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Spurs in transfer race with Liverpool, Arsenal and Rangers 16:41 December, 27, 2006 Tottenham are battling with the Reds, the Gunners and the Glasgow giants for the services of a young Romanian striker. According to reports, Marius Alexi is causing quite a stir. The 17-year-old Dinamo Bucharest striker has already played first-team football but could be up for grabs. The youngster has had a trial with Rangers, along with another teenage sensation: Lucian Filip. Barcelona are also thought to be interested.

this is a rangers come and get me plea imo

Charlton boss Les Reed has launched a late bid to hijack former Hearts skipper Stephen Pressley's move to Celtic, and put in a �£3m joint offer for Hibernian midfielders Kevin Thomson and Scott Brown...Manchester City are planning a swoop for Heerenveen's Brazilian striker Afonso Alves. Alves is a player i would love to see Rangers going for. He is fast, strong and can shoot from outside the box. He is top-scorer in Holland at the moment. I believe he is also only 24.

was nearly away to Aston Villa as emergency goalkeeping cover but transfer regulations prevented the deal going through http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/sport/2006/12/14/sfnrod14.xml

RANGERS chairman David Murray has ruled out a January transfer window swoop for Wigan defender Andy Webster. The former Hearts stopper has again been mentioned as a possible solution to the centre-back problems at Ibrox. He was the target of a �£1m bid by Alex McLeish 18 months ago, but Murray says he is not on Paul Le Guen's target list - for the moment. It is also believed Fifa red tape would prevent Webster moving back to Scotland just months after he became the first player to invoke their new employment rule. Webster served notice on Hearts he would be leaving after completing three years on a four-year contract. That allowed him to move for a nominal fee, set by a Fifa tribunal, to new employers outwith Scotland. The 24-year-old was snapped up by Wigan and, after a long process with Fifa because this was a ground-breaking case, he finally made his debut in October. But the Scotland star has played just three games and is said to be unsettled, sparking speculation Rangers were ready to move. "I know we were interested in him in the past, but not at the moment," Murray said. "How could we when we have no idea what the fee would be?" Murray also refused to comment on whether Rangers were interested in former Hearts captain Steven Pressley, who is also being tracked by Celtic, Newcastle, Southampton and Derby. It is believed Elvis is on Le Guen's list of possible January targets, and an interest has been posted with his agent Blair Morgan, but he is not the first choice. Le Guen has targeted two young centre-halves from Europe - one of which is believed to be Young Boys of Berne's 6ft 2in Ivory Cost stopper Steve Gohouri - a player the Gers boss has now watched twice recently. He could be available for around �£1m, but is also being monitored by a host of mid-table Premiership sides. Le Guen's funds for a centre-half are likely to be boosted by the departure of Julien Rodriguez. The former Monaco man knows he is no longer first choice and could be shipped back to France with Rennes, Nantes and Nice all interested. The likes of Lionel Letizi, Gavin Rae, Phil Bardsley and Lee Martin are all likely to leave in January as Le Guen frees up money for three quality signings. Meantime, young Romanian sensation Marius Alexi could be on his way to Ibrox in a �£250,000 deal. The 16-year-old plays with Dinamo Bucharest and is already a first- team player. Chelsea, Man United and Liverpool are all said to be looking at the midfielder, who will arrive in Glasgow shortly for a week's trial at Murray Park. A Dinamo spokesam said: "He is an exceptional player Rangers are very keen to sign." Bad news for us i think. Le Guen being interested in young Boys. I hope he now knows the type of CH you need to play in Scotland.

I have a funny feeling that he will prove his worth on Saturday. It's all set up for him. He has been slagged in the press, by his own fans and also by a so called Rangers legend for his appearance. I feel that its in the script for him to get the winner on Saturday and then who knows against Celtic. He has been god awful and I cringe sometimes at him but he is still young, moved to a new country, has a large transfer fee on his head and its so hard to make your mark on a game coming off the bench. Now with Boyd out for the rest of the year, he should be due a start or two and he has to prove his worth or it will be straight back to the bench. He has all the right attributes for a modern day striker (pace, power) apart from a decent first touch and has to fine tune some of his positioning but he can only learn from Paul Le Guen. What is also dissapointing is how Le Guen or any other Rangers player has not come out and defended Sebo either in the press. We should be sticking together and someone should be building his confidence up. A word of support in public from the manager or the captain would probably do him the world of good. If you have a look on youtube etc, there is a game he played for Slovakia (okay, it was against Malta) and he scored a Hat-Trick and took his 3rd extremely well. So, he might now have his chance to win some of the support round come Saturday and he should have the fire in his belly come 3pm and come out like a dog fighting and want to give the "finger" to all the people who have already written him off.

