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  1. STEVE Davis last night revealed he wants to extend his stay at Rangers. The Northern Ireland international is out of contract at the end of next season but is keen to get tied up on a new long-term deal. Davis knows a contract extension could depend on Craig Whyte's proposed takeover being completed and insists that is more important than his contract talks. The 26-year-old midfielder is one of Rangers most prized assets, along with goalkeeper Allan McGregor and Madjid Bougherra, and would attract interest from the Premier League if the Ibrox outfit were forced to cash in during the summer. Davis has been a key member of Walter Smith's second stint at Rangers, having been signed initially on loan from Fulham in January 2008 before joining in a �£3 million move at the end of that campaign. Davis admits he is happy at Rangers and not interested in moving on as he wants to stay at the club. Hopefully after that, the boys who are coming towards the end of their deals can look at sorting something out Davis said: "It's just a matter of seeing what happens with the takeover first and everyone is concentrating on that just now. "Hopefully after that, the boys who are coming towards the end of their deals can look at sorting something out. "There are a couple of us in the same situation and I would like to stay on because there is no better club to be playing at in the world from my point of view. "If you ask any of the boys, they will tell you this is a great place to come in and work at every day. "Even with the tough times we've had, we're settled as a group and a lot of that can be put down to the manager and his backroom staff. "They have kept us away from a lot of the stuff behind the scenes and made sure this is an enjoyable place for us to be at. "We've had a good amount of success over the last couple of seasons. I'm happy here and hopefully I can extend my stay." Read more: http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/244827Steve-Davis-tells-Rangers-he-wants-to-stay-longer#ixzz1LTDY8il1
  2. ALLY McCOIST admits he'd never have dreamed of being Rangers manager when he hung up his boots to become a telly celebrity. Now the Ibrox gaffer-in-waiting believes he has finally shed the cheeky chappie image that made him a star on Question of Sport - and feels ready to defy the cynics who don't think he has the experience to succeed Walter Smith. In an interview to be broadcast on ESPN, McCoist said: "If you had said to me 10-15 years ago I'd have the opportunity to manage this club I would have thought you were mad. Absolutely no way. "Fifteen years ago I probably started doing my badges and before that I wouldn't have thought I would have stayed in the game. "Then you realise how much it means to you and how important it is to you. You take your coaches badges and enjoy your coaching. "It's been quite a long journey to get here - it's not the most orthodox way of getting in to management - and when you put it like that it's a lot of madness and great fun. "The different stages of my life have been wonderful experiences. I've always said playing football was the best thing I could ever do and this is the next best thing. "I was lucky to be on the other side of the camera as well, going to Champions League matches and finals was wonderful. "But playing is the best and coaching and management second best. I have been very fortunate." The happy-go-lucky persona that made him such a natural in front of the camera could have been his downfall when it came to being taken seriously by a dressing room seeking leadership. But there has always been a steely undercurrent that drove McCoist to become the club's greatest goalscorer. Anyone still under any illusions about McCoist's ability to go toe toe with a rival need only look at the notorious touchline bust-up with Celtic boss Neil Lennon at the end of the Scottish Cup replay at Parkhead in March. But McCoist shrugs off both the misconception about his cheeky chappie image and the controversy surrounding the spat that saw both clubs hauled before the Scottish government. He said: "Neil and I are absolutely fine. The best way to describe it is we have a healthy respect for each other and we know the difficulty of the jobs involved. "We speak after the game, have a bottle of beer and a glass of wine, that's the way it should be and will always be. "There has been a lot written and said because we had a little fallout - I fallout with the missus every day. It's pathetic. You saw what happened in the Barcelona v Real Madrid game. "Neil and I would have got six months if that was us! In comparison ours was pretty tame. There is certainly no problem with Neil and myself. "The cheeky image doesn't bother me because to a certain degree I've made my bed with the chatshow and Question of Sport so you don't knock it, it was magic fun. "I think anybody who knows me and even the vast majority who don't would appreciate football after my family is the most important thing in my life and I want to do well. "You don't succeed if you're not dedicated and true to what you want to do and I'm certainly that about football. "I'm 48 now and have been involved in the game a long time. I'd like to think I certainly know the club, having played here for 15 years and I have been back with Walter for four-and-a-half years. "I was also with Walter in the national team so I don't think anything is going to happen that will shock me. "I don't underestimate the task, that's for sure. I feel I'm really ready for it." So ready that McCoist has already begun to beef up his backroom staff with former team-mates John Brown and Neil Murray recruited to his scouting network plus, of course, his assistants Kenny McDowall and Ian Durrant. But no matter how many trusted lieutenants he has McCoist admits his greatest advisor and confidante will always be the mentor he is preparing to replace this summer. He added: "Without doubt, I'll have Walter on speed-dial. I make no apology for the fact that man will be getting phoned twice, three times a week. "But I have assembled my own coaching team. We've got Neil and John in the scouting department and very good they are too. I have worked with them a long time and know them well. "It's important we have a good squad outwith the playing staff and that's why we have appointed these two guys because we've got the utmost respect and faith in them to do their job. "I've known Ian for 100 years and Kenny a lot longer than people would think. "They are good people, they know their jobs well and we've all got that in common. We hope to do well." Slovak superkid Vladimir Weiss will NOT be back at Rangers next season, says his father. Vladimir Senior, who is manager of Slovakia, admitted Man City are unlikely to find a place in their team for the winger but ruled out another loan deal with the Ibrox club. He said: "Our priority is Spain - I want to send Vladimir to a strong European league. We may also consider Italy or Germany. He's had about 10 enquiries." http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2011/05/04/ally-mccoist-i-m-ready-to-take-over-as-boss-of-rangers-but-walter-smith-will-be-on-speed-dial-86908-23106241/
  3. WALTER SMITH'S final act as Rangers boss will be to try and bring Kyle Bartley back from Arsenal. SunSport can reveal Smith has pledged to successor Ally McCoist he'll make a call to Gunners manager Arsene Wenger. And McCoist hopes that will lead to stopper Bartley returning north on a season-long loan. The 19-year-old proved a big hit during his nine games for Gers before cruelly being struck down with a medial ligament injury in the final moments of the home Europa League tie against PSV Eindhoven. It came just three days before the League Cup final triumph over Celtic and ended his season. Bartley, who would be interested in a second spell at Ibrox, returned to Arsenal to begin his rehab and has been told he should recover in time for pre-season training. Gers first-team coach Kenny McDowall, who will step up as Ally McCoist's No2 at the club, revealed: "We haven't spoken to Arsenal yet. "Walter, though, is going to speak to Arsene Wenger at some point and ask the question. "We'd love to have the big fella back and it would only be for another loan. "It's no secret the lad came up here and did well and enjoyed himself. "Kyle's a top player and fitted in perfectly here. "But it would have to be that Arsene was agreeable and felt it was good for Kyle to return to us. "I wouldn't see Arsenal wanting to sell him, so that's why it'd be a loan." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3559854/We-want-our-loan-star-Bart.html#ixzz1LEyiQAa4
  4. SPL - Rangers baffled by royal tribute Sat, 30 Apr 16:13:00 2011 Rangers could face FIFA action over a Royal Wedding tribute printed on the shirt of captain David Weir. The defender wore a shirt paying tribute to Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge during Saturday's 5-0 win away to Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League. The embroidered slogan said: 'Congratulations William & Catherine 29th April 2011.' The act is technically in breach of FIFA regulations, which prevent players from making religious, political or personal statements, and it is understood Weir was also unaware of the tribute until kick-off. Rangers manager Walter Smith also claimed he had no knowledge of the message, saying: "I didn't know it was there. Sorry, I can't enlighten you at all. It must have been the kit man." The traditionally Protestant club this week received a UEFA punishment for the singing of sectarian songs during a Europa League fixture against PSV Eindhoven earlier this season. They also came in for criticism for allowing the distribution of thousands of Union Flags at last weekend's match against Celtic. Matches between the Old Firm rivals this season have been marred by crowd trouble and confrontation between players and coaches from both sides.
