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............................as judge makes him read out letter slating his own character TYCOON made to read out damning letter slamming treatment of family and claiming he faced jail for illegal activity. FORMER Rangers owner Craig Whyte was yesterday forced to read out a letter in court slating his own character. The damning letter laid bare the tycoon’s troubled time at Ibrox, slammed his treatment of his family and claimed he faced jail for illegal activity. It was revealed as he gave evidence at the Inverness Sheriff Court trial of two former employees accused of stealing from him. The letter was allegedly written by his former housekeeper and cook Jane Hagan last year, weeks before Whyte sacked her and her caretaker partner Terence Horan. Monaco-based Whyte claimed he found it beside a computer in his Highland home, Castle Grant, after he returned there and found the couple gone and various items missing. It contained claims of terror threats, alongside allegations that Whyte had bankrupted his own father three times and treated his wife “in an appalling way”. It also disclosed that the bank were poised to repossess his Highland home at Castle Grant and said he could have been facing jail for his “illegal activities”. The letter, running to three A4 pages, was allegedly written by Hagan to a friend, Sue. Hagan, 50, and Horan, 54, deny stealing thousands of pounds worth of goods from the castle, near Grantown on Spey. In an uncomfortable few minutes, 42-year-old Whyte was forced to read out the letter in its entirety in court by prosecutor Heather Swan. It contained what appeared to be a confession by Hagan that the couple were taking items from the castle because they had not been paid and feared for their future. The trial was in its second day yesterday after being interrupted last month due to a lack of court time. Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist heard that a container had been rented by Horan and filled with a huge array of household items. Whyte, who had separated from his wife Kim three years earlier, said he noticed last year that some items were missing from the castle, including a huge kitchen table. When Whyte returned from a holiday with his two children, he said his housekeeper and caretaker were nowhere to be seen and he had to get a locksmith to get into the house. He discovered more things missing and, on checking with Kim, discovered she had not taken them. The court heard a search warrant was obtained by police and many of the items missing from the castle were found in a storage container in Grantown on Spey among others belonging to Hagan and Horan. Whyte told the court: “I was with the police and pointed out some things which belonged to either myself or my wife. I did not order their removal, nor did I instruct anyone to store them or hide them.” He also denied tampering with the letter. “I didn’t doctor it, edit or make changes to it. It is exactly the way it was handed to me,” he added. Whyte then moved from the witness box to the dock to answer a possible contempt of court for failing to appear for the trial when it was due to start on June 10. His lawyer Paul Kavanagh said it had been a genuine mistake. Sheriff Gilchrist decided to take no further action and made no finding of contempt. But he warned Whyte that he had to attend court to finish his evidence when the trial resumes on October 23. The letter in full: “Our boss has been behaving rather badly. We have always known he is not the nicest person in business and his living is mostly made by dubious means. Talking to his wife not only confirms our suspicions that he is not a good man but we find he has treated her and her family in the most appalling way. He has bankrupted his own father and due to this he has lost his home, not once but three times and still he uses him to do his dirty work. “When we returned from holiday she was in pieces claiming that he had told her he was doing a runner and never coming back to the castle. “It is rather distressing news to us, not only do we lose our jobs but also our home. “Well, it didn’t happen and he has had a couple of weekends here and showing no signs of stress. But he is an incredibly close person and never gives away anything. “However in the past few weeks he has been served with loads of court papers and the wolves are howling at the door. “He’s in all sorts of trouble with the law over his ownership of Rangers FC with some pretty serious threats of going to prison over his illegal activities. “His ex wife has been very good filling us in on the details as she’s been watching him closely. “There were terrorist threats to the castle and our boss and we have had to have anti-terrorist training. “The bank could take over the castle and he hasn’t paid our salary for June. We have organised with his ex wife to collect the last of her possessions. She has left behind expensive stuff and we are going to take some of the high value things as it looks as if the bailiffs will take the rest and we want to be sure we don’t lose out.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/court-humiliation-ex-rangers-owner-craig-2314008

