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Highlights * No longer reliant on bank funding * Turnover at GBP57.2m for 2010/11 was an overall increase of GBP0.9m over the previous year * Gate receipts and hospitality sales increased overall by GBP1.3m to GBP27.1m CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT When I became the majority shareholder and Chairman of this great football club in May this year, the sense of honour and privilege I felt was overwhelming. Those feelings are stronger than ever within me now. First, I would like to address what matters most to every Rangers fan - football. In recent years the performance of the players and the football management team has been quite magnificent and I would suggest their achievements rank among the Club's greatest. Three successive League titles, three out of the last four Scottish League Cups, plus two Scottish Cups and a UEFA Cup Final appearance is extraordinary by any standard and set the seal on Walter Smith's outstanding second term as Manager and a truly remarkable managerial career. Every Rangers supporter owes him an enormous debt of gratitude. Walter also left the Club in good hands and Ally McCoist, Kenny McDowall and Ian Durrant are showing the same tremendous drive for success. All of us wish them - and the players - continuing success this season. In May, the Club entered a new era both on and off the pitch. Whilst this Statement covers the 12-month period ending on 31 June 2011, it also affords us the opportunity to look forward. I am the first to recognise the contribution that my predecessor as majority shareholder, Sir David Murray, made to Rangers over 20 years. With any change in ownership, however, there will be a change in approach and I firmly believe the changes I have implemented will be in the longer-term interest of the Club, which must always come first. We have a new Board. In addition, we have appointed a new Chief Operating Officer to drive the business forward and take advantage of emerging opportunities and a Director of Football, whose role is to help Rangers maximise every opportunity to develop, attract and retain playing talent, as well as ensure the Club engages productively with football authorities at domestic and international level. Perhaps the biggest change that has been effected since the takeover in May has been the repayment of all bank borrowings. The Club is no longer reliant on bank funding, nor does any bank control our operations on a daily basis. I hope fans would share my view that, looking ahead, the Club should do everything to live within its means and operate on a commercially viable basis. I firmly believe that is the only sustainable, long-term strategy for Rangers. Performance on the field has a direct bearing on the Club's business performance. Participation in the UEFA Champions' League remains important although increasingly difficult to achieve given the qualification process for the SPL champions. During 2010/2011 we qualified for the UEFA Champions' League and played in the UEFA Europa League. Turnover at GBP57.2m for 2010/11 was an overall increase of GBP 0.9m over the previous year. Gate receipts and hospitality sales increased overall by GBP1.3m to GBP27.1m, due to the extra European games games, although there was an overall reduction in season ticket sales, hospitality sales and sponsorship revenue. Net operating expenses increased by GBP3.6m to GBP47.5m reflecting increased salary levels, higher European fixture costs and operational cost increases across the business. The Club remains embroiled in historical tax issues with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, primarily the tax tribunal on Employee Benefit Trusts. It has been a dark cloud hanging over the Club for far too long and any resolution must enable the Club to move forward. Rangers has never been short of challenges in recent years and there is no question there are many challenges ahead for both the Club and Scottish football in general. However, I am certain that, as a Club, we can rise to these challenges and deliver success both on and off the pitch. That is what Rangers is all about. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all supporters who have offered me so much encouragement. Your support for the Club is inspirational and I can only promise to ensure that the interests of Rangers and our fans will be at the heart of everything I do as Chairman. Craig Whyte, Chairman Unaudited Consolidated Profit & Loss Account for the year ended 30 June 2011 2011 2010 GBP'000 GBP'000 Turnover 57,183 56,287 Net operating expenses (47,525) (43,856) Trading profit / (loss) 9,658 12,431 Amortisation of player registrations (8,412) (7,339) Operating profit / (loss) 1,246 5,092 Exceptional items: Gain on disposal of player registrations 4,202 512 Taxation of Discount Option Scheme (3,270) - Profit / (loss) before interest and taxation 2,178 5,604 Interest payable (2,102) (1,395) Profit / (loss) on ordinary activities before 76 4,209 taxation Taxation - - Profit for the year 76 4,209 Basic and diluted earnings per share 0.07p 3.87p Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. For diluted earnings per share, the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue is adjusted to assume conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. The Group has 1,200,000 of potential dilutive ordinary shares at 30 June 2011. As the current share price is below the option price, the basic and diluted earnings per share is the same. The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend (2010: nil). Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2011 2011 2010 GBP'000 GBP'000 FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 116,856 118,688 Intangible assets 8,626 11,594 Investments - - 125,482 130,282 CURRENT ASSETS Stock 2 2 Debtors 5,899 5,640 Cash at bank and in hand 8,893 348 14,794 5,990 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year (49,065) (27,568) NET CURRENT LIABILITIES (34,271) (21,578) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 91,211 108,704 CREDITORS Amounts falling due after more than one year (20,369) (37,938) NET ASSETS 70,842 70,766 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Called up share capital 10,879 10,879 Share premium account 120,973 120,973 Capital reserve 9,185 9,185 The Rangers Bond 7,736 7,736 Revaluation reserve 57,207 57,770 Profit & loss account (135,138) (135,777) SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 70,842 70,766

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3975613/I-still-laugh-Scott-Brown-was-crying-the-day-we-won-title.html

ALLY McCOIST may have failed to keep Rangers in Europe for long this season, but his staggering record in the Scottish Premier League since taking over from Walter Smith has firmly focused the continentâ??s attention on Ibrox. Rangersâ?? remarkable unbeaten record in the league has put McCoistâ??s team out in front of just about every European rival and when the Ibrox manager puts his own record next to the work put in by Smith last season, the only club that can boast a better unbeaten record in European league football is FC Porto. The Portuguese champions have amassed a remarkable 49 games without defeat, stretching back to February when they lost 3-0 to Sporting Lisbon, but Rangers are easily the next best top-flight side on the continent with a 21-game unbeaten run. The last time Rangers lost in the SPL was on April 2 when Dundee United won 3-2 at Ibrox and, with a home game tomorrow against St Johnstone â?? who have not won a league match in Govan since the 1970s â?? McCoistâ??s men seem certain to make that 22 games unbeaten against his old team. When Rangers exited the Champions League and the Europa League at the qualifying hurdles to Malmo and Maribor respectively, McCoist was left with the domestic scene to make his mark upon. He has done that emphatically. Rangers can also boast a better record than the best unbeaten sides in the Barclays Premier League, where Newcastle United protect the longest record with just 14 games since they lost at Liverpool in May. Current leaders Manchester City may have dropped fewer points than Rangers this term, with just one draw in their 11 games, but McCoistâ??s men have racked up more wins with 12 victories out of 14 SPL games. The only time the SPL leaders have not won this season was on the opening day of the campaign in a 1-1 draw with Hearts â?? and then another 1-1 draw with St Mirren at Ibrox last month. The closest European top-flight side to Rangers are Serbian leaders FK Radnicki, who have posted a 20-game unbeaten run and, like Rangers, also lost last April. That was the same month that Champions League winners Barcelona last tasted defeat in La Liga, but Pep Guardiolaâ??s men only have a 15-game unbeaten run and have drawn four times already this season, while current Spanish league leaders, Real Madrid, have already lost once this season. In Greece and Italy, the best unbeaten runs are shared by Panathinaikos and Juventus with ten games each while Dynamo Kiev are the best in Ukraine with a 15-game unbeaten run. Even the side with the meanest defence in Europe cannot match Rangers. Bayern Munich have conceded just four goals in the Bundesliga this term, but already the German league leaders have lost twice. Rangers have lost six SPL goals in this campaign â?? better than Real Madrid and Manchester City. They have also dropped fewer points this term than Porto, who have drawn three times. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/all-eyes-on-ibrox-as-mccoist-revels-in-domestic-bliss-1.1135588

