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

Just wondered what everybody thought about if C Wyte was to have a share issue to raise extra money for transfers? Would anybody take part? I would but only on a small scale due to my current circumstances.

What happens if the Paul Murray deal goes through??? �£25m is ploughed into the squad in the summer & McCoist gets to rebuild the squad with some quality players....excellent news for next season!!! However, what happens then??? The pocket money's gone, but the wages still remain, as does the bank debt - even though I would imagine it being reduced further. The team would have a good chance of winning the league, possibly at least one other domestic cup, and would hopefully do quite well in Europe - more likely Europa cup rather than Champ league though.....all being revenue that has been achieved over the past couple of years. How will the club be able to afford to keep the new quality that McCoist has just brought in??? Does the club then develop into a feeder club for the big boys down south??? Profit being generated by bringing players in for a season, then selling on.... Also, How is the �£25m being raised??? My understanding is that it is being UNDER-WRITTEN by P Murray & his backers.....does that not mean that xx number of shares are put up for sale, and if the total value does not meet the target, PM & his backers make up the difference ie. Share sales raise �£15m, the PM & his backers have to stump up the additional �£10m. Who is buying the shares - THE FANS!!!! Possibly some large chunks being bought by various wealthy folk, but in the main it would be the average fan coughing up the money. If the share sales raise the full �£25m....it cost PM & his backers nothing!!!! My view is that the CW deal should bring the club onto a more financially stable platform ie no �£20m debt. Therefore any monies/profit generated stay with the club....this in itself should generate transfer funding & enable to club to turn round an overall profit. Time will tell the true outcome....

ALLY McCOIST is preparing a summer swoop for Macedonia striker Ivan Trickovski. The 24-year-old hitman stars for APOEL in the Cypriot league. Rangers hope to lure him to Ibrox in a �£1.5million move. The deal could hinge on Craig Whyte's long-awaited Gers takeover being completed. Trickovski is one of the key men McCoist wants if he's handed a �£10m transfer war chest The Gers boss in waiting has a long list of potential targets depending on how much cashhe From Back Page has at his disposal and he has been given glowing scouting reports on the goalscorer. He now hopes to sign him up to play alongside Nikica Jelavic next season. Trickovski has earned rave reviews for his performances for APOEL. He scored 11 goals in 25 appearances to win the championship. Trickovski has also been a huge hit for the Macedonia national side - scoring three times in just ten appearances. Belgian club Lokeren made a �£1m bid for him in January but APOEL refused to do business as they were still battling for the title. However, it now looks unlikely that they will be able to keep hold of the highly-rated attacker. Trickovski has also played for Red Star Belgrade after leaving first club FK Rabotnicki in Macedonia. He could be tempted to move to the UK - with McCoist keen to swoop. Meanwhile, Gers chairman Alastair Johnston last night denied Whyte's bid was about to be booted into touch. He said: "As chairman of the club I must remain objective and judicious. What I can say is the board have not, at this point in time, rejected Craig Whyte's proposal. "We are working through an over- whelmingly complicated series of due diligence, much more complicated than meets the eye. There is a lot going on behind the scenes." Rival bidder Paul Murray was last night branded an 'irrelevance' by the Whyte camp. Ibrox director Murray hit out at Whyte's bid - and urged Sir David Murray to knock back the �£35m deal. A Whyte source said: "Paul Murray is an irrelevance, a sideshow. "He does not have a deal on the table and he does not even have proof of funding. "He has been asking for honesty for the supporters but why then will he not say which businessman is going to fund any deal? "Also, where was Paul Murray and where were these unnamed people when the club was in trouble?" Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3562016/Hell-do-the-Trick-for-Gers.html#ixzz1LKodhc80

A Murray Park sales pitch in the wake of Sundayââ?¬â?¢s Old Firm game has taken Craig Whyte to within touching distance of completing his Rangers takeover. Whyte met with board members at the clubââ?¬â?¢s training ground immediately after the 0-0 draw at Ibrox ââ?¬â? the prospective owner using the summit to again lay out his plans for the reigning SPL champions. And he appears to have won over the doubters who blocked his hopes of finalising the buy-out of Sir David Murrayââ?¬â?¢s huge controlling interest early last week ââ?¬â? including, crucially, chairman Alastair Johnston. Last night Johnston, who had previously questioned Whyteââ?¬â?¢s ability to finance the clubââ?¬â?¢s future, told BBC Scotland: ââ?¬Ë?The (vetting) committee are now much closer to viewing Craig Whyteââ?¬â?¢s bid as the right one for Rangers.ââ?¬â?¢ Sir David himself has been doing the diplomatic rounds urging directors to ââ?¬Ë?Back the Bidââ?¬â?¢, having dismissed the alternative consortium proposal floated by Dave King and Paul Murray. Sportsmail understands that at least two members of the vetting committee set up to oversee the takeover ââ?¬â? former chairman John McClelland and club legend John Greig ââ?¬â? were immediately won over. Asked about Johnston coming onside, a source close to the Whyte camp said: ââ?¬Ë?If this is true, then obviously itââ?¬â?¢s very good news. With a bit of luck, the deal can now proceed to completion.ââ?¬â?¢ Sir David can sell his shareholding without board approval, but does not want his last official act to be an acrimonious sale forced through against the wishes of the directors. He spent much of the weekend trying to convince directors that Whyte is the clubââ?¬â?¢s best bet. Lloyds Banking Group, who will recoup their Ã?£20million once Whyte takes control and pays off the club debt, have also been putting pressure on the board to rubber stamp the deal. One of the new manââ?¬â?¢s first tasks could be to finalise a six-year contract offer to star asset Allan McGregor ââ?¬â? keeping him at Ibrox until he is 35. The Scotland keeper has told the club he would be keen to stay in Glasgow if the deal is right but Sportsmail understands the new contract offers McGregor a small increase on his basic weekly wage of around Ã?£12,000. A number of English and foreign clubs are keeping a close eye on the outstanding Ibrox No 1 and former Scotland keeper Alan Rough told Sportsmail yesterday that Premiership clubs should be queuing up with inquiries. The 29-year-old has two years left on his current deal and any summer sale would probably be at no more than Ã?£5m. The future of a number of the current Rangers squad remains uncertain and striker Nikica Jelavic has told his team-mates they must stick together in the summer to help Ally McCoist bring silverware to Ibrox. Skipper David Weir and left-back Sasa Papac look bound for exits at the end of their contracts. Madjid Bougherra has again publicly declared he would prefer a summer transfer while McGregorââ?¬â?¢s future may well depend on how he reacts to the contract offer while Steven Davis and Steven Whittaker also have only 12 months left. ââ?¬Ë?If we can stay together and remain focused then I am convinced we can win a lot of trophies together,ââ?¬â?¢ said Jelavic. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1380574/Sales-pitch-seals-deal-Whyte-convinces-Ibrox-board-man-Gers-takeover.html#ixzz1KaJ49uL6