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

BARRY FERGUSON vents his anger at the sentence passed down to Gunning for flicking a boot at Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk, and says it is a common occurrence during matches. 20 Sep 2013 07:22 Vincent Lunny.Vincent Lunny. I DON’T care much for the SFA. I’m unlikely to get a job offer from them any time soon, that’s for sure. And this column won’t help my relationship with them either because I find it impossible to discuss the people in charge of our game without working myself into an angry rant. Here’s the problem. This should be a positive period for the Scottish game. The national team is on the way back under Gordon Strachan and Celtic were a credit to the country in the San Siro. As much as it might stick in my throat as a Rangers man, Neil Lennon and his side were excellent against AC Milan. They were the better team for 75 minutes and didn’t deserve to lose. So that’s all good. We should be feeling better about ourselves again. I should be able to look guys in the eye in the dressing room at Blackpool again and say: “You see, I told you Scottish football isn’t as bad as you lot make out.” But then the SFA go and do something stupid and you’re left to wonder why you bother. The people who run the game in this country seem hellbent on turning us all into a bad joke. And I’m sick of it. For the last week I’ve had guys down here laughing at the Ian Black betting case and asking me: “What the hell is going on up there? Can you guys not get anything right?” And there’s nothing I can say in Scotland’s defence. Down here it’s a different story. The game is run with total transparency, clear rules and disciplinary procedures that are set in stone. Everyone knows where they stand. Cameron Jerome? He broke the rules on betting and got a 50 grand fine. It was all done and dusted in a matter of days. But how long was the Black saga allowed to rumble on for? It dragged from one week to the next, one meeting to another. Even when he was finally hauled to Hampden the SFA kept everyone waiting for the decision. They hummed and hawed but said nothing for hours. And when they did, they refused to give out the details. Would it have been so difficult for chief executive Stewart Regan to come out and explain exactly what had gone on? To give details of the games in which Black had bet against his team and the reasons behind his punishment? Why would he NOT want to get the facts out there? I just don’t get it. I’ve had my say on Black. If he was in my dressing room I wouldn’t be happy with him. But I’ve also been in trouble so many times at Rangers that I know the club’s disciplinary procedures inside out. They get you in, it’s done and dusted within an hour or two then they make a statement. Why do the SFA find it so hard to act as decisively? There’s another thing that annoys me. Can anyone tell me what Vincent Lunny does? Does anyone know his remit or on what basis he decides which player he’s going to ban next? Does he sit in his house with his feet up and glass of red wine on a Sunday night watching the highlights on the BBC? And if he sees some incident replayed in slow motion, is that when he takes it upon himself to act? Because that would be a disgrace. I’ve been playing top-team football for going on 18 years. In that time there must have been about 10 incidents in every game which could have led to a player being slapped on the wrists or fined. It happens all the time. If Vincent wants to apply the rules fairly and across the board he should be watching every minute of every game or, if that’s too much, employ people to watch them for him. There are plenty of ex-pros out there looking for work. But all the games should be reviewed by someone. Anything less is just not right. Look at Gavin Gunning at Dundee United, who was banned for three matches for flicking a boot at Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk. I must flick out a leg three or four times in every game I play. Now Lunny is giving three-game bans for it? Is that what Scottish football has become? On my Rangers debut at Tynecastle, Neil Pointon nearly took my head off 10 minutes in. He smashed me in the face with his shoulder, elbow and fist all in one go. And I thought to myself: “Welcome to first-team football.” I was so dazed I hardly knew where I was. But it was a great lesson for a young player. I knew I was in a man’s game. And that’s the way football should be. Look, if there’s some bampot running around charging into tackles that can break legs or end careers, Lunny should throw the book at him. But three games for flicking out a leg? Come on. I like to see a wee ding-dong out there. Players who are fired up and getting in a few faces. That’s what it’s about in the heat of battle. But I guess Lunny wouldn’t know that. So let me give him some advice, from the front line straight to office desk. The fans love to see these flashpoints too. It’s called passion, Vinny. It’s what this game is built on – and the more you stamp it out the less people will turn up to watch. They don’t want some faceless guy at Hampden making decisions on a random basis that can harm their team. It’s the same for the players. How do you think Gunning would feel if he was sitting suspended and saw a player doing the exact same thing as he did ... and then finds out Lunny hasn’t spotted it on TV? Would that be fair? Look, I get that the whole idea about this compliance officer was to try to modernise the Scottish game. But please, make it fair. It’s the same for Black. He’ll know plenty of players who have been betting on football matches. And yet he’s the only one who gets done for it. I can’t help feel if you’re at Rangers or even Celtic the chances are they will be all over you like a rash. That’s the way I felt when the SFA were dealing with me. And the treatment Black has received shows that, despite their talk of modernising the game, nothing much has changed.

STV 20 September 2013 17:54 BST Rangers signing target Boris Pandza has accused the Ibrox club of lacking professionalism and giving him false hope over a move to Glasgow. Rangers manager Ally McCoist said at his weekly news conference on Friday that talks were ongoing with Pandza’s agent but the player has told STV that his patience has grown thin after negotiations dragged on for three months. The former Hajduk Split defender said: "For me some professional attitude. Nothing's happened. Everybody says 'wait, wait, wait', all summer we wait. In the end, nothing. "It's a new situation that they want to sell some players but they are limited with the budget. When they've been talking about this for three months and haven't done anything then that's not professional." While negotiations with the Bosnian have dragged on, Rangers have confirmed that they've offered a contract to the former Hearts captain Marius Zaliukas, but Pandza claims that he was promised a fresh deal by the club earlier this week. The 26-year-old continued: "They told me that they will send me an offer on Monday evening or Tuesday morning, but they didn't do it. I expected something on these days but nothing's happened, so I'm a little bit disappointed. "To be honest I don't believe something is going to happen. If they don't want me then don't say anything about me." Boris Pandza has 21 caps for the Bosnian national side, and left Belgian side KV Mechelen in the summer. http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/240259-rangers-target-boris-pandza-accuses-club-of-lacking-professionalism/

For some, myself included, the announcement by BBC Scotland that they were going to undertake a formal investigation into the circumstances leading to the current furore with their reporter Jim Spence, came as something of a surprise. I use the word surprise because in committing themselves to such a course of action, BBC Scotland are very much putting themselves on trial. I wonder if myself or any of the thousands of other Rangers fans who several months ago on BBC Sportsound heard the aforementioned Jim Spence declare "I don't care what the Rangers fans say - this is a new club" will be cited as witnesses in this investigation ? Of course there is no need - it’s all there in the BBC Scotland archives. Funnily enough on this point I agree with part of what Spence says. It doesn't really matter what the Rangers support say about this matter - we have neither the authority or legal expertise to pass conclusive and objective opinion. Neither does Jim Spence for that matter - his job is to report the conclusions of those who do possess such authority and expertise. The fact he has failed to do so represents considerable professional failings on his part (which are compounded considerably by the fact his own employers have previously reported on Lord Nimmo Smith's legal conclusions and the SFA's decision to transfer licence) But before a very vigilant Rangers support BBC Scotland's investigative process and its conclusions will be subject to the closest of scrutiny. The corporations standing not only with our support, but the club itself, is at an all time low, and I would hazard a guess that the widespread animosity shown by BBC Scotland in the last few years towards Rangers has been a contributory factor in the lack of confidence Scots have in the corporation. I'm not for a minute suggesting there is sympathy for us by non-Rangers Scots, just that a club with a support the size Rangers have means that any survey of Scots society would result in a fair number who cast a favourable eye towards Ibrox being surveyed. But its more that BBC Scotland's popularity which is on trial. It's journalistic integrity is in the dock, the very heart and soul of the press and media is going to be subjected to the closest of forensic examination. For a regional corporation already lagging behind its peers in terms of public confidence this could well be a watershed. And it should come as no surprise that it will be far more than just the Rangers support maintaining a watching brief on events. For the BBC Trust who have already had cause to intercede in this battle between the Rangers support and BBC Scotland there will be both a sense of foreboding and déjà vu. For barely a year has passed since the BBC were savaged for their failures in light of the Jimmy Savile scandal. Both their investigative processes and their ability to challenge the behaviour of one of their employees has caused the corporation massive damage. Some suggest perhaps fatal damage. The true extent cannot be gauged however until politicians sit down to discuss whether the corporation should be awarded the right to demand a licence and the subsequent public reaction to this. The problem for the BBC is that politicians have a tendency to do what is popular with voters rather than what is necessarily the right thing to do. And whilst the Leveson enquiry dealt with the behaviour of the written press it nevertheless has resulted in considerable change across the entire spectrum of the press and media irrespective of whether it is the written or spoken word. And what of the individual who was the catalyst to all this ? Is he displaying remorse or regret for the position he has forced his employers into ? Regretfully not instead he is busy playing to the gallery of "usual suspects - that intrepid band of Rangers hating individuals who just happen for convenience sake to carry an NUJ card - and have been too happy to squeal about "abuse of journalists" and "freedom of speech".(It is entirely co-incidental of course that this group only make an appearance when a journalist is challenged about anti-Rangers rhetoric) But let's stick with the word abuse here because it is pivotal to this whole debate. It appears the fact that the truth has been abused seems, sadly, to be of little consequence to many. But for those of us who wish to protect and maintain the ethos of a BBC whose accuracy and impartiality once earned world renown, perhaps the gravest abuse in all of this is a maverick journalist using the BBC as a platform to espouse not only his disdain for a football club - but expressing that disdain in a manner which is both inaccurate and misleading.

