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JELAVIC'S INJURY DO YOU remember when Kyle Lafferty cheated against Aberdeen to get Charlie Mulgrew sent off? And do you remember too, the number of times the incident was replayed on television? Can you also remember when Lafferty was sent off against Hibernian this season, and the amazing amount of airtime on television this incident was given ? Then, can you remember when Kevin Thomson was sent off against Hearts at Tynecastle last season, and the number of times his silly sideways lunge was repeated on the box? Now hit the fast forward button and let's return to Tynecastle and highlight the moment when a terrible tackle from behind - outlawed by FIFA - by Ian Black on Nikica Jelavic, injured the striker so badly he had to fly home for surgery and is not expected to play again for anything up to four months. But where have all the television replays been of the tackle from a match shown live on ESPN? That's a tricky one, for it has been hard to catch up with them, as on Monday and Tuesday night's Reporting Scotland - the licence fee funded national broadcaster - it appears we are in the midst of some old fashioned height of the Cold War Kremlin-style cover up. And as far as that modern phenomenon, which has fast become an old reliable, YouTube? Well, anyone trying to find the Black tackle which crippled Jelavic there will draw a blank, and be met with the message.... "The clip of the Black tackle on Jelavic has been removed from YouTube due to a copyright claim by the Scottish Premier League." That will be the same Scottish Premier League who have ensured Rangers must face five away matches on the weekends following their six Champions League ties. Does anyone detect a pattern here? Rangers player sins, his sin is missed by the referee, but caught on camera and his sin is shown over and over and over, again and again and again. Or, Rangers player sins, is caught by the referee and punished by him with a red card, and the sin, again caught on camera, is repeated on television over and over and over, again and again and again. As opposed to Rangers player is the victim of a bad tackle - one which many believe merited a red card ,but which was dealt with by a yellow - and is badly injured. And the result??? Blank screens! People are therefore robbed of their right as licence payers to see the clip again and again and again, over and over and over on BBC Scotland's Reporting Scotland at the peak tea time viewing hour, in order that they can form their own judgement. Rangers supporters though must be indebted to Keith Jackson of the Daily Record and Scott Burns of the Scottish Daily Express, for their interviews with Jelavic. It's taken Black long enough to issue a public apology claiming it was an accident, and that the Rangers man was too quick for him. But Jelavic, as quoted in the Record and Express, is having none of it. If the public were given the opportuinity by the BBC, the state funded broadcaster, to view the incident from all the angles - as was the case when Lafferty and Thomson sinned - then a judgement could be formed on whether Black was unlucky, and Jelavic even more unlucky. Or not! That would be justice. For Black, and for Jelavic. For, as I have often stated, for justice to be done, it must be seen to be done. One reporter, who has the inside track at Ibrox, says that senior Rangers sources are seething with anger. The speculation is one senior source is Walter Smith. He spent over �£4m of the meagre transfer budget afforded him by the club's Lloyds Bank paymasters on Jelavic, and the striker was showing every sign of forming an intelligent and lethal partnership with Kenny Miller. There was also - in a sort of perverse way - the bonus of the fact he is ineligble for Europe, meaning Rangers were hoping to look to Jelavic as an injection of fresh legs to the team for the next four away matches they have been ordered by the SPL to play immediately after Champions League ties. His loss in the Champions League - a tournament Rangers cannot possibly hope to win - was therefore balanced by the rest he would have ahead of SPL games, as the champions bid to retain their domestic crown. That benefit would have been seen next when the first Old Firm game of the season takes place at Parkhead a few days after Rangers must face the team settling Spain alight right now, Valencia. Now Jelavic - as a result of the injury he suffered following the tackle by Black, - will not only miss that match, but may still be sidelined when Celtic visit Ibrox on January 2. His injury may turn out to be a Marco Negri moment for Rangers. Whether that proves to be the case or not, in the interest of justice - for Black as well as Jelavice for it would give the Hearts man a chance to prove his claim of his lack of malice - the incident in which the Rangers man is the injured party should be given the same television prominence as those occasions when it has been the Rangers player who has been the sinner. Over and over and over, again and again and again. Pretty hard to disagree with any of that

