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Anyone still a fan of this has-been old prick? No problem with his set-up in midfield and up front, but our amateur manager set out an amateur defence today. Who else should he have played in defence then you ask? Couldn't give a shit - McCulloch is NOT nor ever has been a defender in anyone's eyes other than Smith's, and every minute Dailly takes to the pitch in a Rangers shirt we are the laughing stock of Scotland. There can't be many arguments that at least a handful of our team are gutless wee gobshites (Beasley, Boyd - there's two), and the players have to take their share of the blame. But it is patently clear that Walter Smith is not inspiring this group of players. Fans are simply going to have to accept the obvious, that Walter Smith is incapable of winning us an SPL title. We are quite literally going backwards by the week under this charlatan. He cannot go soon enough for this Bear. The old git's only there beacuse of his pal upstairs, who himself is long past caring that each day of Smith's reign damages the club. Any respect I had for you from the 9IAR years has disappeared completely. You are past it as a manager and have made it abundantly clear on several occasions what you think of good Bears like me. You will not, under any circumstance, accept responsibility for any of our disastrous results under your watch, and you can stick your tedious media platitudes up your arse. Thousands of Rangers fans will look back on your second spell and view you with utter contempt. WALTER SMITH GTF

WALTER SMITH admitted his side's 2-2 draw with Hearts 'felt like a defeat' and that his players have to show more resilience if they are to have any chance of winning the SPL title this season. Barry Ferguson, RangersThe gaffer could not hide his frustration after the Jambos came from two goals down to snatch a point at Ibrox and put a huge dent in Rangers' title aspirations in the process. He said: "Obviously we are really disappointed at the situation, one that I don't think anyone that watched the first hour of the match would have thought was a possibility. "It feels like a defeat and in a few minutes we managed to undo probably one of our better home performances this season. "We showed a little bit of softness in letting Hearts get back in to the game. Their first real effort on goal was in the 61st minute of the game which says it all. "It is really disappointing that when you are chasing the title you let a winning position slip in the way we did but we will have to wait and see what impact this has on the championship. "We can only look at the situation we have and there is no doubt we are making it extremely difficult for ourselves, especially at home. "That is us dropped five points in the last two games at Ibrox and that's a huge disappointment especially when you consider we were the better side throughout both fixtures. Steven Whittaker, Rangers "It is difficult to take but there is definitely a softness, a lack of resilience, when we are put under pressure. "I look at my time here. I made us difficult to beat and everybody said that was the wrong thing to do. "People now might start to see that this was the right thing to do with my group." Kyle Lafferty and Madjid Bougherra will be pulled out of their respective international squads. Lafferty was taken to hospital with suspected ankle ligament damage after being stretchered off in the first-half.

EXCLUSIVE By DARRYL BROADFOOT ALEX McLEISH will make a fresh bid to sign Kris Boyd in the summer regardless of whether Birmingham City are playing in the Coca-Cola Championship or the Premiership. McLeish last night reiterated his admiration for the Rangers striker despite Boyd failing to agree personal terms when Birmingham's �£3million bid was accepted in January. Birmingham occupy the second automatic promotion spot in the Championship with seven league games remaining and Boyd is a priority target, irrespective of what division the Midlands club will be playing in next season. Boyd's future is almost certainly away from Ibrox at the end of the season. He was sent home from training by Walter Smith for showing a poor attitude in the build-up to the Old Firm Co-operative Insurance Cup defeat at Hampden and despite scoring 95 goals since McLeish signed him from Kilmarnock for �£400,000 in 2006, he has been left out of big games by Smith. advertisement "I wouldn't rule out working with Kris Boyd again," McLeish said. "I couldn't rule it out, him being a part of my squad in future. "It is hypothetical now but we tried to go for him in January and I am really surprised he couldn't finish the deal. I got the feeling he didn't want to leave Rangers. I don't know if that has changed but I thought it was a good opportunity for him to come to England with a view to playing in the Premier League." McLeish is a huge fan of Boyd's predatory talents. He understands the tactical dilemma that has prompted Smith to omit him from Rangers' most demanding games in the SPL and in Europe and cited even more illustrious examples of natural-born strikers, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba at Cheslea, who are unable or unwilling to take their share of defensive responsibilities. McLeish also confounded the popular conception that Boyd, with his dour demeanour, was a troublemaker after spats with Paul Le Guen, George Burley and now Smith. "I don't think he is problematic," McLeish added, "It is just a decision not to pick him. Sometimes I didn't play him away from home. "I can understand Walter Smith because a lot of teams, especially in Europe, play three in the middle of the field and if you don't match up then very often, you can get your backside felt. "Fabio Capello, as England manager, has been prone to doing that. I found it difficult getting strikers to work back to deep-lying midfielders. "They don't like to do it. It was a problem for Luiz Felipe Scolari and even Guus Hiddink said they Anelka and Drogba are two great strikers but that he must get them to think about their defensive job. "That maybe explains why Boyd has been in and out at Rangers. He understands it but also knows his worth and if he is playing in the right circumstances, he will get goals. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2496874.0.0.php

Mar 21 2009 By Hugh Keevins RANGERS face an injury crisis as Walter Smith's personnel problems mount. Madjid Bougherra is definitely out of the crucial clash with Hearts at Ibrox today. Kirk Broadfoot is highly unlikely to play against the Edinburgh side and Smith is not confident the defender will be fit to face Holland in Amsterdam next weekend. That leaves Scotland boss George Burley with a major problem as Spurs' Allan Hutton fights to be fit for the vital World Cup qualifier. Smith is running out of players and will have to field Lee McCulloch and Christian Dailly as his central-defensive partnership against Hearts. Davie Weir is suspended after his red card against Inverness while Bougherra has failed to respond to treatment on his calf injury. And Rangers' forgotten man Andy Webster won't be facing his former club as his chronic injury problems go on. Losing a second league game in arow at Ibrox simply isn't an option for Rangers or Smith. The fans will demand victory today in the wake of the Co-operative Insurance Cup defeat by Celtic last weekend. But Smith last night defended his team against claims of a lack of character in the match with their oldest rivals at Hampden. He said: "If you win these games you're great. If you lose them then you're the worst team in the world. The whole team gets torn apart in the post-match analysis. "I have to tread the middle line and keep the players focused. "We have shown lots of character this season. But Hearts will be tough to break down. "Csaba Laszlo has assessed what he's got and shown no fear while making Hearts steadier." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2009/03/21/rangers-left-with-injury-crisis-in-defence-86908-21215492/