  5. Matt Dickinson Chief Sports Correspondent 17 minutes ago It was the game of zero tolerance against sectarianism, when police snatch squads would target troublemakers at Ibrox in the aftermath of the bomb sent to Neil Lennon, the Celtic manager. A day when Rangers and Celtic would stand united against any form of bigotry or intolerance and instruct their supporters to focus on the football. Enough was, finally, enough. So what did Rangers do? They allowed a small Union Jack flag to be placed in every seat of a home supporter. There were 40,000 of these flags, supplied by the Rangers Supporters Assembly, and every one approved by the club hierarchy. I rang Rangers yesterday to ask why, exactly? The Union Jack is not an official symbol of Rangers FC. It is not part of the club badge, not on the shirt. It is not to be found on any page of the Rangers website. A shirty spokesman, dismissing the inquiry as a nonsense, said that it was the flag of his country and the British Isles. But there are dozens of British clubs and none of the others ever hand out Union Jacks. If Rangers wanted to give the team a show of support, why not simply hand out regular club flags and scarves? Why endorse a provocative symbol of tribalism, on the very day when both clubs were meant to be going out of their way to calm their fans? The spokesman could not wait to get off the phone, although, before he did so, he pointed out that Rangers had no intention of complaining about the tricolours flown by the Celtic supporters. As if that made everything all right. Apologists will say that the Union Jack is only a flag, a common one, and not an incitement to send parcel bombs to football managers. But it has nothing whatsoever to do with football. In the context of the Old Firm, it has been hijacked as a sign of lasting enmity, of division, entrenching the idea that one club, for now and evermore, will represent the Protestant sector of Glasgow and the other the Catholic. One club handing out Union Jacks cannot possibly take us any closer to the day, however far away it may be, when Rangers against Celtic becomes a ââ?¬Å?normalââ?¬Â sporting rivalry, defined by geography, not historical or religious baggage. A day when the Old Firm becomes like Red against Blue, City against United, Milan against Inter, rather than the poisonous stirring of an ancient religious divide. The bomb intended for Lennon has focused attention on the murderous imbeciles, but there will always be extremists. The battle is surely more importantly won over the centre ground, the reasonable majority. This is the job of driving sense into the ââ?¬Å?90-minute bigotsââ?¬Â as they were described in 2005 by Lawrence Macintyre, the head of safety for Rangers at the time, when he talked of fans with Catholic friends and workmates who became filled with hatred on a Saturday afternoon at Ibrox. ââ?¬Å?If we can get the person that doesnââ?¬â?¢t mean it then weââ?¬â?¢ll isolate the real racists and real bigots in numbers that are manageable to deal with,ââ?¬Â he said. Does anyone seriously believe that the best means of education is for Rangers to hand out Union Jacks? To make such a point to the club yesterday was to be brushed off like an idiot. But then I met the same dismissiveness when I went to my only Old Firm derby at Ibrox a few years ago and expressed amazement that a giant Union Jack was being waved in the centre circle before kick-off. It seemed bizarre then and, given the tensions around Lennon, the ritual seemed even more extraordinary on Sunday. There seems to be an acceptance that these two clubs will always represent a sectarian divide, and the best that can be done is to contain the worst violence and the worst chanting rather than to eradicate the problem altogether. But it has to be asked whether such an approach will ever make sufficient progress. Many well-intentioned campaigns and initiatives have been launched in recent years, only to founder. The charity Nil by Mouth was established after the 1995 murder of a young Celtic fan, Sense Over Sectarianism, a joint-initiative, was launched in 2001, and Jack McConnell, then the First Minister, brought together a summit in 2005 that led to tougher legislation. Alex Salmond, the First Minister says the anti-sectarian laws will be toughened further in the coming months. We can add the Pride over Prejudice campaign launched by Rangers, Bhoys against Bigotry by Celtic and Bigger than Bigotry. No doubt there are others. The treatment of Lennon, the victim of a street attack in Glasgow in the past as well as having the threat made on his life, suggests that this problem is no closer to being resolved and that the clubs have to take a stronger lead. Condemning bombers is the easy part. Rangers will insist that they do plenty, but that has not been the impression given in the past 48 hours, on or off the record. They should pay more attention to their manager, the wise Walter Smith, who talked last week of how the sectarian problem had been tolerated for too long, and his relief that he was retiring. ââ?¬Å?To be quite honest with you, Iââ?¬â?¢m quite glad to be getting out of it,ââ?¬Â Smith said, which was a terribly sad admission from a man steeped in Rangers since he was a lad. So that is one manager driven away and another who might have been killed. And a stupid club who think there is nothing odd, amid all this trouble, in handing out 40,000 Union Jacks.