http://sport.stv.tv/uefa-champions-league/245200-football-victims-barcelona-are-far-from-an-attractive-proposition/ Football 'victims' Barcelona are far from an attractive proposition Barca are revered around the world but their persona isn't to everyone's liking. By Thom Watt I have a confession to make. I donââ?¬â?¢t like Barcelona. I know they play exceptional football, and their tactics and possession retaining abilities have been revolutionary. I believe Xavi was robbed of the World Player of the Year award and his team are quite rightly held as an example of effective attacking football. Just donââ?¬â?¢t ask me to like them as a club. While you cannot fail to be impressed by the way in which Barcelona utilise their system, it is puzzling why they cast others as lesser beings for adopting different principles. Barcelonaââ?¬â?¢s style is built from the Johan Cruyff model, and the rabid fervency with which they believe in their system could not be more fitting with the Dutchmanââ?¬â?¢s personality. After losing 3-2 on aggregate to Jose Mourinhoââ?¬â?¢s Inter Milan last season, Xavi stated that ââ?¬Å?we are proud of what we did; I donââ?¬â?¢t know if in Milan they can say the sameââ?¬Â. After eliminating Arsenal in this seasonââ?¬â?¢s campaign he said ââ?¬Å?Arsenal didnââ?¬â?¢t want to play football, all they cared about was defendingââ?¬Â. The same attitude was shown after the Copa del Rey loss to Real Madrid. Why should there be such a complex about the way in which others set up to play, particularly when they are entitled to defend their leads? More pertinently, why would anyone take on Barca at their own game at the moment? The case of Inter Milan is particularly bizarre. Catanaccio predates total football by around a decade, has been synonymous with Inter Milan since its inception, and in terms of ââ?¬Å?football purityââ?¬Â, it is as close to a national identity as any single tactic in world football. Standing up for all that is beautiful in the game is all very well, but while Barcelona are now quite rightly seen as the zenith of cavalier football, this was certainly not always the case; just watch what happened when Spurs hosted them in 1982. This is a team that employed both Ronald Koeman and Miguel Angel Nadal. So much from the Inter game has been stricken from the record: the Italians imperious deployment of a counter attacking system in the first leg that penned in the Barca full backs, Mourinhoââ?¬â?¢s defensive wall in the Nou Camp, the way Sergio Busquets contrived to get Thiago Motta sent off with the kind of cloak and dagger tactics that are hardly synonymous with the beautiful game. The latter is a prime example of the subtly cynical side to their game ââ?¬â?? surrounding the referee, giving away numerous fouls in the centre of the pitch ââ?¬â?? which Jose Mourinho seems more aware of than most. He is deadly serious in his belief that at some point, Real Madrid will be reduced to 10 men in the Champions League semi final. One of the many joys of the game is that it is celebrated and revered for different reasons in different parts of the world. When Juventus and AC Milan played out 120 minutes of goalless football in the 2002/03 European Cup final, pundits were quick to criticise the ââ?¬Å?negativeââ?¬Â tactics that both sides employed. Except in Italy, where the chalkboard battle between the two managers was heralded as a great example of the thinking manââ?¬â?¢s game. One of the many reasons the European Cup retains so much interest is because it pits these kinds of ideologies against one and other. A disciplined and compact Scandinavian side like Rosenborg or IFK Gotenberg can progress because they play to their strengths, while the recent successes of Porto and Liverpool show that there is far more to winning than simply having the better players. There is a particularly apt scene in Jason Reitmanââ?¬â?¢s film, Thank You for Smoking, when Nick Naylor, played by Aaron Eckhart, argues with his son over whether chocolate or vanilla is the better ice cream. While his son argues the merits of the best chocolate ice cream in the world, Naylor states that it is the freedom to choose between flavours that matters. The same holds true for any ideology. And then there are the statistics. There are few figures in football more deceptive than passing stats, and the fact that Barcelonaââ?¬â?¢s dominance in this area is used as a barometer for their success is less than illuminating. One does not need to delve too deep into the numbers around the club to see how good they currently are. Pass completion and possession stats do not show how attacking a team is, how defensive a team or, or even necessarily how good their passing is. A defensive player will make numerous low-risk short passes to team-mates during a match and as such will have a very high completion rate. A highly creative player will attempt fewer of the proverbial ââ?¬Å?killerââ?¬Â balls, but each of these will be more likely to be intercepted. Michael Essien and John Terry have completion rates of over 87 per cent this season. Spain had 72 per cent of possession in their friendly with Portugal in November, and lost 4-0. Barca have very good passing players, and in Xavi and Iniesta have arguably the finest proponents of the eye-of-a-needle through-ball in the world. The fact that they so often play three times more passes than their opponents only summarises their own style, rather than showing its undoubted effectiveness. Possession, as we all know, is only nine tenths of the law. My final rankle regards the idea that the Catalans are ââ?¬Å?mes que un clubââ?¬Â. It is true that the club are theoretically owned by their fans, but this is not an enterprise in the Stirling Albion mould. The fans own the club in the same way that the British people own David Cameron. For a team that are ââ?¬Å?more than a clubââ?¬Â, there are certainly a number of distinctly ââ?¬Å?club-likeââ?¬Â aspects at the Nou Camp. Barcelona have a debt of around 440 million Euros; the fifth highest rate in Europe and just 25 million Euros less than Real Madrid. They are currently the highest paid sports team in the world, with average earnings of Ã?£4.9m per player per year, and while their now-legendary youth system is quite correctly praised, their transfer policy is hardly minimalist. In the past two years Barcelonaââ?¬â?¢s directors have spent Ã?£120 million on transfer fees, while Manchester United have spent around Ã?£50 million, the capitalist pig-dogs at Chelsea around Ã?£100 million and Inter only Ã?£90 million. Only Manchester City and Real Madrid have spent more in the same period than the Catalans. They may well be ââ?¬Å?more than a clubââ?¬Â, but only in the same way as Manchester United, Liverpool, AC Milan or Real Madrid are ââ?¬Å?more than clubsââ?¬Â; they are super-brands designed to sell a certain image. Manchester Unitedââ?¬â?¢s image revolves around the ââ?¬Å?Theatre of Dreamsââ?¬Â, while Real Madrid trade on their All-Star cast. All of these clubs have character and a certain soul, but none are more or less than the others. The great American comedian Bill Hicks once quipped that marketing men see his anti-corporation stance as ââ?¬Å?going for that anti-marketing dollarââ?¬Â. This is Barcelonaââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Å?mes que un clubââ?¬Â philosophy in a nutshell. This is undeniably a great football team, but it seems that no matter how successful the club is, they cannot dispense with their victim persona. Their victories are ââ?¬Å?for footballââ?¬Â and their few defeats are due to heinous acts against the spirit of the game. For the Catalans, Mourinho personifies this kind of treachery. If that is the case, then I hope the bad guys win.

