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The Reqs the facts. http://www.rangersmedia.co.uk/requisitioners-the-facts/

Some may say thank god. http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/ally-mccoist-plans-in-limbo-as-rangers-war-goes-on-1-3175660#.UnnIlangJ5Q.twitter Rangers manager Ally McCoist claims that the current state of play at Ibrox, where financial director Brian Stockbridge and non-executive director James Easdale are the only members of the board, is preventing him from planning for the future. McCoist revealed that he has had no-one to discuss the signing or offloading of players with since Craig Mather stepped down as the club’s chief executive three weeks ago. With the January transfer window approaching, McCoist, who volunteered to forego half of his annual £850,000 salary when the publication of the annual accounts last month, revealed that the club had lost £14 million in just over a year, is anxious to know whether or not he can strengthen his squad with a view to a run in the Scottish Cup. They were drawn away to Championship side Falkirk in the fourth round of the competition but McCoist believes that, should they prevail in that tie, Rangers will be considered as second-favourites to win the competition. He would like to supplement his squad in the new year but admits there must first be a ceasefire between warring shareholders when the club finally holds its annual general meeting, which may – or may not be – held on 18 December. McCoist, whose League One leaders face Dunfermline at Ibrox tonight, wants it to take place sooner rather than later. “Absolutely. I’m the same as every supporter, staff member [and] shareholder,” he said. “Let’s just get it done and move on. Let’s get the club moving forward again. “I think it is clear that everybody wants it to happen and it will happen. All we can hope for is we get a [definitive] result and Rangers can move forward again. Everybody would like a clear resolution. The future of the club is of paramount importance to everybody. It would certainly help if we could move on from that day.” McCoist admits that it has been much more difficult to do his job properly while the club continues to operate with a makeshift board. “It is not ideal, although I did speak with Brian [stockbridge] yesterday,” he said. “There is contact but it is difficult and not ideal working without a chairman and chief executive. “I haven’t spoken to Brian about possible future signings because, to be fair to him, he is [only] the financial director. It would undoubtedly help if I had someone to speak to about that.” McCoist, though, praised the contribution of Jon Daly, whose brace in Friday’s 3-0 Scottish Cup victory over Airdrieonians took his tally to 14 goals from 13 games since joining from Dundee United. “Jon was brought in to score goals,” he said. “He scored goals when he was in the top flight and he’s continuing to do so here. He will be around a long time if he continues to score goals. “He’s one of those boys that I believe, no matter what league he’s in, he’ll score goals. He’s different to Nicky Clark and Andy Little, more of an old-fashioned centre forward. Jon is aggressive and, if you put the ball into the area, he’ll score against anybody. He demonstrated that with two goals against Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final last season. “He’s so important to us off the pitch as well. He’s a proper man and he’s exactly what we need. Where we are as a club right now, we need good people in the dressing room for the younger lads to look up to. “We have that with the skipper [Lee McCulloch] and Lee Wallace and I believe we have that with Jon, too.” McCoist also rejected suggestions that the Dubliner was a short-term fix, signed only with a view to helping Rangers reach the Premiership before being jettisoned. “Jon gives us plenty of options,” he said. “In terms of holding the play up, he takes pressure off the back four. He can spin defenders and you can hit him with a diagonal ball. “We have players who can pass the ball and, at this moment in time, he definitely gives us something different. “I kicked my last ball for Kilmarnock when I was 39. Jon will only be 32 if things go to plan and we return to the top flight on schedule.” Rangers will move 14 points clear of third-placed Dunfermline with a home win tonight but McCoist refuses to take anything for granted, claiming that Jim Jefferies’ Pars are beginning to gel. “I think tomorrow’s game is against the team that a lot of people thought would be up there with us,” he said. “I can sympathise with them in many ways because we know exactly what they have been going through. “Hopefully, it looks as if they have turned the corner as well, which is great. They have got a really young team and their results so far, over the piece, have been fine. However, what they lack in experience on the park they will certainly make up for with experience in their dugout with the auld yin [Jefferies] there. We are looking forward to seeing him as well.”