KYLE LAFFERTY has told Rangers boss Ally McCoist: I'm yours to keep. McCoist made it clear last week he is anxious to secure the striker on an extended contract. Lafferty is keen to stay and he said: "I saw what the manager said about me staying here and it means a lot. He's shown a lot of faith in me since taking over from Walter Smith and I'm doing everything I can to repay him. "There haven't been any talks over a new contract, but hopefully there will be soon and we can sort something out quickly. "I don't see why I can't finish my career here. It would be brilliant to play long enough for Rangers to get a testimonial." Lafferty praised McCoist, No2 Kenny McDowall and coach Ian Durrant for the way they have followed legend Smith, who left Gers last summer. He said: "Ally, Kenny and Ian have been fantastic. It's a happy place to be and all of the boys are desperate to do well for them. "Our team spirit is brilliant." Despite the financial uncertainty over Gers owner Craig Whyte, it's clear McCoist is anxious to seal a new deal for a player who is a key figure in his plans. Lafferty, who has four goals this term and hit 16 last season, added: "Things couldn't be going better for me. "I'm playing where I want to for Rangers, scoring goals and playing regularly. "It's brilliant playing alongside the likes of Nikica Jelavic and Stevie Naismith in attack. It's all I've ever wanted in football. "I've won three league titles and now we're pushing strongly for a fourth. "I've supported this club since I was a boy. I'm living the dream." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3899118/Lafferty-Deal-me-in-Rangers.html#ixzz1c3vC9Q3J

NIKICA JELAVIC is the finest No 9 to ply his trade at Ibrox since Ally McCoist. There, I've said it. Better than Rod Wallace, better than Kenny Miller, better even than Kris Boyd. In many ways, the Croatian is the COMPLETE centre forward. Remember, eyebrows were firmly raised when Walter Smith shelled out £4.1million for his services last summer. Why splash that kind of cash on just one player when many felt my old boss could've been doing with two or three? Well, right now the Jelavic deal is shaping up to be bargain of the century. He's become almost priceless to Gers. And it would be a brave man who'd bet against him producing the goods against Aberdeen once again tomorrow. Twice last season he conjured stunning winners against the Dons at Pittodrie. I fancy him to nick another at least. That sometimes happens with strikers. Against certain clubs they can't miss. Coisty was like that against Celtic. He just had that knack of finding the back of the net in the big Old Firm games. Jelavic seems to have some Indian sign over Aberdeen and there's no doubt their Dons defenders won't be relishing facing him at the weekend. I for one saw enough last Sunday at Tynecastle to convince me Jelavic is almost back to his best. Climbing out of his sick bed he struck a brilliant second goal against Hearts. Most strikers would have been tempted to put their foot through the ball as it dropped out of the Edinburgh sky. A hopeful lash as it dropped over their shoulder. Not Jelavic. After watching Carlos Bocanegra's raking pass all the way, he caressed the ball into the back of the net. It was a stunning finish from a striker I greatly admire. Listen, I don't think anyone will ever again hit the heights of Coisty. My old mucker was a one-off. A goalscoring enigma who could play a bit. Rod Wallace was a fantastic goal scorer while Kenny Miller would run and run all day. Boydy was an out-and-out poacher who you could always bank on for a goal. Jelavic? He's all three rolled into one. He can run, he can hold the ball up, he can bring others into play, and most importantly, he can finish. And here's the worrying thing for the teams choking on Rangers' fumes. If McCoist's men are nine points clear of second-placed Motherwell without Jelavic firing on all cylinders, what will the margin be when the Croat finally rediscovers the sensational form he showed in the second half of last term? It could be all be over by March! But that's the great thing for McCoist. Jelavic hasn't been at his best so far this season yet his team is still miles in front in the race for the SPL title. I don't doubt for a single minute that his head was turned in the summer by all the transfer talk. Everton and Bolton were linked first before Leicester City tabled a £9m bid on transfer deadline day. Fair play to the board. They resisted and Jelavic was to remain a Rangers player. But all the uncertainty at the time unsettled Jelavic, I'm sure. He looked out of sorts at the start of the season â?? sluggish almost â?? in games. Yet I know he has been working extra-hard in training and all that work is beginning to pay off. Let's not forget, Jelavic has had his fair share of injury problems too. Rangers were robbed of his talents for three months of last season after Ian Black's horror tackle at Tynecastle ruled him out for a long spell. A full pre-season helped him but he's had one or two niggling problems since. Yet his desire and will to win has never waned. He is as committed to Rangers as the likes of Allan McGregor and Steven Davis. He's also a winner with a first-class attitude in everything he does. For such a big man his touch is superb, a fact highlighted with his superbly-taken strike against Hearts. And for me he is a man for the big occasions. The bigger the game the better he seems to play. He's someone who revels in the big-match atmosphere. And if you want to win trophies you need guys like that in your team. During the nine-in-a-row era at Ibrox, the home dressing room was absolutely packed out with guys like that. Make no mistake, there is more to come from Jelavic this season â?? much, much more in my opinion. He's playing his football with a real smile on his face again. And last week's stunning goal in the capital will have done his confidence the world of good. Far more goals and many more big performances will come. We're now heading into the Christmas period and, as we all know, it's an important time for the clubs leading the title race. But with Jelavic back in form, I fear the rest don't stand a chance. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3898888/Red-hot-Jela-holds-key-just-like-Coisty.html#ixzz1c3xMTXpO

