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Aberdeen striker Lee Miller could be out for a month with a hamstring injury sustained in last week's game against St Mirren. More...

Does the above date resonate with you? Does the above date send horrible feelings hurtling through your body? It should, it was the last time Rangers lost a domestic cup final to Celtc. As the CO-OP Cup Final is looming large in our thoughts, it is worth taking a trip down memory lane and remember the empty feeling you get when you lose a cup final to your bitter rivals. Any time you lose to your bitterest of rivals, you get an empty feeling, a feeling of horrid, putrid nothingness and an exasperation that nothing in the world can eradicate. This is magnified and multiplied if the loss is in a cup final, and if possible is made worse if you are blatantly cheated. The Scottish Cup Final in 1989 was supposed to be the day that we won the treble to put the icing on a terrific domestic season. Rangers had won the title for 39th time leaving Aberdeen in our wake and this was the 2nd title of the Souness era. We had also won the League Cup defeating Aberdeen 3-2 in a truly wonderful cup final. This season was also notable for two destructions of Celtc – 5-1 and 4-1 in the league games at Ibrox. This season would also be remembered for the terrible challenge by Neil Simpson on Ian Durrant at a league game at Pittodrie. Manager Souness had never won a domestic ‘FA Cup’ as a player nor a manager and we all believed that this was the game that would exorcise those demons. During our semi-final (played at Parkhead) news filtered through that there had been an incident at Hillsbourgh where Liverpool was taking on Nottingham Forest. In the days prior to mobile phones, no further information was gained during the game, only on returning to our supporters bus did we fully realise the full extent of the horror that had unfolded in Sheffield that day. If my memory of the cup final is off a beautiful sunny day and on the way to Hampden, a support who were anticipating celebrating a domestic clean-sweep made all the sweater by defeating our foes in the final. This anticipation was temporarily tempered by the news that the mercurial Ray Wilkins and ever improving Derek Ferguson was both injured and out of the final. However, as it transpired it wasn’t a player who would decided the destiny of the Scottish Cup, it would be referee Bob Valentine who made two ludicrous decisions that would cost Rangers not only the cup, but the domestic treble. Celtc, through Roy Aitken were allowed to take a throw-in that the officials had clearly signalled was a Rangers throw. Aitken threw the ball in the direction of Joe Miller but Gary Stevens had it covered. However, he was short in his back-pass and Miller stole in and scored. Everyone in the stadium were awaiting the officials to chalk-off the goal and restart with a Rangers throw-in. Instead, they waved play on and Rangers were 1-0 down. Pressing for an equaliser, Rangers were awarded a corner and as this was swung into the Celtc box, Paddy Bonnor collided with his own player, the ball broke to Terry Butcher who slammed the ball into the unguarded net. The Rangers end exploded and the Rangers players wheeled away in celebration only for the inept official to signal for a foul on Bonnor. As the final whistle signalled the end of the game, I’ll never forget the wonderful reaction of the Rangers support. The fans stayed to a man (woman and child) and hailed our gallant team who had had a very successful season and were only denied the ultimate prize by a ‘Mason In The Black’. The Rangers fans outstayed their ‘celebrating’ neighbours and no-one in attendance that day will forget the chants of ‘We Want The Rangers’ from a still full Rangers end whilst the Celtc end had long emptied. One ironic subplot to this final was that in the lead-up to the final, Celtc had leaked to the press that a certain Maurice Johnston would be returning from France to Celtc during the close season. The massed Celtc fans could be heard chanting ‘Mo, Mo Super Mo’ during the cup final, oh how those words were going to come back and haunt them. Hopefully the present Rangers incumbents won’t fall foul of such ineptitude from the officials on Sunday and hopefully we will have learned from the example set by St Mirren on Saturday on how easily Celtc are nullified and beaten. Give them no time or space to pass the ball and pressurise their defence. Both central defenders are great in the air, but are susceptible to pace. I decide to highlight a lowlight in the lead up to the final as I am sure there will be plenty of stories and You-Tube clips of the vast amount of Rangers glories over the years against ‘THEM’. However, whilst hoping for and enjoying the glories, lets not forget that emptiness that engulfs you when you loss these game. Come On Rangers……….. Cammy F http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=769&Itemid=1