By Andrew Dickson KENNY McDOWALL says Rangers can handle the weight of expectation as fans look for them to deliver the SPL title this season. The Light Blues get back to league business on Saturday after two cup ties when they host Hearts. Barry Ferguson and Kenny McDowallWith just 10 games to go and this match presenting a chance to go top of the table, it's a fixture Walter Smith's men are determined to win. They know they're under pressure to bring the championship back to Ibrox for the first time since May 2005. And McDowall insists that he, the rest of the management and the playing squad are all ready to meet that challenge head on. The first-team coach said: "There's always pressure at Rangers and the players know that. "When you don't achieve things and it's starting to cost the club money, it's a bit different. "Rather than hoping to win, you find that you have to and that's when things are really cranked up. "We're comfortable with having to handle that. It comes with the territory and we know we have to deliver trophies and championships. "If you can't take the heat from that, I think you're in the wrong job but our players deal with it well and I think the coaching staff does too. Walter Smith and Kenny McDowall"The manager's the master at it. He's been there and done it all before and he's passing his experience on to us and the players. "For that, we're grateful and we absolutely feel we can get the SPL title back here this season. We've never said anything else. "Our defeat in the Inverness game a couple of weeks ago was a blip we didn't need but we're still in the thick of things in the league. "We'll take the Hearts match when it comes on Saturday, hopefully win that then look to kick on from there. "It'll be a tough game and one in which we'll need to be on top form to get the result we're looking for. "Once it has gone we'll then look at our situation, decide what needs to be done and push on once more."

By Andrew Dickson RANGERS could be without THREE first-choice defenders when they play Hearts tomorrow at Ibrox in the SPL. Veteran stopper David Weir will definitely miss out as he is suspended after his red card against Inverness in the last league game earlier this month. Kirk BroadfootBut Kirk Broadfoot and Madjid Bougherra are at risk of joining him on the sidelines as they struggle to overcome injuries in time. Bougherra missed last Sunday's League Cup final against Celtic with a calf knock and he is still seen as a slight doubt. While Broadfoot was able to play in the game at Hampden, he has a problem with his foot and after playing for two hours just five days ago he hasn't totally recovered. Each player will be given the opportunity to show they're fit and able to take part in the crucial clash with the Jambos. But if they're also ruled out, the likes of Lee McCulloch, Christian Dailly and Andy Webster could be summoned to feature at the back. Teenager Danny Wilson, who was on the bench for the recent Scottish Cup tie at St Johnstone, could be another option. Kevin Thomson is the only other confirmed absentee for Gers as he continues his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury. But it's the situation he's faced with in his rearguard which will be causing the most concern to Walter Smith at this stage.

Rangers manager Walter Smith says he is unfazed by criticism of his side's form in the title run-in. More...

Ive had my fill with Walter Smith and i truly believe its time for him to walk. But for that to be even remotely possible the fans will have to let him know (I think it is fair to say the majority of bears are in the same opinion) how we feel. Is it time to start the chants for him to go? I say yes. He has to go if we want to win the league.

In light of recent results, Walter Smith, his tactics, his choice of formation and his negative outlook has come under increasing scrutiny. We are all hurting over a hugely disappointing weekend and it has lead to many questions and accusations rightly being levelled at Walter Smith. Less fans than ever before are convinced that the old campaigner has any answers. But where does this accusation of bottling the UEFA Cup Final come from? Is there any basis in fact for this argument? Should Smith have ditched the tactics time and again served him so well and saw his team oust teams of arguably superior quality? Should he have thrown caution to the wind, opened up our team and attacked Zenit from the first whistle? This same side that beat Bayern Munich by an astounding 5 goals to 1 on aggregate. Whilst many are angry that we did not try to win the game by setting out and attacking team from the start, I would argue the reverse was true. If we had completely changed our game plan, the tactics which saw us oust Fiorentina, Sporting Lisbon, Werder Bremen and Panathinaikos in the previous rounds, we would have left ourselves vulnerable to the talents of Arshavin, Tymoschuk and co. Playing a defensive line up aimed at stifling and containing Zenit and hitting them on the break was arguably Smith way of setting out his stall to win the game. We could have gone for the jugular from the first minute and been on the end of a 4-0 humiliation like the mighty Bayern Munich suffered in the Semi-Final second leg. Of course that is mere speculation. But when a team built on defensive strength, McGregor(or Alexander), Cuellar, Weir, Broadfoot and Papac conceded just 2 goals in 8 games on our way to the final. Whilst some may point to the fact that we only scored 5 in these same games that merely goes to strengthen my point and Smith�s case for the defence. If you don�t concede you can�t be beaten. Sure we needed penalties to eventually see of Fiorentina, but for the past few seasons they have been competing at the very top of Serie A and in that same season deposed the Rossoneri from the Champions League places. Whilst many fans contest is a one off game, a final and we should just go for it, are they right if it reduces our chances of winning the match? Sure, in hindsight they can claim to be correct because we did not win. That does not mean that Smith�s tactics, which proved so effective throughout the rest of our European competition were wrong. A number of factors conspired against us going into that final. The attitude of Cousin, costing himself a place in the final day squad. Our fixture backlog throughout the entire season, the number of games played in such a short space of time going into the final was unprecedented. Injuries to key players made our plight even more difficult. At the end of the day though, that is the nature of the game and you cannot fall back on these excuses. Many fans are frustrated. They feel Smith cost them the opportunity of European Silverware. I just don�t think that argument stands up to scrutiny. I don�t want to see our team attacking recklessly, just for the sake of attacking. I do not want to see us battered in the same manner that a Munich team blessed with the quality of Franck Ribery and other such stars were so easily despatched. I want us to play the game that gives us the best chance of victory. Playing to our strength, keeping the game tight and looking to hurt them on the break with the likes of Darcheville, Davis was the correct way forward. That does not excuse Smith negativity in playing a defensive 4-5-1 against teams who are not blessed with a greater wealth of talent. I am appalled at the decision to play in such a defensive, scared to get beat, too scared to try and win manner against your Aberdeen�s and Celtic�s. But let�s not tarnish Smith�s achievements in Europe of last season through an agenda and weak comparison with the dregs of Scottish football and one of the most impressive teams in European competition of the last 2 seasons. A team who went on to handily beat English, European and World Champions Man Utd. no less!