New Pitch Laid At MP WRITTEN BY ANDREW DICKSON http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/5251-new-pitch-laid-at-mp

................. the team is the priority. By Kheredine Idessane BBC Scotland The 65-year-old, who stepped down as chairman two months ago, said there is "an obvious suspicion" that is not presently the case. Smith believes the Ibrox club has to "get rid of the boardroom turmoil" and "settle down" if Rangers are to look forward and find a "normal path". He was also surprised by the loss of £14m in the club's recent accounts. "I knew they would make a loss but I wasn't quite sure just exactly what it would be so that was quite a surprise when it came out to be such a large figure," said Smith, who won 21 trophies during his two spells as manager. "It used to be that the wages of the footballing side used to be the major problem in clubs' finances but that's been cut down fairly dramatically from when I was there." A group of shareholders are trying to force changes on the Rangers board at the upcoming AGM, with the increasingly bitter feud reaching the Court of Session. When stepping down from his short-lived spell as chairman, Smith referred to a "highly-dysfunctional environment" at board level. He also voiced support for those hoping to join the board, although he stated that chief executive Craig Mather was doing a good job and hoped he would be able to continue. "Like everybody else, you just get frustrated that nothing seems to be settling down at the club," explained Smith. "They still have a fair amount of turmoil in the background. "Like everyone else, I don't think that the club can really look forward until that's erased. "There's the obvious suspicion that the club isn't the main reason why people are running the club at the present moment. "After the AGM, if we get back to the fact that Rangers are a football club and it should be run for the football club and for the football team. I think that that would be a massive step." Smith, who had current Ibrox boss Ally McCoist as assistant between 2007 and 2011, insists establishing confidence in the board is vital for the club, who are top of Scottish League One having won all their league matches so far. "I don't think there's a great deal of turmoil in the current board," he added. "There's turmoil being created because a lot of people want to see a change on that board. "That, I think, is the main crux of the problem at the present moment. The football aspect of Rangers is going as you'd expect it to go for a big club down in the lower divisions. "They're back on track, they're playing some good football but we still have this problem surrounding the board. I don't think the club can get back to being a settled club until that is eventually settled. "If you're looking at the job that the manager's doing at the present moment, who could complain about that?"

I'd say we need to move on other players first but interesting news nonetheless... http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/4983-zaliukas-trains-with-gers

Haven't seen this on RM or here but according to the Daily Mail today McColl's gang tried to bring back McClelland as the chairman. Absolutely frightful stuff if true. A real return to the old days when he was Murray's puppet and presided over record levels of debt. I'm neither here nor there with the current board and prospective future board. To me they all remind of the South Park episode where a douche and a turd compete with each other. But it's absolutely disparaging that our prospective leaders want a return of one of our past failures.

Here is a link to an article by Stefan Szymanski in the Soccernomics blog. http://www.soccernomics-agency.com/?p=529 He presents some data, about the relationship between homegrown talent and success, that may surprise a few people. It is taken to be axiomatic among many that we need to develop home grown players to improve our lot. Is this just received wisdom with no basis in fact?

... you know, someone had to do it! I'll write and update a list of targets in the first post. Signed: - Nicky Clark (QotS, free, compensation, 3-year deal signed) - Jon Daly (DU, free, 2-year + 1-year extension deal signed) - Cammy Bell (Kilmarnock, 4-year deal signed) - Nicky Law (Motherwell, free, 3-year signed) - Steven Smith (free/Portland, 2-year-deal apparently signed) - Arnold Peralta (Vidal, free, 4-year-deal signed) - Ricky Foster (free, Bristol City, 2-year deal) - Biliel Mohsni (free, 2-year deal) - Kenny Miller (free/Portland, resigned) - Lee Robinson (QotS) - Tom Hateley (Motherwell, free) [ - Chris Humphrey (Motherwell, free, was in talks) signed for Preston North End] Gone: - Neil Alexander (end of contract) - Kane Hemmings (end of contract) - Kal Naismith (on loan, Accrington Stanley) + + + From FF ... Links galore ... The Express

I was most impressed with young MacLeod last season. His injury was a major concern; however, he made it back for the final game but appeared tentative. My hope for this season was that he slowly and surely regained both confidence and form. He has surpassed my desire. He looks fitter, taller, stronger, and is aesthetically pleasing as ever. Seven games has seen him play across every midfield position, mostly in the left berth. His first touch is always twinned with ensuring his head is up and assessing options. Yesterday's goal was the epitome of this trait and it highlighted another increasingly obvious quality, game awareness. I have two fears. Where will he play next week? Templeton will be left midfield, Law in the centre, and Crawford/Peralta compete for the right berth. The other obvious candidate for centre is Black, I would prefer MacLeod. Further, can the club hold on to him beyond this season? I believe he has a big future and wonder if the club in it's current predicament can fulfil?