By Andrew Dickson KYLE LAFFERTY hailed Rangers' character after they bounced back from Wednesday's loss to Inverness in style with a 5-1 thrashing of Hamilton. Ally McCoist said in midweek that the heart his team had after it famously lost 1-0 to Accies in 1987 was clear as it scored a quintet of goals the next week at Hearts. Kyle Lafferty celebrates with Kenny MillerToday the same thing happened as Gers mustered a perfect response to the shock defeat against Caley Jags with a similar performance. Lafferty scored twice, taking his goals tally for the season to seven, as the hosts clinched a Scottish Cup semi-final place against St Mirren. And he was a happy man afterwards as he relived a performance which made Rangers'; critics step back a little. Lafferty said: "I think everyone knew that what happened in midweek was a one-off. We didn't really perform on Wednesday and had to improve. "We went out today in the right manner, passed the ball about really well and worked our socks off when we weren't in possession. "We got the rewards we deserved for that. Football is about character and how much heart you have and we showed we have plenty of it. "This is a big club and everyone here wants to go out and do well so if we keep delivering the football we can, we'll go out there and win games." Lafferty has been on the receiving end of stinging criticism as some fail to take the fact he's still just 21 and relatively inexperienced into account. Kyle Lafferty scores his second in the 5-1 win over HamiltonBut he insists all he is concentrating on is football and he hopes his double this afternoon is enough to earn him a place in the starting line-up for the League Cup final. Rangers play Celtic for that trophy next weekend at Hampden and the former Burnley man must be in with a shout of playing after a decent performance. Lafferty added: "I just ignore everything that is said about me because all I want to do is go out there, play football and do well for the team. "I'd like to think that I did that today. I thought I did all right and I got two goals so I'm delighted about that. "Hopefully I've done enough to keep my place for the cup final. Strikers are judged on goals so it would be good if mine have been enough to get me a game next Sunday."

Famous phrase in sport. 'Bottle'. After tonight's result i'm more sure we don't have the stones to win the league. For the first time since november we finally get our noses in front only to royally fuck it up once again. Now i didn't see the game tonight but the result speaks for itself. 2 things really worry me here, well actually 3. We don't appear to have the backbone to win the league even when we are in the driving seat, we have hit a batch patch of form at a crucial time and Timmy are winning again and scoring. Seems to me that we get a nose bleed whenever we reach the 'dizzy heights'. Losing to bottom of the league for the 2nd time this season ( St mirren ) is beyond a complete fucking joke. It's not too late to salvage the league of course but i just don't trust the mentality of these players and they aren't proving me wrong either. WATP

by Andrew Dickson WALTER SMITH has dismissed debate on the goal difference situation in the race for the SPL title and insists winning games is all that matters. Much has been made of Celtic slashing the gap to just four goals in Rangers' favour after demolishing St Mirren 7-0 last weekend. However, Smith says securing three points against Inverness tonight is all that interests him. Walter SmithHe said: "Obviously, the most important thing for us at the moment is to win every game we play. That counts more than anything else. "Of course, it's our objective to go out and score as many goals as we can. That's what we try to do in every game. "But the most important thing for me between now and the end of the season is we show a consistency in terms of winning. If we can do that, I'll be happy. "For league championships to be decided by goal difference is unusual so all we can do is try to get as many victories as possible and see where it takes us. "Although Celtic had a seven-point advantage over us not that long ago, the teams have been quite tight this season. "As you look at the statistics now and the way the league has panned out, there is not a lot between us at all. "There is pressure on both halves of the Old Firm to win all of their games, regardless of whether one team plays before the other or not. "As such, we have to keep picking up maximum points. We are on a decent run just now and have to keep that going."

Falkirk take on Dundee United and St Mirren host Aberdeen in tonight's Scottish Premier League action. More...

Team news ahead of Tuesday's Scottish Premier League game at St Mirren Park. More...