Gers striker's uncle in Mafia link 'The Boxer' rumoured to be Godfather of Balkan mob By Stephen Houston and Kathleen Nutt, 03/10/2010 THE uncle of new Rangers hitman Nikica Jelavic is a feared figure in the Croatian underworld with links to the Mafia, the News of the World can today reveal. The �£4 million striker's shady relation - also called Nikica Jelavic but known as "Boxer" - is rumoured to be a Godfather in the Balkan mob operating from the Croatian capital Zagreb. But the 42-year-old former nightclub bouncer has managed to walk free from a string of court cases - including a horrific street murder using a rocket launcher. Boxer, below, is widely described as the "uncrowned king" of the city's Mafia, although two years ago he was cleared of charges connecting him to a criminal organisation involved in extortion. Last night a source in Croatia told us: "Jelavic's uncle has been linked to some high-profile organised crime groups and court cases in recent years. "There have also been suggestions he has been involved with his nephew's footballing career. "But that is something Jelavic has claimed doesn't happen." Jelavic, 25, is already a Rangers favourite, scoring five goals in his first three games and playing in the Ibrox side's 2-1 win over Hearts yesterday. But he has been forced to deny his uncle interferes personally when football decisions go against him. In March 2006, Jelavic's coach at Croatian side Hajduk Split was battered by two thugs in the stairwell of his home. Police investigated the attack on 40-year-old Luka Bonacic but no arrests were made. Answering claims that his uncle was behind the beating, Jelavic said: "I score goals, not my uncle. He is not my agent. "He has helped me a lot through my career, but he was not my agent, nor he scores instead of me." Jelavic signed for Rangers on August 20. The �£4 million deal made it the most expensive summer transfer in eight years at the club. The move had been agreed a month earlier but was delayed because of a pay battle with Jelavic's previous club Rapid Vienna. Just last month he gave an interview to Croatian newspaper Vrime where he hit out over media coverage of his uncle. He insisted: "I have a plain, familiar relation with my uncle. He helped me on a volunteer basis because he loves me. "I always concentrate on a game only. If I was listening to the stories about my uncle I would never achieve anything. My uncle has helped me a lot, but he does not score." Last November, Jelavic's uncle was cleared after standing trial for the third time on the same murder charge and three attempted murders. Zagreb County Court ruled there was no evidence that he tried to kill rival Vjeko Slisko and associates Juraj Dodic and Ivica Bertic on two occasions in 1995 and 1999. In the second attempt on their lives, a rocket fired from a hand-held launcher bounced on Slisko's bullet-proof Jeep and hit passing dog walker Zoran Domini. He was blasted in the stomach and died instantly. But the striker's uncle was released after Croatian police fumbled evidence procedures. In March this year, the Zagreb County Prosecutor's Office launched an appeal against Boxer's latest acquittal last November. But the bid failed, and in July the Croatian Supreme Court upheld the verdict. Jelavic had stood trial over the charges twice before - first in 2000 and then again in 2007. The first case lasted for two years and involved 12 suspects. In 1998, Jelavic was injured outside a cafe bar when his friend, the reigning mob boss Zlatko Bagaric - known as "The King of Dice" - was shot dead. Later, in a criminal case, authorities began investigating his activities after he was able to put up a �£262,000 bail bond when his three companies had never made a profit. Last night it emerged a little girl was hit by his car in Zagreb last week and is fighting for her life in a city hospital. And Jelavic has also fallen foul of the law in Germany as well as in his homeland. He was extradited to face attempted fraud charges in January last year and was given a two-year suspended sentence and fined �£85,000. Jelavic had been charged with attempting to swindle the German state out of �£462,000 - the sum he had demanded as compensation for time he spent on remand in the country's Kempten nick in 2004 while accused of robbing a jewellery store. He was cleared of the charges and brought the damages case over claims he had lost earnings while he was behind bars. But he was convicted of producing forged documents to back up his allegations that he had lost out on lucrative business deals. The Croatian Mafia is composed of ethnic Croats and Bosnians whose underworld activities include contract killing, car theft, smuggling and the illicit trade in blood diamonds and arms. They have strong ties with Mafia gangs in Bulgaria, Albania and ruthless gypsy gangs and are made up of the Zagreb clan, allegedly including Jelavic, and the Split drug cartel. Before playing with Rapid Vienna, Jelavic's star nephew played in the Belgian league with Zulte Waregem. He started his career with Croatian top-flight club Hajduk Split, where he scored 15 goals in 31 games. But one Croatian fan, writing an online response to a Celtic supporter who was trying to find out more about Jelavic, warned: "If they have signed his uncle Nikica Jelavic you should be worried." Rangers were last night unavailable for comment. Jelavic refused to discuss his uncle as he boarded the Rangers team bus after the game at Tynecastle yesterday.