Got a feeling that he could do well for them

Put this on transfer talk on the footie chat but i thought iit deserved a place on the Rangers chat. Personally i would be sorry to see him go as i think with the right partner and a defensive coaching he could be a great sweeper. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Marseille chairman Pape Diouf has denied he has any interest in bringing Rangers defender Brahim Hemdani back to Stade Velodrome. Reports in France had suggested the 28-year-old would return to his former club in the transfer window to help the French side resolve their defensive problems, but Diouf claims the stories are pure fabrication. "I have just been told about it, but that is not accurate information," he told But. "It is not reality, it has no base." It has also been confirmed this week that Marseille will play their behind-closed-doors game on January 24. Marseille received the one-game punishment early in November as a result of a bomb thrown by one of their fans in the 2-1 away defeat against Nice, which caused a fireman to lose two fingers. The January game against Auxerre was chosen because league officials wanted a mid-week game that could be played in the afternoon so as to reduce the possibility of trouble around the stadium. The decision comes as a disappointment for Auxerre's former l'OM boss Jean Fernandez, however, who wanted an emotional return to the club he left last season. "I am very disappointed," he said. "I didn't want to come back to Stade Velodrome in front of empty seats. "It would have really been a pleasure to play in Marseille in a full stadium."

Now the transfer window is speedily approaching time to catch op on the transfer Gossip. TEVEZ WANTS TO STAY West Ham's sulky Argentine striker Carlos Tevez says he wants to stay at the club - not surprisingly, as FIFA rules actually prevent him playing for another team thus season. He stormed out of Upton Park last weekend after being substituted but insists he's ready to play under new owner Eggert Magnusson. "If the new owner wanted me to leave, that is what I would have to do," admitted Tevez. "I'd respect what he wanted as it's his club, but I'd prefer that he and manager Alan Pardew wanted to keep me." Meanwhile; West Ham are the latest club to be linked with West Brom's Curtis Davies, who is expected to be sold in January. The Sun says that the Hammers will make a �£5m move for the England Under-21 centre-half. CHELSEA RIGHT BACK AT YOU... It remains their problem position - with Paulo Ferreira struggling to convince, Khalid Boulahrouz preferring to play at centre-half and Geremi little more than a stop-gap measure. Micah Richards is one name that keeps cropping up, but The Independent suggest Jose Mourinho is likely to look to the continent. The names in the frame are Seville's Daniel Alves and Valencia's Miguel, who also replaced Ferreira in the Portuguese national team. Miguel told a Portuguese newspaper: "Chelsea is Chelsea. It's good to know that they're interested in my game if the news is true. I'm very satisfied to hear that, I really am." PAVON TO LIVERPOOL Real Madrid defender Francisco Pavon is being strongly linked with a move to Liverpool, who could get him for just �£500,000 in January as he is out of contract next summer. The rumours started in the Spanish press on Thursday and have been picked up by the Daily Mirror on Friday. The 26-year-old is clearly not in the plans of Real boss Fabio Capello. AND THE REST Celtic could make a move for Falkirk star Anthony Stoke,s who is on loan from Arsenal...Blackburn are ready to make a move for Liverpool left-back Stephen Warnock...Watford have hinted that they're ready to cash in on Ashley Young...Aston Villa's list of transfer targets includes Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and possibly Craig Bellamy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Celtic consider Stokes bid Celtic have confirmed talks have been held with Arsenal regarding a potential bid for Anthony Stokes. The striker is currently on loan at Falkirk, who are hoping to hang on to the Irish teenager until the end of the season. But Falkirk could be gazumped by the SPL champions after Celtic's chief scout Ray Clarke revealed the club are nearing a decision on a bid for Stokes. Gordon Strachan recently praised the 18-year-old prior to the CIS Insurance Cup meeting between the two sides in which Stokes scored. And Strachan could now use the money from the January sale of Stephen Pearson to fund a bid for Stokes, who has netted 13 goals for Falkirk. Clarke told the Daily Record: "What we said to them (Arsenal) was that we would watch Anthony Stokes on four or five occasions and then make our decision. "To be fair to the lad, we've just about done that, and my understanding is we'll maybe have one more good look at him in action. "Once the Champions League group campaign is over with next week's final match in Copenhagen, we'll sit down on all our activities and the manager will decide the way ahead."