Reading elsewhere that Jim Spence when talking on radio today about us said "the club that died". Anyone on here hear the cretin say that?

THE ongoing power struggle at Rangers has taken another twist after potential new board members denied agreeing to a “vote of confidence” in the current incumbents as condition of entry to the Ibrox directors’ box. Rangers confirmed on Wednesday they would consider a request to add former chairman John McClelland and three other men to their board of directors. A group of disgruntled investors led by billionaire businessman Jim McColl also proposed appointing former director Paul Murray, Sandy Easdale – the brother of current non-executive director James – and accountancy expert Frank Blin as directors. McColl, chairman of Clyde Blowers, and his group had previously called for an extraordinary general meeting in a bid to have chief executive Craig Mather, finance director Brian Stockbridge and Bryan Smart removed from the board, but it appeared that they had signalled their intention to withdraw that request in the event that the quartet led by McClelland were admitted to the board. However, the group has now stated that the shareholders deserve the right to vote on the re- election of any director. In a statement issued to the Stock Exchange on Wednesday, the club said: “The board considers that any decision on any proposal for the withdrawal of the requisition would be subject to the provision by the requisitioners of a vote of confidence and continued support for the current directors and to all necessary regulatory approvals.” However, a subsequent statement on behalf of McColl’s group released yesterday reads: “On behalf of the requisitionists we have made it clear to the Rangers board that we are proposing the additions to the board now to enable it to operate more effectively as a balanced unit in the run-up to the AGM in October. “However we have also made it clear that, in accordance with the club’s articles of association, all directors, both existing and new, have to offer themselves up for re-election at a vote at the AGM. “We believe that this is fair and gives all shareholders the opportunity of voting for who they want on the board. “We agreed this position with the board on Tuesday and were therefore surprised to see the statement issued by the club on Wednesday night which seemed to suggest that any agreement was conditional on a ‘vote of confidence’ in the current board members now and on a continuing basis. “We wish to make it clear that this is contrary to our understanding of the agreement we had with the board. “Whilst we believe that the proposed changes will make the board more effective and balanced, it is for the shareholders to vote on the re-election of all directors at the AGM.” Meanwhile, former Hearts captain Marius Zaliukas has joined Rangers on trial. Zaliukas, 29, has been without a club since his contract at Tynecastle ended at the end of last season. The defender missed most of the second half of the campaign with a serious ankle injury sustained during a 3-1 defeat by Dundee United at Tannadice in February. However, he managed to make a farewell appearance as a late substitute in Hearts’ final Scottish Premier League game of the season against Aberdeen at Pittodrie. A move for Zaliukas casts some doubt on Rangers’ pursuit of Bosnian Boris Pandza, although the club stated on their website yesterday that discussions with the defender have been ongoing for several weeks. “No agreement has been struck there as yet,” said the Rangers website, “and Zaliukas is the player currently being assessed by the Ibrox boss.” http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/ibrox-board-row-continues-as-zaliukas-begins-trial-1-3079681#.Uilw13vqLkc.twitter

... 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

RANGERS are exploring the potential of a formal relationship with the Brazilian club, Corinthians. Gordon Smith, the Ibrox sideâ??s director of football, is currently part of a trade delegation visiting the South American country, and has already been involved in talks with team officials. Although British clubs are restricted by work permit regulations to signing only full internationalists, meaning that Rangers could not bring young players over from Brazil, the Ibrox side could benefit from shared commercial and scouting expertise. It is understood that Smith could announce the tie-up on Thursday, when he returns from the trip. He is Rangersâ?? representative on the trade mission, which was organised by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry. Along with Michael Moore, the Secretary of State for Scotland, delegates from the golf, banking, whisky, oil and legal industries, among others, are taking part in the four-day visit, which began in Sao Paolo, where Corinthians are based, and is currently in Rio de Janeiro. â??Like many football clubs, Rangers are looking to develop their global brand and enter into partnerships with Brazilian clubs, most notably Corinthians,â? said Moore. â??Theyâ??ve also been attending the Soccerex Global Convention, the biggest soccer expo in the world and an opportunity for Rangers to show their wares. â??Rangers have a lot of interesting plans and it shows the world that Scotland can produce not just whisky and golf, but a lot of other cultural wares, such as Rangers.â? Smithâ??s visit is part of an ongoing bid by Rangers to strengthen their fanbase and income potential abroad. Ally McCoist, the Ibrox manager, spent some time in Argentina during the summer to look at players, while Sunil Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua, two Indian strikers, are currently on trial at Murray Park. The former was offered a contract two years ago by Queens Park Rangers â?? where Ali Russell, Rangersâ?? chief executive, was working at the time â?? but couldnâ??t sign for the club due to work permit issues. With the British government keen to strengthen trade relations with India, it is felt that Rangers could secure the necessary paperwork if they choose to sign either player now. It is more difficult for British sides to sign South American players, which Gordon Strachan criticised during his time in charge of Celtic. Yet Manchester United had a working relationship with Corinthians, and once sent youth players to Sao Paolo during the summer to train with the Brazilian side. In June 2001, John Rankin was one of two United youth players to go to Brazil for a two-week training camp, although the pair returned early because there was no translator provided. Smithâ??s time in Brazil may result in a similar relationship with Corinthians. The Sao Paolo side currently top Brasileiro Serie A, but only by two points from Vasco de Gama and tension is building in the championship race. â??Itâ??s a crunch moment in the Brazilian league and Iâ??m bumping into lots of football fans of differing rivalries,â? said Moore. â??A lot of it would seem similar to people from Glasgow.â? Rangers, meanwhile, have agreed to play cash strapped Crusaders in Belfast next year. The Irish outfit, who have just settled a £350,000 tax bill, urgently require funds and the Ibrox side, despite their own financial problems, will play a fixture between January and March. â??We are delighted Rangers have said yes to our invitation,â? said a club spokesman. â??Obviously, they are a massive draw and we expect a capacity crowd.â? Liverpool, too, will play Crusaders in their bid to finance a move from their current ground to a new stadium at North Foreshore within the next few years. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/smith-scouting-possible-corinthians-tie-up-on-south-american-trade-visit-1.1137078