I am more than convinced of this , and its so frustrating to watch as in my opinion we have decent players in our squad who could have caused Celtics defence a lot of problems. Smith plays not to lose rather than to win , we should be taking the game to Celtic in a one off game but as like the Uefa Cup Final last season Smith bottles it bigtime. The sight of Dailly entering the field of play was baffeling ?? its nothing personal against Christian Dailly but we have much better players in the team Smith is so Negative it makes my blood boil as i love to see attacking football Losing the Ciup to them hurts and we will have to put up with the jibes and taunts till we have the chance to turn it around if we win the league , but under Walter Smith and the current management my confidence of us winning the league has near gone as Walter Smith is suffacating our club. I know for a fact that if Walter Smith remains our manager for next season i and a lot of my friends will not be renewing our season tickets as we have had enough of this negative football , we deserve better.

Just finished this fairly enjoyable book by Neil Drysdale - thanks admin for running the comp. A few thoughts:- Large tracts of the book make little reference to Smith. I know autobiographies are supposed to give a bit of background to the events in the subjectââ?¬â?¢s life, but much of the first half of the book in particular is about Souness and his rifts with various players. I also found it rather unfortunate that there were constant references to sectarianism (on 16 pages) in what is supposed to be a book about football, not society. We get the old chestnut about Sir Alex refusing the managerââ?¬â?¢s job because of our ââ?¬Ë?sectarianismââ?¬â?¢ and he even hints this may have been why Jim McLean also turned us down. Thereââ?¬â?¢s also the diatribe from the Hamilton fan who talks about how horrible we were to them and how we screamed sectarian abuse at their players when they beat us in the cup in ââ?¬â?¢87. And there are various interviews with fans with ââ?¬Ë?f enianââ?¬â?¢ splashed liberally throughout, sectarian chanting in Osasuna, UVF chanting in Manchester and at times the book reads like a Spiersesque hatchet job. Apparently refs favoured us in the 9IAR season as well. Perhaps Iââ?¬â?¢m being harsh on the author as he does mention Celtic fans making jokes about the Ibrox Disaster and defending the Enniskillen bombings but again, what has all this got to do with Walter Smith? Iââ?¬â?¢d certainly like to know a bit more about Drysdaleââ?¬â?¢s background. Smithââ?¬â?¢s playing career aside, from a footballing point of view thereââ?¬â?¢s not a huge amount of stuff we donââ?¬â?¢t already know but that said, I did enjoy reliving the events of the 90s and being reminded of some great times (on the other hand the chapter on last season is excruciating). Then again, I read the following quote from a fan about the AEK Athens shambles with weary familiarity: ââ?¬Å?...he screwed up big style that night. The defence was all over the place, and we read later that they had never played together in that formation before. Well, that is just daft isnââ?¬â?¢t it?ââ?¬Â The UEFA Cup stuff was hard to read, and I cringed at Smithââ?¬â?¢s comment after the final about it being ââ?¬Å?the end of the beginningââ?¬Â in rebuilding Rangers, when I look at the sorry state we are in at present and the tough times ahead. What I also enjoyed about the book was when Drysdale looked at Walter Smith the man and not the football icon, since Smith is notoriously unemotional and gives nothing away in front of the camera. I love the quote: ââ?¬Å?He quickly found himself drawn towards Rangers with their history, their reputation as giants within the British game, and their cussed refusal to become trendy. Why else, with the advent of the Swinging Sixties and Beatlemania and social revolution effecting a transformation in the ideas of young Scots, would Smith be so fascinated by the Calvinist tradition which permeated Ibrox?ââ?¬Â Reading the book was also the first time I had read Smithââ?¬â?¢s speech at the 1997/98 AGM when he announced his retirement. While Iââ?¬â?¢m not Smithââ?¬â?¢s biggest fan as current manager, his credentials as a Rangers man are indisputable, which is why I will always back him over the Rangers-hating scum which pervade the media and society in this country. The book is let down somewhat by a series of glaring errors. Ian Durrant apparently scored the winner away to CSKA Moscow in 1992, Walter was appointed Scotland manager in December 2006, and Dave Bowman becomes the slightly more exotic Dave Beaumont. Perhaps Iââ?¬â?¢m being pedantic. All in all a worthwhile read, and better than a lot of the dumbed down crap that pass for football books these days.

f fortune favours the brave then it surely follows that the converse also rings true. Rangers' misfortune in Sunday's Co-operative Insurance Cup final stemmed largely from their own faintheartedness. Walter Smith has never been one to gamble recklessly with team selection but it is one thing to be cautious and respectful of the opposition, and quite another to be ultra conservative to the point of strangling all creativity. For Smith, the fear of losing has now overtaken the desire to win. Simply put, Rangers should not be lining up in a 4-5-1 formation at a neutral venue. It is a system just about acceptable away from home against one of Europe's leading lights, or in a league match at Celtic Park. A national cup final at Hampden against Celtic is like heads up at poker. Smith assessed his hand, calculated what Gordon Strachan had on the other side of the table, and effectively folded. It spoke volumes about the Rangers manager's evaluation of his squad that he did not entrust them with the task of taking the game to their opponents, preferring instead to try to nullify Celtic and hope to sneak something on the counter-attack or from set-pieces. The irony, of course, is that both Celtic goals arrived from dead balls and that they similarly lined up 4-5-1. Gordon Strachan, though, turned the problem of a misfiring strikeforce into an opportunity by playing an extra midfielder, and allowing Aiden McGeady to roam free in a supporting role beside Scott McDonald. He has also shown a willingness to indulge his flair players like McGeady, Shunsuke Nakamura and Scott Brown in the knowledge that it is better to try to win a game, rather than simply attempting not to lose it. McGeady, Nakamura, and Brown may lack defensive discipline on occasion but they at least offer a regular spark in attack. Rangers, in contrast, were lifeless. advertisement They, too, had players at Hampden capable of offering an injection of ingenuity. Unlike Celtic's, however, they were all dressed in suits and seated in the stand. It would be unfair to lambast Christian Dailly, who has been a fine servant to many clubs as well as the national team throughout a distinguished career, but his inclusion on the bench aged 35 and without an appearance to his name for six months, was baffling. With just five substitutes permitted in this competition, Dailly's inclusion, presumably in case Kirk Broadfoot succumbed to the foot injury that had been troubling him in the build-up, used a berth that could have been taken by Steven Naismith, John Fleck, DaMarcus Beasley, or Aaron Niguez. Granted, none of that quartet has posed a consistent threat this season, but up against a Celtic defence shorn of its best operator - Gary Caldwell was redeployed in midfield - any one of them would surely have created at least a handful of chances. Denied any real service from the wings and with Kenny Miller utilised as a lone(ly) striker, it was little surprise that Rangers failed to score for the third Old Firm game in succession. Kyle Lafferty was his team's best player on the day but was given only half an hour in his preferred position through the middle before he was taken off. Kris Boyd and Nacho Novo made next to no impact from the bench, Pedro Mendes did little to suggest he should be a contender for Player of the Year, while Barry Ferguson's days of dominating the midfield battles seem increasingly to be behind him. Smith, reportedly, had prepared all week to play 4-4-2 with Lee McCulloch stationed wide on the left behind a front two of Lafferty and Miller. On receiving Celtic's teamsheet, however, Smith had a change of heart. Sensing the need to go like for like in midfield, McCulloch was moved inside, Lafferty shunted to the wing, and Miller left to go it alone up front. The reshuffled unit contained Celtic for 90 minutes before Darren O'Dea made the breakthrough early in extra time. Rangers had precious few resources with which to respond and paid the ultimate price. Smith now has 10 league matches left in which to make amends and shape his legacy. Should Rangers fail to win the title, it seems unlikely he will be given another season to try to end the championship drought. Another season without success and Celtic would be halfway towards 10-in-a-row. Should Smith win the title this season he may decide, aged 61, there will not be a better time to walk away. Ever the pragmatist, he will realise that one cup final defeat does not signal a need for panic. Until the shock loss to Inverness Caledonian Thistle recently, Rangers had gone through their opening 10 games of 2009 undefeated, conceding only two goals in that time. Madjid Bougherra, injured on Sunday, will return this weekend to further fortify the defence. A case could also be made for Steven Davis to be given an overdue opportunity to play in the central midfield role he so craves at the expense of either Ferguson or Mendes. Lafferty has done enough to earn an extended run at centre forward, while Fleck will return hungrier after dropping out of the side following a stellar start. Navigating the closing weeks of the season will be a real test of nerves for all involved. It will take strong hearts and minds. Sometimes it will also require a sense of adventure and a willingness to take a gamble. Fortune does favour the brave, after all. http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headlines/display.var.2495904.0.Time_for_Smith_to_abandon_his_conservative_instincts.php

