¢s said last night: ââ?¬Å?She couldnââ?¬â?¢t believe it the first time he booked her. He used a different name so she didnââ?¬â?¢t know who he really was until she knocked on the hotel room door and he opened it. ââ?¬Å?She wasnââ?¬â?¢t star-struck. She considers what she does to be a profession and she always strives to be very good at it. ââ?¬Å?But she got into trouble with her agency when they found out she was by-passing them and taking bookings from him direct on her own mobile phone and over the internet using Skype. ââ?¬Å?After heââ?¬â?¢d had sex with her the first few times, he changed his *attitude towards her. He said it was no longer just about an hour or two of sex but that heââ?¬â?¢d grown genuinely fond of her. But he carried on paying her *whenever they met. It went on for four months.ââ?¬Â Their last meeting was in October. On November 2, Coleen gave birth to Kai. The source said: ââ?¬Å?He suddenly stopped calling Jennifer in October, although she has seen him out in bars and clubs in Manchester since. When that happens, she makes sure she stays well away from him to avoid any awkwardness.ââ?¬Â The source went on: ââ?¬Å?Sheââ?¬â?¢s a well-to-do young woman and has had a good *education. Youââ?¬â?¢ve only got to look at her to see why Wayne liked her so much. ââ?¬Å?She loves the high-life and leads a hectic life of parties, holidays and nights out. She works hard for six months, earns lots of money and then goes to Spain for a few months to party with friends she has over there. ââ?¬Å?When sheââ?¬â?¢s run out of money, she comes home and starts escorting again. Sheââ?¬â?¢s young but very confident and sure of herself. ââ?¬Å?In the past, sheââ?¬â?¢s told friends that she would love to be a real WAG. She knows that it all coming out will devastate Wayne. She says she feels sorry for Coleen but that at the same time, Wayne must have known the risks of one day being found out. On a few of their dates, he actually took her out on his arm to bars and a casino. ââ?¬Å?He must have been on some kind of self-destruct trip. It must have been obvious to him that people would spot him and see that she wasnââ?¬â?¢t Coleen but he didnââ?¬â?¢t seem to care.ââ?¬Â Rooney and Coleen, 24, met while they were at secondary school in Liverpool. In July 2004 the Sunday Mirror revealed how he had paid Ã?£140 to romp with prostitute Charlotte Glover, then 21, before leaving her with a signed autograph as a souvenir. Then, a month later, the Sunday Mirror *revealed how he had sex with prostitute Gina McCarrick, 37 at a Ã?£45-a-time brothel in *Liverpool, which he visited 10 times and where he was caught on CCTV. He also had sex there with a 48-year-old grandmother known as ââ?¬Å?Auld Slapperââ?¬Â, who wore a rubber catsuit. A humbled Rooney later issued a grovelling apology, saying: ââ?¬Å?Foolish as it now seems I did on occasions visit massage parlours and *prostitutes. I now regret it deeply and hope people may understand that it was the sort of mistake you make when you are young and stupid. It was at a time when I was very young and *immature.ââ?¬Â In her autobiography, Coleen later revealed that she forgave Rooney because when he had sex with the three prostitutes ââ?¬â?? in 2002 ââ?¬â?? she and he had not yet slept together or formally settled down together. She wrote: ââ?¬Å?The truth is, and Iââ?¬â?¢ve never said this before, at that time in our relationship Iââ?¬â?¢d never even slept with Wayne. ââ?¬Å?I was only 16 and we werenââ?¬â?¢t having that kind of relationship at that stage. We used to meet at the chippy or the cinema.ââ?¬Â After his double vice disgrace, Rooney gradually rebuilt his reputation, allowing him to garner massively lucrative sponsorships. And he slowly re-established trust with Coleen. Rooney and Coleen married in June 2008 in a lavish ceremony in a converted monastery near Genoa on the Italian *Riviera. A beaming Coleen wore a Ã?£200,000 white Marchesa wedding gown and pearls while Rooney sported an open-necked shirt for the ceremony at the abbey of La *Cervara. In May this year, just before *Englandââ?¬â?¢s World Cup disaster, he insisted being a *father had changed his life. ââ?¬Å?Becoming a dad means you have to be a role model for your son and be someone he can look up to,ââ?¬Â he said. ââ?¬Å?Now I have someone to look after and I just want to be with Kai and Coleen as much as possible. I donââ?¬â?¢t go clubbing very much any more, maybe only a couple of times a year. Iââ?¬â?¢m now in bed by 10.30pm.ââ?¬Â And he publicly acknowledged the onus on him to behave responsibly, *saying: ââ?¬Å?The lifestyle I lead as a *footballer means I am always in the spotlight.ââ?¬Â Rooney, who played for England on Friday night in the 4-0 victory over Bulgaria, was due to travel to Switzerland tomorrow for Englandââ?¬â?¢s next European Championship qualifier in Basel on Tuesday. But it was unclear last night whether he would remain with the squad amid the crisis now erupting in his marriage. Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/09/04/wayne-rooney-cheats-on-pregnant-wife-coleen-with-1k-a-night-prostitute-115875-22537906/#ixzz0yfSe05y6 Go Camping for 95p! Vouchers collectable in the Daily and Sunday Mirror until 11th August . Click here for more information

Well I will be fighting to get my old Peugot 405 through it's MOT in October.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8696886.stm

BANK extends sponsorship to 2012/13 More...