Chettri, left, and Lalpekhlua, below. RANGERS are weighing up a shock move to sign two Indian international strikers - in the hope of opening up a new market in the subcontinent. Record Sport can reveal Jeje Lalpekhlua and Sunil Chettri are expected to arrive in Glasgow before the end of this month to begin a trial with Ally McCoist's squad. And the visit - which has been set up by director of football Gordon Smith - has been timed to allow McCoist to make a move to sign one or both when the transfer window opens in January. The potential double swoop is also being looked upon in the Ibrox boardroom as a chance to open a new revenue stream into the lucrative Asian market where both players are held in high regard. Lalpekhlua is hailed as the hottest kid in the Indian game after bursting into the international team this year at the age of 20, scoring four goals in his first three games. He plays for Pune. jeje lalpekhlua rangers Image 1 Chettri - under contract with I-League rivals Mohun Bagan AC - was regarded as the country's poster boy and has been linked with Celtic and QPR. In August 2009 his agent claimed the Parkhead club were considering an offer after sending scouts to run the rule over the striker. But later that month Chettri signed a three-year contract at Loftus Road only to have his dream move to Europe collapse after failing to secure a work permit. He then failed to make an impact in the USA after a failed stint with Kansas City Wizards in 2010. Meanwhile, anxious shareholders could be given the chance to grill new owner Craig Whyte at a much-awaited agm just six days before Christmas. Record Sport can reveal that although no date has been set officially, Monday December 19 has been pencilled in for the meeting at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall. That would mean Whyte will have only three weeks left to make public the first set of accounts since buying Sir David Murray's majority shareholding for £1 in May. It's understood the auditing process should be signed off in the next few days. If December 19 is confirmed Whyte will then have until November 28 to send the accounts to shareholders. The meeting should provide much needed clarity on the financial health of a club that has been rocked by rumours of administration throughout Whyte's six months at the helm. Whyte insists he has become the target of a malicious whispering campaign designed to blacken his name and undermine the SPL champions. This week a longrunning £49million dispute with HMRC was reconvened in court, with a final decision expected in February or March.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7289378/?

Taken unashamedly from a St Mirren site (the appointment clearly has a Kenny McDowall connection), as I thought you might like to know. Saints cult hero Gudmundur Torfason has returned to Scottish football after being appointed as Rangers' Icelandic scout. Interesting though, that - a) we've appointed a scout in an area that might provide some value and b) The media and Celtic fans rantings about us being skint, can't pay any bills and are laying off staff don't stack up against a week in which we've given a trial to a Swedish/Gambian striker, offered improved contracts to two players and are clearly still adding to our staff.

I'm sure you all get the emails from the club about buying your ticket for the next home game... But for the Killie game a few weeks back I noted that they were (finally) offering student discount. I say finally as a course mate got a student discount on his season ticket for another Glasgow club. Anyway, turned out I got the use of my supervisors ticket, but I went along to the game with 2 mates from uni (one a Gers fan and another a Hammers fan) and must say it was fantastic value at £12 per student ticket! Cheaper than a game at Firhill the West Ham fan noted! Not sure if this was just because it was a midweek game, or a trial, but a very good move either way. This sort of thing will always encourage new fans visiting Glasgow for university so hats off to the club. I just hope it was not a one off for the occassions I don't get my boss's season book! (anyone know where to find the clubs policy on this?)

Gersnet is starting a new article writing system on trial whereby there's a scheduled rota which is similar to the one in place for writing match previews. The basic idea is to get a list of people who are all interested in writing an occasional Rangers-related article which will be published by Gersnet, but credited to you as the writer. All articles which are published automatically go out to the masses on NewsNow and the Gersnet twitter account. Unlike the match previews where there's a deadline to be met (a preview is needed in advance of the match or it's worthless), this will be less formal and not sticking to deadlines as such, so no real pressure. There's already a writers sub-forum which has been here for years, but only recently flushed of all past work and opened up to everyone. Now that it's open you should feel free to post ideas for articles or projects in there, but in the time being why not sign up to an informal rota if you think you might be interested in occasionally writing something? If you're interested in it just say so here or PM myself or one of the other mods or admin.

Two of the worldââ?¬â?¢s fiercest sporting rivals are to come fame to face in Glasgow. Pakistan and India will play each other at football on Friday September 9 at Ibrox Stadium. The fixture is part of a UK wide series, with the teams also meeting five days earlier in Derby. Pakistan and India were due to meet at cricket in Glasgow in July 2007, however the match was cancelled due to rain. This is the first time both teams will meet in Scotland at football. The matches have caught the imagination of high profile sporting figures. World boxing champion Amir Khan said: ââ?¬Å?Football is one of the most popular sports amongst the Asian communities. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m sure these matches will also be very beneficial for relations between the two countries. He added: ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s always thrilling to see two rivals go up against one another.ââ?¬Â The tour is being organised by Touch Sky Sports (TSS), which aims to promote football in emerging Asian and Middle Eastern markets. Bollywood actors, Asian artists, musicians and English Premier League stars will also play a part in the build up to the games, which have been billed as ââ?¬Å?The clash of the Titans.ââ?¬Â UK born Pakistani players such as Zesh Rehman, Adnan Ahmed and Atif Bashir could all feature. Indian fans will have their eyes on Sunil Chhetri. The player recently had a trial at Coventry City but now plays for Kansas City Wizards in the USA. For more information visit http://www.clashofthetitansuk.com or phone 0844 248 5066. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/pakistan-and-india-to-play-in-glasgow-1.1117859