  6. HE could barely sign autographs for crying. Vladimir Weiss had tears rolling down his face as he sat among Rangers fans on Sunday. But it wasn't the 0-0 draw with Celtic that turned him into an emotional wreck. It's the thought of never playing for the Ibrox club again. Weiss, 21, joined Walter Smith's side from Manchester City at the start of the season. But after breaking a bone in his foot last month his time at the club is effectively over. That hasn't brought an end to his love affair with the Ibrox fans, though, as he joined them for the Old Firm title crunch. Weiss posed for pictures and signed his name while singing 'Glasgow Rangers, champions' at the top of his voice. But when they responded by chanting his name at half-time Vlad has revealed he completely lost it. He told SunSport: "I never got the chance to say goodbye to the fans. "That's one of the reasons I went to Sunday's game. "I wanted to spend some time with them at Ibrox - show them the appreciation I have for the club. "I left the stadium with nice memories. "It wasn't the result we wanted. But I enjoyed being in with the supporters for an important game like that. "I just came to Rangers looking to play football, but the club has now found a place in my heart. "The fans were brilliant towards me and showed that at half-time at the Old Firm match. "They were clapping their hands and singing my name - I just sat there crying. "I know it sounds silly but that's the truth. "It was so emotional for me and it's something I'll never forget for the rest of my life. "People surrounded me, asking to have their picture taken with me, and that was the least I could do. "It was just so special and although it made me cry I really enjoyed it. I went to the game with friends and we were in the corner of the stadium right beside the Celtic supporters. "It was all good fun. If I'm honest I was kind of giving it to them a little bit. "It was brilliant - singing 'Glasgow Rangers, champions'. I was also kissing the Rangers badge while pointing at the Celtic fans. "I think our fans loved it but I did too." Weiss was back in Manchester yesterday when SunSport caught up with him. His season is over because of a fractured foot. But the wee fella insists it would break his heart to think he will never get the chance to play for Rangers again. He added: "Honestly, I'll never forget my time with Rangers. "My future is uncertain at the moment. "I have returned to Manchester City because of the foot injury I have - and who knows where I'll be playing my football next season. "I have been told by the manager that I can return in pre-season and fight for my place. "But we all know I need to play games next season. "There is a lot of things I need to learn in football and I'm not going to learn them on the training pitch. "The next year is crucial for me. "I think I will go on loan somewhere to get games because that's what I need more than anything. "If I return to Rangers, then great. "But if it doesn't happen then hopefully one day in the future I will get the chance again. "I want to go back to Ibrox at some stage in my career. "Before I signed I didn't really follow the Scottish league. I wasn't a fan of Rangers or Celtic - but now I am. "I'm going to be a Rangers fan for the rest of my life." Vlad plans to return north before the end of the season and watch Rangers in action again. He's got a vested interest. There's a title medal at stake and he refuses to give up on it. Celtic moved into pole position in the title race after the 0-0 draw at Ibrox on Sunday. They're one point behind the Ibrox side but crucially have a game in hand, away from home to Inverness Caley Thistle. But Weiss insists nothing is certain yet - convinced Celts will still slip up between now and the end of the season. He added: "I still think it's up to Rangers. "For me the boys played better than Celtic on Sunday. They now have three hard games away from home. "Obviously if they win all their games they'll win the league - but I don't think that will happen. "Rangers need to go out and give everything in their games and see what happens. "I am confident the squad is strong enough to do it. "And I'm pretty confident Celtic will not win every game between now and the end of the season. "For me, I'm still hoping to get a winner's medal - I still believe that can happen." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3546693/Gers-fans-left-me-in-tears-Im-praying-I-play-for-Coisty-next-season.html#ixzz1Ka2mMedh
  7. RANGERS fans have been warned that the eyes of the world will be on Ibrox today and they have been urged not to do anything which would further besmirch the club's name in the wake of being charged with two counts of sectarian singing. The result of the Old Firm game will go a long way to determining who wins this the Scottish Premier League title and Strathclyde Police are bracing themselves for what they say could be a "perfect storm", while the clubs are doing everything they can to head off any trouble. Following mayhem on the pitch and off it during last month's Scottish Cup replay, the Scottish Government hosted a summit. However, with heightened attention on today's game in the wake of revelations about Neil Lennon and high-profile Celtic fans being sent letter bombs, and Rangers being charged with two counts of sectarian singing by UEFA, fans are fearful of further embarrassment today. "At this moment in time things have taken a step back to the bad old days and that is a situation that no decent person wants," said John Macmillan, general secretary of the Rangers Supporters' Association. "This is bringing the club into disrepute, it's bringing the good supporters into disrepute and the whole game into disrepute. The cameras of the world will be on this game and, if the fans behave the way they have in recent times, then it will be a shameful situation and that's why we are appealing to fans to bear in mind just what is at stake and cut all the silly nonsense out. "It is obviously a very tense situation but I hope that with the statements we have had from both Walter Smith and Neil Lennon that fans will see sense and just go out there and support their teams and enjoy a good game of football. "Of course we are hoping for a Rangers win but I'm just asking the fans, regardless of the situation, to stay calm and don't bring the club into any more disrepute because we are in enough trouble as it is." The clubs have appealed for common sense, while extra police have been drafted in and fans have been warned that those caught singing sectarian songs will be arrested. Macmillan said: "Some of the songs sung on both sides are nothing whatsoever to do with football. There is no point harking back to the past when people say the clubs thrived on this kind of business ââ?¬â?? and I'm not going to suggest that they didn't do that ââ?¬â?? but we have (all] moved on. "The filth that is coming out of the mouths of some supporters is just not acceptable in today's world and we have to do everything possible to stop it." Recalling incidents in the past where fans reported unsociable behaviour to the club's head of security, he urged fans to do the same again in an attempt to rid the club of some of its more bilious elements. "If you phone in and give them the seat number they would do something about it. I would encourage all decent fans to take a note (of seat numbers] and report them and we will at least get some of them rooted out. "This is a society problem but that's no excuse for ignoring it at football matches. We have to keep working at it ââ?¬â?? the silent majority have to be involved." http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/football/Rangers-Supporters39-Association-urges-fans.6756902.jp?articlepage=2
  8. Peterborough United ââ?¬â?? Craig Mackail-Smith could be on his way to Glasgow Rangers this summer Peterborough United's in-form striker Craig Mackail-Smith is a summer transfer target for Rangers according to a source close to the player. The 27-year-old front man sits proudly at the top of the League One goal scoring charts this season, with 25 goals in 41 league appearances for the Posh. His impressive performances have attracted the attention of a number of potential suitors with Gers boss Walter Smith reportedly dispatching scouts to run the rule over Mackail-Smith in recent weeks. Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson is almost resigned to losing his star striker in the summer, particularly if his side fail in their quest for promotion back to the Championship. A move to Ibrox would likely be an appealing option for the newly-capped Scotland international, who could develop further under the stewardship of Blues legend Ally McCoist, who is set to take over the reigns at Rangers this summer. Mackail-Smith has also caught the eye of a number of clubs in England, with the Daily Mail reporting that Norwich City came in with a firm offer of Ã?£2.5million to secure his services at the end of the season, only for Peterborough to knock back advances. Having plied his trade at non-league sides St Albans and Arlesey Town, the hitman got his break when he joined then-Conference side Dagenham and Redbridge. After three prolific seasons at Victoria Road he was snapped up by Peterborough, where he played a major role in taking the club from League Two to the Championship. His career looked set to continue on an upward spiral despite the club's immediate relegation last season, and now his fine form could land him a move to Glasgow Rangers which would put him firmly in the frame for more regular international action with Scotland. Mackail-Smith was recently rewarded for his impressive performances when he was named League One Player of the Year, and was also included in the PFA Team of the Year. It's almost certain that he will leave Posh at the end of the season, with Rangers seeming the most likely destination for Mackail-Smith to continue showcasing his talent. http://www.givemefootball.com/scottish-premier-league/rangers-in-shock-united-link-to-fergusons-star-str