Manchester United's Champions League quarter-final at Bayern Munich on Tuesday is not only an on-field contest between two of Europe's great clubs - it also represents a clash of two very different financial philosophies. While at United the talk is of takeovers, Bayern supporters are safe in the knowledge that such a scenario is unlikely to ever unfold at the Allianz Arena. The system by which Bundesliga clubs are regulated, with an emphasis on strict financial rules and licensing, means Bayern are debt-free, allowing the club to offer some tickets for as little as 12 euros (�£11) in a world-class stadium. That is a world apart from the Premier League model of light-touch regulation that has allowed the United States-based Glazers to saddle United with debts of �£716.5m. It has become a debt too far for thousands of their fans, so much so that the Red Knights, a group of wealthy United followers in alliance with the Manchester United Supporters' Trust is attempting to wrest control of the club. Stuart Dykes is a Manchester United fan living in Germany. He also supports Schalke and pays 13 euros (�£12) to stand in the Veltins-Arena and watch his team. The cost of the ticket includes free public transport to the stadium from certain areas. Membership of the Gelsenkirchen club costs him 96 euros (�£86). "In England, the Glazers are allowed to come in, while Portsmouth can have four owners in a season. That cannot happen in Germany," Dykes told BBC Sport. "The German model means Bayern are attracting lots of investment but without the risk. It's completely different from United - it's a whole different philosophy. "Bayern looked at what was happening in the United Kingdom and said: 'We don't want that to happen here'. They wanted to maintain control of the club." Arguably, this financial prudence has come at a price, having limited the ability of German clubs to compete with their big-spending English counterparts, who can offer higher wages to players, in the Champions League. Bayern were the last German side to be crowned champions of Europe in 2001, having lost to United in dramatic fashion two years earlier. English clubs have triumphed twice since 2001 and appeared in the final on six occasions in the last decade, a period in which only one other German club has reached the final, Bayer Leverkusen losing to Real Madrid in 2002. "When clubs can spend what they want, like in the Premier League, it's very difficult for German clubs to succeed," said Antonia Hagemann, project manager with the UK-based Supporters Direct organisation, which has carried out a Uefa-funded study of club ownerships and fan involvement across Europe. "But there's a fair chance that they will have the last laugh. The German model doesn't restrict success, but the Premier League has set up a 'rat race' for everyone in Europe. It sees football as a brand - it is not interested in regulation." At the heart of the German model are the fans, rather than owners or shareholders. Bundesliga clubs broke the 2bn euro (�£1.8bn) level for the first time in 2008-9 It was the seventh successive season in which an attendance record was set - averaging 42,000 a game Average ticket price: 20.79 euros (�£18.70) - about twice as much as in the Premier League The Bundesliga is the European champion of sponsorship deals - 573m euros (�£515m) Until the late 1990s, all Bundesliga clubs were 100% owned by members - fans who pay to be part of the club. However, the clubs recognised the need to compete with their European rivals and that this might not have been the best way to do it. So some, including Bayern, spun off their professional football "sections" into outside limited companies, separate from the parent club, to attract investment. Under Bundesliga rules, members must own 50% of the shares plus one extra vote of these spin-offs. This is the so-called 50+1 model, which makes it impossible for private investors to take over a club. It is this model that many view as the best in Europe - and a far cry from the Premier League, where most clubs are struggling with debt. Earlier this season, Portsmouth became the first top-flight club to go into administration. A Uefa report in February revealed that the total debt of Premier League teams - �£3.4bn - is greater than that of the rest of Europe's top-flight clubs put together. And although the Premier League clubs make up more than half of club assets in Europe, Manchester United's debt is almost more than �£150m higher than that of the 36 clubs in Germany's top two divisions. That is because Bundesliga clubs must submit information about their budgets and expected expenditure, and prove they are financially stable in order to play in the league. There are also check-ups during the season, and licences can be withdrawn. Second Division club Arminia Bielefeld were deducted four points by the Bundesliga for breaching the terms of their licence after suffering a financial shortfall and were fined 50,000 euros (�£45,000) for the violation, which they admitted in February. "I think the strict system is just one of the reasons preventing them [German clubs] from competing in the Champions League," said Michael Ashelm, of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper. Robben and Ribery You can watch Robben and Ribery for just �£11 "In the past, the German clubs had many problems with things like defunct training systems and antiquated managers. This changed a lot with a new generation of managers and coaches. "On the other hand, the financial system prevented the clubs from a disaster and allows for stable conditions - in contrast to England or Italy." And of the comparison between top-flight clubs' debt in England and Germany, he said: "You need a strong value as a club to carry such debt as Manchester United and Liverpool - and the value of Bundesliga clubs is under it. "This season Schalke had many problems with their liquidity. They have debts of about 140m euros (�£125m)." Schalke's debt accumulated from the construction of their new stadium, which was eased by a 100m (�£90m) euro sponsorship deal with Gazprom. "For a big German club, this is life-threatening," Anselm added. The German model does have its critics. Hannover 96 president Martin Kind has been a long-standing and vocal opponent of the 50+1 rule, and challenged it in the courts last year. However, 32 of the 36 Bundesliga clubs rejected his proposal. "Everyone in Germany used to look at the Premier League as the ideal model, but now the big clubs in England are in serious trouble," said Hagemann. "I tell everyone not to follow the Premier League model. Fans in England don't really have a say. "The English model is the worst model - its clubs have a perception a spending more money than they have." Tony Woodcock, the former England striker who had a spell in Germany with Cologne during the 1980s, says the financial restrictions placed on Bundesliga clubs are not necessarily a disadvantage. He believes Bayern are the "leading example" of how well run the German clubs are. "Bayern are a bit down the pecking order in terms of attracting players compared to other European teams, but they do have some top players," he said. "They have still attracted Franck Ribery, Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben - they have upped it a gear. To get them, you have to offer good rates. Bayern realise this." 606: DEBATE Financial fair play? Woodcock also believes that English clubs could learn a lesson or two from their German counterparts in how to treat their fans. "For my first training session in Cologne, 10,000 people turned up," he said. "In Germany, they welcome the fans to the training ground but in England it's like Fort Knox." A combination of reasonably priced tickets to watch the likes of Ribery and Robben strut their stuff in superb facilities ensures that Bayern fans are far happier than United supporters in the way their club is run, according to Dykes. It remains to be seen whether over the next few months the Red Knights and Must can bring a similar degree of German prudence to Old Trafford. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8589872.stm