PEOPLE used to call Walter Smith defensive. But compared to yer man Craig Whyte, the old silver fox was Jimmy Calderwood going 2-4-4-1. With his goalie up front as the one. There's an old saying that if you've done nothing wrong, you've nothing to hide. And it's run round my head again and again this week in regards to the new Rangers owner. Why IS he so secretive? Why DOES he bristle quite so angrily over any kind of criticism? I mean, he's done one truly impressive thing since taking over at Ibrox and that was to turn up at the first Old Firm game of the season alongside a blonde with a cleavage like Kenny McDowall jumping to head a Mitre. Yet here we are, more than a month on, and her name STILL hasn't come out. And in this day and age of celebrity tittle-tattle, that takes some doing. So if this is how closely he wants to keep his socialising to his chest, what chance is there of him letting his guard down when it comes to his hush-hush business affairs? Some men in his position would have dared the Beeb to come ahead with this week's documentary then gone to war if and when anything iffy was broadcast. Yet Whyte had the wagons in a circle before the apaches even appeared over the hill. He got his retaliation in first by banning Auntie in advance â?? a naïve piece of knee-jerkery, because the first thing his actions did was make far more people far more aware of the show than they might have been otherwise. Plus, it was a clear sign that he's not half as big a player as he wants us to think he is. Put the tackities into a Murray or a Lawwell or the like and they'll cut you out of their gang, spin a story to the opposition as their idea of punishment and make sure you're as unwelcome on their turf as humanly possible. But they take it, because they're strong enough to take it. Because they know that you're only one guy with a laptop while they're running a gigantic institution that's taken blows for 100 years and is still standing. Whyte, though, seems so brittle he makes Celtic's central defence look like Baresi and Maldini. He's actually very like Romanov in the way he deals with the outside world, the Lithuanian's insecurities highlighted once again by a media blackout in the wake of his manager criticising a referee; a blackout that comes by pure coincidence at a time when players are speaking out about unpaid wages. If Romanov thinks people can't see through stunts like this then it's a miracle that he ever made himself into one of his country's most powerful tycoons. And if Whyte thinks shutting out a national broadcaster will stop people asking questions about his ability to bankroll Rangers, he's even more like Tim Nice-But-Dim than he appears. Anyone who's been in debt knows nothing gets better till you stop hiding the final demands and start facing up to your problems. It seems for all the world like Whyte's actions this week are those of a man in denial about the weight of the worries he's taken on. If that's not the case, why is it that RANGERS are refusing to deal with the Beeb and not just the man himself? After all, apart from the fact that their name was in the title of the documentary, there was barely a word of criticism about the club. It was all about Whyte. Yet he felt the need to throw stones at his attackers from behind the red brick of the main stand. As for that criticism itself? Well, I'd love to go through it here with a fine-toothed comb, because some of it was serious stuff indeed. But, true to form, before the opening titles had run, Whyte's lawyers were issuing dire warnings of what they would do should any allegations be repeated in print. So I'll ask again: What's he scared of? If, as he says, it's all a pack of lies, why not face it down and tell us WHY it's a pack of lies; because just saying it is isn't enough. And let me say this. If there's one journalist out there in whom I'd put 100 per cent faith, it's Mark Daly, the man who fronted this investigation. I've known him since he was a kid on the local paper in Clydebank and his track record is there for all to see. He's infiltrated Greater Manchester Police to weed out racist officers, got to the bottom of the Royal Bank of Scotland's collapse and probed the Stephen Lawrence murder. He's a top-drawer, old-school digger who doesn't hang his theories on "insiders" and "sources". The spine of his documentary was an interview with Robert Burns, head of the UK Insolvency Service, the organisation dealing with every company that goes down the pan. It would be hard to imagine Mr Burns going on camera and on the record if he wasn't sure of what he was on about. Yet Whyte calls the documentary and its makers biased, despite it being stated on camera that they asked him more than once to give his side of the story. As he took the decision to refuse, maybe his definition of biased is different to the dictionary's. All in all, he's an odd one, is Craig Whyte. You take a Duncan Bannatyne or an Alan Sugar and they can't wait to tell the world how they made their squillions. Along the way, that means the world finding out stuff they'd probably rather it didn't. But in the end, they shrug and move on, because they know that the good stuff on the CV far outweighs it. You'd think that Whyte would be the same, that if he was big enough to run Rangers, he'd also be big enough to deal with the odd black mark he may have against him in the past. But then, that's the biggest unanswered question of all. Whether he IS big enough. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3888799/Why-do-you-feel-the-need-to-stay-in-shadows.html#ixzz1beY4wsf2

I have the following games from last season that i can put on a disc: CIS Cup Final against Celtic Walter's last home game against Dundee Utd Walter's last game against Kilmarnock I also have a documentary shown on STV: Walter Smith the football years If you want any memories of Walter on disc, drop me a PM.

Jamie Ness admits his battle is only just beginning as he makes his next step on the road to recovery after a month on the sidelines. The midfielder joined Davie Weir, Lee McCulloch, Matt McKay and Alejandro Bedoya in action as Rangers beat Gateshead 4-0 in a bounce game at Murray Park on Wednesday. Ness has endured a torrid time with injuries so far this season and despite getting close to a return to full fitness, he faces an even stiffer challenge to oust in-form duo Steven Davis and Mo Edu from the Gersâ?? starting line-up. He said: â??You saw on Tuesday night that Mo got man-of-the-match and Davo was just his usual self so itâ??s going to be really tough to try to get back in that midfield. â??But Lee McCulloch and I will be doing our best to try to push our way in. â??There are only a couple of boys injured now and we have a big squad so the guys in the first team know that they will have to keep performing and winning games to stay in the team. â??Today was a good opportunity to get a strong team out because we have a bigger squad now and a lot of boys coming back from injury so it was good to get a run out. â??Thatâ??s my first game since the match at Inverness six weeks ago so Iâ??m just delighted to be back playing. â??Thatâ??s what I need now, to get some game time under my belt and improve my match fitness. â??There are a lot of reserve games coming up and hopefully if I can do well in those I can force my way back in to the managerâ??s plans.â? Injuries curtailed Nessâ??s progression last season after he burst onto the scene under former Ibrox boss Walter Smith. He has made just one appearance for Ally McCoist this term after being crocked during the championsâ?? 2-0 win over Inverness Caley Thistle in August. Rangers, meanwhile, could extend their lead at the top of the Scottish Premier League to 10 points when they face Hibs on Saturday and Ness is eager to be involved as soon as possible. He said: â??Saturday will be up to the manager. I got through 45 minutes today fine so itâ??s down to the manager and the medical team to decide about the weekend. â??Itâ??s been a long six weeks and very frustrating for me to be injured again. I think thatâ??s me over it now and Iâ??m just looking forward to getting back out there. â??It was a completely freak incident in the Inverness game that injured me. It was just a bang on the hip that caused a problem and it was nothing to do with previous injuries.â? http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/jamie-ness-ready-to-fight-for-a-place-1.1126703

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

Taken from his autobiography. And Boozegate

But had this been a Rangers fan, he'd have been jailed. With all the hullaballoo about sectarianism, you'd have expect a harsher sentence. Well, it would have been if it had been us.