  9. Saying he admires Gaddafi, saying Magic should move on? What next is he going to come out with...
  10. WANTAWAY Rangers star Madjid Bougherra has been warned he's going NOWHERE. Algerian stopper Bougy revealed last week his plan to quit Ibrox this summer. But Gers boss Walter Smith last night warned that contracted players will NOT be sold - and Bougy admitted he is NOT a certainty to leave the club at the end of the season. Smith said: "The whole thing about the summer will be about the club's overall circumstance. "Everybody says that people will be leaving but I don't see how we have the capability to let anyone leave. "We have reached the stage where if we sell players and can't re-invest then Rangers won't have a team for next year. "But I don't know what will happen. That is something for the future." Bougherra, who still has a year left on his current contract and rejected a new deal, returns from injury for tonight's vital SPL clash with Dundee United at Tannadice. And Smith admitted: "We're glad at the minute to have Bougherra back. "He has played well for us over the season and are just pleased to have Madjid fit again." Bougherra held talks with Gers chief executive Martin Bain over a new deal seven weeks ago. And although he turned down his offer on the SAME money he's currently on, the stopper insisted last night his future has still to be decided. Bougy, 28, said: "I am focusing on giving the title to Rangers and then I'll talk about transfers at the end of the season. "There are some possibilities but I like Rangers and this is a very big club. I have a contract until 2012, end of story, so we have to wait to the end of the season." Smith, meanwhile, has heaped praise on Steven Whittaker for the job he did in central defence while Bougherra was injured. He said: "He's not just been useful for us when Bougherra's been out - he's been doing it for us all season. It's not often you have one player playing in six different positions for you over the course of a season. "We had a fair idea we would need to move quite a few of them around this season, but Steven's been invaluable for us because he's so able to do it. "Even in a one-off game, there are very few players who could move from right-back to outside-left but he does it. "He does the whole lot without complaining. So he has been terrific for us this season." Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3534377/Dont-bank-on-a-move-Bougy.html#ixzz1Jv0owJKh
  11. From The Evening Times. I don't know why any EPL club would want WS going by his record when in charge of Everton. His tactics wouldn't work down there. Teams play fast, attacking football down there. Out of interest, who do you think this club is? Villa? Newcastle? West Ham?
  12. I hope he is not frightened into bending down to the tims as he was at that decision.
  13. By Andrew Smith, Tom English and Moira Gordon Ibrox annus horribilis goes from bad to worse but somehow championship title is still a live prospect SANCTIONS from UEFA over sectarian singing, a takeover that remains in the balance, bankers putting on the squeeze and scares over a tax case that could spiral Rangers into insolvency. Manager Walter Smith would be forgiven for dreading what next might assail his beloved club. "I hope there's not anything that comes next. There can't be a 'next'," says Smith. Remarkably, what could come next is Rangers snaring their third consecutive title. For, in the midst of all their batterings and buffetings, the Scottish Premier League fixture list for the post-split games means the Ibrox men must be considered slight favourites for the championship. Celtic have five away games in their final seven, one of these at Ibrox. Rangers have any number of ready-made excuses for forgivable failure. Smith has never allowed his players to seize on these. The state of the Ibrox squad might not be so parlous as is popularly promoted, considering �£4m from sales was reinvested in Nikica Jelavic only last summer. However, the fact that Rangers have continued to squeeze out victories to give them a real chance of sending Smith into his retirement next month with a 21st trophy and tenth title, in the face of deluge of negative headlines, is testament to their manager's strength of character. "If we look at recent events, the different things going on around the club, I can't say it doesn't have an effect on us," Smith states. "But we've had a circumstance for three years now where we've had to sit down with every player and tell them they're up for sale. They've been seeing the squad get gradually reduced. Maybe, they've actually become a bit immune to the things that have happened on the outside. Whatever anyone says about our team, we've handled the circumstances of our club really well from the footballing side. The players haven't allowed it to affect them too greatly. But it's now reaching a tipping point - every day now you feel as if there's something different that takes the focus away from the football. "We've avoided it so far. The UEFA charge last week was bad enough, this week it's worse. I've said to the boys it's a big test and challenge for everyone here, from myself all the way down, to keep our concentration levels purely on the football side of things." The absence of a takeover and the loss of the tax case would preclude Ally McCoist being able construct a competitive side. That would be a real tipping point of everything that's gone on. And everything that has gone on has, Smith admits, spoiled his final season at the club. "I would have liked the season to have gone smoothly. I don't mean we would have to win, just be competitive and able to concentrate on the football side. We had a fair idea it wouldn't be the case towards the end of last season; that there would be other things with the club up for sale. Now you can add this latest UEFA charge and it's a shame." ANDREW SMITH Tribunal resumes tomorrow on the '10,000lb gorilla in the room' When it comes to the Rangers tax case one certainty can be stated. The First Tier tribunal resumes tomorrow at a tax chamber in Edinburgh and is scheduled to sit for the next fortnight in private, with a decision expected within a month to six weeks. Under the microscope will be the Murray Group's Employment Benefit Trust which operated between 2001 and 2010 for some salaried employees of the Ibrox club. And depending on which tax experts you believe, the tribunal ruling could either sound the death knell for Rangers as we know the club, or clear the way for a takeover. As we also know, when discussing the club's half-year results a fortnight ago, Rangers chairman Alistair Johnston described the tax bill from HMRC - which is said to have lodged a demand for an unpaid sum of �£24m - as a "10,000lb gorilla in the room" and that "you don't know how hungry it is". The tone of such comments suggests the club will in some way require to satiate HMRC's appetite for what it sees as tax evasion.Yet, the other side of this is the fact that Rangers have appointed QC Andrew Thornhill to argue their case. He is one of three Queen's Counsel on their bench convinced they can successfully argue that the EBTs the club operated were then run in similar fashion at a number of companies. Thornhill is considered the country's leading legal figure on such matters. The Chambers guide describes Thornhill as "a superb heavy hitter against the Revenue". What can be gleaned of the case suggests he had better be. Rangers elected