With most media sources now suggesting the takeover of Rangers is likely to be announced to the Stock Exchange later this week, it seems the question is no longer if this deal will happen but when. On the surface the price and stipulations agreed by Whyte look to be a good for the club and supporters alike. The vast majority of the long term bank loan will be eradicated and other existing debt removed while 'new' money made available to invest into the club - around �£30million over 5 years if the 'sources' are to be believed. Given our existing owner (and his directors) have struggled to provide anything similar without selling players or relying on Champions League money it will be fascinating to see how Whyte et al intend supplying their investment. Will we be exchanging old debt for new debt and one nosey bank for another? After all, surely Whyte won't be putting in �£30million of his own money - if indeed he does have the net-worth as to afford such a sum? It is obvious then that at this stage we have more questions than answers. So much so, that we're reliant on Sir David Murray, Lloyds Bank and the 'independent bid oversight sub-committee' to conduct due-diligence on the buyer on our behalf. We can only hope they do so without prejudice given all these parties will have their own self-interest to look after. Will Rangers FC and its loyal support really be high on their list of priorities though? The very fact we're basing our concerns on hope rather than expectation is perhaps as damning as any in-depth post-mortem on the Murray era. Much better then to look to the future and while our questions to Craig Whyte may occur after the fact they're still worth asking. It is probable that he'll be eager to meet with the Rangers Assembly quickly after buying so I'm sure they'll be ready to represent us all in asking the difficult questions that need to be answered. A bland interview with a salivating Chic Young just won't do. As a shareholder and season-ticket holder (though not yet renewed) I'll be expecting the Assembly to concentrate on the following few key areas - though I'm sure we'll all have our own equally important questions and concerns as well. - Who is Craig Whyte? Simplistic Google searches notwithstanding the lack of information on Whyte really is quite incredible. Other than a few failed UK businesses and questions about just how long his visas in Monaco lasted, we know next to nothing about this 'successful businessman'. Obviously he must have some sort of proof of what he offers - both strategically and financially. We need to know more about his past, his future and who his partners are. This should be the easiest question for him to answer. - Where is the investment coming from? �£5million of 'new' money for 5 seasons irrespective of player sales and European participation is a fair sum given the club struggles to make a profit otherwise in the stagnant SPL market. To that end, where is this money coming from, who is providing it and what guarantees are placed on the club as a result? This question is less easy to answer and the new regime may not want to reveal vital tactical information but given the club's current situation our concerns are valid so need to be addressed. - Where do you see the club in 5 years time? It may seem daft to ask questions about 2016 before the guy has sat behind his new desk in 2011 but despite the initial successes of the Murray era, Rangers have struggled with anything other than short-term fixes in the last 10 years especially. Furthermore Whyte is promising investment for 5 years but what happens after that? Do he and/or his backers pull out? Will the club be for sale again? What position will it be in? A long-term vision is something we all need and want to buy into. That may be literal if rumours are to be believed about share issues. Of course we could go on all day with a variety of specific questions. I'm sure transfer policy, supporters representation, board make-up, media/PR work, asset protection and youth systems are equally important dependent on our own personal bug-bears. But without answers to the big questions above, any promises on the individual elements have no foundation. To that end, we must concentrate on the wider issues initially. Now, common sense tells us we may not obtain all the answers we want and, of those we do get, we may not like them all. That's fair enough but, at the very least, any welcome for Craig Whyte and his backers should also mean putting him through the wringer as soon as we shake his hand. With �£20million of season ticket money still in reserve he should be equally as keen to answer. Will the grip match the smile?

CRAIG WHYTE will race against the clock today to finally buy Rangers. The tycoon wants the �£33 million deal finalised before the country shuts for the Royal Wedding. London's stock market closes at 4pm today and is then closed on Friday for Kate and Wills' big day and also Monday due to a bank holiday. And a source said: "Everyone is working around the clock to get the deal finalised. "He wants it done before the wedding and the stock market closes. "He knows if it is not completed today it will rumble on until next week. "Everything is almost in place. The deal is almost done." Whyte, 39, is on the brink of taking over the Ibrox club. The takeover has sped up after the Rangers board officially gave him the thumbs up. Gers chairman Alistair Johnston is in America but that should not hold up the transaction. Whyte convinced the board of his buy-out after talks following the Old Firm clash on Sunday. He has vowed to give new boss Ally McCoist a �£10 million close-season transfer war chest. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3551733/Lets-do-the-deal.html#ixzz1KlpDMLJG

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

RANGERS chairman Alastair Johnston has sparked a high-stakes game of poker - with the club's future in the pot. Late on Monday night, with would-be Gers buyer Craig Whyte desperate to finally seal his �£25million takeover, Johnston REFUSED to be railroaded into rubber-stamping the deal. Instead he listened to another Gers director - understood to be chartered accountant Paul Murray - who promised he could broker a rival �£25m bid to underwrite a new shares issue in the club. SunSport believes that proposal is backed by the financial muscle of South African multi-millionaire Dave King and Lanarkshire motoring tycoon Douglas Park. As manager-in-waiting Ally McCoist sweats over what funds he will have, though, the nightmare news for Gers fans is that process could take 10 WEEKS. Forget all the financial posturing and alleged stalling tactics, the reality is that new boss McCoist could be marooned on July 1 with NO IDEA what his transfer budget is, with the SPL season due to start on July 23. Johnston, though, insisted he had grave doubts whether the transfer budget Whyte promised would materialise. And he said: "Based on the documents we have only been able to review within the last week, we are disappointed that they ultimately did not reflect the investment in the club that we were led to believe for the last few months would be a commitment in the purchase agreement. "Given the requirement to repay the bank in full under the proposed transaction, there appears to be only a relatively modest amount of money available that would positively impact the club's operations, especially as it relates to an urgent requirement to replenish and upgrade the playing squad. "Whilst the proposed transaction has addressed the interests of Lloyds Bank, the Murray Group and Craig Whyte, our perspective is solely directed towards the future of Rangers Football Club." Whyte had pledged McCoist would get at least �£5m per season towards improving the champions' threadbare squad. Johnston, though, is prepared to gamble on examining the shares issue option. He said: "The board has had an approach from one of its directors who wishes us to consider an alternative funding option. This would involve a fresh issue of new capital to raise �£25m to be invested directly into the club. The board believes it has a responsibility to examine this proposal whilst continuing its review of the Craig Whyte transaction. "After six months of limited engagement in the process, the board believes it is not in the best interests of its stake-holders for it to be pressed into an unrealistic timescale." The Independent Sub-Committee of the Rangers board has taken a huge risk. Johnston's soundbites claim he is desperate to make sure the best interests of the 26,400 minority shareholders are served. When the fan in the street picks through the legal language and peers through the smokescreens, though, this looks like one thing. A stalling tactic. Majority shareholder Sir David Murray, Lloyds Bank and Whyte himself are desperate to get the deal over the line. The bankers are CONVINCED the funding is there. Johnston, chief executive Martin Bain, finance director Donald McIntyre, non-executive directors John McClelland and John Greig CAN'T veto the Whyte deal but can shunt it into the sidings at a critical time. Meanwhile, the fans suffer once more. Johnston, though, said: "We have only very recently had the opportunity to meet Craig Whyte and his team. "Moreover, it is only in the last few days we have started to receive the draft agreements outlining the transaction. "We are still awaiting a detailed working capital statement demonstrating there is sufficient funding in place to meet the club's pressing needs. "On Monday, I had a lengthy conversation with Craig Whyte explaining the dilemma the board faces. It was a constructive dialogue, and whilst he expressed his frustration, he understood our position." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3536471/We-wont-be-railroaded-into-selling-Gers-Craig.html#ixzz1K0whqlEN