BOBBY WILLIAMSON claims Ally McCoist should have walked away from Rangers with Walter Smith. Coisty's old strike partner says Gers' record goalscorer is risking his Ibrox reputation as boss of his boyhood heroes. Williamson fears Coisty, who he also bossed at Kilmarnock, will get NO help in the transfer market from the new Rangers regime. He said: "Maybe he should have walked away when Walter did because I don't think this new chairman is going to give him any cash. "I'd hate to see his reputation go down the swannee. Fans are fickle and have short memories. "The man is a legend in my eyes and I wish him all the success, I really do. "I wish him every success, I really do, but I don't know why he's doing it. "He is a legend for Rangers and he's putting his neck right on the block at a difficult time. "There is no money to strengthen the team and has got a very difficult job on his hands. "I needed to carry on in football because I can't do anything else, but Ally has other strings to his bow. He can do TV or radio." Williamson is on the brink of a historic achievement as boss of Uganda, needing just a point against Angola next month to qualify for the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 34 years. Williamson added: "We've GOT to qualify. "The fans are so passionate about football, they love the national team and I need to work hard for these people because they have been so supportive towards me. "The Angola match is going to be massive for the entire country. "It's huge and we're all looking forward to it." Nicklas Bendtner believes Arsenal pal Kyle Bartley can help ease McCoist's problems this season. Bartley is back at Ibrox on a season-long loan and Danish striker Bendtner reckons that can pave the way for him to be a Gunners first-team star. He said: "Kyle really enjoyed his time at Rangers last season and I think that is why he has gone back there. "He must feel this is the best thing for him. "It is good for him to get experience because it is difficult to get into the Arsenal first team. It is always good to get experience and he is getting that at a top club like Rangers because they challenge for the league every year. "I am sure if Kyle does well then he could come back to Arsenal and get into the first team. It depends on the season ahead, but he is a very strong lad. "When he tackles players, he goes through them. "He also has good feet and good technique." Bendtner also revealed he almost became a Rangers player four years ago. He said: "There was talk about me signing for Rangers four years ago when Paul le Guen was manager. "I was close to going there but in the end I decided to sign for Birmingham." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3745338/Ally-should-have-said-no-to-Gers-job.html#ixzz1Ufl2fGcL

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

NOT good enough for Manchester City, but too good for Rangers. Roberto Mancini has plunged Vladimir Weiss' football career into limbo after ruling out a return to Ibrox for the Slovakian winger. After falling in love with Gers, Weiss would walk back to Ibrox if he could. But with one eye on the future, City boss Mancini wants Weiss to test himself at the best level possible. And the 21-year-old has revealed Mancini insists that won't involve a return to Rangers because he doesn't rate the SPL. Weiss, who played an important role in helping Gers win the title and League Cup last season, said: "I don't know what my future holds but I'm just waiting for the right club to come in for me. "It's a waiting game for me but Rangers is not a possibility. I would loved to have gone back there. "But I've not heard from them and I don't know if I was in Ally McCoist's plans this year. "Mancini has said he wants me to play in one of the top leagues. "I think he wants me to play in England, Spain or Italy. So that rules out Rangers for me. "I'll have to find a club in one of those countries but I loved my time in Scotland. I have nothing but good memories of it. "When I left Ibrox I said I would go back one day and nothing has changed in that respect. Rangers are really close to my heart. "My situation means I'll be heading to another country now to play. "But make no mistake, I want to play for Rangers again in my career - that's 100 per cent my aim." Weiss got a rare run-out for City in Saturday's Dublin Super Cup win over a League of Ireland XI. But with so many players to choose from in his massive squad it's likely Mancini will move on the younsgster before the end of the month. Weiss was given pelters in Dublin by Celtic supporters who haven't forgotten the sight of him celebrating with Gers supporters. But the player admitted he wouldn't have had it any other way. He said: "I was expecting that from the Celtic fans. It was nothing serious and I enjoyed it. "I'm just happy they remember me. It wasn't so bad really. "It would have been worse if there had been a full house, but it was nothing I couldn't handle." After five goals in 17 games for Gers in his loan spell, Weiss knows he made his presence felt at Ibrox. After spending an entire season with guys like Allan McGregor, Steven Whittaker and Steven Davis, Weiss insists the fact they've signed new deals will prove the key to more Gers success. And he believes securing the trio in the long-term is as crucial as any new face that comes through the front door of Ibrox. Weiss said: "Those guys being tied down is just as important as bringing in a few signings. "All of them played a big part in Rangers' success last season. It would have been a huge blow had they gone. "Davis especially, because he is the best player at Ibrox. His performances last season were exceptional in almost every game. "That's what you need from your key players and it's great they have all signed long-term deals. "I don't really know the new lads but hopefully they can complement the strong core there is at Rangers and do well. "That will stand them in good stead on all fronts." Weiss enjoyed working with new Ibrox boss Ally McCoist when he was No2 to Walter Smith. Now Coisty's the gaffer in his own right, the pressure is on for him to deliver. And that pressure will increase hugely if Gers crash out of the Champions League against Malmo tomorrow night. But Weiss is convinced McCoist is the only person who could have followed in the footsteps of Smith. He added: "Ally was the right man for the job after Walter left. "Ally is also a legend at Ibrox and he knows everything there is to know about Rangers. "It's been a disappointing start, but he got his first victory against St Johnstone and I would love him and Rangers to go really far in the Champions League. "Their squad is definitely strong enough to do well again this year at home and in Europe. "I always look out for their results. Even before the game in the Super Cup on Saturday I was checking they had won against St Johnstone. "I will be watching them as much as I can and hopefully they can win more trophies and the title again." There has already been murmurs of discontent from the Ibrox punters unhappy with their slow start to the season. Most already feel they are on their way out of the Champions League. But Weiss just thinks back to to last year when Gers were written off as a title force after a 3-0 hammering by Celtic. They came storming back and that's why he believes Coisty WILL get things right before all-out panic starts to set in at the champions. Weiss stressed: "Is it very dangerous to write Rangers off? Well, after what they achieved last season in winning the title, then yes, I would say so. "I didn't actually see the first leg of the Malmo game, but I spoke to my mate about it and he told me that Rangers did have a good few chances to score a goal. "They know they will have to go to Sweden and do far better to win the game. "I am hopeful they will score there and can do exactly that. "It's vital they progress to the final qualifier and if they do that I'm confident they can go on to make the group stages of the Champions League." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/3727038/Man-City-Vlads-Rangers-ban.html#ixzz1TpXAPQGF