Pretty much every season since the latter years of Big Eck's tenure our squads bottle has been called into question. Time and again, the manegement and the players have shown it to be lacking. Granted last year, whilst Celtic showed the bottle to win it from behind, we were hampered by our member clubs the SFA and the SPL. Having fallen what looked a massive 7 points behind after defeat in the second Old Firm at Ibrox, our championship credentials were again being questioned. We were written off by Hogmanay. Fairly solid form by ourselves and a woeful run by Celtic saw their lead cut to a mere 2 points heading into the 3rd Old Firm tussle at Parkhead. Smiths negative tactics, perhaps further excacerbated by a lone front man, left many of us frustrated at not attacking a wounded Celtic who had been stumbling from poor result to poor result between the top of the table clashes. Despite our dominance, we only left Parkhead with a point and again many where wondering had we failed to capitalise on a chance to put the pressure on Celtic as we have done so often the last 3 seasons. Virtually gift wrapping titles to the dark side. It was not so much the bottle of the players that was under scrutiny, but that of the management team. Whilst the draw at Parkhead will still be looked upon as opportunity lost Smiths frugal approach, whilst being highly frustrating, ensured we did not fall 5 points behind again leaving us needing a favour from another SPL side. Going into yesterday's home encounter there was a weight of expectation from the fans. Win that game and we were back top for the first time in 3 months and finally putting pressure on Celtic. Asking questions of their bottle. 20 minutes into what should be a routine home victory and we were staring back into the abyss. Were the fans to be disappointed again. How could Scotland's greatest team regain it's fear factor and its ruthless winning streak. Questions were asked. And at last the Rangers are answering them. A 6 minute goalscoring spell effected by Miller and Boyd, orchestrated by Mendes, turned a potential upset into a 3-1 half time lead. The players played out the victory and attention turned to Sunday afternoon encounter. At long last a serious title challenge from Rangers when not distracted by the greater glory of European football and an unprecedented fixture backlog. The media, the fans, the players would be looking to Celtic to affirm their title challenge. Ask real questions of their bottle. Are they up to the task. On a treacherous Fir Park surface, Celtic did not produce the goods. A Motherwell equaliser costing Celtic a precious two points and allowing us to retain top spot. We're back on terms, albeit with a superior goal difference. But nothing has been achieved yet. We've merely put ourselves back in the race. Now to put the title out of their reach. Celtic are in terrible form for SPL title pretenders. 8 points from 16 since the Ibrox Old Firm Clash. With Celtic running through a poor run of form a winning run from Rangers would really turn the heat up on the Parkhead side. Those who argued a draw suited us more than Celtic last weekend pointed to an easier run in for us, a greater chance of Celtic dropping points. So this weekend's results could scarcely have worked out better. If we are really to ask questions of Celtic then we need to put together a strong winning sequence. No disrespect to our forthcoming opponents, but with mostly "bottom 6" sides to play, with the hardest games at home, we have a real opportunity to test their mettle. Leading into the split our upcoming fixtures read: Sat 28th Feb Hamilton (A) Wed 4th Mar ICT (H) Sat 14th Mar St. Mirren (A) (to be re-arranged Co-op Cup Final) Sat 21st Mar Hearts (H) Sun 5th Apr Falkirk (A) Sat 11th Apr Motherwell (H) Sat 18th Apr Hibs (A) If we have serious title aspirations only the visit of Hearts and the trip to Easter Road should give us any casue for concern. That is not to dismiss the other sides. It is merely a statement of fact. If we match their endeavour our superior quality should see us emerge victorious against these sides. Over the next 6 fixtures only Hearts and Motherwell occupy top 6 places, and both travel to Ibrox. Taking maximum points before our trip to Edinbrugh in mid-April could put serious heat on our title rivals and see them wilt. Given we play before them on 2 out of the next 3 fixtures to be completed (ignoring St Mirren) we have extra incentive to put pressure on them before they take to the field. Many will point to the old adage of "one game at a time". But if we can put together a run of consecutive victories befitting a league winning squad Celtic will struggle to cope with the onslaught of our title juggernaut.