thats what he gets

chris burke is doing a shaun maloney and holding out for more money. talks between the club have come to an abrupt halt and the winger will weigh up his options at the transfer window. Personally i think, as good as burke is he is far to injury prone to be holding us to ransom. He has hardly featured over the last 2 seasons and has a bit of a cheek to be shouting the odds. In the end if he doesnt want to play for us he can go asap.

On the 10th of February, David Murray did a lot of talking. He talked of the future, and of how rosey things would be in the garden. During that interview, he uttered the following line : Quote: when we make the changes, and if people are not happy, then protest all you want Why then, now that things aren't so rosey, is he using every means at his disposal, to silence those who wish to criticise him ? Murray Pledges A 'Moonbeam' To Banish Long Dark Season Of Despair : Evening Times - Darrell King 10/02/06 Ibrox Crisis : Rangers chief broke his silence after fan protests forced him to declare his hand early. For a man who likes to think of Rangers as his family, clearly being attacked from those within his inner circle was just too much. The 300 fans who protested outside Ibrox after last week's Scottish Cup defeat to Hibs, and the dozen or so who unfurled a 'Murray Out' banner at Pittodrie before Wednesday night's defeat, may have been small in number. But David Murray sensed a major fall-out was on the way - something that may even have ended in damaging feuding or even acrimonious divorce. When the final whistle blew in Aberdeen, Rangers yet again on the end of a defeat, the Ibrox owner and chairman knew it was time to act. Today he has called for unity behind his decision to reveal that his embattled manager, Alex McLeish, will go at the end of the season. In his own inimitable style, Murray also rolled out the big guns - a new manager is more or less in place, huge investment is on the way to fund his rebuilding of this pitiful Rangers line-up and the club is making record amounts of cash. Like the head of the family calling everyone around the table, he has spoken. Now he wants the Rangers support to prepare themselves for what he will bring to that very table - and if they are not pleased, he says they can protest all they like. Murray said : "The fans have been very supportive, but they want to see direction. My job is to get to the bottom of our problems and get this sorted out. I will leave no stone unturned. I am working very hard with Martin Bain to bring all these deals together and bring the direction this club needs. Rangers should not be divided. Yes, we are annoyed, yes, we are upset at results - but we must stick together. That (protests) is not Rangers' way. I understand people have the right to stand outside and protest. But Rangers do things another way, not like that. That's why I meet the Trust, the Assembly, we do it by talking." "It is people's entitlement. It does not sway me, nor does it put me off - I will still do my job to the very best. I can understand 300 people getting bloody annoyed if they felt there wasn't a light at the end of the tunnel - but there is a massive moonbeam of success waiting for us. People must accept there are legal issues, stock exchange issues, timing factors - but this will happen. And when we make the changes, and if people are not happy, then protest all you want - but big plans are on the way for Rangers." Of course, it has taken the combination of the horrendous results and performances against Hibs and Aberdeen to prompt action from the chairman. Clearly, with an Old Firm game looming, he has attempted to throw a bucket of water over what was a simmering situation developing between the rightly frustrated fans and those they follow all over the land. Maybe Murray should have acted sooner. Maybe, looking at things now, it has strengthened the argument that McLeish should have been removed during the shocking run of results in the autumn and early winter months. But loyalty has always been Murray's closest friend. Now he wants his support to put more faith in the man who has been the custodian of their club for 18 years. There is no doubt that his stock is at an all-time low in the eyes of many, but these are not false statements - a new dawn is on the way. "We all have degrees in hindsight, " Murray conceded, "Perhaps I should have spoken after the transfer window. But, after not being able to win for 10 matches, we were undefeated in 10 matches, and sometimes it's best left alone. However, after the indifferent performances of the week, it had to be said. I had to let the fans know we have been working on plans for a long time. There is going to be a major financial input to the club, there is now going to be a new manager and a new structure. I am disappointed it's come to this as we are about to announce very strong financial figures. The club is on a great financial footing after having a difficult time - we are going through record turnover." ED