"I Strongly Suggest Celtic Supporters Avoid Bridgeton Cross on August 13th" by Joe O;Rourke from CSA Glasgow City Council and the Police have come to what they believe to be an acceptable compromise on the decision to allow a number of contentious parades to pass by Celtic Park on the afternoon of August 13th. Their decision to allow the parades to go ahead at an earlier time helps the situation, but is by no means the proper decision; the proper decision would have been to change the parades to a different date altogether; or better still; ban them full stop. I would strongly recommend that Celtic supporters stay well clear of Bridgeton Cross that afternoon; both before and after the match; the place has a long history of being anti-Celtic; anti-Catholic; people have lost their lives there just for wearing Celtic colours; it will be best to avoid the place altogether; but if you have to pass through; then be very careful. This latest decision is just one of a list of worrying decisions involving the Police, a couple of weeks ago the first person to be arrested for a football related internet offence was a Celtic fan who had referred to Walter Smith as an O***** B******, I find this quite amazing when the internet was full of pictures of Neil Lennon; either being blown up; or riddled in bullets; but no arrests were made. Last week the Crown Prosecuting Service decided to drop the charges against David Goodwillie because of insufficient evidence; if the evidence was insufficient; why was he charged in the first place? Dropping the charges because of insufficient evidence doesn�t mean he�s not guilty; and of course I�m not suggesting he is. I read the story about the girl who was attacked by Goodwillie; she also received internet abuse; I don�t know of any arrests there either. Then of course Sneaky Sally throws his hat in the ring to sign him; Strange !!!!! I think not; Sally had better make the most of it; because I doubt very much if he�ll last into the New Year. He must be very annoying to other managers when he keeps talking about signing their players who are under contract; and all for vastly undervalued amounts. One thing he was successful with was getting an apology from the BBC; the same BBC who have refused to apologise to Celtic and their supporters for their comments about sectarian singing during the Scottish Cup Final. The recent actions of the Police only go to highlight the need for a dramatic change in the proposed new legislation regarding offensive behaviour at a regulated football match in Scotland. These proposals at present leave far too much to the interpretation of some beat cop; it�s a one law catch all scenario which I believe will make matters even worse. The whole point of the initial discussions was to reduce the amount of offensive behaviour at football matches; not for the Police to trawl the terraces arresting fans for supporting their team. I don�t believe the Celtic support will have enough confidence in the Police to handle these situations with total impartiality; what we need is action against those who are offensive; what we don�t need is the criminalisation of ordinary supporters. :tongue:

HAVING played under four of the 12 men who preceded him as Rangers manager, Ally McCoist requires no instruction on the weight of responsibility resting on his shoulders as he begins his tenure in earnest today. But if he ever feels in need of a reminder, then he knows a glance at the portraits on the walls of the office he now occupies at the top of the marble staircase inside Ibrox will be sufficient to sharpen his focus on the demands and expectations he must strive to meet. McCoist would never claim that the role he inherited from Walter Smith during the summer was his destiny. On the contrary, he conceded yesterday that he would have been "flabbergasted" if he had been informed during his playing career at the club that one day he would sit in the manager's chair. Along with the rest of Scottish football, the 48-year-old is about to discover if it is a job in which he can even begin to match the extraordinary success he enjoyed as the most prolific goalscorer in Rangers' 139 year existence, hitting the net 355 times under the management of John Greig, Jock Wallace, Graeme Souness and Smith. As keen as he was to play down his own part in the opening of the SPL title holders' title defence against Hearts at Ibrox, McCoist did admit to a sense of carrying a torch into his first game in charge. "I am very much aware of the tradition surrounding the job," said McCoist. "I don't think you could ever underplay the history, tradition and values of Rangers. "You look around the office and see the pictures of the previous managers looking down at you. In many ways, you feel as if you are representing them as much as anyone. "I don't see it as an important moment in my career personally, I look upon it as an important step for the club. I spent 15 years as a player here and then four-and-a-half years as assistant manager. "It has never been any different from my point of view, results have always been the most important thing at Rangers. So that is all I'm interested in, the natural progression of the club and the team. "I'm not shirking my own responsibility when I say that, far from it. I'm fully aware of the responsibility that goes with being the manager of Rangers. That's not a problem, I'm not going into anything here that I don't know. "You would have to say that the weight of responsibility is bigger as manager than as a player. If you asked me what I'd rather be doing, then scoring goals for Rangers is the best job in the world. "Wearing the number nine jersey for Rangers takes a bit of beating. Right now, I've probably got the second best job in the world as far as I'm concerned. I know what is expected and I have a great desire to do the job to the best of my ability. "My emotion going into this game is the same as it's always been during my time at Rangers. I just want to win, that's all I want to do. The day is not about me, it is all about the players. There is always a danger on these occasions that the real values of them are lost. "There will be the unfurling of the league flag, which will be a fantastic moment and thoroughly deserved for both the fans and the players. But once that's done, it's down to business as usual. We have to go our and win a very tough game against Hearts." Having seen Greig, the man who signed him for the club back in 1983, fail as manager despite his status as the club's most revered player, McCoist knows his own iconic status with the Rangers support provides no guarantee of success in the hot seat. "Can I be a successful manager?," he mused. "Time will tell. I can't answer that right now. "But what I can say is that I will be as committed to the job as I was as a Rangers player and as assistant manager. That's all I can promise. "I never expected to be a manager. But right at the end of my playing career, I started to do my coaching badges which was one of my better decisions. Even when I went into television work after I stopped playing, I continued doing my badges. "With hindsight, that was one of my better career moves as it certainly cut out a lot of time when I later decided I fancied going into coaching. "I probably couldn't have done this job without the experience I had under Walter Smith at Scotland and Rangers, although we'll never know. But the learning curve I've been on and the help I've had in that time has been invaluable." It is believed Smith will stay away from Ibrox today, keen to avoid providing any level of distraction from his appointed heir. Smith's success in winning the last three SPL titles has given McCoist more than enough to live up to without the presence of his mentor as a further reminder. "A lot of people say the best time to take a job in management is when a club is at a low point because things can only improve," reflected McCoist. "But you don't get many opportunities to be manager of Rangers. You just have to look at those names who have done it before me. "I'm thankful I've been given the opportunity. Off the top of my head, I'd say it's actually an advantage to take over a team which has won three in a row. "The boys have been over the course and knows what it takes to win the championship. I'd far rather have a squad which knows how to win titles and that's what I've got." http://sport.scotsman.com/theoldfirm/Ibrox-giants-remind-Ally-McCoist.6806198.jp?articlepage=1