As the title says. It's as simple as that really. Only problem is, our next manager will be the cheap option. Anyway, do you now think that he has realised that his uber defensive and boring team tactics aren't working and he'll ditch them for another more attacking tactic and team selection? Nah, me neither! Defensive at home against weaker teams, defensive away from home against weaker teams and defensive in cup finals where it's a one off game. It's not acceptable but it's become the norm these days. How Naismith was left out of the squad yesterday is an unbelieveable decision to make considering he's arguably our best striker, if of course, he's played in that position. It's not a given these days! Kenny Misser is a joke of a player. His selection policy is mind boggling. Fucked off and fed up.

By Lorna Smith and Mark Howarth, 14/03/2009 A CRACK team of debt-busting bankers has been put together to claw back millions from crisis club Rangers. The Ibrox giantââ?¬â?¢s finances have suffered like all businesses in the credit crunch ââ?¬â? causing some of the loans bolstering the club to be put under the microscope. Now cash-strapped Bank of Scotland bosses have hand-picked a posse of ââ?¬Ë?asset houndsââ?¬â?¢ to examine how the club can pay back much of its debt. Experts believe the bank could demand repayments of Ã?£20MILLION over the next few years ââ?¬â? taking the Rangers debt down to around Ã?£5million. Light Blues chairman Sir David Murray has already slashed 12 stadium jobs and ordered manager Walter Smith to axe eight stars in the summer. But last night there were warnings that more cuts could see Rangers facing a DECADE living in Celticââ?¬â?¢s shadow. A Bank of Scotland insider revealed: ââ?¬Å?The debt has been deemed too big and it was felt the time had come to start clawing back some of the cash. ââ?¬Å?The credit crunch means thereââ?¬â?¢s no such thing as easy money any more ââ?¬â? we cannot keep loaning companies big money against assets that leave us exposed. ââ?¬Å?We donââ?¬â?¢t want Rangers to suffer on or off the pitch so weââ?¬â?¢ve pulled together some of our best brains to make sure that the club comes down as gently as possible. ââ?¬Å?But the current situation cannot possibly continue. Ultimately, this is big business and, Iââ?¬â?¢m afraid, sometimes it hurts.ââ?¬Â As Rangers face Celtic at Hampden today in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final, Stephen Morrow, Professor of Sports Studies at Stirling University, warned fans that the bankââ?¬â?¢s crackdown could see their club ââ?¬Å?in the wildernessââ?¬Â for the next ten years. He said: ââ?¬Å?This will make it even more challenging for a club like Rangers to compete. In some ways, Celticââ?¬â?¢s financial basis is different ââ?¬â? theyââ?¬â?¢ve been run in a different way which has left them less exposed. ââ?¬Å?If Rangers have to pay back, say, Ã?£15-Ã?£20million over the next few years, thereââ?¬â?¢s a risk of a big gap opening up between them and Celtic.ââ?¬Â It is believed the specialist lending team of bankers will study the clubââ?¬â?¢s estimated Ã?£25million debt before making a string of recommendations to claw back some of the clubââ?¬â?¢s loans. The options would include selling off assets ââ?¬â? such as players ââ?¬â? trimming overheads, selling other assets or attracting more investment. Professor Morrow added: ââ?¬Å?What youââ?¬â?¢ve got with a mature business like Rangers is that the business has developed ââ?¬â? thereââ?¬â?¢s only a fixed number of games they can play, theyââ?¬â?¢re playing those games to capacity crowds and thereââ?¬â?¢s a TV deal which is not going to get any better. ââ?¬Å?Once youââ?¬â?¢ve brought playersââ?¬â?¢ wages under control then thatââ?¬â?¢s it, there arenââ?¬â?¢t many more ways to lever huge sums of money into the club. ââ?¬Å?Unless someone comes along and gives you the cash, the only other way is to sell some of your assets and that means players.ââ?¬Â Rangersââ?¬â?¢ finances are tied into chairman Sir David Murrayââ?¬â?¢s complex web of companies, Murray International Holdings ââ?¬â? of which the bank owns around 10 per cent. UNDER THREAT: Kris Boyd Sir David gained control of the Ibrox club in 1988 after buying the majority of its shares for Ã?£6million. As chairman, the businessman ploughed cash into the club, building a third tier on the main stand and raising the groundââ?¬â?¢s capacity by 7,300. Murrayââ?¬â?¢s costly European ambitions for the side, under Dick Advocaatââ?¬â?¢s management, saw them spend millions. But the clubââ?¬â?¢s debts spiralled as TV revenues failed to make a dent on mammoth transfer fees and playersââ?¬â?¢ salaries. By 2001, mounting debts threatened the clubââ?¬â?¢s future and Murray admitted mistakes were made. He said at the time: ââ?¬Å?We got it wrong. We obviously spent far too much money. We canââ?¬â?¢t let it happen again because that would be total mismanagement.ââ?¬Â In July 2002, Murray stood down as chairman but returned two years later in a bid to reduce the Rangers debt mountain. He organised the sale of a new batch of shares which raised Ã?£50million to start paying off the bank and, by 2006, the total owed had dropped from nearly Ã?£74million to only Ã?£5.8million. Since then, the debt has started to rise again at an alarming rate ââ?¬â? despite Rangersââ?¬â?¢ run to the 2008 UEFA Cup Final. Last year it stood at Ã?£21.6million but is believed to have reached around Ã?£30million before the bank stepped in. Half-yearly figures released in January show the clubââ?¬â?¢s turnover is 50 per cent lower than 2006. And they are facing a 71 per cent jump in interest payments to nearly Ã?£8,000 a DAY. The credit crunch has hit the club hard as Murray International Holdingsââ?¬â?¢ huge commercial property assets have plummeted in value. Last night insolvency expert John Shields said: ââ?¬Å?Murray International Holdings is built on steel, property and football. ââ?