Rangers winger Salim Kerkar has admitted he does not know why he has not yet kicked a ball for the first team but says he would not question manager Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s judgement as he waits for a chance to impress. Kerkar signed for Rangers in November after a protracted trial period that saw some confusion over possible compensation owed to previous side FC Gueugnon. Rangers signed up the player on a deal until the end of the season with an agreement allowing Gueugnon a share of any future transfer fee. Despite not having kicked a ball in anger, Kerkar said he was happy to have moved to Scotland. ââ?¬Å?Of course I'm glad I opted for Rangers, even though I have not played a competitive match to date,ââ?¬Â he told Le Buteur. ââ?¬Å?I put my misfortune to one side, knowing that I'm progressing at all levels. ââ?¬Å?I train every time with a bit more desire and I'm sure it will eventually bear fruit one day. I meet top players every day and I know I must raise my game a little more for me to get a place. ââ?¬Å? In the interview, the 23-year old said he thought he had been close to making his debut against Celtic in the cup replay defeat at Parkhead. Kerkar remained on the bench after Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra were sent off in that game and says he is patiently awaiting an opportunity to show what he can do. ââ?¬Å?The fact of asking me to warm up during a derby is important evidence that the coach thought of me as a viable option for winning the game,ââ?¬Â Kerkar said. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s not nothing. ââ?¬Å?But during that away game against Celtic, I thought I would make my debut that day, but the coach changed his mind after the expulsion of one of my team-mates. ââ?¬Å?It was at that moment that I realised that I have to wait some time.ââ?¬Â The winger said that he was working hard to convince Rangers boss Walter Smith that he was worthy of a first team spot but was respectful of the managerââ?¬â?¢s decision. Kerkar admitted he did not know what more he should be doing and may have to ask Smith to clarify his position. ââ?¬Å?Frankly, I can not tell you what he thinks about me,ââ?¬Â he told the newspaper. ââ?¬Å?I may need to ask him to find out. "I give myself fully to prove he can count on me during games. The rest belongs to him. He is the master on board and I can not but bow to its decisions. ââ?¬Å?I'm not the type to go ask the coach to play me. I tell myself I'm the newest member of the team and I'm not from Barcelona or another big club to claim a starting spot. I'm at Rangers just to prove I deserve to play in a big club.ââ?¬Â

From The Daily Mail: Ignoring the obvious error in the title as Murray is not chairman how likely is it Murray will sacrifice half his pay off? I think he should but I'm not convinced he has it in him.

The latest from Traynor with a nice little dig at the end: http://blogs.dailyrecord.co.uk/jimtraynor/2011/03/are-lloyds-trying-to-sell-rang.html

The Rangers Supporters Trust have called on Lloyds Bank to make clear their plans as Craig Whyte's takeover bid hangs in the balance. The �£33million deal will see the Scottish tycoon take over 75% of Sir David Murray's shareholding, with London-based property developer Andrew Ellis becoming a 25% partner. However, it is understood the bank's desire for an 'exit payment' of more than �£1m is just one of the key stumbling blocks and patience is fast running out. Whyte has targeted Thursday for the deal to be concluded by which time Rangers supporters are expected to be told the club's debt has been slashed to around �£21m from the �£27.1m figure announced in June. RST chairman Stephen Smith said, in these fraught circumstances, the Light Blues fans deserve to be informed of Lloyds' position. "Lloyds Bank can be a convenient whipping boy," Smith said. "It is very easy to paint them as the bad guy in this situation and there are some who may feel excuses are being put in place for the deal not happening. "However, our main concern is with the way that the bank is treating Rangers "We are living in extraordinary financial circumstances where Lloyds Bank have been kept afloat by the taxpayer. "Yet it appears they are refusing to accept a deal which will give them all their money back. "It just doesn't make sense. "If anything, it appears that the bank is trying to devalue the club. "So we would like Lloyds to tell us about their strategy. "We are not talking about breaching commercial confidences, or asking them to come out with figures and percentages. "We want to know their plans for the club and for them to confirm that they are operating normal commercial arrangements with a company the size of Rangers with the turnover of �£50m plus. "They should be able to do that but we have asked on a number of occasions and have been met with a wall of silence. "But as Rangers fans and taxpayers, we are surely entitled to know what's going on. "Anything else is not acceptable in the 21st century." Smith admits the rank and file of the Rangers support have grown tired of the takeover saga. "People are weary with it all," he said. "It has been dragging on for around nine months. "There have been various deadlines which come and gone, the first being in December when there was talk of Walter Smith getting money for the January transfer window, with another being in February. "But meanwhile, it seems the bank's restriction have been detrimental to our abilities on the pitch. "We have had to go with five loan players in our squad, while fighting in all three domestic competitions and in Europe. "Now we are down to one competition, the title race, and that might come down to fine margins. "And if Rangers lose out then Rangers fans will not forgive the bank." No one from Lloyds was available for comment. http://www.teamtalk.com/rangers/6839240/Supporters-chief-wants-answers

Manchester United are favourites to win the �£8million race for Blackpoolâ��s sought-after midfielder Charlie Adam, who plays for Scotland against Brazil at the Emirates on Sunday. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has bided his time for 25-year-old Adam, who was the subject of a bidding war between Tottenham and Liverpool in the last transfer window. But after discussions with Walter Smith - Adamâ��s former boss at Rangers - Ferguson will enter the race for the player as he seeks a long-term successor to Paul Scholes. Blackpool will not stand in his way of moving at the end of the season and Adam is believed to find the allure of Champions League football a huge incentive, even if he will not be guaranteed a regular starting place. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1370336/Manchester-United-set-make-8m-summer-Blackpool-star-Charlie-Adam.html#ixzz1Hngbs3mV

Someone's having a laugh.