.... so we may as well start celebrating now :cheers: -- Explain to me how Rangers are going to square their oncoming tax bill and I'll wager you could teach us how to nail jelly to a tree. Frankly I still don't quite comprehend how the Ibrox club's takeover has built a jigsaw puzzle picture of a sunny future. But then why listen to me? I never thought Craig the Whyte knight would get his hands on the club in the first place. So off we jolly well go into another season which has already fired up more questions than answers, with its embarrassing hiccupping start as the Old Firm take their sabbatical before the term has learned to walk. Of course I understand the desire - requirement, maybe - for the big clubs to go big buck hunting, but I still find it humiliating for the SPL that the big kick-off is followed by a couple of weeks of damp squibs as Celtic then Rangers throw the other clubs a deaf one. It's like getting married then bodyswerving your own reception. Rangers fans can't be full of the joys of life. All window shopping in the transfer market, but no real spirit of the shop to drop. Sure, they've been linked with more big names than Piers Morgan�but headlines don't mean signings. Ally McCoist once compared taking the baton from Walter Smith to accepting the microphone from Sinatra and of course he was right. But it strikes me that Nelson Riddle has just taken the orchestra off the stage too. He took the job because ultimately he had no option. But privately he must reflect that somewhere down the line there might have been a better time. Like Neil Lennon timed his run, for example. After the Tony Mowbray shambles, the only way was up. No fence sitting from your old reporter. I'll be stunned if Celtic aren't champions by the time autumn and winter have blown their last and dear spring is in the air once again. Rangers were champions last year because they deserved to be, not because of Celtic's spectacular trip at Inverness as they toddled to the finishing line. A title race is a distance event and it is never won or lost on any given Saturday afternoon or Wednesday night. But this time at Parkhead, I suspect the lesson will have been learned. Mind you, to be fair there hasn't been a run on the ink at Lennoxtown. Signings there too have been a collector's item. But the difference is the depth of squad already on the employment register. Atlantic deep: Rangers meanwhile have to set sail in a puddle. What we need them both to do is progress in Europe in their respective competitions, to ensure a little midweek action in the Champions and Europa Leagues. That would put a little light in our lives. And talking of a little brightness, why do I have a good feeling about St Mirren? It's a worry. This time last year I was insistent that they would be relegated and if not quite gloriously wrong then I looked like being spot-on for a fair few months. Scotland coach Craig Levein faces crucial Euro 2012 qualifiers But the signings of Gary Teale, Nigel Hasselbaink and Stevie Thompson and a general something in the air over Paisley - and maybe the strong drink - has me think better days are coming. And here's a thing as I juggle my feel good factors: Scotland - I think we might make it to Poland and Ukraine although hopefully not Donetsk, quite the dreariest place I have ever been. There, even the birds cough. Certainly the play-offs of the European Championship qualifying group beckon at least, where Lithuania's turning over by Liechtenstein opened the door for Scotland and a straight two-way fight with the Czechs for second prize to World Champions Spain. So let SPL battle commence, earlier than ever but still too late. We should have been back three weeks ago thereby allowing our European representatives some run-up to their ties and freeing up some time for the inevitable winter back-log of postponed games. And maybe even a January shutdown� Hey, but I'm not one to spoil a bright new dawn with a bit of mumping. But watch this space. �SPL champions: Celtic �Second: Rangers �Third: Hearts �Relegated: Kilmarnock �Scottish Cup winners: Hearts �League Cup winners: Dundee United

I think it's safe to say that regardless of how we feel about preseason friendly results, and performances, we are all united in pretty significant displeasure at our club's rather woefully inadequate performance in the transfer market this window. We have made just the one solitary signing, the promising looking Juanma, in the tricky slot of winger, so it's safe to say that Weiss has been replaced. But elsewhere we appear to be going sideways. We've failed to bring in any strikers at all, with failed attempts at getting Hemed and the on-going soap opera that is Goodwillie. Now we've turned our attention to Kenny Miller, which looks like the easy option. And I understand Ally has a personal friendship with Miller which may explain his interest in getting him back. This isn't the end of the world - we have the best SPL striker in Jelavic, the well-rated Naismith, the enigmatic Lafferty and the potentially effective SPL goal getter in Healy. Which isn't appalling. We also have Beattie too but best to gloss over that one eh? Midfield hasn't fared too well either, with links to Wanyama, Livermore, and Danns coming to nothing - leaving us looking like, bar Juanma, going into the new season with pretty much the same midfield as we had last year. This isn't a total travesty, because again, we're quite well endowed in this area - Ness, McCulloch, Edu, Davis - it's not Xavi and Iniesta but it's not bad. I guess the area we're all most worried about is defence, and it's clear Ally is too. At present we have Whittaker as a cert for right back, and it's becoming clear why Ally was so desperate to hold onto him - we wouldn't have been able to find an adequate replacement. In the middle we have the seasoned veterans Bougherra, Weir and Broadfoot - none of whom really inspire confidence despite being more or less ever present 3 seasons in a row. And at left back the honest but limited Papac, something of a cult figure but only because a really good wing back these days costs a bomb or requires a lucky find in some South American league *cough* Izzaguirre *cough*. It's for this reason we have been linked significantly to around 7 defenders - Cuellar, Wilson, Bartley, Rodriguez, Khomalo and Wallace. And appear no closer to signing any of them, having had an apparently paltry bid for Rodriguez rejected by his parent club Espanyol. Bids for Cuellar and Wallace were also dismissed out of hand and it's pretty clear that bringing in players is a hell of a lot harder than it used to be. It does help having money - Walter Smith during his second spell had to fix the side and was able to buy players like Naismith, Thomson, Whittaker, Davis et al - guys who cost 2M a pop easily. Nowadays, even under this new ownership and a new era, we simply don't seem to have the cash to splash out on players the club desperately need. It's not easy to sign a player - the negotiations can go on for a long time, other clubs can hijack deals, and ultimately a bid is rejected. But it's clear Smith, Ally and Whyte have to up the ante to bring in players otherwise this increasingly rusty team is going to break. Especially at the back - 7 defenders we are currently in negotiations over, which appears to be like a lucky dip - you take what you can get. Well we have to hope we get something good, and soon.