ALLY McCoist today insisted cost-cutting measures at Rangers will not have any impact on his first-team squad. Gers chief executive Craig Mather this week confirmed the Ibrox club was actively trying to reduce wages and drive down outgoings. Those ongoing measures could include prominent employees - including manager McCoist - having their salaries slashed. But the Light Blues boss has assured fans this process will not result in any players being offloaded by the SPFL League One side. The Third Division champions have brought in eight free agents during the summer and have started the 2013/14 campaign well. McCoist said: "I haven't been told it will impact on my squad. The wages have obviously come down dramatically in the last two years. "People will argue they are still high for where we are. But I would argue that 36,000 season ticket holders deserve to see the best football we can give them. "We have brought in eight free transfers and seven or eight have gone the other way. "It is my job to get the best team out on the park that I possibly can within a sensible budget. I haven't been told any of my squad are under threat." Meanwhile, McCoist has revealed he is "very hopeful" he can arrange a loan deal for Rangers goalkeeper Scott Gallacher. Gallacher has done well in his appearances for the Gers this season and has kept clean sheets in the wins over Stranraer and Airdrie. But Cammy Bell is set to come into the starting line-up against East Fife at Ibrox today and will feature from now on. McCoist is keen for Gallacher to get first- team experience and will hand experienced England stopper Steven Simonsen a deal if he goes on loan. He said: "We are a little bit closer to Scott going out on loan. I am very hopeful something can be arranged in the next 24 hours. "We are desperately keen to offer Simonsen something as soon as we get Scott organised. We have had one or two enquiries for our other lads and these will be taken further in the next 24 hours." McCoist has admitted he is keen to bring in a defender and a striker and confirmed a deal to bring out-of-contract Bosnian centre half Boris Pandza is still a possibility. He also confirmed he is keen to hand former Republic of Ireland youth internationalist Sam Kelly a contract. Meanwhile, McCoist admits he will be unable to bring in Kenny Miller until January as the former Scotland striker has signed a one-year extension with Vancouver Whitecaps. He said: "Kenny is not a player we could get just now. But he has stated that he would like to come back." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/allypay-axe-will-not-fall-on-stars-134966n.22022968

So it shuts on Saturday night at 11pm a full 2 days before the rest of europe. Apparently they ignored UEFA's recommendation of 2nd September which is 2 days after our transfer embargo expires http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/st-johnstone/237781-scottish-fa-set-saturday-transfer-deadline-against-uefa-recommendation/

I see TLB's poop troop got beat 2-0 by Shakhter Karagandy over in Kazakhstan earlier.