The Scottish League Cup has not only changed names over the years (due to sponsorship) but it has been the domestic cup competition that has also changed format on more that one occasion. I am just old enough to remember the League Cup kicking off in (sectional) group stages which were ditched for the more standard ââ?¬Ë?knock-outââ?¬â?¢ format in season 1984/85. It is also a competition that has served us as a club well in the past. Given that, it is no surprise that many of us will have a special memory of the League Cup Final (the 1984 3-2 victory against Celtc was my first ever OF game), and it has served up some fantastic games over the year (my particular favourite would have to be the 1988 final against Aberdeen). We as a football club have an exceptional record in this competition that gets labelled the ââ?¬Ë?diddy cupââ?¬â?¢ (unfairly in my opinion) in some quarters. Today marks our 33rd Scottish League Cup Final appearance since itââ?¬â?¢s inception in 1947, winning 25 times (everything crossed for victory number 26). Below I have recounted not only my favourite League Cup Finals, but those that have marked ââ?¬Ë?firstsââ?¬â?¢ in my Rangers supporting life : 1981-82 ââ?¬â?? Rangers 2 v 1 Dundee United - my first ever League Cup Final that was secured thanks to goals from Davie Cooper and Ian Redford. 1983-84 ââ?¬â?? Rangers 3 v 2 Celtc ââ?¬â?? my first ever Old Firm game saw us winning the cup against Celtc thanks to a brilliant Ally McCoist hat-trick. Iââ?¬â?¢ll never forget the Celtc end (half empty) cheering Bonnar saving Allyââ?¬â?¢s penalty, only for McCoist to ram home the rebound. 1986-87 ââ?¬â?? Rangers 2 v 1 Celtc ââ?¬â?? our first trophy of the Souness era and a game that marked the ââ?¬Ë?turning of the tideââ?¬â?¢ in our favour. Durranty scored the opener and Davie Cooper winning the game from the spot. 1987-88 ââ?¬â?? Rangers 3 v 3 Aberdeen ââ?¬â?? the first of two successive unforgettable League Cup Finals against Aberdeen saw us secure this pulsating game thanks to penalties. The stand-out memory of the game was Davie Coopers thunderbolt free-kick that Bandy Leighton almost saved on its way back out of the net! 1988-89 ââ?¬â?? Rangers 3 v 2 Aberdeen ââ?¬â?? the second instalment of the unforgettable cup finals against Aberdeen and prior to the game, the experts predicated that this game couldnââ?¬â?¢t live up to the previous years final. Well, it did! The game came weeks after Durrantââ?¬â?¢s horrific injury at Aberdeen and a last minute McCoist goal secured us the cup. This should have been the 1st part of a treble but after securing the title, we were cheated out of the Scottish Cup. 1994-95 ââ?¬â?? Raith Rovers 2 v 2 Celtc ââ?¬â?? McStay missed a penalty ââ?¬â?? enough said! 1996-97 ââ?¬â?? Rangers 4 v 3 Hearts ââ?¬â?? a game played at Torbett Towers in terrible conditions that served up a great game. Neil McCann played wonderfully for Hearts that day but thankfully Gaza played a bit better and helped secure us a tight victory. 2001-02 ââ?¬â?? Rangers 4 v 0 Ayr ââ?¬â?? Rangers u8nder Dick Advocaat were at times an utter joy to watch. Witnessing Kanchelskis stand on the ball in the most extravagant ââ?¬Ë?show-boatââ?¬â?¢ ever in a cup final was priceless. 2002-03 ââ?¬â?? Rangers 2 v 1 Celtc ââ?¬â?? now under the control of Alex McLeish but still playing some brilliant football, we destroyed Martin Oââ?¬â?¢Neilââ?¬â?¢s Celtc for the fist hour of this game. Celtc came back into the game and missed a late penalty (thanks John Hartson). 2004-2005 ââ?¬â?? Rangers 5 v 1 Motherwell ââ?¬â?? The Davie Cooper Cup Final and a performance and result to grace such an occasion. I am sure other fans will have other cup finals that they prefer and that hold significant memories for them. Letââ?¬â?¢s hope that todayââ?¬â?¢s final delivers some more fond memories and another reason for us to love the League Cup Final and the first step to a glorious treble. Cammy F - We Are The People :spl:

http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/2010/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=194:tennents-new-shirt-sponsor-of-rangers&catid=1:articles&Itemid=67 As most bears will be aware, the Carling shirt-sponsorship deal ends this summer and Coors (despite official comment to the contrary) have no plans to renew the deal with both sides of the Old Firm. This means several high profile companies have been in discussions with club representatives in recent months with a view to taking over the lucrative contract. To that end, we can confirm Tennent's have agreed a deal with both Rangers and Celtic to become the new shirt sponsor as of next season. Their existing deal with the Scottish Football Association ends after the World Cup and with no Scotland participation there-in, the company have decided they can increase brand exposure via working with club teams who can offer global awareness via the Champions' League. While the finances of the deal have not yet been confirmed, Rangers will be hoping to match the terms of the 2005 Carling monies and with the Umbro shirt manufacturer sponsorship also due to run out again this summer (but more complicated in terms of its association with JJB), this is one commercial positive for the financial battles ahead. This new deal is for two years with a 12 month option included.

I wonder who's kidneys he's been unlawfully bursting?

F@ckin' ridiculous name for a stadium!

RANGERS manager Walter Smith last night admitted bankers are now running the club as the full extent of its financial predicament began to career into view. Donald Muir's appointment to the club's board as a non-executive director at the behest of HBOS, now owned by Lloyds Banking Group, nine days ago appears to have been the point when control of Rangers' affairs was removed from the club's hands. Muir is a specialist in assisting ailing companies and officially joined the Rangers board to help them in their "strategic business interests". Both chairman Alastair Johnston and chief executive Martin Bain had previously denied the banks were closing in since owner David Murray stepped down as chairman on 26 August, but Smith spoke freely last night of the new reality he described as "obvious to everyone". It comes at the end of a week in which Murray's company, Murray International Holdings, announced it would be delaying publishing of its accounts for six months. This has been interpreted by some in the business community as a step taken to prevent scrutiny of just how incapable it is of propping up Rangers with the club's debts rising above the Ã?£30 million mark. And it comes at the end of a week in which Rangers suffered their most humiliating defeat in 53 years competing in Europe with their 4-1 thumping by Romanians Unirea Urziceni in the Champions League "As far as I am aware that is the situation," said Smith when asked about reports the bank was in control of the club at his post-match conference following his side's 1-1 draw with Hibernian. "David Murray stepped down and they've placed a representative of the bank on the board. "It is obviously not a good situation. It is not a situation anybody wants the club to be in. It's been up for sale for a while. It's not the bank's fault. If the bank had to take over in the circumstances they have, they are not going to invest in a football club. I think Rangers have been fairly honest about their situation. The players at the club have been on sale since January. We haven't bought a player for... in this transfer window, that will be 18 months. I'm very surprised anyone can't work out the situation. These circumstances have been here for quite a while now. And, despite some headlines, I've never complained about it and I'm not complaining about it now. I'm just saying it is a fact, and a fact of life that a lot of companies throughout the world are having a struggle at the present minute. When David Murray stepped away from the club I felt that was a bad thing for Rangers in the sense that he's tried as hard as he could over 20 years to invest in the club. Now we don't have that situation. So the quicker that gets cleared up, the better it will be." It is Murray who is responsible for running up liabilities he patently now cannot meet ââ?¬â?? a fact some have blamed on the economic downturn. Yet there were plenty of alarm bells when he allowed Smith to become the country's biggest spending manager on his return in 2007, before reacting to the 2008 Champions League qualifying exit by sanctioning an Ã?£8m spend on players that produced a Ã?