Can't get a picture uploaded here at work,but it reads SAVE BRENDAN LILLIS. ALEX KANE: Should Lillis be shown compassion? Published on Monday 8 August 2011 08:38 IN 1977 Provisional IRA member Brendan Lillis was sentenced to life imprisonment. Passing sentence, the judge said: ââ?¬Å?No doubt if you had not been caught you would have continued your bombing campaign for an indefinite period.ââ?¬Â As a member of the Provisional IRA, Lillis would have read and signed up to the terms and conditions of the IRA Green Book; conditions which embraced paragraphs about the moral and political superiority of their terror campaign, loyalty to the IRA and particularly the paragraph which said: ââ?¬Ë?It is these strong convictions which bond the army (the IRA) into one force and before any volunteer decides to join the army he must have these strong convictions. Convictions which are strong enough to give him confidence to kill someone without hesitation and without regret.ââ?¬â?¢ How much compassion should society show to an ill prisoner who was a member of an organisation whose members had the confidence to kill without hesitation and regret? How much compassion should it show to an emaciated cripple who is probably physically incapable of posing a threat to anyone? In the case of Brendan Lillis, the answers are not as clear cut as you might think, for in 1993 he was shown some compassion and clemency when he was released from prison on licence after serving only 16 years of his life sentence. Yet in October 2009 his licence was revoked after he was arrested in a field behind a house where police had just foiled a tiger kidnapping. He was charged with conspiring to kidnap, falsely imprison and rob three people in the house, two of whom were employees of the Northern Bank. Ill health since then has left him unfit to stand trial. But itââ?¬â?¢s worth bearing in mind that no-one campaigning for his release is doing so on the grounds that he is an innocent man, unlawfully and unfairly detained. I am not a vindictive man. If I were an MP I would not be voting for the return of capital punishment, even in the cases of terrorism or child killers. I accepted the early release of republican and loyalist prisoners at the time of the Good Friday Agreement because I believed that it would probably help to create a more stable and peaceful Northern Ireland. It was, of course, a calculated risk and I said so at the time. I also accepted the possibility that some of those released from prison would end up in the assembly and executive. To my mind Lillis was given the opportunity to begin a new life back in 1993. He knew the terms and conditions of his release, just as he knew the terms and conditions of the IRA Green Book when he joined it back in the early 1970s. I have no idea if he was involved in any criminal activity between his early release and his re-arrest in 2009, although it seems reasonable enough to conjecture (if he actually is guilty, of course) that he didnââ?¬â?¢t just get a phone call out of the blue asking him if he fancied going back to a life of crime and risking having his licence revoked. So, letââ?¬â?¢s go back to the earlier questions. How much compassion should be shown to someone who seems to have turned his back on the chance to reform and rehabilitate himself? How much compassion should be shown to a man who has been confined to a bed in the hospital ward at Maghaberry prison since January and who has been, so we are told, increasingly frail since he was returned to prison in October 2009? Others have posed another question: isnââ?¬â?¢t there the risk of creating another republican martyr if Lillis is allowed to die in prison? Compassion has a role to play in every area of life: it is one of the civilising aspects of our existence. But compassion has to be earned. It isnââ?¬â?¢t a right (although the ninnies of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission would probably love to make it so!). Compassion cannot be guaranteed just because someone is too physically ill to remain an active or potential threat to individuals in particular or society in general. Early release should never be an expectation for those who become ill while serving a sentence. Just look at the remarkable recovery made by the Lockerbie bomber after his release! And there are other examples, too. What about the prospect of making a martyr for republicanism? The 10 dead hunger strikers achieved absolutely nothing. They may be venerated in some republican circles, but the sight of a hobbled Sinn Fein shackled to the DUP makes a mockery of their so-called sacrifice. Anyway, for Sinn Fein and dissident republicans, martyrs tend to be two-a-penny: capable of being invented, elevated or simply hijacked as and when the occasion demands it. To be brutally honest about it, I have absolutely no doubt that some of those campaigning for early release are doing so for their own ends rather than for his. And there are probably others who hope he does die inside, hoping to exploit his death and funeral for political and propaganda purposes. David Ford has a very difficult decision to make. If the decision were mine, I would have huge reservations about a ââ?¬Ë?compassionateââ?¬â?¢ approach, not least because Lillis himself and some of the people supporting his release have displayed no compassion in their own previous activities. Similarly, releasing him because of the possibility of martyrdom sends a very dangerous message. It may well be the case that Lillis needs specialist treatment. So be it, transfer him to a hospital where he can get 24-hour supervision and attention. But that doesnââ?¬â?¢t require his ââ?¬Ë?releaseââ?¬â?¢, pardon, freedom or a get-out-of-jail-free card: if he can be made well enough for trial then let him be tried. Surely clearing his name and proving his innocence is just as important to him and his family as getting him back on his feet again? Illness and death are inescapable facts of life and in this case it seems to me that Brendan Lillisââ?¬â?¢s circumstances and present location are mostly of his own making. His illness is not linked to his offences (proved or alleged) nor his imprisonment. Personally, I cannot make a credible argument for either compassion or freedom in his case. Neither the cause of justice or mercy would be served by releasing him. http://www.newsletter.co.uk/community/columnists/alex_kane_should_lillis_be_shown_compassion_1_2942637

A man is to stand trial accused of attacking Celtic manager Neil Lennon during a match last season. John Wilson, 26, is alleged to have assaulted the football boss as his side played Hearts in a Scottish Premier League game at Tynecastle stadium in Edinburgh. Wilson, of Edinburgh, is accused of lunging at Lennon and seizing him around the neck during the fixture on May 11. Prosecutors claim the alleged assault, and a separate charge of breach of the peace, were both aggravated by religious prejudice. He appeared before a short hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, where his trial was fixed for the court sitting beginning on August 29. Wilson faces two charges in total. It is alleged he committed a breach of the peace by acting in a disorderly manner, running on to the field of play and running at the away team dugout. It is claimed he was shouting and swearing and made a sectarian remark "all to the alarm and annoyance of others" and causing more disturbance within the crowd. The assault charge against him alleges that he lunged at former Northern Ireland international Lennon at Tynecastle, the home of Hearts FC, and seized him around the neck. Both alleged offences are said by the Crown to have been aggravated by religious prejudice, under the terms of the 2003 Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act. Wilson denies the charges. Advocate David Nicholson, representing Wilson, told the court that the defence team is prepared and ready for the trial. After hearing brief submissions, Sheriff Alistair Noble continued the case to the trial, due to begin on August 29. http://breakingnews.heraldscotland.com/breaking-news/?mode=article&site=et&id=N0419241313503351801A