There is still work that Ally McCoist would like to carry out on his Rangers squad. He continues to monitor trialists, is keen on a centre-back and a centre-forward and there is interest from other clubs in "one or two" of his players. These are the routine tasks of a manager, but they also provide a refuge for McCoist. When he talks about the off-field issues at Ibrox, he has increasingly been referring to fatigue, among the fans, among the football community, perhaps even for most of those involved. Every week tends to bring a further development on the boardroom saga at the club. Since answering back to the criticisms of Charles Green when the former chief executive returned, briefly, as a paid consultant, McCoist has maintained the stance this his business is the team and his players; what happens in the boardroom is down to the directors. He returned to that theme yesterday, acknowledging that the continue drama at Rangers needs a conclusive ending. "Being a fan, ex-player and now manager, I just want what's best for this club," he said. "Everyone is reaching the stage where we're saying 'let's get this sorted and move on'. When I talk to Sandy [Jardine], wee Willie Henderson, big Tam Forsyth, everyone is of the same opinion: 'C'mon, let's sort this out and go forward'. If that's ex-players talking, it'll be echoed one thousand times by the supporters, but I'm optimistic that the off-the-park stuff can finally be sorted out." It is likely to be six weeks before the club holds its annual general meeting, at which a group of disgruntled shareholders will also table five resolutions seeking significant changes in the boardroom. The accounts are due to be published in the meantime. McCoist has become well-versed in financial issues that most football managers would not expect to encounter - "it's opened my eyes to a lot of avenues I'd never have imagined I'd go down," he said - but it will be a measure of his own progress if the exploits of the team do not add to the commotion. The season is in its infancy, but Rangers fans have taken heart from the performances of their side. The loss to Forfar Athletic in the first round of the Scottish League Cup will continue to irk them, but otherwise Rangers have shown signs of a stronger mental attitude, more variety and dynamism to their play and, crucially, a more emphatic sense of purpose. Airdrieonians were eventually swept aside last Friday night, with the kind of ruthless intent that McCoist has been demanding of his squad, and even if one game is not emblematic, the general sense is of progress. "We've miles to go and we've had one great second-half against Airdrie, so no-one's getting carried away," said McCoist. "The squad's getting better with the players we've brought in. People have to remember we lost £40-50m worth of talent [last year] and brought in free transfers, but we're delighted with the progress we'll make this year." Steve Simonsen, the former Dundee goalkeeper, and Sam Kelly, the 19-year-old former Everton midfielder, have extended their trial period at the club, while McCoist retains an interest in signing the Bosnian defender Boris Pandza. Negotiations are continuing between Craig Mather, the Rangers chief executive, and Pandza's agent. Several clubs are also keen on taking Scott Gallacher, the Rangers goalkeeper, on loan, with McCoist keen for the player to gain regular first-team experience. Cammy Bell, the former Kilmarnock goalkeeper, is one of the eight players who have agreed to sign as free agents on September 1, when Rangers' registration embargo ends. He could even feature as a trialist in Saturday's match with East Fife at Ibrox, after which McCoist will be able to choose from a full squad of players. The visit of Berwick Rangers in the Ramsdens Cup tonight is not incidental, since McCoist wants to foster a hardened winning attitude within his squad. It is also an opportunity for some players to prove their worth before potential replacements are eligible to play from September 1 onwards. "If you're Berwick Rangers, you're delighted we're not allowed to play any of our new players," McCoist said. "But I'm more looking forward to the game than having any worries because the boys that will play, those that didn't play on Friday, will know that's what expected." http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/miles-to-go-but-mccoist-confident-of-moving-on.21981607