On the back of another Kenny Miller double, this time contributing to the demise of Aberdeen at Pittodrie and firing Rangers back to the top of the league, the Scotland forward himself admits he is in the form of his career. Miller has already struck times in the SPL this season with just 6 games played, 11 in 7 if you count the first against Liechtenstein for Scotland. I will not try to re-write history. Miller returned to Ibrox to a hostile reception from the fans, none more so than myself. Even as rumours emerged that Walter might be interested in signing the striker who had served him so well as manager of the national team fans made their thoughts well known at games. Smith, though, is as strong a character as you will find in the Scottish game, (ask Killie chairman Michael Johnstone) and would not be dissuaded. The manager had an image for his Rangers team and would be his own man, making the signings he deemed necessary. Miller has had much to fight against, having scored for Celtic against Rangers prior to being re-singed from Derby and having a less than impressive scoring record for his previous employers north and south of the border. Whilst his work rate has never been in question, his allegiances, his touch and his composure were all very questionable. Miller�s effervescent style along with doubles against Celtic quickly saw many fans change their view on Miller more than repaying the manager�s faith in him. Again, though, I would be being economical with the truth if I were to say that he had completely won over all the fans. As has often been the case with Miller a rich vein of form and goals would be followed by an equal if not longer fallow period. He could not always be relied on to produce the goals. This season, however, Miller has produced goal-scoring form that even Kris Boyd would have trouble keeping up with whilst still contributing to all round team play and providing opportunities for his team mates. How then does this apply to Ulster hitman? Lafferty did not arrive with as much scepticism, nay outright hostility. Despite a modest goal-scoring record with former club Burnley, impressive outings for Northern Ireland saw Lafferty�s arrival greeted with much optimism. More so from fans across the Irish Sea. Lafferty did not have to contend with the baggage of being an unwelcome signing, a supposed traitor among the ranks. However, the first few years of Lafferty�s Rangers career have not been plain sailing. You would imagine that a player who has scored the goal that ultimately sealed the title on the last two occasions would be universally revered by his club�s supporters. But in truth that is not even close to half of the Kyle Lafferty story. Despite occasional flashes of quality from Lafferty he has all too often flattered to deceive. Combine this with moments of gross stupidity, on and off the field, and the rangy forward has all but eroded much of the cautious optimism that greeted his signing. Many of his more fervent supporters would argue that his cause has not been helped by a vindictive media campaign, but we should not allow a Ranger to shirk all responsibility of his behaviour and performances on the field. So, whilst Lafferty�s signing cannot be compared to the loud disapproval with which Miller�s signing met, the gaffer�s continued persistence to fit a toiling forward into his team has engendered much animosity toward the player. This is further exacerbated by a (by Rangers standards) hefty transfer fee. Particularly since the club, until this present season, have had no room for manoeuvre in the transfer window. Lafferty needs look no further than across the dressing room for the inspiration to overcome such adversity. Whilst the source of the hostility towards either player is markedly different, the road to redemption is exactly the same. Committed performances characterised by the skill and ability that Lafferty has so far exhibited all too infrequently and the kind of goal-scoring form required of a first choice Rangers forward can see Lafferty sharing the limelight with his more celebrated team mate rather than merely seeking to emulate a player currently of immeasurable value to Rangers trophy-winning aspirations.