WESLEY VERHOEK last night issued a come-and-get-me plea to Rangers boss Ally McCoist. The Dutch winger, 24, has told SunSport he's desperate for a switch to the SPL champs after hearing of Gers' interest. Ibrox gaffer McCoist has had a �£1million bid rejected and will have to up his offer with his club ADO Den Haag demanding �£2.6m. Verhoek said: "I will only leave here for a big challenge and for me Rangers are a fantastic club. "But we aren't there yet as the clubs have still to agree a fee and after that I'll see what happens. "When we return from Cyprus I expect ADO will want to speak to me. "Every footballer is ambitious and everyone knows Rangers are a big club." Verhoek - who is also being tracked by Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa - played for Den Haag in last night's 3-0 defeat by Omonia in a Europa League qualifier in Cyprus. He'll return to Holland today and hold immediate showdown talks with Den Haag chairman Mark van der Kallen in a bid to resolve his future. Dutch clubs Utrecht and AZ Alkmaar are also chasing the winger Gers hope to lure to Ibrox. Forest - whose boss Steve McClaren watched Verhoek in action last week - have already had a bid of �£750,000 rejected by the Dutch club. Den Haag have slapped a �£2.6m price tag on Verhoek's head and his plea to McCoist came as Gers failed with another offer for Anderlecht defender Roland Juhasz. As SunSport revealed the Hungarian international is high on the Ibrox wish list. A �£2.5million bid was tabled, but an Anderlecht spokesman said: "We received a second bid from Rangers today which is way below our valuation. "Rangers know our valuation for the player and haven't met it." Anderlecht originally quoted the staggering sum of �£6m for Juhasz when McCoist first enquired. If they stick to that the deal is dead. Meanwhile, Gers have taken German winger David Odonkor on trial while David Goodwillie and Kyle Bartley both remain on the radar. Gers are reluctant to get into a bidding war for Goodwillie after we revealed yesterday Celtic are also chasing the Dundee United striker. But Goodwillie is a player McCoist really wants and Gers will return to United with an improved offer for the 22-year-old hitman today. As we also revealed yesterday, Bartley is close to rejoining Rangers on a season-long loan. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will make a final decision on Bartley's short-term future this weekend. One player hoping to impress at Murray Park is Odonkor who has joined Gers on trial after his contract with Spanish side Real Betis ended. Odonkor who has been capped 16 times by Germany, is fit again after a nightmare three-year injury spell. Meanwhile, Dorin Goian will NOT be able to answer McCoist's SOS in Malmo next week, after UEFA blocked his bid to face the Swedes. Rangers' new Romanian signing had hoped to cut through red tape and be available for the crunch Champions League clash. But despite paperwork being registered with UEFA before last Monday's deadline one vital piece was missing - an accession card that Romanians need to work in the UK - and Goian won't be able to play. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/3720962/Come-and-get-me-Coisty.html#ixzz1TRao806z

MADJID BOUGHERRA will be sold as soon as Rangers secure a replacement after the Algerian rejected a renewed offer to become one of the clubââ?¬â?¢s highest earners by signing a lucrative contract extension. It was hoped the defenderââ?¬â?¢s exit from Ibrox, most probably to Qatari champions Lekhwiya who are offering him a Ã?£30,000-a-week tax-free, could be expedited if Anderlecht accepted a Ã?£2.5m offer for Hungarian internationalist Roland Juhasz and personal terms were agreed with the 28-year-old. However, that bid was firmly rejected by the Belgian club last night, a spokesperson describing the offer as ââ?¬Å?way belowââ?¬Â their valuation of Juhasz. ââ?¬Å?It is not enough for an experienced player like Roland. Rangers know our valuation for the player and they havenââ?¬â?¢t met it. ââ?¬Å?We are not actively looking to sell Roland. Last season we extended his contract. He is one of our leaders and most experienced players. Itââ?¬â?¢s a token of respect for the player and the club for him to attract offers from other clubs. We are the biggest club in Belgium and we are not surprised other clubs are looking at him.ââ?¬Â Herman Van Holsbeek, Anderlechtââ?¬â?¢s director of football, has stated he believes the player is worth closer to Ã?£4m.Kyle Bartley, on another loan from Arsenal, and former Ibrox centre-back Carlos Cuellar, meanwhile, remain options. At the same time, a Ã?£1.5m offer for Wesley Verhoek, the winger who has attracted attention after excellent displays for Dutch club Ado Den Haag, was also submitted and Rangers were last night awaiting responses. Rangers have also confirmed that they have taken David Odonkor, the former German international winger, on trial. The 27-year-old is a free agent after leaving Real Betis, who he joined in 2006. Odonkor flew into Glasgow on Wednesday night and will spend ââ?¬Å?the next few daysââ?¬Â training at Murray Park, the club announced on their official website. Meanwhile, Herald Sport understands that Bougherra met chairman Craig Whyte and McCoist after last Saturdayââ?¬â?¢s 1-1 draw against Hearts at Ibrox. Whyte made it clear that he would sanction an improved contract in the same bracket agreed recently with Allan McGregor and Steven Davis, but the 28-year-old intimated a desire to leave. This will happen when Rangers sign another centre-back and when an offer in excess of the Ã?£2m already bid is received, most likely after next Wednesdayââ?¬â?¢s Champions League qualification match against Malmo in Sweden. Central defence is causing McCoist concern ahead of that tie. Captain David Weir is likely to miss out with a hamstring strain; Bougherraââ?¬â?¢s state of mind could prove an issue; and new signing Dorin Goian, the Romanian signed on Monday from Palermo for around Ã?£750,000, is ineligible. It had been hoped that Uefa would clear him after receiving the necessary paperwork before the 11pm signing deadline on Monday. But a spokesman in Nyon confirmed yesterday he would not be able to play as the accession card needed by Romanians to work in the UK was not included with the submitted documents. The card should come through in time for Goian to make his debut against St Johnstone in the league tomorrow. McCoist, therefore, will likely have to field Bougherra, and either Sasa Papac, Lee Wallace or Kirk Broadfoot as his central defensive partner in Sweden. A Ã?£400,000 offer to Orebro to release Alejandro Bedoya before the end of August is still on the table. Rangers have already signed the winger on a pre-contract, but will not raise that sum. There remains a belief within Ibrox that they will take the money rather than pay the player for the next four months when he has committed to go elsewhere. Rangersââ?¬â?¢ pursuit of David Goodwillie moved no further forward yesterday. The Herald