Rangers, under threat of administration because of a £50 million claim from the taxman, will renew their ambition to gain entry to the Premier League as well as reconsidering proposals for an â??Atlantic Leagueâ??, according to new owner and chairman Craig Whyte. Her Majestyâ??s Revenue and Customs is seeking £49 million in back-taxes, interest and penalties from Rangers, a claim that could see one of the great institutions of British and European football become the gameâ??s highest profile financial failure. In an exclusive interview with Telegraph Sport, Whyte said he would actively seek to leave the SPL to secure Rangersâ?? financial future, and suggested the club could even consider running two teams, one each side of the border, once the case and its implications have been dealt with. Whyte also confirmed that while he believes Rangers will win the case, administration is the likeliest outcome if the tax tribunal, scheduled for November, goes against them. Asked if administration would follow, Whyte said: â??It is one of the possibilities we have looked at, yes. The choice, in terms of an adverse finding, is pretty obvious really.â? Administration would bring an immediate 10-point penalty and the possibility of more sanctions, depending on the clubâ??s exit strategy. But Whyte is adamant that there is no threat to Rangersâ?? long-term future. â??Whatever happens Rangers will be moving forward. I will not allow the club to go bust. I can control the debt process absolutely, and whatever happens Rangers is going to be there playing in the SPL at Ibrox.â? Whyte would like them to play further south as well, describing Rangers as â??a Premier League club with the revenue of a Scottish clubâ?. He has committed to finding £5 million of working capital and £5 million a season for transfers, and may bring in third-party investment to help him do so. But he sees Rangersâ?? future in a move away from the Scottish game. â??I think I can turn this around and sort out the problem. I have put money in and Iâ??m prepared to put money in but I have said it is not a bottomless pit,â? he said. â??We are in Scottish football so it is not a viable proposition to go put £100 million into the team. If we went forward into another league set-up, say the English Premier League, then it is very viable to put £100 million more in. We are not there at the moment, but we would like to be. â??[Joining the Premier League] is clearly something that we would like to see examined, it is something we are working on behind the scenes. But there are other potential ideas in terms of European leagues, joining some of the Nordic countries, the Netherlands to create a league.â? Whyte bought a controlling stake from former chairman Sir David Murray last May for £1, assuming responsibility for £18 million of bank debt and the tax liabilities in the process. Since then early exits from the Champions League, the Europa League and most recently the League Cup have compounded the financial issues, and questions about Whyteâ??s background have intensified. The first Old Firm game of the season 10 days ago brought welcome relief with a 4-2 win over Celtic, and in the febrile atmosphere of Glasgow football that may be all that really matters to supporters. The financial issues may not be resolved away so easily. The threat to Rangers stems from a claim for £35 million in back-tax and interest and £14 million in fines relating to the Murray regimeâ??s use of a tax-avoidance device called Employee Benefit Trusts. HMRC claims Rangers wrongly used EBTs for a decade, effectively to reclassify regular salaries as loans that avoided income tax and National Insurance. Rangersâ?? own advice when the schemes were established was that they were legal, and HMRC made no complaint until last year, when it changed its guidance on EBTs. It has now targeted Rangers among 5,000 companies it believes misused EBTs. Whyte believes the club have been singled out as a test case and accuses HMRC of leaking information. Interest intensified earlier this month when High Court judge Lord Hodge, hearing former chief executive Martin Bainâ??s claim for wrongful dismissal, ruled that the club faces a â??real and substantial risk of insolvencyâ?. Whyte acknowledges the risk, but insists the clubâ??s long-term future is secure. He has repaid the £18 million to Lloyds, a fact confirmed by the bank, and transferred the debt to Rangersâ?? holding company, which is ultimately owned by his Liberty Capital Limited, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands. Whyte has committed to writing off the debt if the club avoids administration. This structure means Whyte is the largest secured creditor and has control of any administration. â??Nothing is out of my hands because I control the club, I am the only secured creditor, or rather Rangers FC Group is. So on any decision, while HMRC might push, the group company controls the debt.â? This may be tested in administration. SPL rules require clubs to exit administration with the agreement of all creditors â?? a Creditors Voluntary Agreement â?? but HMRC is unlikely to agree. The SPL has complete discretion over what penalties to apply if a CVA is not agreed, but Whyte is certain they will not face penalties that could end in relegation. â??You might say that is a theoretical possibility but that is not going to happen.â? Whyte defends his business record which, by his own admission, is mixed. He says he specialises in turning round companies in trouble, and as such Rangers was a marriage of personal and professional interest. He is listed as a current or former director of 11 UK-based companies, some of which have failed. â??I get involved in businesses that are struggling and that means you sometimes get involved in the messy side of things. But overall I have had more successes than failures,â? he said. Whyte, who has homes in the Scottish Highlands, Londonâ??s Belgravia and Monaco, will not be drawn on his personal wealth â?? â??It would make my life a lot easier if I did but, frankly, Iâ??m not going to have journalists going into every aspect of my private lifeâ? â?? but says he has genuine business credentials. â??I have got four offices in the City, I have venture capital funds, I have asset management companies, I have stock-broking businesses, I have businesses in France, in Holland, I have got thousands of employees, but I donâ??t see why I should make every aspect of that public. â??Iâ??ve got everything from financial services to ticketing to cinema services, asset management, construction, I have got investments in all these sectors. I operate like a venture capital partnership so at any one time thereâ??s 20-25 companies in the portfolio. "I operate a family company in the city too that manages the family investments. We do all sorts of deals, public to private, commodity trading, Forex, a wide variety, but we try and keep it low key. â??Sometimes we might own them for two years, sometimes for five. But with Rangers we want to create a long-term sustainable business, which we will. But it's going to be a rocky road.â? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/rangers/8792112/Craig-Whyte-actively-seeking-to-leave-the-SPL-to-secure-Rangers-financial-future.html

Taken from an article today on the Sheffield United official website with the manager talking about their transfers - http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/Gaffersnotes/0,,10418~2438984,00.html

McCOIST praises Craig Whyte for strengthening squad and fending off Jela and Davo bids More...