Have they even turned up today!

Andrew Dickson reports from New Douglas Park RANGERS manager Walter Smith has made two changes to his team for this afternoon's crucial SPL clash with Hamilton Accies. Following the news we brought you earlier today which revealed Pedro Mendes is out, Mo Edu comes in to take his place in central midfield alongside Barry Ferguson. Kyle Lafferty also starts and he replaces John Fleck on the left side of midfield, with Steven Davis taking up his usual place on the right flank. It's the usual back five with Allan McGregor in goals and a defensive line of Kirk Broadfoot, David Weir, Madjid Bougherra and Sasa Papac. Following their three-goal show against Kilmarnock seven days ago, it's no surprise that Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd are retained up front. Boyd in particular will be keen to find the net again today, having already done so against Hamilton on six occasions this term. DaMarcus Beasley is amongst the substitutes and returns to the squad after he had to come off against Forfar 10 days ago. With Gers kicking off at 12.30pm, this is a great opportunity for them to increase their lead at the top of the SPL before Celtic play St Mirren at 3pm. The Light Blues have a 100% record in three games with Billy Reid's Accies this season but will be wary after initially falling behind in two of them. RANGERS: McGregor; Broadfoot, Weir, Bougherra, Papac; Davis, Edu, Ferguson, Lafferty; Miller, Boyd. Subs: Alexander, Aaron, Beasley, Fleck, Dailly, Naismith, Whittaker

WALTER SMITH is firmly anticipating a tough encounter when Rangers travel to Hamilton aiming to stay top of the SPL. Rangers are in a position to move three points clear before Celtic kick off at home against St Mirren if they can beat Hamilton in the early start at New Douglas Park. However, Smith is taking nothing for granted. He has been impressed with the way Billy Reid has got things going so well that the Accies are on the verge of the top six. He said; "I think when you look at Hamilton at the start of the season they were in a situation where they had just achieved two very consistent seasons in the First Division. "Kris BoydThey had just missed out on promotion two years ago and then got it last season so they were coming into the Premier League in good shape. "That showed in the early games of the season when they were full of enthusiasm and achieved some good results. "There was a period where they dropped down again but the changes that Billy Reid has made have been significant ones and it has been a terrific bit of management by him. "His changes have been really good ones and he has got them into a position where they looking to push for a top six position which would be a fantastic achievement. "We went one down the last time we went to Hamilton so we know that Saturday lunchtime is a very big date for us. "I have been impressed with a lot of their players - and not just the young ones. I think you have to look at the team overall and they have done very well. "It's their teamwork and togetherness that has got them through and as I said Billy deserves a lot of credit." Rangers are likely to be along similar lines when they make the trip to Lanarkshire as the game will come too soon for injured trio DaMarcus Beasley, Lee McCulloch and Nacho Novo.

Team news ahead of Saturday's Scottish Premier League game at Celtic Park. More...