¬Å?The bottom has fallen out of the market for steel and property, so the football cannot carry on being a loss-making luxury. The Bank of Scotland has specialist lending teams whose job it is to protect the bankââ?¬â?¢s money. Those men in grey suits will be looking very closely at the Rangers balance sheet and may suggest pruning the Ibrox staff. UNDER THREAT: Barry Ferguson ââ?¬Å?The team will probably be three-strong and theyââ?¬â?¢ll spend up to six months poring over Rangersââ?¬â?¢ accounts and working with the club to identify where the savings are. ââ?¬Å?They should have a strategy in place for when the transfer window opens at the end of the season and then guide the club through until it closes at the end of August. ââ?¬Å?Weââ?¬â?¢re in a recession so season ticket revenue could fall, corporate hospitality has been cut, the Murray Park Academy hasnââ?¬â?¢t delivered enough young players. The only way to raise revenue short-term is to sell players. ââ?¬Å?Usually, the fact that the club has a wealthy parent company would be enough to satisfy the banks. ââ?¬Å?But Murray International Holdings has taken a hit as well so Rangers is more exposed than it would normally be. ââ?¬Å?David Murray is a realist ââ?¬â? he is trying to bring a sound business structure to the club which is essential for it to survive but if the bank is now restructuring the debt then there may be even deeper cuts on the way. ââ?¬Å?I think the fans need to rally round the chairman at this time, not barrack him for putting his neck on the line.ââ?¬Â Sir David recently admitted Rangers had lurched deeper into the red, losing nearly Ã?£4million between June and December 2008, with Ã?£1.4million paying off interest alone. An early exit from European football at the hands of Lithuanian minnows Kaunas in the second qualifying stage of the Champions League this season cost the club around Ã?£13million in potential revenue. During Januaryââ?¬â?¢s transfer window, Murray sanctioned the sale of star striker Kris Boyd for Ã?£3.8million in a bid to rake in cash. UNDER THREAT: Allan McGregor Boyd, 25, was on the verge of a move to Birmingham City but a row over his Ã?£20,000- a-week wages saw the deal fall through. Goalie Allan McGregor and captain Barry Ferguson, on salaries of Ã?£25,000 and Ã?£30,000 a week, were linked to a lucrative Newcastle United move which also fell through. Walter Smithââ?¬â?¢s squad is to be trimmed to only 20 in the summer after failing to offload Boyd in January. But Murray has insisted that long-term loans were keeping the club stable, saying: ââ?¬Å?What Iââ?¬â?¢m doing is not panicking. We have a financial facility with the bank and we must work within that framework.ââ?¬Â Now that strategy has been thrown into uncertainty and earlier this month, Rangers admitted a dozen backroom staff would lose their jobs. John Macmillan, general secretary of the Rangers Supportersââ?¬â?¢ Association said: ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s a pretty bleak picture ââ?¬â? the fans wonââ?¬â?¢t take kindly to this. ââ?¬Å?Most really donââ?¬â?¢t care about who owes what to whom, so we may see a split between the club and the fans over the next few years. ââ?¬Å?But the club must recognise that itââ?¬â?¢s not the fansââ?¬â?¢ fault that Rangers are in such a mess ââ?¬â? thereââ?¬â?¢s been mismanagement and unwise signing policies which continue to this day. ââ?¬Å?The way through this crisis is to put bums on seats, not to penalise the fans. The club should look at lowering prices and even letting in kids for free.ââ?¬Â Bank of Scotland has recently been bought out by Lloyds Banking Group after racking up losses of Ã?£10.8billion as part of HBOS. Both the bank and the club refused to comment. http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_news/218758/Rangers-pound20m-debt-squeeze-David-Murray.html

By Ron Scott Ibrox defender Madjid Bougherra.MADJID BOUGHERRA (right) has been ruled out of today�s Co-operative Insurance Cup Final against Celtic at Hampden. That was the sensational news from the Rangers camp last night. It�s a crushing blow for the Ibrox club as the big French-Algerian defender has been their most consistent player all season. He has struggled all week with a calf injury picked up in last Sunday�s Homecoming Scottish Cup tie against Hamilton Accies, and has failed to recover in time to play today. Major headache Bougherra�s absence leaves Rangers manager Walter Smith with a major headache over who to pair in central defence with Davie Weir. Kirk Broadfoot is the obvious choice, but his fitness is not guaranteed either. He has missed the last couple of games with a foot injury. The former St Mirren centre-half will be given every chance to make it, but much will depend on whether he suffers a reaction from yesterday�s training session. If Broadfoot is ruled out, too, Smith�s choice is a straight one between Lee McCulloch and Christian Dailly. McCulloch has this season been converted into a defensive midfielder, and he also partnered Weir in central defence for a few games towards the end of last year. Decision Meanwhile, Dailly�s last start for Rangers was back in September. Smith has also to decide whether to use leading scorer Kris Boyd. With Kyle Lafferty favourite to start alongside Kenny Miller, Boyd�s best bet will be a place on the bench, but even that is not guaranteed with Nacho Novo fit again. Celtic have no last-minute injury scares, with manager Gordon Strachan�s only dilemma being who to pair upfront with Scott McDonald. The choice lies between Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink or Georgios Samaras. Although Samaras has 14 goals to his credit, don�t be surprised if the Dutchman starts. Strachan may also opt for the experience of Paul Hartley in midfield ahead of young Spaniard Marc Crosas. http://www.thesundaypost.co.uk/postindex.htm