Been thinking about events @ Gers over the past 12 months (ish...) Given the number of available media streams - forums, facebook, twitter etc, is there simply too much information available??? Transfer talk is a good example.....recently the amount of "information" about possible transfers has been fairly overwhelming. In previous years how many of these transfer targets would have been known to the public domain??? Now, with the internet/facebook etc, the rumours and at times complete mis-information spreads like wildfire and can quickly become "fact". The financial stuff as well....normal folk can access information from the Stock Exchange or companies house, without actually knowing what it is...this then gets spread around at an alarming rate on knots. While this has always been the case, it was never as easy to do, and yer average fan would have no interest in contacting Companies house to find out if there is anything new...a few clicks with the mouse, and recent transactions/publications can be displayed. The overall result is that all the clubs business is being played out in public - not the best thing to happen. So, is too much information a good or a bad thing???? Discuss....

By Tom English YOU don't have to be in Ally McCoist's company for very long to understand what his favourite word might be. When he gets earnest, which is pretty much most of the time in these early and troubled days of his reign, he has a way of speaking, a McCoistian sincerity, that is hard to miss. "To be honest with you..." "To be perfectly honest..." "I'm going to be honest here..." "The honest truth is..." Such a lot of honesty, so let's continue the theme. Rangers had every right to hope for the best in Malmo last Wednesday evening, but the sensible ones among their support, the ones, if you like, who knew their history, would have been totally prepared for the worst. In the analysis of their demise in Sweden there has been talk of McCoist's inexperience as a manager and, of course, the frenzied knee-jerk that paints the job as just being too big for him. There is a time to make that assessment but it sure as hell isn't after four games. In any event, what happened to Rangers on Wednesday has been the kind of thing that has been happening for some years now. Even the old maestro, Walter Smith, suffered the same fate repeatedly in recent times. Before Sweden, Rangers had won just one of their previous 20 games in European competition. The last time they secured the kind of away result that would have been deemed good enough in Sweden - a victory - was over three years ago. To illustrate how long ago it was, Christian Dailly played in the match, a 2-0 victory at Sporting Lisbon. So did Carlos Cuellar. And Jean-Claude Darcheville. There is a strange dynamic that takes hold in Scottish football sometimes. We decry the quality of the product here and bemoan the falling standards of the elite teams at the top. And yet a form of arrogance - in the media and among the support - takes hold at times when they enter Europe, an assumption that bad and all as the Scottish teams are, they're surely not that bad that they can't beat an "average lot" like Malmo, or "pub teams" like Kaunas and Artmedia Bratislava. McCoist wasn't the only one who fell at such hurdles. Far, far more experienced managers - Smith and Gordon Strachan - have been undone before him. Malmo was a missed opportunity, though. Rangers actually played reasonably well, better than they have done away from home in Europe for a little while. They lost because of indiscipline, not because they were outplayed or outclassed. They looked comfortable. There is a modicum of consolation in that for McCoist. Something to hold on to as he watched the Champions League millions floating away on the breeze. They were hampered, too, by a terrible false economy at work in the Rangers transfer strategy. Craig Whyte has money to spend, and he will spend it. Wesley Verhoek, the Den Haag winger, and Roland Juhasz , the Anderlecht defender, have been the subject of bids and may soon join Rangers. But Whyte should have had more players in the door by now, should have had more new talent in the starting line-up already. It's a failure of philosophy and this cringe-making 'low-bidding' process that they have been engaged in. Low-bidding has cost them dear. "I wouldn't say deep frustration," said McCoist when asked about the transfer strategy. "The problem with transfers is that in an ideal world you go in and get the job done and get out and everybody's happy. In the current climate that's very seldom the case. What's been a little unfortunate for us is that every deal has been scrutinised to the maximum. "I can understand totally the frustration and some of the criticism that's coming our way because players are not coming in as quickly as we all hope. You want to get the deal done and get out. It's the job of you guys (reporters] to find out (what's happening] and the next minute it's leaked and when it's leaked, prices go up, values go up, wages go up. I'm not complaining about it, but that's the way it is. If you're asking me if I'd rather go in, grab somebody, sit them down and say, 'Right let's do it right now, get the papers signed' then yeah, great." So why doesn't he? Who's been talking to these players? Whyte? Ali Russell? Gordon Smith? "I've been in constant dialogue with Kyle Bartley, for example," said McCoist. "Constant dialogue with Lee Wallace's agent. Maybe I need to use my phone more. Believe me if I get an opportunity to speak to any player I speak to them and that's the case." Is there a coded message in there? McCoist is a deal-closer whereas some of the others at the club are not? On Verhoek and Juhasz he comes across as a man who is expecting them to walk through the door at any minute. "The bids went in on Wednesday. I just want them done. We are very, very hopeful." If nothing else, the Malmo game offered up a test of McCoist's attitude when dealing with players who had clearly let him down. Namely, Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra. The Algerian doesn't matter so much now that he has left the club, but Whittaker remains and he has had a rough week. Did McCoist give him a verbal blast or was his treatment more subtle? What exactly is the McCoist way of doing things in these situations? "I'll be really honest with you, I haven't spoken to them. A couple of reasons and the most important reason is, well, they know. They know. I'd be really disappointed if Steven did that again. Really disappointed, because he's an intelligent boy and looking at Steven at the end of the game I don't think I needed to say anything to him. Sometimes you judge a situation and the decision is made for you. "You know, the indiscipline has definitely cost us but the indiscipline, dare I say it, was more stupidity than malicious. It doesn't help because we're out of the tournament, but sometimes you can forgive a little stupidity as long as you don't make the same mistake twice. Everybody makes a mistake but the crime is making the same mistake twice. Steven is the only one who can help himself. Effectively, there's nothing that anybody can say or do. I'm disappointed. I don't want to sound flippant here but I'm not overly worried." Keeping your head when others are looking for it is a big part of managing the Old Firm. Keeping your head and freshening your team. He can do the first part. The second he would want to get on with pretty damn quickly. http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sport/Tom-English-The-woes-of.6814359.jp