£3m "hole" in the club's budget that effectively led to the entire squad being put up for sale only six months later. The club has, in effect, been for sale for four years but despite a number of reports of potential buyers, none has been found. Yesterday there were suggestions that board member Dave King, who invested Ã?£25m in the club in 2000, and another unnamed group were considering lodging an offer within the week but these were dismissed by sources at the club. Smith said he was unaware of any possible sale. "I'm not involved in that aspect, you'd need to ask others if there was anything like that," he said. The implications for Smith's bid to retain the title will only emerge over time, but the fact the bankers have decided to exert control can only increase the likelihood there will be a demand for Rangers to cash in on Madjid Bougherra, their most valuable playing asset, in January. Already, with injuries to the Algerian and to Pedro Mendes, Kevin Thomson and Lee McCulloch, who came off yesterday, Rangers are running low on senior players. Smith conceded this was a process that was likely to accelerate and could only be offset by promoting from within. "It is maybe not the proper time to be blooding these boys (such as Andrew Little and Danny Wilson] but I don't think we are going to have much option shortly," said Smith. Rangers' financial meltdown must also place question marks against Smith's own future. His present contract expires in only eight weeks, as does that of assistant Ally McCoist and first-team coach Kenny McDowall. As yet the three have not been offered extensions. However, it is believed that if a new buyer was found that wanted to retain his services he would be keen on staying. Failure to see eye-to-eye with new regime has Smith talking himself towards exit door LONG-suffering Rangers fans are seeing their beloved club up for sale and seemingly rudderless, with Sir David Murray gone from the scene and a chairman who resides in the USA. Now they may be about to lose their talismanic manager. Walter Smith may even be gone in the next week or two, after his comments last night which confirmed that he has no money to spend and no control over the purse strings at Ibrox. Instead, the bankers have taken over. In the world of football finance, banks do not expose themselves to customer dissatisfaction by placing directors on a board ââ?¬â?? new director Donald Muir has no formal links to Lloyds Banking Group, for instance. They do not need to do that. Lloyds ââ?¬â?? a group which has no great track record in football sponsorship ââ?¬â?? simply dictates how Rangers spend the bank's money. Or in this case, not spend it. And it is Lloyds' money that Rangers spend. When it took over the crippled HBOS, it inherited Rangers' debts, probably north of Ã?£30 million, and any potential buyer will be saddled with that debt right away. With the benefit of hindsight, everyone who thought the Murray era would end sweetly and that there would be a swift transfer to a rich new owner was looking at the situation through rose-tinted glasses. When a businessman as powerful as Murray moves out of any company, the reverberations are long and loud and highly transformational. Lots of players have gone as a side-effect of Murray's withdrawal. Now it may be Smith's turn. There is more than one coat on a shoogly nail at Ibrox. Persistent rumours have surrounded chief executive Martin Bain, with Gordon McKie, chief executive of the Scottish Rugby Union, touted as a possible replacement should Bain, too, decide that the end of the Murray era is time to pursue new opportunities. But Smith's departure would be colossal for the club. Alex McLeish admitted he left Ibrox in 2006 because Sir David Murray would not fund new signings. So could Smith do a McLeish? The trouble for Smith is that he eats, breathes and sleeps Rangers. Cut him and he would bleed royal blue. But how long can he go on in the humiliating position for a Rangers manager of not being able to decide who he can buy and sell? How long will a proud man take being told what to do by a bank manager? Smith may even now be planning his exit strategy ââ?¬â?? a term financiers understand ââ?¬â?? and indeed, it may even be under way. Or else why speak out as he did last night? The fans, who are always kept in the dark, may like to ask other questions. Exactly who is in the frame to buy Rangers? If there are no buyers, what happens next? What support will Lloyds continue to give? Will there be money to buy the new players the club desperately needs? It should make for an interesting AGM, and this time no one can call for Murray to go, because he already has. http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sport/Uncertainty-grips-Ibrox.5764251.jp