Ruthlessness Requiredââ?¬Â¦ As the realisation that we are now back on top of the SPL finally dawns on Rangers fans everywhere, it is the realisation and the plans to stay there currently residing in the minds of our managerial staff that holds the key to determining if we are to finally end the famine on SPL titles. This is the time for ruthlessness, for relentlessness, for self-confidence, for taking charge of our destiny, for our management staff to install this into our players and ensure that no self-doubt or negativity sneaks into their minds. However, how is going to ensure that negativity doesnââ?¬â?¢t sneak into our management teams heads? That could be the greatest obstacle that we have to overcome in the title run-in. We are now in a position of strength, sitting proudly on top of the SPL, the time has come for us to become ruthless and relentless in our pursuit of the SPL title. We have the squad of players to secure the title, we have the skill to secure the title, we have the goal-scoring talent to win the title and we are certainly mean enough in defence to win the title. Do we have the ruthlessness? I certainly believe that we do, and the management team require to install this in our players. We travel to Hamilton on Saturday just as they have stumbled onto a decent run and are also inform. However, even given the above and given that undoubtedly, this game will be a test, if we approach the game in the correct manner, impose our strength and quality on proceedings, we have a fantastic opportunity to put pressure on a creaking Celtc before they entertain St Mirren. There are 12 games remaining in the SPL title race and we must take this unforeseen but hugely welcome chance of securing our first SPL title in far too long. After losing to Celtc, I donââ?¬â?¢t think any of us could have predicted that we would be allowed back into contention, never mind finding ourselves in pole position with 12 games remaining. Rangers teams of yesteryear would have seized this opportunity by the horns and would have steamrollered their way, and anyone who stood in their path, to the title. It is that steely determination and self believe that must be installed in this squad of players. Logically, there is nothing to stop us going on to win the title. All we have to do is match Celtcââ?¬â?¢s results over the next 12 games. We have the natural talent required and now we need the likes of Barry Ferguson, Pedro Mendes, Steven Davis, David Weir, Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller to step up to the plate and drag then team by the scruff of the neck whilst dictating the pace of every game we play in. If we impose ourselves in the correct manner in the remaining games, our goal will be achievable. Last season, we capitulated in the run-in and whilst the fixture list was partly to blame, so was the fact that the players didnââ?¬â?¢t respond in the correct manner and our manager decided that the cautious approach that was successful in Europe would also see us secure the SPL. How wrong could he have been. We cannot allow this type of negativity to creep into our play and approach this season so to that end, lets hope and pray that the management team have learned a valuable lesson. In retrospect, we could and should be in an even more healthier position as we could and should have taken full points from our recent visits to Parkhead and Pittodrie. The defenders of our tactics in those games will point that the points gained were good points as we are now top of the SPL. However, of he had been more positive and won both those games, we would still be top of the SPL and there would be distinct daylight between us Cetlc. Our Support And Our Role I find it frustrating to have to pen this type of article, one that has a pop at Rangers fans, but after witnessing Rangers going top of the SPL on Saturday without support from the stands left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. TBO apart, no one at Ibrox appears prepared to actually support the team off a Saturday now. There is little or no singing (again TBO apart) and it was embarrassing at the final whistle when there couldnââ?¬â?¢t have been more than 5,000 fans left inside the stadium to cheer the players off the pitch after them clinching top stop. Can I ask a serious question? Why do people go to Ibrox if itââ?¬â?¢s not to support the team? Is it me thatââ?¬â?¢s wrong in believing that vocal backing is part of the remit of being a supporter? Ask any Rangers player, or any ex-Rangers player and they will tell you that we are an extra-man. We can have an influence on what is happening in front of our eyes and what is developing on the pitch. Our vocal support can add an extra half-yard to a players pace, it can add to their determination. Given that, and given that our team will require every little advantage going in our quest to regain the SPL title, lets rediscover our voices and our passion for singing those glorious Rangers anthems and lets give the team some much needed and deserved SUPPORT. I have to say that this is aimed at the support generated (or otherwise) at Ibrox, as the away support have, as always, been nothing short of outstanding this season (given the obstacles and barriers that they encounter and off course, the press coverage that they attract). Their Support And Rangers' Response A mere 9 seconds into yesterdays game at Fir Park, the massed Celtc support chanted their first (of many) sectarian / offensive song. These sectarian / offensive songs were unrelenting over the course of the entire game. In fact, Lanarkshire Police were forced to enter the stands housing the travelling fans and were clearly shown evicting many fans singing these horrible and vile songs. Given that above, is it fair to say, and with some certainty that the SPL observer will have heard these songs, seen the Police ejecting Celtc fans and include this in their report? Can we look forward to Reporting Scotland and Scotland Today highlighting the above and showing the lyrics of the songs along the bottom of our TV screen? Can we expect the papers being full of condemnation and pleading with the SPL to dock Celtc points? Can we expect a week full or condemnation on the phone-ins? Can we expect, all we actually crave on this matter, parity? Off course, we all know that the answer to the above is a simply ââ?¬Ë?noââ?¬â?¢. Given that, what course of action would you like to see our club / custodian take? This is a perfect time for them / him to come out on the offensive. Personally, if I were in charge, or had any influence in what our response in this matter, I would invite the heads of sport from the BBC and ITV to Ibrox and show them a video of yesterdays game. I would then ask them of they had any plans to highlight the singing issue and if their answer was ââ?¬Ë?noââ?¬â?¢, I would politely thank them for their time and inform them that until they show parity, their organisations would be banned from Ibrox and wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be gaining interviews with our players or management staff. They would also be informed that until they showed parity, there would be a weekly article on Rangers World showing any sectarian or offensive singing NOT perpetrated by Rangers fans and showing that this wasnââ?¬â?¢t being highlighted by the media. I would then contact the editors off all Scottish newspapers and inform them the same. Then I would ask for a meeting with the SPL and ask to read all the reports from this weeks SPL games. If none of these reports show any mention of sectarian or offensive singing, I would show the SPL the video of yesterdays game and ask why their observer failed to mention obvious sectarian and offensive singing? I would then ask them if the observer who missed this obvious singing would be sanctioned for not doing their job correctly. If the SPL didnââ?¬â?¢t show signs of parity, I would inform them that Rangers FC would not be handling tickets for any further away games, or for semi-finals that Rangers appear in. Added to that, Rangers FC would be seeking to meet with all their Rangers Supports Clubs with a view of a blanket boycott of all away games (which would be shown at Ibrox free of charge). We are being bullied in this matter, and its easy for a bully to pick on a victim that is scared or wonââ?¬â?¢t retaliate. Once a victim shows some courage, the bully will inevitably find a new victim. Fighting someone who actually fights back isnââ?¬â?¢t something that a bully will do for long, it at all. All of the above isnââ?¬â?¢t rocket science and wouldnââ?¬â?¢t take long to implement. If done properly, it would ensure that parity was obtained and obtained quickly. All it takes is a Chairman with a back-bone who actually cares about the public image of his club and itââ?¬â?¢s fans. The bullies would soon run off and find another victim. Cammy F -