to make payments to players and other employees through what are called loans to EBT totalling �£33m in all. No PAYE and NI contributions are made on these, with the idea being the loans will be repaid. In practice, they never were and became benefits in kind, a loophole since closed by HMRC. At the initial hearing last October, evidence from a number of players was heard, though there was not sufficient time to get through all those called. It emerged the club had indemnified all players from paying tax on their loans, which may or may not be used against Rangers by an HMRC determined to squeeze the use of EBTs as it mounts what it sees as a major crackdown on all forms of tax avoidance. Were Rangers to lose they would be liable for interest on the underpaid tax, calculated at around �£10m. Then there could be a fine, around 75 per cent of the original sum, that would add a further �£18m to a bill that, weighing in at around �£52m, Johnston has admitted the club could not pay. Neither could David Murray, with Lloyds in no mood to extends his credit facilities that have been again stretched with Murray International Holdings' debts standing at �£713m, despite a 25 per cent debt-for-equity swap with the company's bankers. The bottom line is that if the HMRC is successful in the case against Rangers there appears no way that administration can be avoided. The situation is that stark. ANDREW SMITH It is stated that the hold-ups in the takeover saga are down to legal bureaucracy rather than anything more sinister, but the longer it goes on the more uncertain the Rangers fans will become. Whyte has proven to all parties that he has the funds to buy the club and believes that there is a will to get the deal completed. There is an acceptance in all camps that the coming week is pivotal. TOM ENGLISH http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/top-stories/The-unravelling-of-Rangers.6753156.jp?articlepage=4
  14. I'VE never been one to sit on the fence. Even if that means upsetting a mate, I'll tell it straight. I'd like to think I'm pals with both Neil Lennon and Ally McCoist, so this week's events make this column a tricky one to write. That will NEVER stop me being honest. I simply can't understand why the SFA let Coisty off the hook. The SFA reckon there's not a case to answer. Sorry, but that's just miles out. There IS a case to answer. McCoist was the one who initiated the bust-up with Neil Lennon, he sparked it. What he said has nothing to do with anyone else. He'll take that to the grave. Let's not forget HE was the one who whispered something in Lenny's ear. That's why Lenny reacted the way he did. McCoist should have been banned the way Lennon was. He was hit with a four-game ban after being sent to the stand at Tynecastle. Why, therefore, not the same punishment for Coisty? Then there's El Hadji-Diouf. The boy reacted in totally the wrong way having been sent off in that Old Firm game. Why wasn't he down the tunnel having a shower? Rangers had just been dumped out of the Cup, but he decides to take his shirt off and chuck it into the fans. As I said at the time I'd have thrown it back it if I was a Rangers fan. Diouf was on his own at this point, there was no one else in sight. He should have been keeping his head down? Why wasn't he consoling his team-mates after they had just lost a really important game. Diouf shouldn't have been anywhere near those fans after being sent off. Before that he had barged the Celtic physio for no good reason. Then he started a row with Neil Lennon - again for no good reason. To get away with a �£5,000 fine is a disgrace. That won't hurt him. Diouf is a millionaire, he won't exactly miss the money he's been fined by the SFA. The only way to hurt guys like him is suspending him from games. By hurting him, you hurt Rangers. He should have been banned. As for Madjid Bougherra? If you raise your hands to a match official you should be punished. End of. I still have no idea what he was trying to do. His hands were all over the ref. You can't do that. In all my time as a player, I never made contact with a referee of a linesman. You just can't do it. It's totally disrepectful to the ref. The players were behaving like THUGS in a Sunday League game. They were playing in front of millions of people and a full house at Celtic Park. The whole world was watching and they acted like thugs. I bet Walter Smith slated them when they got in the dressing room but that doesn't warrant them getting off so lightly. Yet somehow, both Diouf and Bougherra got off scot free. Once again people will be asking if there's a conspiracy. Once again, I'll say yes there is. Bougherra should have been given a three-game ban, just like Lennon got when he barged towards Stuart Dougal in 2005. Why hasn't he? I will tell you why. It's because this is a particularly tough time of the season for Rangers. They have got a lot of games in a short space of time. It's a massive time in their history. Walter Smith would love to win the title in his last season, leave with three in a row. The SFA have obviously put two and two together and realised suspending these two major players for the run-in would really hamper Rangers. Instead, they have fined the players and let Coisty off the hook. Rangers have got off scot free. That's my opinion. I'm saying all this without my Celtic hat on, trust me. It's got nothing to do with scoring over 100 goals for the Hoops. I just don't know what else people are meant to think. If you punish one side, then surely you also have to punish the other? Believe me, I'd be saying the exact same thing if the tables were turned. Why can't we simply have some consistency? I'll tell you what it is. Rangers are the Manchester United of Scotland. The FA down there are scared stiff of Fergie. Wayne Rooney smashes James McCarthy over the head with a vicious elbow and gets away with it. Then he swears into a camera and they feel they have to act because they are right up against it. If there's no pressure, they won't act and it's exactly the same with Rangers. It would have been really interesting to see what would have happened if it had been a Celtic player. People say these things balance themselves out. From what I can see, that's not the case because the SFA have done it again. Look at the St Johnstone game against Celtic. Referee Iain Brines should be embarrassed with that display. How did he not give a penalty after big Michael Duberry handled TWICE? Imagine St Johnstone went up the park after that and scored? All of a sudden the title would be right back in the balance. Brines was absolutely awful on Tuesday night. If you are a player, you analyse your game. You ask the gaffer for the video and have a look at your performance. Brines has to watch his performance, and he has to be ashamed with it, because he was just completely out of touch. The decisions he got wrong were a disgrace. The penalty, the Scott Brown foul in the first half. How he got off with that I'll never know. Then there was the Duberry two-footed lunge that deserved a red card. That was a potential leg-breaker, yet he escaped. Aside from all that, even in general play he was terrible. All it's done is give people even more reason to believe there is a conspiracy. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3526464/SFA-are-scared-stiff-of-Rangers.html#ixzz1JRt8QVFA