When everything was going from bad to worse under Eck i quickly turned against him blaming no one but him and was very pleased to see him leave. However it is clear that the manager isnt the problem and that changing managers again wouldnt work. There is one reason why rangers are not doing the business this season and his name is David Murray. I use to be an avid Murray supporter, however in the current footballing climate of big spenders how does he expect to create a team capable of winning at home and abroad on 2 Million on transfer fees per season. I think if Murray isnt gonna put at least 8 to 10 million into the team come January not just to save our season and get a 2nd place finish but to build for the future he should sell up and leave now. The players also have to play to the best of their abilty every match and show that there worth the money and stop costing managers their jobs like the did with Eck. The players that arent capable of this should be showen the door in January starting with Letizi and Hutton.

Ok, it's agreed, the team isn't good enough - but paradoxically most of the players are getting reasonable write ups at least every few games, they're mostly internationals or have played for big clubs and won stuff, so the question is, which ones are really not good enough? Letizi - He's played for years with PSG and so been around but he's not inspired much confidence, however he doesn't seem to have been too much at fault for most of the goals and he's not responsible for the inability to create chances and score against mediocre opposition. I think the main accusation is you could aim at him is that he doesn't save us in games. He doesn't pull of the top notch saves like Goram and Klos that keep the clean sheet that allows us to grind out that 1-0 win which is necessary to win titles. I personally don't think he's good enough and certainly worse than our other options. MacGregor - We'd all like to see him play in the first team but he's not quite proven himself yet. Can he step into Goram and Klos's shoes? Time will tell but he seems like one baby we shouldn't throw out with the bath water. We've no money and so could do worse than putting him in goal instead of Letizi. Klos - No-one can accuse Der Goalie of not being good enough. No-one. The guy is a class player and has proven himself time and again with Rangers. His last run in the team coincided with us losing about 7 goals in half a season. We don't know the true story here but the fact we're pay a guy who has saved us tons of points about 30 grand a week to do nothing, is to me, highly symptomatic of what is wrong at the club. Hutton - Showed early promise, it's rumoured he has a bad attitude and has not been the same since his injury. He's played better of late receiving a bit of praise, but his passing and crossing still leave a bit to be desired. Not the worst offender in the team but he is part of a defence that is leaking soft goals and doesn't seem to be the one who's getting the tackles in or shutting down the attacks from the right. In fact Novo had to cover for him in the against Motherwell. He's SPL standard but not quite Rangers standard except maybe as back up in a better first choice team. Bardsley - another one with an attitude problem and with his commitment only short term, I can understand why patience for him would be short lived. To me he doesn't seem to be any better than Hutton appart from the odd free kick. We really need a proper right back. Papac - An international who seems pretty solid and our defence has improved since his arrival. Quite willing to go forward too but maybe that's why we can get caught on the break. Still not cured our problem of dealing with cross balls. An improvement over other central defenders we've had recently but shows no signs of being a McLiesh, Butcher, Gough or even a Moore. Svensson - A young international who's had a terrible start to his Rangers career, although his freefalling reputation has been arrested by a good display in Italy. It's either get rid time for him or develop him for the future. Rodriguez - An experienced player who to me flatters to deceive. Seems to look solid in some games but we're losing goals almost every game and I can't remember many clean sheets this season. To me he's a mediocre player who could do a good job for the likes of Aberdeen, but not up to the job at Rangers. Smith - A young player who looks to have genuine talent, he's our best defender by far but I think would look even better in a decent team. Thrives on a good relationship and understanding with a talented left midfielder and looked better with Martin in the team. Seems to be one of the players committing to the game plan. Definitely a keeper. Burke - Brilliantly talented but so fragile that we only see him for glimpses. It's always so much more exciting when he gets a lot of the ball and he's also good at tracking back and helping out the defence. I think we'd have less problems if he was fully fit most of the time. Sionko - Looked like a young Kanchelskis in his first couple of games but from then looked like a Kanchelkis close to retirement. He's now injured and it's hard to tell if he's the real deal or not. One thing is for sure, he hasn't