St Mirren midfielder Hugh Murray gets a three-match ban after picking up his eighth booking of the season. More...

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee says the Scottish Cup defeat by St Mirren is one of the lowest points of his managerial career. More...

Saturday: Aberden v Dundee Utd (W. Collum); Falkirk v Hamilton (C. Murray); Hearts v St Mirren (D. Somers); Inverness v Hibs (A. Muir); Rangers v Kilmarnock (B. Winter). Sunday: Motherwell v Celtic (I. Brines).

St Mirren midfielder Hugh Murray signs a contract extension to keep him at the club until the summer of 2011. More...

Tynecastle club turn down St Mirren's request to delay their SPL meeting on 21 February by 24 hours. More...

Details of the sixth round draw for the Homecoming Scottish Cup. More...

by Thomas Jordan FORFAR will have to invest in additional floodlights if they want to cash in on their rearranged Homecoming Scottish Cup clash with Rangers on February 18. The Third Division minnows are still desperate to land an �£82,500 windfall from Sky TV for their fifth round showdown with Walter Smith's men that was postponed yesterday. Rangers are furious with the SFA for leaving it as late as the morning of the game to carry out a final pitch inspection - despite making concerns known last Thursday that forecasts of minus seven would put the match in jeopardy. Smith and his players travelled to Dundee on Saturday to prepare, and many supporters were already well on their way when the match was finally postponed at around 9am. advertisement Forfar now have just over a week to make arrangements to improve their floodlights to enhance the quality of pictures should Sky - who have agreed to show the St Mirren v Motherwell replay live the night before - agree to screen the fixture. Forfar secretary David MacGregor said: "We're hoping Sky will stick with us. There will be an issue with floodlights. I think we'd need to get extra ones in to enhance the quality of the pictures. But that's something we'll talk to them about if they are still showing the game." Rangers chief executive Martin Bain accused the SFA of incompetence following the last-minute postponement. He blasted: "We wrote to the SFA on Thursday afternoon highlighting the long-range weather forecast and we sent them a copy of it, which indicated temperatures on Saturday would drop to minus seven. "All the SFA said was the earliest a pitch inspection could take place was 24 hours before kick-off and they'd take cognisance of our comments. Clearly they have not." Station Park did pass an inspection by a local referee on Saturday morning and, while the club had three separate plastic covers on the pitch overnight, arctic temperatures meant there was never any realistic chance of the game going ahead. The SFA, however, have hit-back. A spokesman said: "We have every sympathy for fans who had begun their journey when the game was called off. "We were working on information that the temperatures were going to be consistently low over the weekend - that's why we called for a pitch inspection yesterday morning and why we kept the referee up there overnight. "The pitch was perfectly playable yesterday. It wasn't even touch and go. But there was a dramatic drop in temperature on Saturday night that wasn't forecast. "The Forfar groundsman said it was minus nine at one point. I don't know what more we could have done." Refree Eddie Smith made the decision to call the game off and said: "A lot of areas on the park were solid and covered in ice and for the safety of everyone involved I had no hesitation in calling it off." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2488025.0.0.php