For those unlucky enough to have been reading my inane ramblings for some time, this next statement may come as a huge surprise, there was once a time where I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t have had a negative word to say about our beloved club. I was always a champion of the club and even although privately I had reservations of the way it was being run, I wouldnââ?¬â?¢t allow a bad word to be uttered relating to Rangers FC. I canââ?¬â?¢t recall when my attitude changed but reflecting on over 10 years of posting on GersNet, it appears that I have always been an old cynical so-and-so who never looks on the bright side of life, especially where Rangers are concerned. On further reflection, and looking for any excuse to explain my negativity, I believe that the general malice surrounding our fortunes is what has transformed me into the cynic that I am. Let me get one thing straight from the start, I donââ?¬â?¢t enjoy being cynical and I certainly donââ?¬â?¢t enjoy witnessing the continued demise of the club that we all love. But, it is hard to find anything positive to pen regarding Rangers. I thought long and hard about this article as I remember writing the same things numerous times over the years and as always nothing has improved. Sir David Murray has moved (or been moved) aside and a new Chairman has taken the reigns, but do any of us expect this to change anything? Will our crippling debt suddenly disappear? Will our manager suddenly decide to play free-flowing attractive football? Will the club finally stand up to the agenda driven journalists earning a substantial living from continually berating Rangers? Will Ibrox be renovated / upgraded so it is once more the majestic stadium that it once was? Will we suddenly transform ourselves into a marketable brand and re-establish a successful merchandising department? Will Murray Park suddenly start producing a stream of players who are genuine Rangers material? Will the vast majority of the Rangers fan-base even care? Football clubs mean different things to different people. I am not unique and I am not looking for plaudits but I can honestly say that I love Rangers with ever fibre of my being. After my family, Rangers are my life. Thatââ?¬â?¢s what makes the current state of our club so personal and so hurtful. It is like watching a family member dying and being unable to help. I think we can all recall times that the Rangers result hurt so much that you just went home, curled up into a ball and refused to communicate with the outside world for days. We can also recall times where the Rangers result made your day, week, month or year. Thatââ?¬â?¢s the joy of being a football fan. One second can change your whole mood and entire outlook. However, recently I have found that no matter the on-field success (which I have enjoyed) hasnââ?¬â?¢t quite supplemented the feelings for doom and gloom. After the initial high of the success comes the realisation that the club is still rotten to the core. It is easy to sit and pen articles like this and not come up with ways to improve the situation. However, even if I were to give solutions to all our problems, our club wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be interested. After-all, we are all faceless and clueless. But I wonââ?¬â?¢t let our managers assessment of internet fans deter me from putting over some suggestions! Iââ?¬â?¢ll admit that reducing the crippling debt has to be our priority. How do we manage this without weakening the team? That is the $64,000 question and one that I have no answer for other than to find an escape from Scottish Football or to cut our cloth accordingly. The one negative surrounding Rangers that I would love to be able to tackle (Iââ?¬â?¢m open for discussions Mr Johnston) is how to tackle the odious journalists. If I were tasked to develop a solution I believe that I would have this sorted in a matter of months. Firstly Iââ?¬â?¢d ban any journalist that had shown prejudice in reporting on the ills of Scottish Football and who implicated Rangers and no other teams / clubs. I would then inform their editors of why they were banned and inform them that the ban wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be lifted until they ensure impartiality. Make no mistake these papers need us more than we need them. Certain journalists wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be given a 2nd chance, they would serve a life-time ban from Ibrox and Iââ?¬â?¢d release a statement informing everyone why they were banned including showing examples of their one sided reporting. As fans we can invoke change here ââ?¬â?? simply donââ?¬â?¢t buy newspapers. I havenââ?¬â?¢t bought a newspaper for over 7 years. It is also worth noting and recalling at this juncture, we the fans are still the biggest single financial contributor to Rangers FC. Another worrying aspect is how we have become an unmarketable brand. This is solely down to neglect from our custodians. They have allowed us to slip from being the single most recognised Scottish Institution to a badly run laughing stock. Our current sponsorship with Carling is highly unlikely to be renewed and that leaves us with another potential financial head-ache. Make no mistake, our rivals from the East End are a far more marketable brand than we are and are in sound financial state at this moment in time. I heard a story this week that supposedly came from one of our current coaching staff. Now, before going any further, I donââ?¬â?¢t believe a word of this, but its another example of the negativity around our club. The story goes that if we hadnââ?¬â?¢t made it to the Champions League this season then the administrators would have been called. The story continues that if we donââ?¬â?¢t escape from Scottish Football then they may still be called to Ibrox. As stated above, I donââ?¬â?¢t believe that our current financial predicament is that serious, but weââ?¬â?¢d be kidding ourselves if we didnââ?¬â?¢t believe that we could reach that perilous state soon if things donââ?¬â?¢t improve. The millstone that is our debt is stopping other areas like Murray Park being utilised to their full potential. This is also true regarding the upkeep of Ibrox Stadium that looks like a tired old lady now rather than the super-model it used to be. It breaks my heart seeing the state of Ibrox ââ?¬â?? broken TVââ?¬â?¢s, dirty and disgusting toilets etc. This is Scotlandââ?¬â?¢s first UEFA 5 star accredited stadium we are talking about here. It is also a remembrance of those who lost their lives at the Ibroxââ?¬â?¢s disasters. I have had many discussions with many Rangers fans regarding the above issues and why I am so negative and cynical and I appear to be in the minority. Am I missing something? Am I overtly negative and cynical? Should I just shrug my shoulders and refuse to believe that my club would ever go to the wall just because we are ââ?¬Ë?Rangersââ?¬â?¢? I canââ?¬â?¢t believe how blind some Rangers fans are when it comes to the long-term future of the club we profess to love. Never mind we won the SPL title and have just beaten Celtc ââ?¬â?? everything is hunky-dorey eh? Cammy F

Just thinking about the game tonight and seeing how it is a game that a lot of Rangers fans don't seem to be that excited about,other than winning the game. How many can remember the Texaco Cup ?. Can anyone tell me why the Texaco Cup was stopped ?. I think this would be a great thing to bring back to replace the League cups in Scotland and England and would make these games a bit more exciting. I once thought this may happen mainly due to Carling sponsorship of both the OF teams and the English League cup and would have thought sky would be interested in this which would also bring a bit more cash to clubs. Thoughts