contributed to the cause at all this season. Hemdani - Gets loads of plaudits without to me seeming to do much. If he's doing so well, why are we not dominating the midfield against the likes of Hibs and Aberdeen? To me he's maybe a squad player but no more. His plaudits are more to do with how badly the rest of team are playing rather than how good he is. We need a genuine ball winner in midfield more on the lines of Keane, or Stuart McCall. Clement - Looks to have great potential without setting the heather alight, while he's injured the jury is out. Ferguson - Supposed to be back to his best and has definitely stamped his presence on a few games. But why are we still not dominating the midfield and why isn't he scoring goals every other week like he used to? A good player to have but I think we all lie awake at night thinking about who we could have bought for 5 million quid in these cash strapped days. Rae - a reasonable player who would do well for another SPL team but doesn't seem to be getting a shout at Rangers although we seem to be crying out for a no nonsense midfielder. Not sure if he's really good enough and PLG doesn't seem to rate him but I'd like him to get more of a chance till the other players show they are worth a pick. Adam - seems to have loads of potential and has a habit of popping up and doing some great now and again but he seems a bit light weight for a first choce and would be better as a backup to a more experienced player. Martin - shows great skill and pace - very promising youngster but he's greedy and too often we have nothing to show for his darting runs and displays of ball control. He'll grow better with age but seems a poorer, less effective version of Burke who doesn’t defend at all and seems very light weight. He’s not even a left footer. I can’t see him becoming a permanent transfer and so maybe he should be replaced by a proper left midfielder. Prso – a great guy and player but really looks to be on his last legs. Has the odd great game but too often looks slow, tired and lacking in touch. Hustles and bustles but struggles to get the ball into the net and should really have more assists. To me he should become a super sub and come on when the opposing defence is tiring to give them some hassle. Boyd – Does what it says on the tin – scores goals but not much else. He’s improving his all round play but it’ll take a season to make it natural for him. He’s the leagues top scorer and we’ve won more games with him in the team. Definitely should be first on the team sheet despite his faults but needs someone big to partner him upfront. Novo – was complete pants for a year but seems to look really lively now and rediscovered his confidence and as a result his form. Our best player against Motherwell but didn’t get enough service and seems a bit out of position. If he keeps up his form he’s definitely worth a shout at least as a sub. However he’s not the kind of player I’d like to see long term at the club, I’m hoping for a bit more quality. Sebo – doesn’t do what it says on the tin and really hasn’t fitted into the team at all. Looks like he works hard but provides little except one goal and a couple of unawarded penalty claims. Looked good for Vienna so don’t know why he’s turned so bad overnight. PLG seems to think that if he keeps playing him he’ll come good but he’s part of the reason we’ve dropped points when we couldn’t afford to. Maybe he needs to get up to speed in the reserves. Buffel – a complete enigma. Obviously has shed-loads of talent but can’t finish to save himself and fades out of games far too often. A luxury we can’t afford and definitely one of the players who is just not doing it for us. My conclusions: Out: Letizi, Rodriguez, Bardsley, Rae, Sebo and Buffel are the ones who should be shipped out. Klos will be going anyway. Squad players Hutton, Svensson, Hemdani, Sionko, Adam, Prso and Novo should be used sparingly as back up, with the youngers ones being developed. Martin could perhaps be kept as a backup winger to pad out the squad for a season. First team MacGregor deserves a proper chance in goal. Papac, Smith, Ferguson, Burke, Clement and Boyd are the only others I would keep in first team. In A big, experienced centre back who can dominate the area, especially in the air and organise the defence, perhaps even be captain. A mobile right back who can defend well, cut out attacks down the right and break out quickly and deliver telling crosses or passes down the line. An experienced, strong left midfielder who can beat his man, interact with smith, deliver crosses and track back and cut out the left hand channels. A tall, strong, experienced centre forward, target man, who wins everything in the air, holds up the ball and lays it off to Boyd or a midfielder or turn and beat his man. He should be adept at flick-ons and knock backs, and knows his way to goal and can finish with aplomb. A creative midfielder/forward who plays in the middle and can link play between the midfield and attack while also strong enough to be the first one to counteract a break. He needs to have a killer pass which creates goals and be able to shoot and score from 20-25 yards as well as nip in to support the strikers for the odd tap in.