St Mirren will sign former Leeds full-back Ian Harte until the end of the season. More...

Next in the STS series, is an excellent article written by AMMS (from RangersMedia) who explores the difficulties in rearing successful young players and how the results could be maximised. http://www.gersnetonline.co.uk/newsite/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=742&Itemid=2 BEGINS My first job was an apprentice printer, it was a small place employing about 8 or so people at that time and I was their first ‘apprentice’. Times were hard then (sound familiar?) and rather than take me on I was employed through the government run Youth Training Scheme on the princely sum of Ã?£27.50 a week and Ã?£5 travelling expenses. Part of how the YTS was sold to potential employees was that there would be college based training as well as on the job skills. This sounded good; rather than just being exploited slave labour I got 2 week stints at the Building and Printing College every month and more ScotVec modules than you could shake an inky rag at. Eventually after a month or two my boss approached me and asked how I was enjoying college. The reality was I loved it, you didn’t start until 9am, it was a very relaxed atmosphere, and you got to ogle at the hairdressers in the College of Commerce across the road. However if truth be told, I wasn’t learning a whole lot about printing which was what I was supposed to be doing. Lots of theory and not a lot of practical was my diplomatic reply. My boss, who had spent his entire working life in the printing game paused for a moment and reflected on my reply and his slightly confusing words have remained with me until this day; ‘Aye son’, he ventured ‘theory is alright in theory but when you want to learn to swim sooner or later you need to get into the water’. The training of young footballers seems to be a thing of great difficulty for Rangers recently. Part of that problem seems to have been our reluctance to move with the times. In this day of public/private partnerships, you have to wonder why Rangers (and other clubs) haven’t got a genuine tie-in with a local school. A residential aspect to youth development is common place on the continent where boys are schooled from 13 to 15 in conjunction with a club or FA. The acclaimed Clairefontaine centre outside Paris and the famous Ajax Academy all include ‘normal’ schooling as part of their curriculum; these people are children after all. Curiously, a local school to Ibrox, Bellahouston Academy, is Scotland’s first ‘school for sporting excellence’. The school has over 130 pupils who are only there because of their sporting talent. These kids still get a full education but they also get access to specialist coaches, advice, conditioning and sports psychologists. Football isn’t currently one of the sports covered at the school - perhaps Rangers could consider helping to change that? Engendering good habits, influencing technique and seeing at first hand the personalities, weaknesses and the strengths of these young players must be good for the players as well as the club. Tie it in to a trusted, local authority run school environment and you have the perfect ‘academy’ system for a fraction of the outlay running a residential school would cost. If the kids are rounded, focused and aware of the different facets that make up a successful sportsman when they leave school, they might conceivably be in a better position to make the most of the opportunities that come their way later. ‘Specialist’ schools are becoming popular throughout Scotland, becoming centres of excellence in music, dance or sport is relatively prestigious and Rangers could assist this process whilst it is still in it’s infancy. Once at the club however one thing that does seem to be clear is that if a young player isn’t getting a game regularly between the ages of 16 and 20 he is unlikely to make a genuine impact. Now roughly one in every generation seems able to do this currently, be it Durrant, Ferguson or maybe now John Fleck. However these guys are the exception, they were such prodigious talents that they couldn’t be ignored. But for the vast majority games is what they need. Professional football is a trade and they can have many reserve, youth and bounce games but ultimately they need to learn their trade and they’ll need to play in competitive games to do that. Examples of this are all around us. Pedro Mendes had played 31 senior games by the age of 19, by the age of 20 Ross McCormack had only played 11. By the age of 19 Ally McCoist had played 57 times for St Johnstone, Rory Loy will turn 21 this year and has played about 6 games of first team football. Now Mendes played his games for a team you’ve never heard of and McCoist, having been rejected by St Mirren, was learning his trade at the always unfashionable St Johnstone. Both McCormack and Loy on the other hand were both deemed good enough at 16 to be recruited by Rangers where they enjoyed the finest training facilities in the country, trained alongside some exceptional players and by some experienced coaches, so what’s gone wrong? Well to put it simply too much theory and not enough practical. Still not convinced, have a look at the current first team of any successful side and try and find a player who wasn’t playing regular football at senior level by the age of 19. Getting our young players playing at a high level as early as possible can only be in everyone’s interest. If an 18 year old can’t hold his own in Division One he won’t make it at Rangers later. It also makes financial sense, if they aren’t deemed good enough for Rangers, and most won’t be, these boys will leave Rangers on free transfers with some first team experience. At least a player with 30 to 50 games at Division One level is worth something. Ideally Rangers should consider formal or informal links with several clubs, an ideal ‘roster’ of clubs would include some Scandinavian clubs, perhaps a Dutch one, certainly some English ones, and maybe even an Italian or French club. None of these clubs would be in their top divisions obviously however many smaller clubs are looking for good players who are relatively cheap so free young players from the best club in Scotland might well be of interest to quite a few of them. Without improvement in the young players at Ibrox it is folly to continue to invest in youth. Arguably, financially it would make more sense to save the money and take the best from Hibs, Hearts and Kilmarnock etc. However long term, transforming talented young players into professionals has to be Rangers goal, it makes sense on every level. Young men literally schooled correctly, positively influenced at an early age, approaching a career as a professional footballer already knowing about diet and fitness and knowing they’ll be given opportunities at various professional levels during their time at Rangers must be the ultimate goal for the club.