  15. Every day as the wife goes into the kitchen to put the spuds on the gas I take the chance to lie long out on the couch and zap the telly on to Deal or no Deal. The fact that it is the only time of the day that I get the chance to hold the remote control is totally irrelevant to this story. As I lay on the couch watching the end of countdown and that beautiful bird that hangs up the numbers or letters I must have suckled into a light sleep. I then heard Noel Edmunds welcoming the east wing and then the west wing. I couldnââ?¬â?¢t believe it when I saw. Ally McCoist Walter Smith Martin Bain and all of the coaching staff on the west wing. On the east wing were eleven first team Rangers players. Then Noel thanked all the pilgrims for coming. Unbelievable that all the pilgrims had red white and blue scarfs on. Tonightââ?¬â?¢s game will be played by Craig. Craig Whyte! ââ?¬Å?I am so looking forward to this gameââ?¬Â says Noel. ââ?¬Å?Craig what are your Photoââ?¬â?¢s?ââ?¬Â ââ?¬Å?This is Ibrox stadiumââ?¬Â says Craig. Unfortunately it is slowly becoming run down. I remember going there as a boy and it really hurts me to see it in decline. Craig has a tear running down his cheek. Your next photo is of the Rangers team. Yes, while everything looks okay in the photo, the truth is that the team suffers from Murraytitus. That is a disease that explodes short term but burns out in the long term leaving serious illness and possible death. I hope to win some money tonight so that I can turn the health of the club around. ââ?¬Å?Ladies and Gentlemen this is Craigââ?¬â?¢s gameââ?¬Â Craig opens 5 boxes and then gets a call from the banker. Noel Edmunds imitates the bankers voice. Why does it sound like David Murray? 33 million is your offer Craig, deal or no deal. It is a great offer Mr Banker but remember that tax problem you left us with so it has to be ââ?¬Å?No dealââ?¬Â Nobody ever deals at the first offer and Craig certainly wasnââ?¬â?¢t going to be the first. As the game continues Craig seems to be hitting all the red numbers. The Banker is making it more and more difficult for Craig to do a deal. Then getting down to the eight box Craig has just hit an all blue round and the tax issues have been swallowed up by the banker. Craig your offer is 24 million but unfortunately another little tax issue has suddenly appeared making the total offer 27 million pounds. Deal or no deal. Sorry Mr banker it is a great offer but that tax issue is Mr Murray's problem so it has to be ââ?¬Å?No dealââ?¬Â The Pilgrims groan in disbelief. Another three boxes are opened and Craigââ?¬â?¢s game reaches the five box. Craig thinks he has got an advantage over the banker. He is disappointed as the banker points out there are problems not only with the tax but also with the Albion car park. Craig your offer stays at 24 million pounds but you now have two problems to sort out, is it deal or no deal. "Sorry Mr Banker but you are forcing me to go to the end and open my own box" As the game reaches its climax there are only two boxes left. The 1 penny box and the Jackpot. Will Craig win his fight to give Rangers the life-changing money they so need or will Rangers become a member of the 1 penny club. Noel Edmunds Pulls the seal from Craig Whyteââ?¬â?¢s box. He delays opening the box to build up the suspense. "Craig, all the pilgrims are praying that this will give you your life changing money that Rangers football club so badly need." As the lid of the box slowly opens. I hear ââ?¬Å?Dad your dinnerââ?¬â?¢s on the tableââ?¬Â and I wake up just in time to see wee Sammy from Shettleston win 250 quid and a steaming plate of mince and tatties on the table. I may never know what happened to Craig Whyte.
  16. From The Daily Mail. Fair do's.
  17. Rangers have been handed a boost with the news Lee McCulloch will be fit for the club's title run-in. It was originally feared the midfielder, who underwent an operation earlier this year to remove a cyst on his knee, would be sidelined for the remainder of the season. However his manager Walter Smith confirmed on Friday that the 32-year-old would be in contention to play in Rangers' SPL fixture away to Aberdeen on Wednesday, April 13. The player's return will see him available to feature in eight of Rangers' remaining SPL matches, with three games scheduled before a further five are added to the calendar after the SPL split. The Ibrox club's post-split game with Celtic has already been scheduled for Sunday, April 24. McCulloch had been a virtual ever-present for the Ibrox club this season before his injury, featuring 27 times before being forced out of a win over Hearts on February 2 after just 20 minutes. http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/rangers/242464-mcculloch-ready-to-return-to-action-for-rangers/
  18. Perhaps this has been posted already, tho' I don't see it. http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8734_6856123,00.html SOUNESS TRIBUTE TO HOLMES BACKING Posted 06/04/11 17:53EmailPrintSave Hamilton v Rangers. Click here to bet. Graeme Souness has hailed former Rangers chief executive David Holmes for his courage and bravery in making him Ibrox manager 25 years ago. The arrival of the Scotland captain from Sampdoria transformed the fortunes of a club who had not won the Scottish title for eight consecutive seasons. Souness, who replaced Jock Wallace, soon brought in England internationals Terry Butcher and Chris Woods before leading the club to the championship in his first season, and then began the nine-in-a-row years by regaining the trophy in 1989. Rangers stand on the brink of major change with Craig Whyte closing in on a takeover of the club and Souness believes Holmes deserves credit for implementing seismic change a quarter of a century ago. Speaking to the Rangers News on the eve of the anniversary of his appointment, Souness said: "To say David Holmes put his neck on the line was an understatement. "I was 33 and had no experience. He gave me the chance to be the manager of Rangers and that must have been a worry to him. "It should never be forgotten what David Holmes did. The club was in turmoil and it was fragmented." Souness immediately brought Walter Smith from Dundee United as his assistant having worked with him on the international scene. And current Rangers boss Smith also believes the chief executive deserves huge praise. "The vision of David Holmes was fantastic," Smith said. "People can make the decisions - like the one he did - but the hard part is seeing the plan through. "I don't think people realise how difficult it was but David had the willingness and the perseverance to make it happen." Souness was sent off in his first match after kicking Hibernian striker George McCluskey and continued to provoke hostility and controversy, not least when he signed former Celtic striker Maurice Johnston from under the noses of the Parkhead club. But he insists his intention was never to upset people for the sake of it. "My experience from Liverpool and also being a foreigner in Italy was that other teams treated it as their cup final when they played against you so I was prepared for what lay in store," said Souness, who quit for Liverpool in 1991. "However, it was far more intense in Scotland. I was regarded as some big-head coming back to Scotland to show how it was done, but that was never my intention. "All I wanted to do was put Rangers back to the place that they should always be. "That aspect did not really bother me because I had had it throughout my career and I had really strong characters around me in the dressing room."