ALGERIAN winger should sign in next couple of days More...

Boruc signed a two-year deal with the Florence side after agreeing a �£1.7million switch, but he has been unable to oust number one Sebastien Frey and has had to content himself with a place on the bench. He has revealed he is beginning to wonder if he took the right path after quitting Parkhead and looks sure to look for a new club in January should he fail to win over head coach Sinisa Mihajlovic. Boruc said: "I came to play. If this will not change, I will change my club. "I accepted the offer because Fiorentina are an important club and I wanted a change after so many years at Celtic. "However, it is difficult to say whether I made the right choice. "I can't continue on the bench in Florence.I am glad to be back in the Polish national team and played well in our recent game in Ukraine. "I will fight for my place, but, if the situation doesn't change, I will simply change clubs." Mihajlovic has insisted Boruc will be given every chance to challenge Frenchman Frey, who was widely expected to leave Fiorentina during the transfer window. Mihajlovic said: "Frey and Boruc are both number one choices.I have been picking Frey because he is already a leader of this team and knows Serie A well.For the moment, this is my choice.However, if Boruc plays well when he gets the opportunity, he could keep the gloves."

Well, I know the transfer window is closed & I know that we possibly don't have the cash to bring anyone else in, but if we did, I'd love to see us bringing in someone like Jay DeMerit, the USA international and former Watford player. He did really well for the USA at the World Cup out in South Africa against some tough sides and IMO he'd be a cracking addition to our squad given that Webster is looking like being injured half the season if we're lucky. So, if you're reading Walter or Ally, DeMerit is a free agent and looking for a job! Jay DeMerit with Wayne Rooney in his pocket, South Africa, 2010.

Skysports.com understands a number of clubs are chasing Rangers forward Kyle Lafferty. More... Skysports.com understands a number of clubs are chasing Rangers forward Kyle Lafferty. The Northern Ireland international's place in the Rangers side appears in doubt due to the recent arrivals of James Beattie and Nikica Jelavic. A trio of English clubs are thought to have been alerted to the situation and may now look to bring in the 22-year-old. Premier League new boys Blackpool and Championship duo Bristol City and Crystal Palace are the clubs in question as they all search for further reinforcements before the close of the transfer window. However, Rangers will be reluctant to lose Lafferty as they want to recoup most of the fee they paid to get him from Burnley. Lafferty moved to Ibrox in 2008 after Rangers agreed a fee of �£3million with the Clarets.