More info on official site soon... Odonkor it is! http://www.rangers.co.uk/articles/20110728/odonkor-in-gers-trial_2254024_2404264

By Andrew Smith DUNDEE United manager Peter Houston doesn't want to see David Goodwillie move to the Old Firm over fears Glasgow's streets would prove a baiting ground that could result in the player sustaining serious injury. Rape charges against Goodwillie were dropped last week on the grounds of insufficient evidence and the collapse of that case has reignited bidding for a striker considered the country's most exciting young talent. The 22-year-old has also appeared among the more wayward and indeed still has assault charges hanging over him. Off-field problems might be a factor in no club meeting United's �£2 million valuation. Rangers have twice bid little under half that while it has been reported that a �£1.6m package including sizeable add-ons from Blackpool was rejected on Wednesday. The striker has said to Houston that favours a move south of the border - the United manager dismissing a link to Celtic yesterday - and the Tayside club's manager believes that option would be the sensible option for the personal safety that Goodwillie must show greater maturity in protecting. "I don't think Glasgow is the right I place for him to come to," Houston said. "That's me speaking as a Glaswegian, still staying in the city. "Is it the right thing to go to Celtic or Rangersâ�¦ simply because of what goes on? Half the city hate you. Half the city are waiting on you going into a pub to give you stick. Don't get me wrong, I'm not tarring all the Old Firm fans with the same brush. It's a small minority of people like that. But is that what David needs in his career? "David has probably been a silly young boy. I can go back to some of the chats we have had recently and he thinks he is over all that now. He is past that. But I say that in the same breath that has said he was past it before. So I can't hold my hand up and say that's definitely it because he has obviously been in situations where he has been in trouble and fighting. What he has to learn is to walk away. "I think this is it for him," Houston said when asked if his concerns over Goodwillie in Glasgow were in any way related to that city's blade culture. "When you get into a brawl with a 22-stone rugby player or fight when the nightclubs are finished in Glasgow because somebody whacks your pal, that's one thing. But this is a whole different scenario and I genuinely think this is the one that has scared him the most. I've said to David that my major concern is that, in the past, he has been able to look after himself through his hands. But there is always someone out there who thinks they can do better. "This society we live in now, my fear, and I've spoken to him about this, is that he will go down the wrong road and someone, knowing he is good with his mitts will use something else. And from that there is no comeback. That's not just Glasgow, it's all over. But, again, it comes back to getting himself in a situations where he can walk away. "Don't get involved, enjoy your nights. Life is no rehearsal. Think about your career, be fully focused and on track and be the best you can be as a football player. Speaking to him (in recent days] he thinks it's not time to move down to Glasgow. That's not to say if one of the Old Firm came in and he was tempted that he will stay that way. David is a bit inconsistent that way." Houston doesn't view Goodwillie as a consistent performer physically as yet to be considered a fit for the English Premiership player, but ready-made goalscorer at Championship and a buy who would represent a gold-plated investment at the fee being sought by United chairman Stephen Thompson. "Is �£2 million too much to ask for Goodwillie? Conor Wickam has gone to Sunderland for fortunes (an �£8m fee with a possible �£4m add-ons] and he is still just potential," Houston said. "I use him as an example because of the money they paid for him. In my opinion, �£2m is a bargain because David can finish. All through youth levels, all through first-team level, SPL, Europe and the big boys as well he has shown he can do it. "The next step, hopefully, is that he gets a wee crack at international level and sees if he can do it there. Certainly in the market in England �£2m is not unreasonable. "Why should English clubs bid �£750,000 for David Goodwillie when they can pay far more for players who, in my opinion, are not as good as him. I don't even think the chairman is looking for �£2m up front. I think it's something up front then add-ons which take it up to that." One problem with Goodwillie realising his footballing worth for United might be the potential for unwanted add-ons faced by any buyer. Meanwhile, Rangers have taken former Germany international winger David Odonkor on trial. The 27-year-old is a free agent after leaving Real Betis, who he joined in 2006. Odonkor flew into Glasgow on Wednesday to spend "the next few days" training at Murray Park, the club announced on their website. Odonkor made just 52 appearances in five years for Betis amid a series of knee injuries. The right-sided player did not play at all last season, but he has come to Glasgow determined to prove his fitness. Odonkor, who is known for his pace, broke into Borussia Dortmund's first team aged 18 and played for his country at the 2006 World Cup and in Euro 2008. Rangers failed with another offer for Anderlecht's Hungary internationalist defender Roland Juhasz yesterday. http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Peter-Houston-warns-David-Goodwillie.6809443.jp?articlepage=1