After two successive defeats in pre season, Alistair McCoist has had to endure by himself the first small experience of pressure since his succession of Walter Smith in the managerial hot seat. The outgoing manager made clear the simple task awaiting all those who occupy that lonely position where the buck stops, stating simply that as Rangers manager ââ?¬Ë?youââ?¬â?¢ve got to win all the timeââ?¬â?¢. Ranking third in the clubââ?¬â?¢s table of appearances, and first in the goal scoring charts, the new manager is undoubtedly familiar with this simple demand of life at Scotlandââ?¬â?¢s most successful club. For the first time, however, the full weight and complexity of this concise imperative rests squarely and solely on his shoulders. On the more rational continent, pre-season is about fitness and experimentation. This is the primary concern of the manager who was at pains to point out that the team is not yet two weeks into training and was keen to maintain a sense of perspective. In his first outing against German Fourth Division side Sportfreunde Lotte the manager made seven changes at half time, including the introduction of youngsters McMillan, Hutton, Fleck and Hemmings. While going on to lose the match, the manager could take positives from the full 90 minutes played by the returning Broadfoot and the movement and power of youngster Hemmings. However, in his second outing against Bochum, the defensive frailties of a team more closely resembling that which secured Rangersââ?¬â?¢ third title in a row were exposed as the team was beaten convincingly. ââ?¬Å?Obviously Iââ?¬â?¢m disappointed by the result and particularly disappointed at the standard of goal we lostââ?¬Â he said. After a disappointing opening 45 minutes of the second game, the visitors created little in the way of chances. McCoistââ?¬â?¢s only real attacking option was to introduce John Fleck up front, pushing Steven Naismith out wide. This did little to reverse Rangers attacking fortunes, and as the match progressed the increased home pressure forced the concession of three soft goals. The media focus, and the managerââ?¬â?¢s response to it, has centred on the need for new players to offer depth and competition in these positions. McCoist is unlikely to acquiesce to the reactionary narrative that these results are significant reflection of troubled early days, but he may be quietly pleased that his need for new players remains in the spotlight. McCoist, however, remains confident ââ?¬â?? ââ?¬Ë?We will get what is required. Itââ?¬â?¢s blatantly obvious we need to get players in, but we arenââ?¬â?¢t going to start panickingââ?¬â?¢ As might be expected, McCoistââ?¬â?¢s calm is not shared by all. The view from the forum is typically less restrained. On one hand, those wary of the lack of signings and perturbed by the results are sharing the mediaââ?¬â?¢s focus on the squadââ?¬â?¢s inadequacy, and are seeing an ominous future reflected in the pre season present. Some have questioned the playerââ?¬â?¢s commitment, and are worrying if Allyââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Ë?previous persona of being a ââ?¬Ë?good guyââ?¬â?¢ and jokerââ?¬â?¢ has undermined their will to win. Others are keen to point out that wielding any sort of big stick two weeks into pre-season training would be reactionary and disproportionate for a side who such a short time ago showed an iron will against considerable odds to win the league for the third time in a row. They share McCoistââ?¬â?¢s view that the only thing reflected in our early performances is growing fitness and the widely acknowledged need for new players. McCoist sensibly will not worry overly much about the results, and the complexity of transfer interaction will continue to frustrate both him and the fans ââ?¬â?? no doubt with increasing theatricality as the opening game and European deadlines loom. However, as the fans concentrate on the necessary drama of transfer activity, and are divided along lines drawn up by the media, it is possible that the opening games reflect a more subtle and general problem than has previously been discussed. A problem whose very obviousness has obscured it from view. . In the virtues of his long apprenticeship and the inheritance of a small talented squad of those used to playing and winning together McCoist has a solid core of both experience and resources on which to build. However, this sort of solidity affords little flexibility. McCoist does not have the luxury of the revolutionary fervour of regime change and the freedom to experiment that this brings. The same fans who show their consternation at any loss, as Walter Smith predicted, are similarly worried that Ally does not seem to have changed from the defensive formation favoured by the previous manager. The large shadow, small squad and pathological demand for success given McCoist on his appointment afford little scope for him to impose himself on his squad comprehensively. Both the situation and personnel the new manager has inherited has made a story of small, steady and incremental change his only option. For McCoist to impose himself as he must he will necessarily have to make changes, and in doing so to contradict his mentor and the players who played, above all, for him. The real problem facing Ally McCoist appears not to be the inevitable signing of players or the often irrational demands of pre-season results. His will be judged on how he sparks life into the robust, efficient and successful engine of which he is the grateful beneficiary. And how well he provides the spark that was previously lit by the benefactor. With the fever of revolution in the corridors of power at Ibrox, and a new optimism and expectation in the wider support and community, Ally McCoist faces the rather more sombre task of making the squad which is his inheritance truly his. He will be all too aware that this isnââ?¬â?¢t something that comes in flowing football pre-season, or even imagination capturing signings. These things, like fitness and match practice, all form part of a task that is harder to define, report on and worry about ââ?¬â?? he has to make a side used to winning all the time, win for him. On leaving Walter Smith warned that ââ?¬Ë?all that matters is that you create an environment that wins matchesââ?¬â?¢, and what we see reflected perhaps more than anything in these opening matches is the new managerââ?¬â?¢s realisation that while ââ?¬Ë?you need a lot of help to do that but, as managerââ?¬â?¢ he is now the man ââ?¬Ë?at the helm of it allââ?¬â?¢. McCoist points to the future and the first the first game of the season as the only true indicator, while the fans and the media are left to dissect the present according to their own fears and hopes.

26k a week, wow. I thought �£25k would be our limit but if true its great to have him tied up.

Trust me Coisty, bring in all 3 of these guys and you've made your marquee signings right there.