Twelve months ago today, Neil Lennon was on his way to Ireland to check out a player. Little did he know that, in his absence, Tony Mowbray was about to check out of Celtic and open the door for the then second-team coach to be handed the biggest challenge of a life already defined by huge challenges. The bitter disappointment of losing his first cup final as a manager at the weekend was just another loop in the roller-coaster ride which Lennon has negotiated since he took control of a Celtic side lurching so badly that it threatened to come off the rails. His record shows that, in the 49 games across five different competitions in which he has sent out his side, Celtic have won 37, drawn five and lost seven. They have scored 105 goals en route, and conceded 40. Impressive stats, but they do not even begin to tell the story of how Lennon ââ?¬â?? ably assisted by Johan Mjallby, Alan Thompson and Garry Parker ââ?¬â?? has turned a juggernaut around. The prefix ââ?¬Ë?successfullyââ?¬â?¢ may have been attached to this, but, at the moment, it does not seem fully justified, least of all in the eyes of Lennon. Only when the SPL flag is flying above Celtic Park once again will he believe he has returned the club to where they should be. For any manager, setting such a goal is ambitious, especially given how far Celtic lagged behind Rangers when he took over ââ?¬â?? 10 points and with two games more played. Factor in the double handicap, firstly that Lennon aimed so high with no managerial experience behind him, and secondly in the knowledge he was going to have to completely rip apart the team he inherited and start again, and you begin to wonder if he bit off more than any man could reasonably expect to chew. But, like an attack dog, as soon as he was unleashed, Lennon went for the jugular. He set himself an initial three-point plan: Closing the gap between Celtic and Rangers in the league ââ?¬â?? which he found embarrassing ââ?¬â?? was the first thing in his sights. Beating Rangers in the final Old Firm game of the season ââ?¬â?? something Mowbray had fatally failed to do during his nine tortured months in charge ââ?¬â?? was next up to post a declaration of intent for the following year. Claiming the one piece of silverware still available to Celtic at that time, the Scottish Cup, was the last aim. That final objective came crashing down around Lennonââ?¬â?¢s ears when Ross County rocked him and everyone else in football by defeating Celtic in the semi-final on April 10, just three games into the new managerââ?¬â?¢s reign. Even allowing for his 100% record in the eight SPL games ââ?¬â?? including victory over Rangers ââ?¬â??that Hampden humbling could have shaken the confidence of men like Dermot Desmond, John Reid and Peter Lawwell, not to mention those supporters who had put so much faith in the former captain riding to the rescue in the clubââ?¬â?¢s hour of most need. What it did not do was shake Lennonââ?¬â?¢s own belief that he was up to the job. In a perverse way, it actually strengthened his resolve to prove he was the man to shake Celtic out of their decline and take them back to the heights he enjoyed as a player with them, under Martin Oââ?¬â?¢Neill and Gordon Strachan. No one, least of all the underachieving players, were left in any doubt many futures were on the line, not just those of the rookie boss and his hastily-assembled backroom staff. More than a few did not survive the summer cull required to allow Lennon to build his own side. Touchline critics tried to pick him off with claims that, just like Mowbray, he was bringing in too many new faces at one time. However, given the mis-matched squad he inherited, Lennon had no choice but to wield the axe on much of it and start again. Given licence to stamp his own mark on the team, aided by the money generated from selling players such as Aiden McGeady, Artur Boruc, Stephen McManus and several others, and releasing the wages being paid to loan signings including Robbie Keane, Diomansy Kamara, Landry Nââ?¬â?¢Guemo and Edson Braafheid ââ?¬â?? the latter reputed to be collecting around Ã?£40,000-per- week ââ?¬â?? Lennon had to prove to his paymasters he could get more bang for their buck. His years of watching men like Oââ?¬â?¢Neill, Strachan and even Mowbray had confirmed to him that, ultimately, a manager is judged on two things: the signings he makes, and the trophies they deliver. To this point, he has been proved to be astute in the transfer market, having unearthed nuggets among the 14 players he has recruited such as Emilio Izaguirre, Gary Hooper and Beram Kayal. Others, such as Joe Ledley, Kris Commons, Daniel Majstorovic, Charlie Mulgrew and Anthony Stokes have also proved to be genuine value for the money paid, either in terms of wages for the Bosmans or relatively small transfer fees. Of course, when you are trawling for so many players, a few are going to get caught up the net who you might prefer to throw back. There is no doubt that Efrain Juarez, who cost just a tad less than all the aforementioned put together, has been a major disappointment, while Daryl Murphy, Cha Du-Ri, Freddie Ljungberg and a few more currently stuck in the stands have also failed to fire. However, Lennon has signed enough players of the required standard to haul Celtic to the top of the SPL and into the semi-final of the Scottish Cup. True validation of his credentials as a manager who can return the club to where they need to be will not arrive until he gets his hands on the SPL trophy he last held aloft as a coach under Strachan. If he can do that, a well-earned increase in the terms under which he has operated for the past year will be forthcoming, along with the eternal gratitude of a support who, 12 months ago, began to disengage with the club. They have not only re-affirmed their bond, but now stand to a man behind the rookie boss who is battling not only to take his team back to the top, but to be allowed to lead from the front, or, at least, the touchline. The on-going war with the SFA is a side-issue which Lennon could well do without, and he must remain vigilant that he does not become pawn in the game which has been played out between Celtic and the Hampden hierarchy since the season began. Lennon has enough to contend with as threats to his safety and that of his family have forced him to operate on a daily basis against a sinister backdrop which would be a distraction to even the strongest character. A year ago, he was carefully articulating how he planned to bring Celtic back from the brink. Today, his silence says even more as it amplifies the pressures, both personally and professionally, Lennon is now challenged to endure. He is older, he is wiser, and he is even more determined to succeed with the experience of the past 12 months etched on his soul.

By jim Traynor on Mar 14, 11 08:37 AM in ALLY McCOIST will fight his two-match touchline ban but he should accept the punishment. He'll need all his reserves of energy and will for more important struggles which lie ahead. Depending on what happens over the next two to three weeks he will be taking over as manager of a club about to be revitalised or one sliding deeper into decline. And many are convinced it will be the latter. With the passing of every week Rangers fans lose hope that their club will be bought over and dragged out of debt. They look at the paucity of Walter Smith's squad and they must feel like weeping. Lloyds Bank, on the other hand, are delighted. Rangers' debt continues to fall and the next set of figures, which are about to be released, will show the Ibrox club now owe less than �£20million. No doubt someone at the bank will take pride in a job well done and it shouldn't surprise anyone if that person is in line for a whopping bonus. After all, that's what the banks do isn't it? They reward themselves for squeezing and destroying hard-working ordinary Joes even though it was their greed and stupidity that pushed the country towards financial ruin. And then they grab our tax money to get them out of the mess. It's instead of being forced back to school to do their sums again they grow fatter and richer by refusing to lend any of the cash back to people trying to buy or hold on to their homes and businesses. And of course the less they lend out the more for them to share in bonus payments which would be enough to keep loads of little companies and households going. They slap one another on the back, oblivious to the damage they cause. However, they are themselves insolvent. They are morally bankrupt. No doubt Lloyds will credit themselves for reducing Rangers' debt but there is nothing sharp, or even intelligent, in putting in place a repayment plan that is making it increasingly difficult for Rangers to remain competitive. While the Ibrox balance sheet is looking much better you have to ask at what cost has this been achieved? The answer won't be clear until the end of this season but it does look as though Rangers don't have enough players to handle the run-in. It's also fairly obvious they can't cope with Neil Lennon's Celtic, who have won three and drawn one of the five Old Firm clashes so far this season. Of course if Rangers were to win the remaining two Old Firm matches everything would look so much brighter but the problems caused by constant wage cuts to keep the bank satisfied would remain. They were there when Smith steered Rangers to back-to-back titles and a glance at any of his team sheets this season proves the problems are even worse now. No matter what Rangers do on the pitch between now and the end of the season McCoist will be inheriting a squad lacking in genuine quality and experience. And he will have to give serious thought to selling one of his few assets, Allan McGregor, to fund moves for a couple of players simply to increase numbers. His task will be practically impossible and his only real hope is Craig Whyte who is still waiting in the wings. However, he won't wait much longer. Time is running out and if Whyte hasn't been given the go ahead by the end of this month don't be surprised if he closes his cheque book, puts it back in his pocket and walks away. Several vague deadlines have come and gone but Whyte is smart enough to realise that buying Rangers solves only half a problem. The other half involves rebuilding a squad and Whyte, I suspect, doesn't want to leave that part to the last minute. He knows clubs and managers are already working on the ins and outs of transfer deals for next season and he would want to give McCoist as much time as possible to improve his squad. But nothing can be done until Whyte's offer has been accepted. If it isn't - Rangers' standards will continue to fall. Whyte's �£33m bid to take the club off David Murray's hands and out of the bank's control, and his promise to spend �£5m on players each season for the first five years of his tenure appears to tick the relevant boxes. But still McCoist and Rangers wait. Of course, there is the potential tax liability should Rangers lose their court battle with the taxman but it is understood some kind of arrangement has been put in place to deal with that as well. But still Rangers fans wait. Now they have to ask why. After all, Whyte has provided proof of funding and Murray, who said he would never sell to anyone who couldn't support the club financially, appears convinced by the Scottish financier and it's understood he's prepared to do the deal. So why the hold up? Who might be stalling? Are Rangers being used as a pawn in a wider game? Is the bank playing hard ball? If so, why? Someone at Lloyds could probably provide the answers but because of market rules and the cloaks of confidentiality bankers wrap around themselves there is only silence. Rangers have cut back to the bare minimum to repay their debt and there is an offer on the table which would rid the bank of the headache, yet nothing continues to happen. If Whyte is ready to get going and help finance McCoist's rebuilding programme but finds he is being blocked then he should say so. Rangers fans are entitled to know why this deal hasn't been concluded. They deserve to know who is holding up progress and why. But they should also be aware that the Whyte saga is nearing its end. The next few weeks will make or break his ambition to own Rangers. That also means the next few weeks could make or break Rangers.