  19. Darrell King Share 4 Apr 2011 Almost a year ago, this newspaper broke the story that Rangers were under investigation from HMRC over the use of Employment Benefit Trusts for over a decade. In the same article, we said that Lloyds Bank only had one plan for the club ââ?¬â?? cuts, cuts and more cuts. This would leave a team made up of players on low wages, with the squad supplemented by kids from Murray Park. Star names would go and, on top of that, the stadium was being neglected. We said that administration was a possibility, and that a sale would be unlikely unless someone agreed to offer a warranty on the potential tax bill that could, if found a case was there to answer, amount to tens of millions of pounds. The reaction? We were accused of scaremongering; in fact, some reckoned there were agendas at work to devalue the club just as they were going through an attempted take-over bid from Andrew Ellis. The day after we ran the story ââ?¬â?? which came about after weeks of investigation, including talking to players who at that stage had received letters from HMRC saying they would be part of a future probe, and talking to sources inside the boardroom ââ?¬â?? Sir David Murray responded. It was April 30 last year and, unless Iââ?¬â?¢ve missed it, that was probably the last time he went on record to talk about anything to do with the club. ââ?¬Å?This amounts to scare- mongering. Rangers are not in any danger because of their financial position,ââ?¬Â said Sir David. ââ?¬Å?People can think what they want of me, but one thing I would never do is put the club in danger. ââ?¬Å?If anyone wants to buy, let them make their play. They do due diligence and see where they are ââ?¬â?? but there is nothing to hide. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve had the club up for sale for two years. I am not going to be hard to deal with. It is a straightforward process.ââ?¬Â Subsequently, as we also predicted, Ellisââ?¬â?¢s bid fell. The ââ?¬Ë?for saleââ?¬â?¢ sign came down, well publicly anyway. And Rangers drifted on. Behind the scenes, Lloyds tightened their grip, squeezed more and the squad was asset-stripped further and further. Only Walter Smith ââ?¬â?? and his guidance of the team to two successive championships ââ?¬â??saved them from oblivion. Anyone who doubts that, just pause for a minute. Read the words of Alastair Johnston on Friday and imagine life at Rangers Ã?£30million poorer from what the Champions League has earned the club in the past two years. In fact, every Rangers fan should read what Johnston said over and over. Last Friday was the day when someone finally told it as it is. The day the chairman said enough was enough. Sure, he maybe got carried away, the nod of his head to a query on whether the club could go bust sparking all sorts of doomsday headlines and a subsequent retraction to the Stock Exchange. But Johnston showed guts and, in doing so, endorsed what this paper said a year ago. I wonder how the Lloyds Bank PR person felt on Friday when Johnston revealed that Donald Muir was the bankââ?¬â?¢s man, and that the only reason Rangersââ?¬â?¢ credit facility was rubber-stamped was because he was on the board. Or the fact that Lloyds refused to speak to Martin Bain ââ?¬â?? the man paid to run the club ââ?¬â?? for the first six months after they moved in back in October 2009, preferring to do all their business through Muir, who was acting on their behalf. This is the same Lloyds PR man who challenged us at every turn, asking us to remove any mention in articles that Muir was ââ?¬Ë?Lloyds Bankââ?¬â?¢s manââ?¬â?¢ and insisting that he was actually there are at the behest of the Murray Group. What Johnston did was brave, honourable and truthful at the same time. He laid it bare for Rangers fans who looked at our headlines a year ago and said ââ?¬Å?No way, not us. We are Rangers. Taxman? Administration? Not a chance.ââ?¬Â Well, the truth is out there now. Johnston is a fan first, chairman second. He knows itââ?¬â?¢s quite outrageous to ask the clubââ?¬â?¢s supporters (as is about to happen) to collectively shell out in the region of Ã?£15m in season ticket money when they donââ?¬â?¢t actually know what they will be watching next term. He also put pressure on all those involved in the current situation ââ?¬â?? Craig Whyte, Murray and the bank. Itââ?¬â?¢s time to do a deal, or move aside. His message, essentially, is this: If the status quo is to remain, let us know so we all know what we are getting into ââ?¬â?? especially Ally McCoist. Murray spoke of a straight-forward process, yet Ellis couldnââ?¬â?¢t see it through after months of hanging around. Whyte has been on the scene for five months, and we are now told it will be this week when a decision is finally made. His camp say he is getting little help, especially over issues like the Ã?£2.8m tax bill that popped up last week at the 11th hour. Murray wants Ã?£6m for his shares, when it could be argued that they are worthless in light of the possible tax liability that could sink them out of sight. The bank want their full Ã?£24m when they are selling off bad debts all over the place at 60p in the pound. They are looking after themselves, fair enough, but at least be straight. Donââ?¬â?¢t kid people on you are supportive when you are looking after your own interests. And what of Whyte? We know nothing really of this man, except that he appears to have patience, money to back him up, and that he has impressed Johnston and the board. If he walks, for whatever reason, he should tell the Rangers support why. If he does a deal then, even with tax problems still hanging around their neck, the club has a chance. But the time has come for him to show his hand. Buying Rangers is, after all, said to be a straightforward process. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/the-truth-is-out-there-1.1094453
  20. POLICE will issue the Old Firm with a list of banned songs as they begin their biggest crackdown on sectarianism. Both Celtic and Rangers will be asked to distribute the list to fans and ask them to stop singing them. The banned songs are thought to include The Famine Song, The Billy Boys and other tunes that glorify terror groups such as the IRA and UDA. Senior Strathclyde police sources say officers are ready to wade into stands to arrest offenders. A source said: "The police and the clubs need to work together and there has to be change in attitude by fans. "Thousands sing these songs but we cannot turn a blind eye any longer. "These songs have to become as socially unacceptable as drink-driving." Persistent offenders will be warned inside grounds. If they fail to stop, they will be arrested and could be taken to court and banned from attending matches. Fury over sectarian singing has increased in a season which has already featured six highly-charged Old Firm matches. The Catholic Church last month compained about singing coming from the Rangers end during the Co-operative Insurance Cup final, which Rangers won 2-1. And Rangers fans have been prosecuted for singing The Famine Song, described as racist by High Court judge Lord Carloway. It contains the words "the famine is over, why don't you go home" and has also been attacked by Celtic chairman Lord Reid. Last month, the Sunday Mail revealed a Celtic fan had received a two-year banning order and a �£300 fine for a song which described Rangers manager Walter Smith as a "sad, Orange b*****d". Lawyer David McKie last month successfully defended police officer Christopher Halaka who was accused of chanting pro-IRA slogans at a Perth taxi rank. He was cleared of breach of the peace with religious aggravation at Perth Sheriff Court. Mr McKie said: "Some songs about the IRA and UDA may be sectarian but singing them isn't necessarily breaking the law. The lyrics may be about history and politics and have nothing to do with religion." Scottish historian Professor Tom Devine, of Edinburgh University, said: "There should be caution until we see how this works. "But questions remain. How are those engaged in such singing to be identified? "Will they be charged with breach of the peace aggravated by sectarian intent? "And will the ban apply to all football matches and parks in Scotland?" Last night Celtic said they were unaware of the plans and couldn't comment on the new measures. Rangers were also unable to comment. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2011/04/03/police-chiefs-give-celtic-and-rangers-list-of-banned-songs-in-sectarian-crackdown-86908-23035258/
  21. The following article has been doing the rounds for a few days, and as usual it's full of lies and incorrect and misleading information. Just because Murray has transferred his shares to an off-shore trust company does not mean that he is not the beneficial owner. Most of his Murray Sports shares have been owned by IFG Nominees CI Ltd for a number of years, and I have never given it a second thought. That's the same company that owns the shares in MIH, and not the one mentioned in the article. Just because "Declan" is a director of the company does not mean he owns the club and it is nonense to suggest it. I'm a director of a number of companies, one of which is based in the Republic of Ireland, and it doesn't mean that I own any proportion of any of them. If the club did go into administration Murray's wealth would be unharmed. Rangers are a limited company. Limited means that there is limited (or no) liability on the shareholders. Murray will have placed his shares in an off-shore trust because it benefits him personally from a tax point of view. Standard stuff when you are at his level. Now for the biggest lie. Uberior owns Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares. This entitles them to divdends only. No mention of the word "Convertible". There is no right to convert them to Ordinary shares. Murray's ownership cannot be diluted to 7%. It's not worth wasting any more time in the article, but there's nothing in it that is of any note, other than to highlight their continued capacity for being liars.
  22. The latest from Traynor with a nice little dig at the end: http://blogs.dailyrecord.co.uk/jimtraynor/2011/03/are-lloyds-trying-to-sell-rang.html
  23. The Rangers Supporters Trust have called on Lloyds Bank to make clear their plans as Craig Whyte's takeover bid hangs in the balance. The �£33million deal will see the Scottish tycoon take over 75% of Sir David Murray's shareholding, with London-based property developer Andrew Ellis becoming a 25% partner. However, it is understood the bank's desire for an 'exit payment' of more than �£1m is just one of the key stumbling blocks and patience is fast running out. Whyte has targeted Thursday for the deal to be concluded by which time Rangers supporters are expected to be told the club's debt has been slashed to around �£21m from the �£27.1m figure announced in June. RST chairman Stephen Smith said, in these fraught circumstances, the Light Blues fans deserve to be informed of Lloyds' position. "Lloyds Bank can be a convenient whipping boy," Smith said. "It is very easy to paint them as the bad guy in this situation and there are some who may feel excuses are being put in place for the deal not happening. "However, our main concern is with the way that the bank is treating Rangers "We are living in extraordinary financial circumstances where Lloyds Bank have been kept afloat by the taxpayer. "Yet it appears they are refusing to accept a deal which will give them all their money back. "It just doesn't make sense. "If anything, it appears that the bank is trying to devalue the club. "So we would like Lloyds to tell us about their strategy. "We are not talking about breaching commercial confidences, or asking them to come out with figures and percentages. "We want to know their plans for the club and for them to confirm that they are operating normal commercial arrangements with a company the size of Rangers with the turnover of �£50m plus. "They should be able to do that but we have asked on a number of occasions and have been met with a wall of silence. "But as Rangers fans and taxpayers, we are surely entitled to know what's going on. "Anything else is not acceptable in the 21st century." Smith admits the rank and file of the Rangers support have grown tired of the takeover saga. "People are weary with it all," he said. "It has been dragging on for around nine months. "There have been various deadlines which come and gone, the first being in December when there was talk of Walter Smith getting money for the January transfer window, with another being in February. "But meanwhile, it seems the bank's restriction have been detrimental to our abilities on the pitch. "We have had to go with five loan players in our squad, while fighting in all three domestic competitions and in Europe. "Now we are down to one competition, the title race, and that might come down to fine margins. "And if Rangers lose out then Rangers fans will not forgive the bank." No one from Lloyds was available for comment. http://www.teamtalk.com/rangers/6839240/Supporters-chief-wants-answers
  24. Manchester United are favourites to win the �£8million race for Blackpoolâ��s sought-after midfielder Charlie Adam, who plays for Scotland against Brazil at the Emirates on Sunday. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has bided his time for 25-year-old Adam, who was the subject of a bidding war between Tottenham and Liverpool in the last transfer window. But after discussions with Walter Smith - Adamâ��s former boss at Rangers - Ferguson will enter the race for the player as he seeks a long-term successor to Paul Scholes. Blackpool will not stand in his way of moving at the end of the season and Adam is believed to find the allure of Champions League football a huge incentive, even if he will not be guaranteed a regular starting place. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1370336/Manchester-United-set-make-8m-summer-Blackpool-star-Charlie-Adam.html#ixzz1Hngbs3mV
  25. Craig Whyte has warned Rangers that only a swift conclusion to his takeover will give Ally McCoist the chance to make significant summer signings - avoiding the bleak scenario predicted by Walter Smith earlier in the week. While the prospective owner is willing to fund half-a-dozen signings, sources close to the deal insist this will only happen if he is in position soon. (Daily Mail) http://sport.scotsman.com/football/The-Rumour-Mill-Friday39s-football.6740208.jp
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