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQLWF_ItzYs]Money Talks.[/ame]But it don’t sing and dance and it don’t walk. More and more I’ll acknowledge I’ve been concerned with the finances of Rangers FC. It used to be that it was only a game to me. Then David Murray came along and I even had a ‘Bank Of Rangers’ fiver on my wall, a big blown up thing that represented our financial might in relation to Celtic – and to be honest, I loved it. It was a kind of ‘We Are The People’ x 10; the ultimate partner for the trophies and happy days – we are much, much richer than YOU. GIRFUY as they say these days! Nowadays I feel that the off-the-park stuff is more important than it used to be; too important. I scrutinise the reports, I analyse what they mean, I interpret Rangers’ accounts and draw conclusions. I ask for views and points of view; I really do care about Rangers as a business, because I see it as Rangers’ way of securing its future at the level it we are accustomed to. But why? At the end of the day I got into all this as a young lad who loved football. Even in the early 80’s, I never cared about wages, sponsorship, TV rights, facilities, representation, communication. It just didn’t matter. I heard someone say the other day that back then they didn’t even care who the team manager was; just as long as Rangers were winning. I love the history of Rangers, but I have to be honest and say I’m more interested in the future. I worry about Rangers. I really do. And now I see what Rangers could be; much more than a football club and a business; more of a social enterprise, serving its community and a hub for all things blue, and the things we stand for. Rangers permeates all corners of life in the west of Scotland and beyond. Everybody knows our name. We are a huge and remarkable club. We are truly unique. And the more I think about it, the more I am beginning to find the financial and commercial focus on the club to be somewhat distasteful and a million miles from what the game should be all about. I know the world has changed from the 70’s and 80’s - I’ve seen it with my own eyes. I’m not hankering for a fuzzy-wuzzy past where everything was sweetness and light. I’m not pretending that everything was better in the 70’s or that modern life is rubbish. Far from it. But I do honestly yearn for the day when all we talk about is football. I bet a lot of people feel the same.

RANGERS and Celtic are on the hunt for a new shirt sponsor after Carling called time on the association which has run for six years. But the warning from commercial experts is that, due to the current economic situation, they might struggle to attract bids worth more than �£1million per year. That's less than HALF the �£2.2m in total they currently receive from Carling, and would be another severe blow to the income of the clubs who are reeling after yesterday's cut-price TV deal saw them battered again financially. There are now genuine fears inside both Old Firm clubs they could lose up to �£5m each over the length of a four-year contract, based on previous monies offered for shirt sponsor deals. advertisement The Carling deal, which began in 2003 and which was renewed in 2005, has now entered its final year. Talks about its renewal have already taken place over the past few months between the clubs and the brewer, but sources have told SportTimes Carling have opted against going on. The brand - who are owned by US-based Molson Coors - are aware of the success rivals Tennent's have enjoyed with T In The Park, and have been looking to focus on music-related promotions. Paul Miller, managing director for Molson Coors in Scotland, refused to confirm that any decision had been made about the renewal of the Old Firm contract as there is hope some kind of corporate tie-in could remain. He said: "The facts are that current deal is up at the end of the season and, as yet, nothing has been agreed about going forward from there. "We are still in conversation with Rangers and Celtic and have been for a few months. It will probably move fairly quickly now in terms of our discussions." Rangers and Celtic are being pro-active to ensure they are not caught cold in their search for a new shirt sponsor. The word has gone out to anyone who might be interested in getting their names on two of the most famous jerseys in world football that the opportunity might be coming up very soon. But the timing could not be worse, given the problems the world economy is experiencing. Carling's initial Old Firm shirt sponsorship deal was for �£12m over four years. But, in 2005 this was replaced by an agreement worth a basic �£18m with substantial bonuses if certain targets are hit, With Celtic and Rangers both reaching the last 16 of the Champions League during this period, and the Ibrox club also competing in the Uefa Cup final, the deal has been more lucrative than any previous deal with shirt sponsors. There is no guarantee the Old Firm will continue to have the same sponsor. But, in commercial terms, it has been considered prudent to be associated with both halves of the city. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2520540.0.old_firm_facing_more_cash_fears_as_search_starts_for_new_shirt_sponsor_deal.php