His departure to Boro was the beginning of the end of his career. He'll sink to the bowels of English football then eventually come back to some bottom rung SPL team. He was onto a damn good thing at Ibrox and his ego and greed got the better of him. Fool.

I'd buy him. Given how dreadful a footballer Steven Whittaker is he is a decent replacement to have. He's shown in the games he's played this season that he can handle the big games. Also, I doubt there would be a huge fee involved in any transfer. Steven Whittaker needs sold for the benefit of him and Rangers.

And we think we have problems Aston Villa are looking to reduce their wage bill after revealing losses of �£37.6m for the year ending 31 May 2010. Wages at the club increased by �£9m to almost �£80m and now account for 88% of Villa's �£90m turnover, which actually increased last season by �£6m. This included �£52m from television revenue while matchday turnover was �£24m and commercial income �£14.4m. The rise in turnover lifted Villa into Europe's top 20 earning clubs for the first time. The loss last season was �£9m less than the previous campaign but owner Randy Lerner provided �£12.5m during the campaign from a new share issue and a further �£12.5m in loan notes. He also funded the �£23.5m purchase of Darren Bent during the January 2011 transfer window. The American has invested more than �£200m in equity and loan notes since taking charge at Villa Park in 2006 - and the club will need to reduce its reliance on Lerner if they are to comply with Uefa's financial fair play regulations. The rules, which come into force in 2012-2013, mean teams in European competitions must break even over a rolling three-year period. Those clubs will only be allowed to incur losses of around �£39m over any three-season period. The losses for last season came during Martin O'Neill's final campaign in charge at the club, with the Northern Irishman resigning as manager in August. His replacement Gerard Houllier is understood to have have prioritised cutting the size of the Villa squad without reducing its quality. Bent, Kyle Walker and Michael Bradley arrived in January, while high-profile quartet John Carew, Steve Sidwell, Stephen Ireland and Curtis Davies left the club the same month. Carew and Ireland made temporary moves to Stoke and Newcastle while Sidwell and Davies were sold to Fulham and Birmingham respectively.

ALLY McCOIST has already identified players he wants to bring to Rangers when he takes over from Walter Smith. And the manager-in-waiting is keen to land stars who can provide more quality and entertainment. Gers have enjoyed great times during Smith's second stint in charge but he has sometimes been criticised for being over-cautious. McCoist hopes to marry success with flowing football but knows pulling that off is far from easy. His great friend Tommy Burns had Celtic playing slick football in the 1990s yet won just one trophy in three years. That cost him his job. And McCoist knows the same fate awaits him if he fails to deliver titles. However, he believes he can find some players who will thrill the fans and provide value for money. McCoist said: "I've started to look ahead in terms of signing targets. We definitely need to bring players in. "My philosophy will be quite simple. You have to win. We need to win games or I won't be sitting here talking to you in the future. "In an ideal world you win with style. You will have players out there the fans want to see. "You will get people coming to watch this team who are genuinely excited about the players they are coming to watch. They will be here to see entertaining football but, most importantly, winning football. "This club has had wonderfully talented players throughout history. But it's probably had more winners than fantastically talented players. "That's not a criticism. Anything but. It's actually a compliment. "This club's history is riddled with winners - boys who wanted to do well and win trophies. "Ideally we want the fans to know they're going to be entertained AND win games of football. Our supporters know the score. They are intelligent people and know all about the situation at the club. "All I would ask for is continued support. There have been times when things have upset the punters and that will happen again because you can't please all the fans all the time. But I think we will get their support." Rangers' wage budget will be slashed by more than �£1million in the summer but McCoist feels he can be inventive and adventurous in the transfer market. He stressed: "In an ideal world the club will be bought over and investment will come in. At the moment we can't say with any certainty if that will be the case. "We need to plan for next season. I know the budget and don't see that changing dramatically unless someone buys the club. "It's up to ourselves to identify players and bring them in. "People will be leaving at the end of the season so we need new faces. "Only time will tell how good the hand I've been dealt is going to be. Sometimes you might be dealt a bad hand but can still play it well. "However, it won't be easy. We'll need to cut money off the wage bill. "That's not good news but we know the score. It's not like it will be thrust upon us with no warning. "It's up to us to plan for that. I need to persuade players to come here. "If I can't sell this club to a player I won't be able to sell anything. We have a wonderful fan base, a great stadium and a fantastic training ground. "We might not be able to offer the same finances as elsewhere but we need to sell the club to targets." McCoist will have to appoint a new captain in the summer when Davie Weir ends his playing career. He is likely to want a real Rangers man in that important role and Lee McCulloch could take the armband. The midfielder recently signed a new contract and has the backing of current skipper Weir. McCoist said: "Arguably, one of your most important decisions is the appointment of the captain. "We've had top guys like John Greig, Terry Butcher and Jock Shaw. All great skippers and great men. "It's vitally important we have a great captain again." Buying someone like Butcher would set you back more than �£20m these days - a sum McCoist is unlikely to spend over his entire tenure, never mind on just one player. However, he could be handed a bit more cash to splash if a new owner seizes power at Ibrox. McCoist said: "The ideal scenario is new owners come in and fancy me staying in charge. "However, it's natural a new regime might not want me in charge. "But I hope any new owners will be happy with the plan we have in place and give us a few quid to spend. "If they don't want me as manager then I'll be on the terracing with the fans supporting the team. Rangers Football Club is the most important thing. This club deserves the best." McCoist will be assisted by Kenny McDowall when he takes charge with Ian Durrant as first-team coach. But the 48-year-old hasn't ruled out adding to his backroom staff. Celtic boss Neil Lennon has three helpers at Parkhead - Johan Mjallby, Alan Thompson and Garry Parker. And Gers gaffer Smith can also call on McCoist, McDowall and Durrant for advice as he bids to end his reign with even more success. McCoist said: "We will probably look at adding someone but I would have to say I couldn't be happier taking over with the staff I have. "I will have good men by my side and I'm thankful for that. "I have known Kenny for a lot longer than you would think. "Ian and I go back a long way and it's the same with our goalkeeping coach Jimmy Stewart and the fitness coach Adam Owen. "Stability won't guarantee you success but it's another positive. "I trust these guys too and that is the most important thing. It's arguably THE most important thing in management - you need people who are loyal and good." Should it be needed, Smith will also be there for guidance. The veteran boss doesn't plan to return to management when he brings the curtain down on his Rangers career this summer. He could be tempted back into football by a job overseas but McCoist knows he can always call his managerial mentor for some words of wisdom. He smiled: "Walter will be on the end of a phone. I don't have any doubt about that. "He might be on a golf course in Arizona but he has been told the phone must stay on. "I don't care if he's in a bunker or whatever and knowing his golf there is every chance!" http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/2011/02/27/ally-mccoist-i-m-already-identifying-signing-targets-and-i-want-them-to-entertain-our-fans-86908-22953274/