From todays Scottish Sun, Could we please have this pinned up in the ibrox dressing room, We are not even four games into the start of the season and these monkey heids, well lets just say hooper has the title in the bag for the manky mob, are they ever going to learn to keep there gobby players away from the media or was hooper listening to big shagmaarse samaras... GARY HOOPER has opened his heart on his injury hell and begged Celtic fans: Don't dare forget about me. The �£2.4million signing from Scunthorpe made a blistering start to his Hoops career with a goal against SC Braga on his Champions League debut. He was crocked days later in a pre-season friendly against Blackburn and Hooper hasn't kicked a ball since. What he thought was a routine dead leg was a costly calf injury which has taken four agonising weeks to heal. Celts boss Neil Lennon has spent almost �£10m on 11 new players as his Parkhead revolution gets ready to roll. Hooper - well on the road to recovery - insists he has no intention of being left behind. He insists Celtic will silence their early season critics WHEN they win the league. Hooper said: "A lot of players have come in while I've been out injured but that doesn't bother me. "It just means it's more competition for me. I have to pick my game up but that's fine. I scored a few goals before I got injured and I've no doubts I can do a job for Celtic. I just need to get myself back fit and into the team." Rangers have signed just four new players to Celts' 11 but it's been claimed Gers gaffer Walter Smith has opted for quality, not quantity. Hooper scoffed at that as he said: "No one can say anything until we lift the cup at the end of the season. "You can't judge whether a certain player is a good signing or not. People can say things now but what are they going to say when we win the league? "There are good players at this club and it's about getting it together as a team. "We're scoring goals and we're looking good, long may it continue." Anthony Stokes became the last player to check into Parkhead this summer when he sealed his �£1.2m move from Hibs on transfer deadline day. Hooper - among the first of the arrivals - reckons Stokes will prove to be the final piece in Lenny's jigsaw. The 22-year-old is desperate to stake his claim for a starting place alongside Stokes in a new-look Hoops attack. Hooper said: "I've never seen Anthony play but he's clearly a goalscorer. I'd love to play alongside him. Hopefully that's something the gaffer is thinking about. I was brought here to score goals and I'm confident I can do that." Hooper gave Celtic fans a brief glimpse of what he's all about with strikes against Lyon and Braga. Advertisement The striker went on: "I'm back fit and I'm looking to rejoin the squad next week. "I'm targeting the game with Hearts after the international break for my return. "I can't wait as it's been a difficult few weeks for me. "I started the season in good form with a couple of goals but then I picked up the injury against Blackburn and here we are four weeks later. "I don't like sitting in the stands. It's been frustrating because it was a nothing challenge but I felt it straight away. It set me back, there's no doubt about that. "At first I thought it was a dead leg and I tried to run it off but, of course, it was more serious than that. "When you come to a new club you're desperate to do well and hit the ground running. I had to accept what had happened and not rush things to get back. "For the first two weeks I did nothing, then I started running again and hopefully next week I'll be back training with the boys. It's been difficult training on my own. I'd been stuck in a hotel as well but I'm set up at home and hopefully my injury problem is now behind me. "Really, my Celtic career is starting now." Hooper arrived at Celtic Park with dreams of Euro glory but they were snatched away by losses to Braga and Utrecht. Hooper admitted: "It's been hard to watch and not be able to help the team. "The European games were a massive disappointment but overall our form has been good. We have played three games in the league, not lost a goal and won them all. "The main focus is the league this season and we've started well. Some of the criticism has been over the top. "We're out of Europe and that's a sore one to take but the focus is the league and we're doing well there. "The manager has brought in a lot of new players so it's unfair to criticise him. "I don't think he's lost a game in the league stretching back to last season. "He's a strong character and a massive influence but he needs to be because of all the new faces at the club. "Straight away he lets us know what it's all about. Winning, it's as simple as that." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3123236/We-will-prove-Neils-spent-well-when-we-lift-title.html#ixzz0yQLkbThl

Neil Lennon has declared himself satisfied with Celtic's transfer activity over the summer. More...

So, its that time of the year again, who will stay and who will go? We've just had the end of the season and before pre-season we'll shortly be entering the silly season. The Sun has us interested in Tommy Smith, the Portsmouth striker. He only scored one in 16 last season, but was a promising under 21 player, albeit that was 10 years ago now. Apparently we're haggling over their valuation, but given the money troubles at both clubs you have to wonder if we're offering to pay them in bottles of ginger while they're holding out for a supply of Tunnocks tea cakes based on future performances. Its all gone quiet on the Lee Miller front and somewhat predictably, the usual papers are fawning over Celtic's (to be confirmed) management team and all their top signings. If this focus continues, I think it could work in our favour, with Walter and Ally quietly going about their business as usual. Maybe a few rules to keep the thread on track? I can't wield the ban-hammer myself, but I'm sure Frankie will give this his full support. Feel free to add to them First mention of Eillis = ban. First mention of Alan Smith, Tonel, Hreidarsson, Robbie Fowler or David Healy = ban. First person to suggest we don't need any new strikers because we have Lafferty gets a free bus ticket to the loony bin. Genuine transfer Latest Players IN: None Players OUT: Nacho Novo (Real Sporting de Gij�³n) Steven Smith (Norwich City) Out of contract: David Weir Kris Boyd Kirk Broadfoot DaMarcus Beasley