thats dundee utd

GORDON STRACHAN is preparing to spend any Celtic Euro windfall on Hibs midfielder Scott Brown. The Parkhead manager will get additional funds in the January transfer window if he can steer his side into the Champions League knock-out stages. Celtic will bank around �£3m if they progress from their group. They will earn more than �£1.2m for reaching the last 16 and would also have a home gate and extra sponsorship revenue to boost the coffers. Even finishing third, and going into the Uefa Cup, would guarantee extra funds that they didn't originally bank on so Strachan, who didn't spend his entire budget in the summer, will be rewarded. Chairman Brian Quinn said yesterday at the agm that funds could be available in January. And the Hoops boss has identified the Scotland star as the player he would most like to add to his squad. SportTimes understands Strachan has asked to be kept updated on the player's situation between now and the turn of the year. Old Firm rivals Rangers are also known to be admirers, but Paul Le Guen might not have enough funds to come close to Hibs' asking price, which is thought to be around �£3m. Brown is thought to favour a move to Ibrox over Parkhead, but he would be around familiar faces at Celtic with former Hibs team-mates Derek Riordan and Garry Caldwell already in Strachan's squad. Strachan is desperate to be the first manager to take Celtic into the last 16 of the Champions League, something Martin O'Neill failed to achieve in his time at Parkhead. And he knows the extra money from achieving such a feat could be put to good use as he continues to fill his squad with young talent. Celtic already look good for finishing in the top two of their Champions League section. Wins at home over FC Copenhagen and Benfica have put them in a healthy position at halfway. Signing Brown to the club would hand him a massive boost as he strives to put a Celtic side out on the park that has energy, determination and pace. The midfielder has been a huge influence on the Hibs side that played entertaining football under Tony Mowbray, before he quit to take over West Brom. Strachan is expected to remain tight-tipped on his plans for January as he knows there is plenty of interest in the player from down south as well as Rangers, but he is certainly on his short-list of targets. I would be sick if this happened. Hopefully he learns a lesson from Riorden. Surely if Brown wants to come to us we and we are interested in signing him, Murray will make the cash available for one of Scotlands best talents. The same should go for Gorden,we should go to all odds to get one of Britains top keepers for years to come. Come on Murray spending now for the future can create money not throw us back into debt.

seems derby are showing an interest and could be putting in a bid at the winter transfer window. they have already made inquiries at ibrox and if the price is right they will get their man. i would take the money in this case as i feel buffel flatters to decieve at times. he looked a good prospect when he came but i dont think hes fullfilled his potential. scored a great goal yesterday but he misses easir chances on a regular basis. dont think he deserved mom yesterdeay either.

Not everyone's opinion I would argue but a good read.... http://stateofthegame.co.uk/2006/10/19/rangers-back-the-manager-back-the-chairman-be-a-supporter/

Aberdeen are set to swoop for Rangers midfielder Gavid Rae during the January transfer window. (Daily Record) Anyone know anymore about this story? I know he is a Aberdeen lad and supporter so he might fancy it. He would give them a decent midfield with Barry Nicholson (Ex Ger) and Severin. I find him a decent squad player but no more but I would still like to see him get a few games until Clement comes back.

Meantime, reports in Austria today are claiming Le Guen has targeted Sturm Graz left-winger Christoph Leitgeb in a �£500,000 January transfer- window deal. The 21 year-old - currently on duty with the Austrian national team - has been watched by several British clubs and confirmed he has been made aware of an interest from Rangers. Graz have serious financial problems and would not be able to turn down any realistic offers should Le Guen pursue his interest in the player. Publication date 05/10/06

If I was a betting man..... put your money on Scott Brown signing in the January transfer window.