Our current situation - It's time to face the inevitable then rebuild for the future. When you drill down to it, The Rangers support, to a man, has known at the back of its collective mind that the situation we are in is dire. Many of us will be in agreement that weââ?¬â?¢ve been urinating into the proverbial wind for 3 years yet miraculously, we have managed to avoid getting wet. Sooner or later, the stranglehold that being owned by Sir David Murray has placed us under was always going to come close to killing us. I say Sir David Murray rather than Lloyds bank specifically, as our current situation has been clouded by the usual sea of half-truths, speculation and contradictions that weââ?¬â?¢ve now come to expect from the Ayrshire millionaire. I wonââ?¬â?¢t sit here and try to claim the moral high-ground by claiming recent results against the filth havenââ?¬â?¢t had any impact on what Iââ?¬â?¢m about to write: They have, and Iââ?¬â?¢ll get to that later. However, let me start from the very beginning of this, probably the most sorry episode in the never-ending series that is ââ?¬Å?The David Murray Showââ?¬Â.. It all started in January 2009. Rampant speculation built up suggesting that our top goal scorer was subject to a bid from Alex McLeishââ?¬â?¢s Birmingham. The source was originally an article from The Scottish Sun that was brief and lacking in quotes ââ?¬â?? normally the tell-tale signs of a non-story. Unfortunately, it didnââ?¬â?¢t quite work out like that, the bid from Brum was legit ââ?¬â?? and the then-chairman was about to inform us of news that would utterly stun us. After coming off of our most commercially lucrative season ever...Iââ?¬â?¢ll write that again for extra emphasis ââ?¬â?? After coming off of our most commercially lucrative season EVER ââ?¬â?? The chairman was about to confirm that despite all of this, in no small part down to a historic European run the year before ââ?¬â?? our finances were once again down the toilet... Murray told the Guardian at the time... "If we did not take this action [selling Boyd], it could have been bad but there are far worse situations developing around us and I will not allow it to spiral again. Rangers have to be run on a sound fiscal basis." In typical Murray style, however, he was soon to contradict himself completely after the transfer window closed when he said.. "The Boyd situation is simple. We received an offer that we believed, collectively, Walter Smith, manager and Martin Bain, chief executive represented good business. "The player then went to Birmingham and refused terms. That is where it stands. But Rangers will go on whether the player goes or not. In that sense, it is immaterial whether he stays or goes." I donââ?¬â?¢t know about you, but I see two statements that glaringly contradict one another. That wasnââ?¬â?¢t the end of it, however, a leading football agent told national commercial radio station TalkSport the same month, that literally ââ?¬Ë?every Rangers player was for saleââ?¬â?¢, with the likely culprit Wullie McKay later declaring that Rangers CEO Martin Bain had instructed him to sell a raft of high earning first team stars, citing McKayââ?¬â?¢s ability to ââ?¬Å?get the job doneââ?¬Â as the reason behind him being allocated this particular mission. Murray issued a ââ?¬Ë?denialââ?¬â?¢ in The Sunday People soon after which actually confirmed McKayââ?¬â?¢s claim in a roundabout way. So we were back up the financial creek without a paddle. Despite a debt that was dwindling, a tremendous run to a European Final, solid season/match day ticket sales and several impressive fees recouped for players that we sold that culminated in what was officially the most commercially lucrative season in the history of Rangers Football Club ââ?¬â?? Our debt somehow increased and we needed to make drastic cuts It was truly one of the most shocking revelations in our recent history, and it left us wondering where our money was actually going. In the summer of the sale year, Rangers managed to cut the wage bill by well over Ã?£200,000 per week (Over Ã?£10m a year) by moving on a raft of first team squad members. To the credit of Walter Smith and the board, the club maintained most of our key players but we were left well-short of numbers in the squad, a huge potential problem that thankfully was not exploited by faltering then-Celtic manager Tony Mowbrayââ?¬â?¢s inability to field a team capable of challenging for the SPL title. To make matters worse ââ?¬â?? our solitary signing that season, Jerome Rothen, had his loan spell at the club cut-short after an ineffective first half to the season. Despite the support rationally assuming that we would be able to bring in a player or two using Rothenââ?¬â?¢s estimated Ã?£18,000 per week wage, an assumption further justified by the departure of another high-earner in Pedro Mendes to Sporting Lisbon, the Rangers support were again left scratching their heads as there were no incoming transfers to the Champions in the January window of the 2009/2010 SPL season. ââ?¬Å?Mystifiedââ?¬Â just didnââ?¬â?¢t do justice to the general feeling of the Rangers support then, or indeed now. After we won the SPL title for the second consecutive season in 2010, it appeared that following some pleading words from Walter Smith himself, those big bad bankers who had been subject to a tongue-lashing or six from him over the previous months decided to relent and kindly let Rangers buy players ââ?¬â?? with money raised from selling yet more players from our already thread-bare squad. We were all left pleased with the quality of players we brought in but once again, the number of players who moved on last summer was more than the number that came in, and with our continued reluctance to promote youth in decent numbers...or use youth in Cup competition domestically given our hectic schedule, we were again left to face a season at home and abroad with a woefully small squad. For just over two years, Rangers have been fire-fighting and, as I said above, urinating into the wind without getting wet. Nobody should be surprised that this is happening, it was only a matter of time. The reality is that on-field failure and the ââ?¬Ë?huge problemsââ?¬â?¢ I speak of are hopefully going to be the precursor to change at Ibrox. Walter Smith and Martin Bain have done an outstanding job of keeping the club together during these turbulent times ââ?¬â?? that should never be forgotten and both men, Walter in particular, should be commended for this. His contribution since coming has only furthered his status as a legend despite the split opinion of his on-field approach. Something from the previous two years that I sadly canââ?¬â?¢t spare the Rangers management team and board from, however, is the constant stream of contradictory information and statements that has come from them. One minute ââ?¬Å?everyone is for saleââ?¬Â, the next ââ?¬Å?we donââ?¬â?¢t have to sell anyoneââ?¬Â. On other occasions weââ?¬â?¢ve told the world ââ?¬Å?the bank runs the clubââ?¬Â only to play it down days later. Our current chairman, who appears to have vanished without a trace, has justified our constant flip-flopping on the issue by saying our relationship with Lloyds bank is ââ?¬Ë?a fluid situationââ?¬â?¢ i.e. our status with the bank changes all the time as per their business needs. Sadly, that statement has never quite cut it for me, and the only thing fluid about this whole thing is in the way weââ?¬â?¢ve had the piss taken out of us by those who run the club. Fiscally, theyââ?¬â?¢ve done a remarkable job with a fair-share of luck involved. Keeping Davis, Bougherra, McGregor and others when weââ?¬â?¢re so up against it financially is something to be proud of. I personally decided that Rangers would not get another penny from me after that cup game. I donââ?¬â?¢t need to state the obvious about the difficulties many of us have paying for tickets when we have families to keep in this climate, the teamââ?¬â?¢s approach in this one-off must win fixture, along with yesterday and the other league game in January really symbolised the problems we have. Our first team appear to be a spent force ââ?¬â?? lacking in interest and focus because they have zero competition for a first team place. Our manager, like him or not, just doesnââ?¬â?¢t do squad rotation or youth promotion unless his hand is forced. So we now face a situation where our first team at the moment isnââ?¬â?¢t good enough and we canââ?¬â?¢t and wonââ?¬â?¢t change it. But we still pay our money and I think despite the small decrease in numbers, the club have taken our blind loyalty a little too for granted by anyoneââ?¬â?¢s standards. Weââ?¬â?¢ve all wanted a change of approach, change of ethos and a complete shift from the short-term, ââ?¬Å?boom and bustââ?¬Â mentality that has saw us teetering on the financial brink twice in less than ten years. Sadly, due to the furthering financial problems in recent years we have regressed even from that. We do not have the talent on or off the pitch to run Rangers effectively anymore. As a support, we have been very kind to the board and management team ââ?¬â?? weââ?¬â?¢ve taken everything said to us at face value. But the time has come for proper communication with the man who truly holds all the cards, Sir David Murray. Questions about the ongoing HMRC tax investigation, links between Murrayââ?¬â?¢s companies and the aggressive attitude of Lloyds bank to Rangers over what is a perfectly manageable debt from a club who have implemented some shrewd fiscal measures in recent years have not been met with satisfactory answers. Rangers quite like it when we pay our money, sit down and shut up. We canââ?¬â?¢t do it anymore ââ?¬â?? we just canââ?¬â?¢t. Answers to many, many questions are required, and only the man who has disappeared into the night can answer them properly, he still holds all of the cards. One wonders if the warning that Sir David Murray claimed he was trying to send us by selling Boyd in January of 2009 is the real reason behind the financial handcuffs that have been placed on us, with anonymous, invisible bankers quite happy to take the blame and be the ââ?¬Ë?faceââ?¬â?¢ behind the cuts as it gives them just cause to get their money back quicker. There arenââ?¬â?¢t too many other arms of Murrayââ?¬â?¢s empire that can raise seven figure sums by selling off assets relatively quickly. Our club bemoan financial pressure from the bank on one hand yet announce excellent half-year profits on the other, they blame the bank for the restrictions yet charge us through the nose for games weââ?¬â?¢ve actively tried not to win, they demand we pay for our season ticket in advance over a short timescale at inflated prices while warning us that we canââ?¬â?¢t spend money and are open to offers for our star players despite the relative success weââ?¬â?¢ve had recently in maintaining them. On field failure is the excuse the money men need to make further cuts ââ?¬â?? and itââ?¬â?¢s the excuse many of our support will need to get off their backside and demand change at Ibrox ââ?¬â?? along with clarification on what our real problems are. Enough is enough, our expectations have been managed very well by the club ââ?¬â?? weââ?¬â?¢re quite tolerant of the hardships we face now...because weââ?¬â?¢ve so splintered and blindly loyal that we refuse to speak up en masse. So long as the season ticket cash keeps rolling in, change will be delayed that little bit longer. We need to stop propping up a system that is not sustainable in the medium to long term, a regime of noble-yet-helpless individuals fighting the tide of faceless penny-pinchers...who for all we know may include our current owner, and face being flattened by the big truck weââ?¬â?¢ve been waiting to knock us down for two years. As I have no doubt that with the unrest this could all cause, we will emerge from the wreckage a much stronger force, able to plan effectively for the future. This is and always has been about more than one title or season ââ?¬â?? itââ?¬â?¢s about getting our club back. Sorry if this is negative, but I donââ?¬â?¢t care how we get that ââ?¬â?? the sooner we face the inevitable, the better as far as Iââ?¬â?¢m concerned.