FIT-AGAIN Ger Kirk Broadfoot has urged new boss Ally McCoist to give him the chance to become central to his Ibrox revolution. The Scotland cap, who missed the title run-in with an ankle injury and then a fractured foot, has started his pre-season four weeks early in a bid to get the new season up and running from the first whistle. McCoist has made a central defender his summer priority, as the futures of captain Davie Weir and Madjid Bougherra still have to be ironed out, and that is a position that is no stranger to Broadfoot. He played there at St Mirren and believes thatââ?¬â?¢s his strongest position and would love to get the chance to fill that void with the Scottish champions. Broadfoot said: ââ?¬Å?Centre half has always been my main position. ââ?¬Å?It is the position I prefer to play. ââ?¬Å?It was only when I came to Rangers that I was moved out to right back. ââ?¬Å?Donââ?¬â?¢t get me wrong ââ?¬â?? I would play anywhere for Rangers, but if I had a choice I would want to play at centre-half. ââ?¬Å?I know Walter Smith put me out to full back so I could learn the position and get more experience. ââ?¬Å?I feel I have done that and I am now a better player because of that, but I see myself in the long-run being a centre half. ââ?¬Å?I feel that is my more natural position, but at the end of the day it will be up to the gaffer. ââ?¬Å?I have the utmost respect for the manager and whatever he decides I will stick by him. ââ?¬Å?He knows that wherever I am asked to play for Rangers, I will go out and give 100 per cent.ââ?¬Â Broadfoot is in no doubt that McCoist will step up and follow in the success-filled footsteps of Smith. He was a big part of Smithââ?¬â?¢s success and Broadfoot is confident the SPL champions will remain on the trophy trail under him. ââ?¬Å?I am in no doubt that the manager will do well,ââ?¬Â he added. ââ?¬Å?He is a born winner and that shines through in everything he does. ââ?¬Å?You see how competitive he is, even in training. ââ?¬Å?He never likes to lose at anything and there is no doubt he will have his team tuned in a similar way. ââ?¬Å?The manager also knows the game inside out. He has played at the top level and he has also worked under a top manager in Walter Smith, so all that experience will also stand him in good stead. ââ?¬Å?He is also a clever and intelligent guy and he will also know what he wants and what he needs to bring future success to Rangers.ââ?¬Â McCoist still has to delve into the transfer market, has lost last termââ?¬â?¢s loan quartet of El Hadji Diouf, Ricky Foster, Vladimir Weiss and Kyle Bartley and decisions still have to be taken on David Healyââ?¬â?¢s future and also Weirââ?¬â?¢s. Broadfoot knows that last seasonââ?¬â?¢s Co-op Insurance Cup and SPL winners need to bolster their squad as Celtic will come back stronger ââ?¬â?? looking to steal their crown. The versatile defender said: ââ?¬Å?There is no doubt the manager needs the financial backing to add to his squad. ââ?¬Å?The new owner has said that will happen and I am sure it will. ââ?¬Å?We definitely need to add a few new faces to our squad. ââ?¬Å?We were a bit short last season and also a couple of new faces also helps to give the whole place a lift.ââ?¬Â The former St Mirren star also canââ?¬â?¢t wait to get started under McCoist, having been forced to write off the business end of last season. Broadfoot said: ââ?¬Å?It was just a nightmare last season. ââ?¬Å?I hurt my ankle back in September and then played on with it until December when I eventually had to go in for an operation. ââ?¬Å?Then everything was fine, I did all my rehabilitation and I ended up fracturing my foot. ââ?¬Å?It was really frustrating ââ?¬â?? you want to play in every game and I missed a lot of football. ââ?¬Å?But hopefully I am now over all my injury problems and I can get an injury-free run. ââ?¬Å?I have been in the gym for the last four weeks just doing strengthening work and making sure that when I do go back for pre-season I am ready to go for the new campaign.ââ?¬Â Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/252817/Kirk-Broadfoot-claims-he-can-fill-Rangers-defensive-gapKirk-Broadfoot-claims-he-can-fill-Rangers-defensive-gap#ixzz1PKiwbJNh

After watching the Walter Smith programme on STV last night and seeing some cracking goals scored at Ibrox, it got me thinking. What is your favourite goal scored at Ibrox by a Rangers player? Mines has to be Gazza's 2nd of 3 against Aberdeen to clinch 8IAR. Sheer brilliance!! Seeing it on the programme sent tingles up my spine.

HOME is where the heart is. And right now for Mancunian Kyle Bartley that feels like Ibrox. Arsenal star Bartley took to Rangers from day one after arriving on a short-term loan close to the shutting of the January transfer window. The calm and collected centre-half made an immediate impression for the champions on and off the pitch. So much so that the popular Bartley is now being treated like part of the Rangers family. His Gers pals are desperate to see the ex-England youth ace return to the club for the 2011-12 campaign. Bartley knows that because they are forever texting him to see what's going on - and if Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will grant Ally McCoist's wish to again borrow a player of real potential. The 20-year-old - with one game for the Gunners in the Champions League against Olympiakos in 2009 - doesn't hide the fact he'd jump at the chance to sign for the Gers again. Bartley, to be fair, also stresses he still sees his long-term future at the Emirates. But Rangers made a huge impression on him. And he'd love to return to win medals - having suffered the agony of injury robbing him of Co-op Cup and title glory. Bartley opened his heart to Scotland's No1 paper and said: "I was only at Rangers for a short while. But I've got so many good memories. I couldn't have been treated any better by the people there, from Walter Smith and the coaching staff to the players and everyone behind the scenes. "I loved it at Rangers and if I was to get another opportunity to play there it would be fantastic. "I'm a professional and Arsenal are my club. I'm under contract and it will be Arsene Wenger who decides what's best for me. "But it's no secret that the idea of another loan spell with Rangers would be very attractive. "The only negative for me was the knee injury I suffered which cut short my season. But I'm recovering well and I hope to get the all-clear from the specialist to step up my rehab work. "The target was always to be ready for the start of pre-season training - and I feel I'm on course for that. "Whether it's at Arsenal or Rangers, I'm determined to be 100 per cent fit. "But even when I was sidelined for Rangers I was made to feel a part of everything. "The scenes after the League Cup Final victory and the championship success were AMAZING. "I can't thank the Rangers fans enough for their best wishes and comments. They played such a big part in my experience in Scotland being so good. "I've made a lot of friends among the other players and they will remain so even if I've to stay at Arsenal. Vladimir Weiss, Maurice Edu, Kyle Lafferty, David Healy, Allan McGregor - they have all been texting me to see how things are and if I'll be coming back to Rangers. "Even Davie Weir's kept in touch. I learned plenty from him. He's a great guy. It's like I'm part of the Rangers family and it means a lot to me." New Rangers chief scout Neil Murray is understood to have handed manager McCoist a detailed list of five potential transfer targets for every position. Of special interest is defenders - and Bartley is top choice among them. Intriguingly, as SunSport revealed, Liverpool and Scotland teenager Danny Wilson is also a candidate for an Ibrox return less than a year after leaving But Bartley is a key name McCoist has been willing to go public on - underlining his desire to persuade Wenger to commit to another deal. The rookie gaffer appreciates that man-management will be a critical aspect if he's to successfully follow in the footsteps of legend Walter Smith. Bartley added: "Ally made a point of talking about me and I appreciated that. "That he's so keen to get me back to Rangers has given me a great boost. "But I also don't think it's a case of Ally just trying to sweet-talk me. "I honestly feel he's the kind of guy who would've done it anyway. "Ally was brilliant for me at Rangers after I arrived and I'm certain he's going to prove a great manager. "Only time will tell if I'm going to play for him. We'll see. "The bottom line is I'm an Arsenal player and it's also a special club with a top manager. Whether or not I head back to Rangers is out of my hands." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3629093/Im-one-of-the-family.html#ixzz1OqnseUAu

Seen this advertised on STV - I think it's on Tuesday at 8pm. Detailing his time at Ibrox I assume.