RANGERS chairman Craig Whyte has defended his transfer market dealings since taking charge of the club, insisting the criticism levelled at him in the wake of their Champions League elimination is "completely unjustified". Whyte has come under fire for the failure to sign more players ahead of the third qualifying round tie against unseeded Swedish side Malmo which Rangers lost 2-1 on aggregate to drop into the Europa League play-offs. Since buying Rangers three months ago, Whyte has overseen the recruitment of just three new players with Juan Manuel Ortiz, Lee Wallace and Dorin Goian arriving at Ibrox for a combined outlay of around �£2.5 million. With Madjid Bougherra poised to make a �£1.7 million move to Qatari champions Lekhiwaya and Rangers in line to receive an �£850,000 sell-on windfall from Charlie Adam's �£8.5 million move from Blackpool to Liverpool, Rangers will effectively recoup what they have spent on transfers so far. Rangers have failed with bids for a series of other players, most notably David Goodwillie who completed his �£2.8 million move from Dundee United to Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday. Whyte says Rangers offered more up front for the Scotland striker but claims United simply did not want to sell him to another Scottish club. The Rangers owner has promised to add more players to manager Ally McCoist's squad before the transfer window closes on 31 August and believes his dealings compare favourably with those at the club during the same period last year. "Look, we are speaking here on 4 August," said Whyte. "What had Rangers signed this time last season? Nothing. They signed James Beattie on something like 13 August and they signed Nikica Jelavic on around 20 August. We've had an earlier start to the season this year, but Rangers have done much, much more this time than in any season before. So I think the criticism is completely unjustified. "We are all working really hard to make this work. That is the bottom line. "We've got offers in for players. Sometimes you get them and sometimes you don't. With David Goodwillie, for example, we offered more than Blackburn offered, but Dundee United didn't want to sell to us. That is their prerogative. "I think the Dundee United people will tell you the same thing, that we offered more up front money than Blackburn. They said they might get more in extras from Blackburn, but basically, Dundee United didn't want to sell to another Scottish club. That is the bottom line. There is nothing sinister in it. I don't know why people make a thing out of it. There is nothing sinister in it at all. "We've got offers in for quite a few players at the moment. We have also still got the spine of the side that won the championship last season. I've done what I said I would do. I've extended players' contracts. We have so far signed three new players. We have got five or six other players who we have re-signed, which is just as important. I've delivered everything that I said I would deliver. That is the message I want to get across, and I will continue to do that. We will absolutely have a strong squad in place by the end of August, of course we will. "Ally and I sat together on the plane home and had a positive discussion about our signing plans. I fully understand the fans' frustration at the transfer speculation we have seen in recent weeks but the reason we lost in the Champions League is not due to a lack of signings. Ally himself has said publicly that we are a good side that only recently won the league championship." Rangers now miss out on income of around �£15 million which participation in the group stage of the Champions League would have delivered. Whyte, speaking on the team's return from Malmo where they finished with nine men on the pitch following the dismissals of Steven Whittaker and Bougherra in the 1-1 second leg draw, appeared determined to remain upbeat. "It was unfortunate but we are looking forward," he added. "Of course it is frustrating to go out of the Champions League. It's frustrating for all Rangers fans. I'm a Rangers fan myself and I know how it feels. "I thought the team played well in Malmo, I thought they played their guts out. There were a couple of unfortunate decisions, and it was unfortunate that we got a couple of players sent off, but we played well. "I think Rangers were the better team, I think everyone saw that." http://sport.scotsman.com/football/Craig-Whyte-comes-out-fighting.6813237.jp?articlepage=1