By Andrew Dickson KENNY McDOWALL is relishing the chance to get one over his former employers Celtic this afternoon when Rangers meet them in the League Cup final. Although he was raised as a staunch Light Blues supporter when he was a child, the Ibrox first-team coach spent a decade working with the youths and reserves at Parkhead. Barry Ferguson and Kenny McDowallMcDowall moved directly across Glasgow to Gers in January 2007 when he was appointed as part of Walter Smith's backroom staff. Doing so allowed him to fulfil a boyhood dream and now he can't wait for today's Old Firm decider at Hampden after some uncomfortable moments across the divide. McDowall joked: "It was fairly difficult for me when I was at Celtic. My family wanted Rangers to beat them but I was looking for bonus money! "I've said before on record that I had a good time at Parkhead doing the job I was in. I enjoyed it and it set me up to do the job I'm in here. "But I'm at Rangers now and I'm loving it - it goes without saying I'm really looking to get a result against Celtic this weekend. "This is the first trophy of the season and when you're playing your enemy, it's obviously a game you want to win. "The supporters will be right up for this one and there can be no excuses when the match gets underway - we've got to get on with it and do a job." Ally McCoist and Kenny McDowallMcDowall hopes the relaxed atmosphere in Smith's squad plays a part in a good performance by Rangers today. While a lot of work has been done on the training field over the last few days, there has been plenty of bonding done off it too. McDowall added: "The fact we've had a whole week to get ready has been good - we've had knocks we've wanted to clear up and I suppose Celtic will have been the same. "We've tried to keep things quite relaxed. It has been a big week and there's always a lot of tension ahead of a cup final. "There's no escaping the hype but it has been our job to keep the players as calm as possible and hopefully we've done that."

At least according to the Daily R*cord.

Celtic's Gordon Strachan explains the pressures he shares with Rangers' Walter Smith as Old Firm managers. More...

And I can’t believe that I’m typing this, we are now the only team able to win the domestic treble. Even after the Inverness debacle, we are still in pole position to land a historic eighth treble and the quest for this treble begins in earnest today. The CO-OP Cup Final has come under various guises over the years, but it is a tournament that has been very kind to us and one that we have been very successful in over the years. On Sunday we will be aiming to win the league cup for a record breaking 26th time. The first official Scottish League Cup was contested in season 1946-47 and we defeated Aberdeen in the Hampden final. Whilst Sunday gives us the opportunity to win the first leg of the treble, it could also give us a psychological boost for the remainder of the league campaign where we have slipped to second favourites after the terrible league performance last Wednesday against ICT at Ibrox. Once again, a diabolical substitution cost us a vital three points in the race for the title. Instead of making a straight swap – Fleck off and Aaron on, Walter Smith decides to replace Edu (one of our better performers on the night) with Lafferty, a change that required four players moving positions and resulted in us losing all momentum that eventually cost us the three points. Sunday will also give an indication as to how the remainder of the season will pan out player / tactics wise. It is a cup final, a one off occasion so you would expect out management team to select a team to win the trophy, rather than a team not to lose the game. The same can be said for the remaining league games. We are now three points behind so the emphasis is on us to win all our remaining SPL games to ensure that the league title comes home to Ibrox. I for one am not confident of the above. I fully expect a 4-5-1 today and can imagine Walter resorting to this formation in the SPL, especially on our travels. The players and management have shown a lack of belief and courage when it was required most. We have been given ample opportunities to cement our place at the top of the SPL, but every-time these opportunities present themselves, we shoot ourselves in the foot. The only consolation is that today’s opposition are as bad as we are. Take out their 7-1 drubbing of St Mirren then their recent form is actually worse than ours. Our ability to win the SPL this season takes on extra significance given the perilous financial situation that we find ourselves in. Another season without Champions League money is unthinkable, so winning the SPL is a must (both financially and more importantly, to stop them from making it four in a row) and the warning shots have been fired. No matter what trophies we happen to win this season, we will be selling at least eight players in the summer. Fail to reach the Champions League, this number may rise. This again is unthinkable as this would further weaken our squad thus making it harder to mount a domestic challenge next season – it’s the classic snowball effect of downsizing. We are in pole position in the Scottish Cup given Celtc’s loss to St Mirren at the weekend, a result that should have lifted our collective spirits as once again, it showed how ordinary a team that they are. Faced with pace and physical presence they struggle (were you watching Mr Smith?). I would gladly give up the two domestic cups to ensure that we win the SPL. That would be hard to take admittedly, especially given Sunday’s opponents. It is always unbearable losing to them, but losing to them in a final hurts even more (see below). The league is the priority, but today, lets enjoy our day in the sun (hopefully) and lets get the Old Lady rocking. Cammy F -

STEVEN NAISMITH gave Walter Smith something to think about this afternoon by scoring a first-half double as Rangers' Reserves beat Hibs 2-1 at Murray Park. Steven NaismithWith a League Cup final against Celtic only days away Naisy showed the gaffer his desire to be involved with an impressive 90-minute display. The 22-year-old, playing in his preferred role through the middle, was lively from the kick-off and bagged the opening goal on 24 minutes. A John Fleck corner was nodded down by Christian Dailly and his teammate was there to hammer the ball home past Andrew McNeil. The second goal arrived just seconds before the half-time interval. Fleck again delivered a teasing cross from a corner and Naismith stepped away from his marker before heading the ball in to the net. Tommy Wilson admitted after the final whistle that slackness crept in to his side's play after the restart and DaMarcus Beasley was guily of missing a snip when he was one-on-one with McNeil. The American got the ball tangled between his legs before it was cleared to safety. John Fleck A third goal at this stage would have killed off Hibs' chances but and they were to pull a goal back on 70 minutes. Substitute Damon Gray played in Jack Wilson who angled a tidy finish beyond Neil Alexander. In the dying stages the impressive Mo Edu skipped past three men before rifling a low shot across McNeil. Unfortunately it went inches wide of target but it showed the midfielder's undoubted athletiscism and his potential at pushing forward in to the last third. In the end Rangers' deservedly secured three points and the fixture proved an excellent run-out for first-team players such as Beasley, Fleck, Hemdani and Steven Smith. It was Naismith, however, that really threw his name in the hat for Sunday's final and he clearly relished being utilised as a striker again. RANGERS: Alexander; Lowing, Webster (Harvey), Dailly, S. Smith; Lennon, Hemdani (Wylde), Edu, Beasley (Little); Fleck, Naismith Subs Not Used: Gallacher, Kinniburgh