Enjoy... RANGERS AGM 2006 Present: Paul Le Guen, David Murray, John McLelland (chair), Donald McIntyre, Donald Wilson, John Greig. Meeting Opened 11.05am Resolutions A) Accounts 05/06 passed without comment. B) Donald Wilson re-elected. C) Dave King re-elected. D) Donald McIntyre re-elected. E) Grant Thornton (Auditors) re-elected. General Questions Q1. JJB Deal A1. Commercial decision due to expected declines in strip pricing as shown by new England kit in summer. Will save RFC Ã?£1million in interest fees each year. Although job losses were unfortunate they were a necessary evil. (DM) Q2. Ibrox hosting major finals A2. UEFA and SFA have been lobbied previously and club will continue to do so. (MB) Q3. Travel Club Costs A3. ââ?¬Ë?Flight Optionsââ?¬â?¢ are cheaper because they have more planes at their disposal so can provide them quicker and easier. Airport logistics problems in Norway also increased costs but club felt these were still competitive considering the market. (MB) Q4. Disabled Facilities A4. As well as the new facilities in the Argyll House, there are proposals for new areas within the Govan West Corner stand. The existing Enclosure facilities will be improved. (MB) [CONTINUED] RANGERS AGM 2006 (Continued) Q5. Renaming other stands A5. Further consideration will be taken considering the success of the ââ?¬Ë?Bill Struth Standââ?¬â?¢ initiative. (DM) Q6. Sectarian chants by away support A6. ââ?¬Ë?*** Brigadeââ?¬â?¢ has no place at Rangers as they bring shame on our club. However, problem has been greatly reduced so fans and club should take pride in this improvement. (DM) Q7. Vandalism of old Rangers shops A7. This problem will be attended to within 48 hours. (DM) Q8. Media Negativity A8. Do not buy the papers and the problem will lessen. (DM) Q9. Inaction to combat fans portrayal in media A9. Problem not as bad and MediaHouse are working on the issue behind the scenes. (DM) Q10. Poor on-field performance and transfer budget A10. Club canââ?¬â?¢t spend money we donââ?¬â?¢t have. All profit from last season was spent on improving playing staff. (DM) Q11. Banning orders for journalists A11. Although club feels bans wouldnââ?¬â?¢t achieve anything, they believe some journalists have crossed the line and action will be taken against them. (DM) Q12. Bill Struth Grave/AGM Timing A12. Wreath was recently placed at graveside by club and future AGMââ?¬â?¢s may be considered for weekend timing to allow more people to attend. (DM) Q13. Catering quality A13. Club is concerned at level of complaints but attributed some problems to water pressure issues. There have also been successful pilot programmes in some outlets which may be rolled out to other areas. (MB) Q14. Further stadium expansions A14. Copland and Broomloan Stands may be upgraded/extended in the same way as Bar 72. (MB) [CONTINUED] RANGERS AGM 2006 (Continued) Q15. Campbell Ogilvie A15. Both parties still keep in touch and consult with each other. No bad blood and CO only moved on because he was too busy with his SFA duties. (MB) Q16. Travel Security Issues A16. Club have followed up complaints with UEFA and action was received by independent parties in some areas. However, the club feel ticket less fans also cause problems and people without tickets should not travel. (MB) Q17. Club Inaction with regard to certain issues and defensive problems A17. Club as annoyed as any fan about some stories and chairman promised action within one month that fans will aprreciate. Manager also assured fans that he is aware of the teamsââ?¬â?¢ problems and will endeavour to fix them. (DM/PLG) Q18. Signingââ?¬â?¢s Scottish identity A18. All talent irrespective of background will be considered. Improvements will happen and balance of players a necessity. (PLG) Q19. Failure to sack Alex McLeish quicker A19. Loyalty was important to the club and they felt changes would be pointless half-way through the season. (DM) Meeting Closed 11.45am

Man, isn't it quiet on hear just now! The transfer window is closed and we've not seen any Gers action for nearly two weeks. What is there to talk about. How about a good poll to get us thinking. Who do you want as the preferred striking partnership this season?

West Ham are having "exploratory discussions" over a possible takeover. The move comes hot on the heels of the club luring Argentine pair Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to the club. "Discussions are at an early stage and there can be no certainty that an offer for West Ham will be forthcoming," said a club statement to the Stock Exchange. "The board also confirms that there is no contractual link between the signing of the players (Tevez and Mascherano) and the bid discussions." Media Sport Investment (MSI) owned the rights to the Argentine stars, who signed from Corinthians on transfer deadline day. Kia Joorabchian is the president of Media Sport Investment and pulled out of a potential takeover of theHammers in November 2005 after failing to agree a price with the club's directors. West Ham would not be drawn on revealing who they were in discussions with about the possible takeover. But Joorabchian told BBC Radio Five Live on Thursday: "MSI is a company that will not invest in European football as such by investing in a club, so that speculation is out for sure." No suprise really.

I'll be delighted when this bloody window closes maybe then we can get back to 'sensible' posts instead of some of the pish that's been posted on here in the last few days - example Kris Boyd at Glasgow Airport. It's the sort of stuff you see all the time on the BBC boards. Leave it to the kids on there to do. Mini rant over