Celtic are a better team than us. I refused to believe it even after the SC game. But today they proved they are better than us, it sadly is that simple. They have more guile, more creativity, a will to win, a determination not to be beat and a togetherness that has, ironically, seen us win the last two titles. But then the question we have to ask ourselves is "are we surprised" ? I dont think we should be. We are having to rely on a 40 yr old centre back who most definitely is playing a season too far. We lost a number of players at the start of the season who really werent replaced. We lost our top scorer in January because we couldnt afford his wages. We have a squad of about 18 players which includes a couple of youngsters. All the while our rivals have a squad of over 30 players, they have spent a fair amount on transfer fees and wages and seem to be in for almost every player who becomes available. They dont seem to have the financial woes that we do. Are we really surprised. At the start of the season did we think we had the better team and/or the better squad ? Or did we think "We will win the league because Walter is too smart for Lennon" ? The reality is that ANY manager is only as good as the resources he has at hand. Lennon has more AND better resources at hand than we do. I dont think we should be surprised at where we are. If anything I actually think we should be surprised that we are still in with a chance (albeit very slim) of winning this league. In the last two transfer windows we have lost 50 goals from our squad in losing Boyd & Miller - that would be difficult for ANY manager to overcome. Celtic have pushed the boat out for Lennon financially, a policy which was very risky but which seems to have paid off - but they have also seen their debt on the rise at the same time, so that brings them somewhat to parity with us. Unfortunately for all at Rangers, us fans really only care about the product on the park and winning trophies - and we simply cant deny that Celtic look far more likely at the moment to sweep all before them (much as though that almost makes me vomit even typing it). It really should be time for us to look towards next season and bring in those players who would be relied upon, guys like Ness & Hutton - but even then some fans wont be happy because we do still, technically, have the league within our grasp and within our hands. Me ? I think we should accept that we are highly unlikely to win the league and start afresh. Drop under-performing players like Davis, Edu, Whittaker and bring in the youngsters..... but do we then run the risk of finishing 3rd ? We are, after all, only 2 points ahead of Hearts.

Donald Muir shared a wee late lunch on Friday for selected pressmen to give them a preview of what lay's in wait re our latest set of accounts , according to Mr Muir we were as some on here surmised actualy �£40 million in debt last year( the stated amount plus the additional transfer fees due ) , now we are just shy �£23 million with transfer fees and some European/scottish cup money , plus squad downsizing not included, Will hopefully find out more tomorrow , take this with the usual internet pinch of salt but I trust my mate