Rangers fans are well known for their incredible support of various charities whether it be through the official club charity foundation or many different smaller ventures that have been extremely successful over the years. To that end, Gersnet are delighted to announce our support for one such charity. ââ?¬Ë?Moni Malawiââ?¬â?¢ is a new charity set up to create awareness of the plight of the African country and to raise money to assist its people. ââ?¬Ë?Moniââ?¬â?¢ means ââ?¬Ë?helloââ?¬â?¢ in Chichewa, the principle language of Malawi. The charity name therefore translates as ââ?¬Ë?Hello Malawiââ?¬â?¢. Malawi is a landlocked country in southern Africa. With a population of 14 million it is one of the least developed yet most densely populated countries in the world. Per capita GDP is Ã?£450, compared to the UK figure of Ã?£20,000. The country suffers from high infant mortality, low life expectancy, and a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS. As such a group of like-minded football fans met to decide how they could raise money to fund specific projects in areas of need. In setting up ââ?¬Ë?Moni Malawiââ?¬â?¢ they believe that they can make a real difference to the lives of some of the poorest people in Malawi, and indeed the world. Further information can be found on the website by clicking here. The range of skills, experience and contacts available to ââ?¬Ë?Moni Malawiââ?¬â?¢ as a group is encouraging and the charity would welcome like minded individuals to join them in achieving their goals. Their Board of Directors have previously been involved in successful fundraising dinners, and as such their forthcoming Dinner and Dance will form a cornerstone of their fundraising later this month. The charity is also committed to individual projects through the course of the year, in addition to other fundraising ideas which will be updated regularly on their website. The smallest contribution to Malawi can make a big difference and Gersnet would invite you to join us at the Dinner and/or take part in other fundraising activities or sponsorship schemes. The Dinner and Dance is on Saturday the 28th February at the Thistle Hotel, Glasgow with tickets available at an unbelievable price of just Ã?£60. Suffice to say the entertainment on offer is literally second to none. With speakers such as Ewen and Roughie from Real Radio; SFA Chief Executive Gordon Smith; and the inimitable Bill Copeland, there is something for everyone. Add in an exclusive performance from Sandi Thom (featuring some special guests) followed by dancing the night away with the ââ?¬Ë?Republic of Soulââ?¬â?¢ then every taste is catered for. As well as all the entertainment, there will be a superb 4 course dinner as well as a raffle and auction with some superb prizes! Tickets can be bought for the event by pm-ing me. We hope to see you all there! Please note ââ?¬Ë?Moni Malawiââ?¬â?¢ is a registered Scottish charity (SC040141).

Confirmed for Sunday March 8th. I am in London that weekend on business and will be at the game thanks to corporate sponsorship (seats are right on the halfway line too, just above the TV cameras). Gav, I will get you a program from the game - except this time I won't leave it in a strip club like I did last year. Have a meeting the following morning so won't be indulging in too much alcohol ! Emirates is a class stadium and the view is great. Hopefully see a few goals and some 1st teamers in action (I would imagine guys like Eduardo, Arshavin would play and maybe Fabregas if he is coming back from injury).

The winner of this year's Champions League football tournament will pocket �£98.69m, the competition's sponsors said. Sir Alex Ferguson Will Sir Alex get his hands on this year's �£98m pot? Teams reaching the knockout stages will take home between �£34.39m and �£41.27m, new figures show. Details of the huge windfalls came as the draw was being made for the final 16 of the 2008/9 competition. Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are in the running for the Rome final in May. The study on behalf of MasterCard was conducted by one of the world's leading sport business experts, Professor Simon Chadwick. Jermaine Pennant Liverpool's Jermaine Pennant He said: "In uncertain economic times, sport's universal appeal remains strong, making it one of the most lucrative industries to be involved in. "The competition continues to be an important source of revenue and commercial activity for clubs, especially for those that qualify for the knockout phase of the competition." The winnings are broken down into a UEFA participation payment, prize money, a share of UEFA commercial revenues, ticket sales, sponsorship and sales of merchandise and increased squad value. UEFA awards �£2.68million to each team that qualifies for the tournament plus �£2.15million for participating in the Group stage. A Group stage win is worth over �£530,000 per game, or �£268,000 for a draw. Reaching the first knockout phase nets an instant �£1.9million prize payment. A side qualifying for the knockout phase will have secured on average �£8.4million in UEFA prize money alone. UEFA will make additional payments to Group stage teams which the MasterCard report suggests could amount to approximately �£8.4million per club. In uncertain economic times, sport's universal appeal remains strong, making it one of the most lucrative industries to be involved in. Professor Simon Chadwick The study also suggests ticket revenues have generated an average of �£7.64million in income from the Group stage. Commercial and marketing revenues account for a further �£5.36million on average. Meanwhile, squad values increase by an average of �£4.47million on the back of qualification for the knockout phase. UEFA prize money adds �£2.2 million for each quarter-finalist, �£2.68 million for each semi-finalist, �£3.57 million for the runners-up and �£6.26 million for the winners. According to the study, the side that lifts the UEFA Champions League trophy could earn up to a total of �£19.5million in prize money, �£8.4million market pool payment, �£17.84million in ticket revenues, �£12.5million in commercial and marketing revenues, �£13.4 million in increased squad value, and up to �£26.8million in other premiums including bonus payments linked to sponsorship. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/Champions-League-Winners-To-Pocket-98m-Windfall-Sponsors-Mastercard-Reveal/Article/200812315186381?lpos=Business_Carousel_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15186381_Champions_League_Winners_To_Pocket_%3F98m_Windfall%2C_Sponsors_Mastercard_Reveal