by Lindsay Herron KIRK BROADFOOT'S dreams of facing Celtic in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final at Hampden on Sunday could be wrecked by a foot injury. The former St Mirren defender has ligament damage and the Murray Park medical team are unsure if it will clear in time, Nacho Novo gets treatmentThe good news for Rangers is that Madjid Bougherra has been passed fit despite taking a calf knock in last Sunday's 5-1 Homecoming Scottish Cup win over Hamilton. And manager Walter Smith has revealed that Nacho Novo has a chance of making the squad as the Spanish striker battles back from an ankle injury suffered at the end of January. Smith said today: "Madjid will be fine. Nacho has a chance for the final and we hope he will be available but we will know more later in the week. "Kirk has ligament damage in his foot and, again, we hope he will be fit but we will have to wait until later in the week." Broadfoot missed the Hamilton game last Sunday and in his absence Stevie Whittaker produced a good performance at right back topped by a terrific solo goal. This might have nailed his place for the Final - even if Broadfoot recovers - although Smith was not giving anything away. He said: "Steven did well on Sunday and he was more like himself. He was doing the type of things we know he is capable of. "When players come in to the team we always want them to try to force us into making decisions and Steven has made a case for the Final. "The same goes for Kyle Lafferty who played well at the weekend."

By Andrew Dickson NACHO NOVO insists he's ready to face Celtic and that adrenalin will pull him through Sunday's League Cup final if he is judged to be fit enough to play in it. The Spanish striker has fully recovered from the ankle knock which has kept him out of action for more than five weeks and is back in full training. But he is lacking match practice and even before he was crocked, he had only played 90 minutes for the first team twice in the previous three months. Novo has a good record against Celtic, scoring six times in total, and Walter Smith has started him more than any of his other strikers in the derby since he returned to the club. The manager will know pitching the little hitman straight into the fray would be a risk given how little he has featured over the last few months. But the former Dundee star is eager to show he can make an impact and is ready to dig deep into his reserves if he is given the nod. Novo said: "I feel good and I am working really hard as I try to get fit for this game. I've been doing a lot with the physios and I'm hopeful of playing a part. "You always worry about things if you are injured ahead of a big game and I am no different. Every time I train, I am feeling better and that is the most important thing. "I certainly feel I can make a contribution and in Old Firm games, you always find it within you to do a job. "Whether you are fully fit or not, it is about your mentality and how much you want to play rather than anything else. "It won't be a problem for me to play on Sunday. Adrenalin will help me if the manager chooses me."

STEVIE WHITTAKER is hoping his timely performance in yesterday's demolition of Hamilton can earn him a slot in Sunday's Co-operative Insurance Cup Final. Whittaker came in for Kirk Broadfoot in the right back slot and produced his best form of the season with a terrific goal and assists on both Kyle Lafferty goals in the 5-1 win. Now he hopes he has done enough to convince Walter Smith that he is the man to face Celtic at Hampden. He said: Of course I am desperate to play in it. I have not had a lot of playing time lately and yesterday was a big chance for me. "Hopefully at the very least I have put my name into the manager's thoughts for the game against Celtic. "I just hope that I can use yesterday's win as a stepping stone to staying in the team and playing a part between now and the end of the season." Whittaker has had a stop-start campaign but he scored a great opening goal and his confidence looked to be back. He added: "To get the opening goal in what was a good team performance and what was, I felt, a decent individual performance, was big for me and I just hope that I get the chance to take that into next week. "I put us one up and when you do that early in a game it gives you a lot of confidence. "It helped me relax a bit and I felt that my game came on from that."

Football too easily lends itself to hysterical judgment. It hasn't taken long for Rangers' 1-0 defeat by Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Ibrox on Wednesday night to be decreed a ââ?¬Å?calamityââ?¬Â and a ââ?¬Å?disasterââ?¬Â, with every claim ranging from calls for Walter Smith's head to the permanent dumping of Kris Boyd being made. Rangers, a club with every chance of winning the 2009 title, are said to be at a low ebb. Caley Thistle's victory was certainly a setback for Smith's side but too much is already being read into the result. The chase for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title, at both Celtic Park and Ibrox, is going to endure quite a few more such moments as Wednesday night, so it seems silly to sound off emphatically about the harm that Terry Butcher's men have done to Rangers. Come early April, let's just see how many more random glitches have been added to the plot. Rangers were poor on Wednesday but they weren't ââ?¬Å?disgracefulââ?¬Â or ââ?¬Å?shockingââ?¬Â as some hot-headed supporters around the pressbox were claiming. Caley Thistle, in truth, were extremely lucky to win and, as stonewall a penalty as David Weir's late challenge on David Proctor was, Butcher's team had hardly been within 30 yards of Allan McGregor's goal. The fact that Rangers revealed some obvious flaws cannot conceal the fact that they were blatantly robbed at the death. Those who rant and rave at Smith's renowned caution may also pause to consider some of the aspects of Rangers' failings on the night. John Fleck, whom you could almost be forgiven for thinking was a new, young Diego Maradona in our midst, given some of his press coverage, played poorly, losing possession easily or running up blind alleys with the ball. A few Ibrox diehards were yelling for Fleck to be taken off long before he was on Wednesday, and it should serve again to warn those who already have this young footballer's mesmerising career mapped out ahead of him. Related Links * Fans turn on sorry Rangers * Someone is letting Rangers down These games happen every so often. Before Wednesday night Rangers had been running into some decent form - unlike Celtic - and their defence had begun to look stingy in the extreme. Right now, one match cannot be said to have undone all of that, and talk of the wheels coming off Rangers' title challenge is simply absurd. What you do need if you are a Rangers supporter today, given some of the players at the club, is a well of compassion and patience which are normally alien to football supporters. In their different ways Boyd, Kirk Broadfoot, Steven Davis and Maurice Edu all have the ability to infuriate. Davis, in particular, is neat and tidy, but for a Ã?£4million player should probably have more severe weapons in his arsenal. In Edu's case, it is still too early to judge, though some remain faintly amazed that Rangers paid an alleged Ã?£2.6million for the player. In terms of such a price, is Edu a Filip Sebo - all Ã?£1.8million of him - all over again? The most infuriating Rangers player of all remains Boyd: what a goalscorer and what a plodder. When Boyd, in the opening moments against Caley Thistle, was given time and space in the old inside-left channel in the penalty area, but then over-ran the ball, Ibrox let out a knowing groan. The striker will forever have his limitations, and when he is enduring one of his leaner scoring spells, such as now, they will always be held against him. Some of Britain's greatest goalscorers have also been average footballers, but their goals were all that mattered. That truth is something that Boyd is going to have to live with. In the weeks and months ahead Rangers have still to go to Celtic Park, Tannadice, Tynecastle, Easter Road and many another testing ground. As the noose tightens in the SPL race, Celtic face an equal gamut of hazardous trips. If last season's dramatic closing weeks taught us anything, it surely is that early March is no time to be making weighty pronouncements about the title race. It seems inconceivable that both halves of the Old Firm do not have stumbles and failures remaining within them. Smith looked a mite world-weary as he faced the media after Wednesday's humbling defeat. Ibrox had just been on his back, and for a brief moment he resembled the same Smith who bore the pressure somewhat less well in his first innings with Rangers back in the 1990s. But the 60-year-old Ibrox manager has seen it all, and will not be joining those who have started writing the club's 2008-09 obituary. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article5854044.ece