On a permanent deal, according to The Sun anyway. Another promising player dumped by WS.

Gus MacPherson has been left raging with The SPL over rules that have prevented him taking Rangers defender Steven Smith on loan. SPL clubs are only allowed one loan signing over the age of 21 a season, and, with 21-year-old Scott Cuthbert on board from Celtic, a deal looks dead. But MacPherson has been left confused by the rule over three players under 21 being in the matchday squad, by which Cuthbert qualifies as one of the representatives. The conflict between the different rules has left the St Mirren manager unhappy and he wants it cleared up by the league. ââ?¬Å?The deal is dead and it is frustrating,ââ?¬Â he said. ââ?¬Å?We agreed a deal with Rangers, we spoke to the player and he was delighted to come. ââ?¬Å?We were double-checking the rules on loan deals when we found out. ââ?¬Å?There must be a reason for the rule being put in place but it seems strange. ââ?¬Å?You can't have conflicting rules regarding under-21 players. ââ?¬Å?Scott Cuthbert was 21 when he came to us yet he qualifies to play as an under-21 week-in, week-out in The SPL. ââ?¬Å?But according to the rule for loan deals, he is over 21 and we are only allowed one per season from this country. ââ?¬Å?We have highlighted an error in the rules, which hopefully will be looked at with common sense. ââ?¬Å?The SPL have explained to the club but it is a conflicting rule and I think it will be changed. ââ?¬Å?We have one or two players that we have enquired about but we are running out of time.ââ?¬Â It would have helped Stevie, shame.

St Mirren grab a late draw in the opening match at their new stadium against Kilmarnock. More...