He's basically been the boss for about a month now, and of course we cannot judge him on the pitch for another month yet, but I think it's safe to analyse how we feel he's done in transfers, negotiations and media performances. As people who pour our love and support, not to mention cash, into the club, we have that right. For me, it's a very mixed batch. I am pleased that Steven Davis and Allan McGregor's contracts are being given such high priority, and that 'not for sale' signs have been firmly plastered over their heads, particularly McGregor, especially in light of Lennon publicly admitting that even Kayal is for sale at the right price. We want to keep our best players, and Ally doesn't appear interested in the vast sums of cash selling McGregor would give his transfer kitty. For that I applaud him. I am also pleased we're so active in the transfer market - it's clear we're trying to bring in a lot of reinforcements, and a lot of the names we're linked to seem pretty decent and an enhancement - it's just a bit of a pity we've not made any actual signings yet and there's nothing to get tangibly thrilled about at this point. I'm sure Ally is working around the clock to make it happen though, and signings can be a slow process, so hopefully we'll have something to cheer soon. My main 2 reservations are, firstly, him publicly saying that we won't go to 3M for Cuellar, where Cuellar is quite clearly worth that kind of money. He has 3 years of top flight experience on top of the class we sold in the first place, and would be a fantastic addition to the team. I have no doubt Ally wants him, but I felt saying, very specifically, that 3M was too much, was something I didn't want to hear. 'Negotiations are ongoing' would have been much better. Secondly his manlove for Whittaker seems bizarre. He's apparently appraised Whittaker as one of our 4 top players. If he really believes that, I have doubts about his judgement. He wants to keep him at all costs, and regardless of who is doing the negotiations, �£20k+ is far too much for a player who is usually average and sometimes quite good. My early feelings about Ally are mixed, some good, some not so good. The last time I had a serious objection to something a new manager did after joining was PLG and him letting Soti go so quickly - I trusted him because I rated him but I am not making that same mistake again. I have serious objections about some things Ally seems to be doing and I just hope I am totally wrong this time. I don't trust him yet, and I hope he gives me and others good reason to begin to earn that trust in the coming months.

http://www.transfermarkt.de/en/transfers/wettbewerbe-km/transfers.html There are a few on that list who could do a job for us

The inflatable English premier league market probably hit a new level of madness today. Sunderlands Jordan Henderson to Liverpool for 20 million!! http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/13685517.stm No wonder we cant compete. This guy is 20 and had a handful of good games for Sunderland along with showing a nasty streak with a few red cards yet goes for this amount. Is he any better than Steven Davis who wouldnt go for anything near that amount?

Will be very interesting to see how this works for them.

The high-net worth community reporting no confirmed transfer budgets, key players still likely to be sold, managerial uncertainty and one specific agent appointed to handle transfers. No doubt games are still being played by some so the forthcoming shareholder letter will be very interesting. Can Whyte prove his financial credentials for once and for all so we can all move on out of this mess!? Have the fan groups even met him yet?

Just found out that Stena Line are doing deals for the Linfield game that include return coach transfers from Glasgow to Stranraer, return ferry travel, return coach transfers to the match in Belfast and your match ticket. �£79 all in... �£65 for kids... http://www.stenaline.co.uk/rangers