by Thomas Jordan AFTER waiting four months for their opportunity to return to the top of the table, Rangers latest reign as league leaders lasted all of 11 days. Hardly the hallmark of a team with the durability required to succeed as champions. The 1-0 defeat at the hands of Caley Thistle this week has prompted questions over the Ibrox club's title credentials. The obvious one, of course, will be do they have the bottle to come out on top in such a fiercely contested title battle? A two-week shutdown from the league, as they take on Hamilton Accies in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup before facing Celtic in the Co-operative Insurance Cup Final at Hampden Park, will put Rangers' title challenge on the back burner. advertisement That, however, will do little to dilute concerns among the Light Blue legions that their defeat to the Highlanders is a signal that this squad doesn't have what it takes to stop Celtic making it four-in-a-row. The implications if Rangers don't win the league are huge. From a financial perspective, it is imperative the riches that go hand in hand with entry to the Champions League are secured next season after failure to reach that stage this season left a �£10million black hole in the club's finances. Winning the championship this season will once again offer the SPL winners direct entry to the group stage of the competition. The runners-up, like this season, would face two qualifying games, but the standard of opposition standing in their path will dramatically increase under Uefa's qualification criteria revamp. On March 21 against Hearts, Walter Smith will turn his full attention back of the title race with Celtic now out in front, albeit only marginally with a three-point advantage. He will have 10 matches which will not only shape their season, but possibly the foreseeable future of the club. Does the Rangers manager have the players at his disposal to come out in top against a Celtic side that has already shown, not just last season but in previous campaigns, that they are good enough to prosper under the white heat of a title run-in? Indeed, captain Barry Ferguson is the only member of Walter Smith's squad who has truly influenced and delivered title success. Nacho Novo, who is currently out injured, has also played his part in the past as Alex McLeish delivered two championship trophies in 2005. But he has been no more than a bit-part player at Rangers in recent seasons. Here, SportTimes takes a look at the men who will be required to stand up and be counted in 10 league games of monumental importance to the Ibrox club. IN GOOD HANDS Allan McGregor has returned to the sort of form that brought speculation of a �£9m move to the Premiership last season. After a difficult start to the campaign, as he tried to find his feet following a long injury lay-off, the Ibrox goalkeeper is once again turning in some vital performances. McGregor's goal has been breached only four times in 13 matches. So this isn't a position that would cause Smith much concern. FULL-BACK FAILINGS Smith's first task as they prepare to welcome a rejuvenated Hearts side to Ibrox will be to find a replacement for the suspended Davie Weir. The stopper's red card, following a rare mistake which gifted Caley the three points on Wednesday, will mean he'll have to sit out against his former club. On previous occasions, Kirk Broadfoot has been moved inside from his usual right-back beat and Steven Whittaker has come out of cold storage to play as a full-back. That, you'd imagine, would tempt most opposing managers to try and expose Gers backline. Madjid Bougherra has been their most consistent defender throughout this season. Indeed, Smith probably doesn't like to dwell on what his defence would be like without him at its heart As for Weir, his displays, in fairness, have been pretty consistent. It's the full-back areas that let Rangers down. The way they play, both see plenty of the ball and are encouraged to push forward. While Broadfoot is always willing to do so, too often his final ball simply isn't good enough. At least, however, he is willing to get involved in the game. Papac, no doubt to the constant frustration of the Rangers management, is far more reluctant to join in on attacks. So is it a defence you could bank on to hold firm? Well, their recent form has been impressive, but cracks could appear the more pressure is put on them. WIDE-BOYS REQUIRED Pedro Mendes's influence has been badly missing in Rangers recent two matches. The Portuguese playmaker provides an extra dimension to their attacking play in particular. His passes are crisp, he spots things early and, unlike many of his colleagues, he isn't too predictable at times. Next to him will be the captain Ferguson. Having been over the course many times before, he knows what it takes to deliver a championship. And, as skipper, he knows there are more eyes on him than any other member of the Rangers squad. Maybe Rangers' biggest problem is that they don't boast natural wide players. For all Steven Davis has enjoyed an excellent campaign, he isn't an out-and-out winger. Neither is Kyle Lafferty, Lee McCulloch, Steven Naismith nor the various players deployed on the left of midfield this season. Perhaps the most comfortable in such a position is young John Fleck. But he is still cutting his teeth at this level. It would be unfair, for all his natural ability and enthusiasm, to expect him to carry older and more experienced team-mates between now and the end of the season. Overall, Rangers have a midfield that works well enough together but there have been several occasions this season when they could have played all night and not carved out a chance for any of the striker. BOYD BACK-UP Who scores the goals if Kris Boyd isn't bagging them? Kenny Miller pops up now and again with one, sometimes two, but can he do it when it matters most? Can he keep a cool head inside the penalty area when that one of only chance of the game comes his way? History would suggest not. Lafferty is struggling to provide clues as to how he is going to become a key player at Rangers and while Novo is always a threat coming off the bench, his injury problems could prevent him from being at his best for some time. This department, probably more than any other, will be the one that Smith will be concerned about the most. When everything is going well, they are most certainly capable of finding the back of the net. In the comings weeks, however, there will be more than one occasion when Smith is on the sidelines hoping to one of his frontman to snatch a goal that transformers what is appearing to be one point into three. Time, of course, will tell. Only a fool would predict the outcome of the current championship. But Rangers aren't only playing for the title - the financial baggage it carries means the future of the club is at stake. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2493863.0.0.php