We all know what happened In Manchester and most of us were let down by it all but, why the need to go to these lengths? The continued witch hunt towards bears is really starting to piss me off. Everyone and their dog knows the trouble makers weren't the usual fans that follow the club away or even at home. So why go to all this trouble? GMP should be aware that their fans have history too. They also attacked The District bar when we played them a few years ago - should we lock them up in a place prior to kick off? FOLLOWING Friday's announcement regarding travel to Manchester, the Club have been liaising over the weekend with Greater Manchester Police, Strathclyde Police, Manchester United and the Club's supporter groups before finalising arrangements for the forthcoming fixture on September 14. Collectively an agreement has been reached and today the arrangements were finalised. All travel will be by coach under the official designation of the Club. Coaches will travel to the DW Stadium in Wigan where catering and rest facilities have been organised for fans. All fans will meet at the DW Stadium where they will then be transported by official coach to Old Trafford, there will be no exceptions. Tickets for the match will be allocated by a Club official during the coach transfer from Wigan to Old Trafford. Coaches will return directly from Old Trafford after the match, via Wigan where appropriate. Arrangements for the fixture against Manchester include:- Only registered Rangers Travel Club members with appropriate points will be allocated tickets All travel will be by coach under the official designation of the Club Regionalised official club departures will be implemented where appropriate Independent travel is being discouraged All buses will travel to the DW Stadium in Wigan where catering and rest facilities will be available Tickets will only be distributed by Rangers representatives on coaches once they have left the DW Stadium for Old Trafford Tickets will only be issued to the named recipient on the transfer from the DW Stadium to Old Trafford Tickets will not be issued to anyone under the influence of alcohol

Absolute steal at �£8m. From the Beeb....

As the transfer window 'slams' shut (why does it never close softly given the usual anti-climax?) at last Scottish football fans across the country can judge the comings and goings at their clubs and decide just how competitive they'll be this season. Thus, at Rangers, after a summer of scaremongering and torment, do we have a stream-lined squad capable of retaining the SPL title or is Celtic's bloated brigade a better strategy for success? An immediate comparison of the two squads in quantity terms shows Celtic have at least 25 players available to Neil Lennon who have all played first team football and could be considered genuine contenders for their first XI. Meanwhile a look at Gersnet's own squad page shows we're less well endowed with only 19 players maximum who can be considered demonstrable candidates for our team. That is a fair difference in personnel numbers before each manager has to look to the McGinn's/McGowan's or Shinnie's/Little's in their reserves when injuries and suspensions inevitably take their toll. So, quantity-wise Celtic undoubtedly have the edge. But what about quality and how do other factors affect both teams' chances of success? Rangers, while losing several players over the summer, still have a strong core to their first XI. Indeed, McGregor, Bougherra, Davis and Miller can justifiably be considered the best players in the SPL in their respective roles. These four players will be key to our chances of success and the loss of any would be a huge blow at any given time. Nonetheless, they are backed up with other reliable and proven colleagues. Certainly, as it has been over the last two seasons, consistency of selection will be one of Rangers continued strength this term. Several players have experienced what it takes to win league titles and Rangers first XI is still very strong in every department. Add in a few signings with the potential to improve this, the loss of players like Wilson, Thomson and Boyd may not be the demoralising blows they seemed at first. In fact it could be argued that while Rangers do have a smaller squad, we do have a better one. Of course squads cannot be discussed without examining the people responsible for instructing them each week. In that respect Rangers have a big advantage on their rivals with Walter Smith and Ally McCoist now having worked together successfully for several years. They know what it is like to win (and lose) while dealing with the unavoidable stresses associated with such difficult jobs. Unfortunately, they'll have to be more flexible than ever with Rangers likely to play at least 6 more games than anyone else via their involvement in the Champions League. This is where our smaller squad will certainly be a handicap. Moving onto Celtic, while they definitely have the kind of numbers to make a strong challenge this year; they do lack other qualities when compared to Rangers. They lack the same core of proven players and the luxuries of a larger squad brings with it the difficulty of consistency of selection - a conundrum Tony Mowbray struggled badly with last season. Therefore, while players like Juarez, Ledley, Stokes and Hooper are solid buys, just how quickly will they gel and how happy will other players be when they are left out? Obviously this is where Lennon's managerial inexperience may count against him. He has made wholesale changes to the squad after not being slow to blame the players for their lack of success last year. Ergo, it will be interesting to see how he deals with any bad times that come his way as he'll be unable to blame them solely this time. Not to mention when players ask why they're not playing this week because of having to accommodate a rotation process due to squad size. All in all it is difficult to make a clear-cut case for Rangers or Celtic winning the title this season. Both have their strengths and weaknesses which will be key as the season progresses. Proof of just how tight this will be can be found by looking at the top of the SPL table after just 3 games. Quality versus quantity it is then - to the victor the spoils! :robbo:

All the 'excitement', all the 'drama', all the rumours as the window shuts this evening in one handy pocket sized thread... OUT - Lafferty > Blackpool (Loan bid turned down) - Velicka > Killie (Bid turned down) IN :spl:

Neil Lennon has hinted Celtic could move for Hibs' Anthony Stokes before the transfer window closes. More...

It was the season of our failed attempt at ten-in-a-row, we lost a CL qualifier to Gothenburg in August, then lost a UEFA Cup tie to Strasburg in late September. By the Ne'rday game at ra Stydome, we were off the pace in the league championship to Vim ra Tim's green'n'grey hooped horrors. By Spring a faltering Sellik and a re-energised Rangers saw a double header old firm match-up in both the Scottish Cup and the League. At the neutral Stydome, Rangers wiped the floor with ra Yahoos, Jorg Albertz running more than half the pitch before slotting home the clincher in the semi-final. The following week at Ibrox, Jorg replicated the feat. Rangers edged ahead on goal difference and ra Sellik faithfull in both broadcast and print media went into meltdown. As usual in those days, Radio Snyde was at the forefront in articulating Yahoo hurt. Chief Executive, Paul Cooney hosted the phone-in in the immediate wake of the Ibrox victory. A Bear came on and celebrated the two victories on successive Saturdays, eulogising Albertz's goals. He added that if the two teams were to meet next weekend, Jorg would do the same again. Cooney lost it, let himself down by accusing the Bear of gloating! Cooney recovered enough to ask Nuremburg Hugh for his reaction to the caller? Ra Shugster cleared his throat and spat venom, "all this from a Rangers supporter whose team was knocked out of Europe twice before the nights got dark". Cooney congratulated Nuremburg on his, "fantasTIC retort". What goes around, comes around and last evening saw Hugh's beloved Sellik equal that feat. Out of Europe twice before the nights got dark, in fact out of Europe twice before the transfer window has closed. Further, out of Europe on four(yep FOUR) seperate occasions in a calendar year. Knocked out by Arsenal on 260809 at 21.45hrs and succumbed last evening(260810) at 21.15hrs. Hey Nuremburg, GIRFUY.

Apparently hat-trick hero Kenny Miller has been asked to take a paycut and is far from pleased!, West Brom are monitoring the situation and coould swoop for the striker! Unless Rangers and Miller come up with an amicable solution he may be departing the club during the transfer window shocker or what...

Walter Smith is hoping to negotiate the final few days of the transfer window with his squad intact. More...