In the Franz Kafka novel The Trial, a man is prosecuted by an obscure authority that fails to state his crime. I havenââ?¬â?¢t read it since my Existentialist teenage years, but memory is of a bizarre, claustrophobic fiction showing the evils of faceless bureaucracy. Of-course I would be hysterical if I said this was in any way modern Scotland. We are still part of a wonderfully free society that should make us proud. But we are still not past condemning others with labels ââ?¬â?? with no thought given to what that label actually means. We now habitually call others ââ?¬Å?Sectarianââ?¬Â without telling them what they have done wrong and then refusing any defence. Labelling someone ââ?¬Å?sectarianââ?¬Â is the new fashion, yet most assume their personal definition of sectarianism is the actual definition. The truth is that there is no agreed definition, and that is a major part of the problem. And donââ?¬â?¢t assume that those in authority are even aware of this. When people like Margo MacDonald MSP say the difference between Hearts/Hibs fans and Rangers/Celtic fans is that you will never see a family who supports both Old Firm teams, is to become aware that those making the decisions are sometimes scarily ignorant. This ignorance and reliance on ââ?¬Å?Groupthinkââ?¬Â can lead to a state where myth and lies becomes accepted as truth. The majority take the path of least resistance and rely on shallow statements and surface details, and never thinking of scratching below the surface. Over the past six months this has led to Politicians, Police and anti-Sectarian organisations so determined to stamp out sectarianism that they will flatly refuse to tell us what it is, or participate in any project to ease discrimination in society. Itââ?¬â?¢s all slogans. In fact there is so little action to ease sectarian discrimination in Politics, Law, the Media, Housing and Employment that you could say no-one believes it exists in these fields. Instead, the sole focus is on singing songs. Yes, the great fight of sectarianism that has so many people outraged is of a few football fans. When First Minister Alex Salmond wants to publicise an anti-sectarian initiative he goes to a football stadium. I am sure many readers will know of FARE (Football against Racism in Europe) who in their determination to stop Sectarian chanting from Rangers fans refuse to tell Rangers fans what is sectarian. (A cynic might think they are uninterested in preventing sectarianism so Rangers can be punished again.) What would happen if Scotland fans were accused of racism by FARE and UEFA punished the SFA without telling anyone what was said? There would be uproar among the SFA, Media and Parliament. The reason why this hasnââ?¬â?¢t happened in Rangersââ?¬â?¢ case is that most in the aforementioned chattering classes are enjoying it. Itââ?¬â?¢s human nature that we accept accusations against those we dislike without much care. The Rangers FC must take some of the blame for not stamping out certain songs among some Rangers fans quicker, and for being weak in not defending the vast majority of the overwhelmingly decent supporters from attacks by obsessed pro-IRA supporting ââ?¬Å?journalistsââ?¬Â, who spend their existence on blogs and twitter making all the worlds ills the fault of a Glasgow football team. Deranged bloggers and murky UEFA bodies aside, we should expect different standards from our political class and Police. How is it possible that Central Police publicly state in a recent match between a Rangers XI and Stirling Albion, that Rangers fans sang sectarian songs, yet cannot tell us what the songs are or why there were no arrests? Why the secrecy and lack of action? Yet, for all the recent fuss, Central Police, like Strathclyde Police, are aware of and defend the right of openly pro-IRA bands to sell concert tickets to sing songs about Surface to Air Missiles downing British Helicopters in Northern Ireland; IRA snipers executing young British soldiers as they plead for their life and blatantly racist lyrics like, ââ?¬Å?The Brits will never leave us until theyââ?¬â?¢re blown away.ââ?¬Â The truth is that Scottish Police, like other British police forces, are highly political. There is no political capital in senior officers stopping songs about murdering British people for no reason other than they are British. Why go after pro-IRA bands that are supported at concerts by high-profile people like Billy McNeill, Bertie Auld and John Hartson and others who have been authorised in the past to make pro-IRA song videos at Celtic Park? They know the fallout would be immense. However, there is plenty of career-advancing opportunity in being strong in condemning sectarianism among a few hundred young Rangers fans. Sectarianism that was so bad there were no arrests and the Police canââ?¬â?¢t even tell the public what happened. Take a moment to let that sink in. The Police are so confident that an offence has taken place that they publicise it, but refuse to arrest anyone and wish to keep the offence a secret. The new ââ?¬Å?Secret Sectarianismââ?¬Â at work. http://johndcgow.com/2011/07/14/secret-sectarianism/

RANGERS; WE WILL NOT BE BLAMED FOR SECTARIANISM New boss promises "aggresive" fightback against critics Craig Whyte, the new owner of Rangers, has launched a robust fightback against the football clubs critics on sectarianism, making clear that it will "not be made the whipping boys for society's failings". Ahead of next weeks meeting of the Scottish Governments joint action group, chaired by First Minister Alex Salmond, Mr Whyte has tasked his friend Jack Irvine, executive chairman of Media House International, to spearhead a "more aggresive" response to Rangers critics within and outwith the political world. Mr Irvine said, "What we won't be is knocked around by knee-jerk politicians and by others across the coty. We're drawing a line in the sand. Sectarianism is a problem, but not the sole problem of Rangers Football Club" A decision to be more assertive was made following a meeting between Mr Whyte and members of the All-party Rangers group at Westminster, which includes chairman John Robertson, the Labour MP for Glasgow North West, Peter Robinson, the Northern Irish First minister, Lord Wallacw of Tankerness, the Advocate general, and Eleanor Laing, the Conservative back bencher. Sectarianism was high on the meetings agenda. Mr Irvine, a former editor of The Scottish Sun, said that Rangers views were clear: that it fully supported Mr Salmond and the SNP Government to ris Scottish society of bigotry and that it applauded the decision not to rush through legislation. Mr Irvine added: "However, we are clear in our own minds that there alre elements both in Glasgow and abroad, who are desperate to lay the blame of Scotlands ills at the doors of Ibrox. "I would have thought these poliyically motivated critics might use their energies to analyse the chief problems in our society such as poor education, unemployment, drugs and youth crime. "All respectable Rangers supporters, and that is the vast majority, condemn bigotry and sectrarianism but we will not be the whipping boys for societys failings. "For too long, Rangers have taken it in the neck. it's a new owner, new management, new rules. Craig wants a more robust challenge to ill-informed critics. He does not intend for Rangers to be pushed around." Without naming names, Mr Irvine added: "I have a message for those of you who would denigrate Rangers: if you stop telling lies about us, we'll stop telling the truth about you." Brian Donohoe, labour Mp for Central Ayrshire, who is the all party Rangers Group secretary, supported Mr Irvines sentiments, saying: "We should be on the offensive, not the deffensive. Our record is there to speak for itself. This has to be taken forward on the basis of fairness to all." In April, Rangers was fined �£71,294 by Uefa for sctarian chanting and will not have any of its fans at the first away match of next season after charges of inappropriate chanting were brought in both legs of a Europa League tie against PSV Eindhoven. It has been estimated that Rangers could lose more than �£2 million in lost gate receipts. The issue of sectarianism came to ahead earlier this year when Neil Lemon, the Celtc manager, bacame the victim of a hate campaign and was attacked during a match away to Hearts in Edinburgh. A 26 year old man was subsequently charged with breach of the peace and assualt, both aggravated by religious prejudice. In May, the high profile Glasgow lawyer and former Rangers chief, Donald Findlay QC, was targeted when a suspicious package, thought to be a knife, was sent to Cowdenbeath FC, where he is now chairman. Meanwhile, two men are to face trial after suspected bombs were posted to Mr Lemon as well as other leading supporters of the club.

From STV. .

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