Shorerdbear discusses the alleged financial improvements we've seen at the club over the last year and asks just who is responsible for them. BEGINS In the last ten days a new wave of optimism has entered the psyche of Rangers fans - brought about with three new players being signed up. Signing players during pre-season is the done thing for football clubs; however, for Rangers fans last summer was the first season ever where new arrivals never materialised. According to the media it wouldnââ?¬â?¢t be the last either! We all knew the reasons why this was the case and for the most part, did not want to accept them. Pride can get in the way of logical decision making and when it comes down to football fans' expectations, business decisions can conflict with football ones. Walter and his players entered the 2009/10 season as champions. However, with no new arrivals to freshen the squad up, Walter faced the enormous task of challenging and retaining the title. Like the great managers of the past, Walter stepped up and delivered title 53 and secured the all important Champions League place and all the riches that comes with automatic Group Stage qualification! Moreover, we won the league against a backdrop of uncertainty via financial results and a rival who would do anything to discredit the success of Scotlandââ?¬â?¢s greatest football club. Across the globe success has always bred contempt; however, in some parts of Scotland - it only breeds paranoia and delusional thinking. To mould a winning team and hold your integrity intact takes a special type of person and thankfully - in Walter Smith - we have exactly that. Whether or not we win this years league championship, Walter can bow out with his head held high in the knowledge he played an integral part in turning the fortunes of Rangers around. The next name I mention may flabbergast fellow bears, it might even have them reach for the ââ?¬Ë?log offââ?¬â?¢ button. But, when a business model is failing and no investment is on the horizon, drastic measures have to be taken and it is usually in the way of ââ?¬Ë?cutsââ?¬â?¢! Donald Muir, ââ?¬Ë?the enemy withinââ?¬â?¢, was and in some parts still is seen as the devil. The shareholders voted against his appointment but when they roughly make up about 10% of the clubââ?¬â?¢s shareholding, it really didnââ?¬â?¢t mean much apart from a show of suspicion towards a man who was seen as the final nail in the coffin of our great club. However, Muir has remained steadfast in his approach to turning Rangers financial fortunes around. If he hadnââ?¬â?¢t, then we might not have signed three new players and perhaps Walter might not have had the chance to spend over Ã?£4 million on one player, the largest fee the club has spent on one transfer since Mikel Arteta was brought over from Spain. Weââ?¬â?¢ve heard all the ââ?¬Ë?rumoursââ?¬â?¢ of infighting on the board, threatened administration from the bank and that Walter might walk if he is not supplied with all the tools to challenge for honours. All blame has been directed towards Donald Muir and his alleged employers. Indeed, these perceived rumours might hold some water and perhaps somewhere down the line we might find out whether they were true or not! Now weââ?¬â?¢re reading published articles from the BBC that the debt has been ââ?¬Ë?substantiallyââ?¬â?¢ cut down and that there could be more arrivals to the playing staff. This would not be possible without drastic cuts in other expenditure; moreover, the current board seemed at a loss as to where they should make those cuts. Enter ââ?¬Ë?the enemy withinââ?¬â?¢ who, through his job role, and past experiences took a look at the club accounts and went about making tough and unpopular decisions that seem to be starting to reap dividends. Financially, weââ?¬â?¢re not out of the woods yet. Although, there is a clearing and this season is just as important as the last two. We have a squad more than capable of winning the league and with a ruthlessly business minded man on the board we may be on the cusp of a brighter future than we had been anticipating due to past mistakes. We have all thanked Walter up to now. Perhaps weââ?¬â?¢ll thank Donald Muir, ââ?¬Ë?the enemy withinââ?¬â?¢, sometime in the future?

He did come out and say we should judge things at the end of the transfer window when it seemed we werent active at all in the transfer market. In typical Rangers fashion when it seems nothing is going to surface and within the space of 1 week we have a much healthier looking group with 3 additions yet Barazite and Welcome could have been added aswell but probably would have been too much. No doubt WS will be asked in this weeks press conference if he is finished in the transfer market and it will be interesting to see if he says we are looking at 1 or 2 others which would probably be a vertasile defender or centre midfielder. I do think we are still 1 short. Last week we had Davis with flu, McCulloch suspended and Fleck injured - thats surely going to happen again this season. Although id have no worries about playing Bougherra centre mid. People can be judgemental about the way we do business and how poor our scouting is at time but we still normally deliver.

But, Sky Sports have this on their website.

Nothing comes easy with this guy.

Anyone know anything about this? I haven't seen or read anything about him. I done a search on the main Rangers sight and came up with nothing.

Bad knee injury in training... No multi-million deadline transfer there then...

Skysports.com understands Rangers and Celtic have stepped up their interest in defender Matthew Kilgallon. More...