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In the wake of us being linked with lots of SPL run of the mill players that dont get the heart racing and get you excited at watching them in action. Who in the past has got you excited about signing for Rangers. Here is mine. Souness - Was at Primary School but remeber all the excitement going on at the time. Gazza - had to go an greet him at Ibrox when he arrived , was pandamonium the man is a legend. Laudrup - Was so excited as had watched him light up Euro 92 and couldnt believe he was going to sign for us. Ronald De Boer - Absolutly loved this guy was a genuine world class Midfielder and was an honour to watch him play , his brother was no bad too Claudio Canigga - Gave Dundee pennies for this Argentinian Superstar of the 90's , was in his twilight but was still an exciting player to watch and funny too. Tore Andre Flo - Was as astounded as anyone at the time that we could afford to spend �£12M on anyone and was excited as Flo had a great scoring record but was not to work out for the big man. Michael Mols - See clips of him for Utrecht on the net and was mesmorised and couldnt wait till he arrived and we were not let down until his horror injury against Bayern , was a delight to see Mols in action for the Bears. Dado Prso - Watched him run riot in the Champions League for Monaco and read all the papers with him being linked to Rangers and was saying no way but he did come and What a signing he was a total class act , a dodgy knee ended his Ibrox career short , What would you do to have Dado in the team today. Kris Boyd - Kilmarnock Goal Machine now Rangers Goal Machine Stevie Naismith - Watched him score a peach against us at the end of the season and sign for us at the last minute of the transfer window , has yet to completly shine at Ibrox but has time on his side. De - Marcus Beasley - Had watched him play for PSV and rated him high,y and was glad we signed him had been a bit hot and cold in his Gers Career so far i still think he is worth keeping. I know we have signed a number of decent players since , but these are the players i was excited about signing for Rangers. Now we are in the days of chasing 1st division stars and championship players how times have changed for us. Cheers :cheers:

Take a seat. Have some herbal tea and get a defibrillator close to hand. What you are about to read may cause dizziness, disorientation and even nausea. Are you ready? Let's begin. Kris Boyd should be player of the year. Yes, you did just read that. For the purposes of clarity, let's repeat. Kris Boyd should be player of the year. It has been one of the mysteries of Scottish football that the greatest poacher of his time has never made the shortlist for the award, be it from his peers at PFA Scotland, or his torturers and cheerleaders in the Scottish Football Writers' Association. There is more chance of Gary Lineker winning the Golf Writers' Oratory Award for his Masters coverage than there is of Boyd standing on a lectern getting all Gwyneth Paltrow on us. There is more chance of the Scottish FA winning the Nobel Peace Prize for international diplomacy than there is of Boyd posing with a silver salver on one hand and flicking a fly vicky at the cameras with the other. There is more chance of Csaba Laszlo cutting down his acceptance speech to twice the length of Andy Cameron's after-dinner turn than there is of poor, persecuted Boydy opening his heart to The Sun on why being named player of the year vindicated his decision to say no to Burley and sulk and gurn at Walter. Well, maybe that's stretching it a bit. advertisement The point is this: in a season hardly oversubscribed with stand-out performers, or even above average ones, it is a travesty that Mon Mome had shorter odds to win the Grand National than Rangers' habitual larcenist has of scooting off with a slab of personal distinction. Boyd has a greater case than those currently in the reckoning. Gary Caldwell is the favourite but was given the runaround by Bruno Aguiar at Tynecastle on Saturday afternoon in midfield and, for all his smart passing and versatility, has been partly responsible for Celtic's inability to defend cross balls. Scott Brown? The award surely cannot go to a midfielder who has yet to perfect the art of the forward pass. If it does, it will be for sheer energy and hyperactivity alone. Timmy Mallet will fancy his chances next season. Pedro Mendes? The myths surrounding the Portuguese have been exposed in recent weeks. Elegant and occasionally brilliant, the reason he found himself at Portsmouth was his average of one influential game every three or four. Steven Davis? A wide player is expected to get to the byeline and deliver a series of inviting crosses. It is not his natural position but the remit remains the same. He would have had a stronger case if he played centrally, but can the player of the year be awarded to a guy not regarded as good enough for his preferred position? Which brings us to the case for the attack. Boyd has scored 28 goals for Rangers, with six league games and one, possibly two, Homecoming Scottish Cup games still to play. He will finish the season with more than 30 but it is the background story that makes his claim so compelling. Richard Gough once claimed that Andy Goram regularly saved Rangers 15 points a season; Boyd has gathered 18 of the title challengers' 70 points. His goals have been the difference between Rangers winning or losing, such as his brace in a 2-1 win against Kilmarnock in September, and winners against Hibernian and Falkirk; winning or drawing, such as his two in a 3-1 win away to Hamilton or his recent exploits against St Mirren and Motherwell; and drawing or losing, his goal against Dundee United at Tannadice, for example. Boyd, to put it charitably, is not one of life's natural athletes. His limitations have been highlighted often enough in this column, to his occasional dissatisfaction, but at times his deficiencies detract from his exceptional, unteachable knack of scoring goals. His first against Motherwell on Saturday was a moment of sheer instinctive beauty, lashing the ball contemptuously beyond Graeme Smith. There have been other such instances, not least the Van Bastenesque volley (with his left foot) against Partick Thistle in the Co-operative Insurance Cup. Those who have questioned his professionalism, myself among them, should at least give credit to Boyd for the 10 goals scored since the turn of the year. That is the ultimate act of professionalism for a player whom Rangers were eager to sell to Birmingham City for �£3m in the January window. He rejected the chance, partly because of the personal terms on offer - roughly a third more than he earns at Ibrox - but largely because he is a home-bird who waited long enough to win a move to Rangers. He could have downed tools after Sir David Murray did everything to facilitate the deal short of writing a cheque as he did for Alan Hutton. Instead, he resumed normal business. Had he been at his peak in the 1990s, there would be no mention of his lack of athleticism or his inability to hold the ball, just awe at the relentlessness of his output. Life is not about to get any easier for him at Rangers in the summer, which is why we all could be witnessing the last acts of Boyd in Scotland. He should be celebrated and acknowledged as one of the best goalscorers to have emerged of any era. Odds are he won't. http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headlines/display.var.2501505.0.Darryl_Broadfoot_on_Monday.php

Exclusive by Lindsay Herron GAVIN RAE is hoping Stevie Smith can join the growing colony of ex-Rangers at Cardiff City next season - in the Premiership. Chris Burke and Ross McCormack are also regulars with the promotion-chasing side while Stevie Thomson is currently on loan at Burnley. Stevie SmithOut of favour full back Smith has been interesting Bluebirds boss Dave Jones and he travelled to Wales last week. Smith played in a specially-arranged friendly game and had a good discussion with the Cardiff manager. With the window for loan signings in the Championship now closed, Smith is hoping there can be further discussions in the summer. And old team mate Rae will be thrilled if a deal can done AND Cardiff have made it into the top flight. He told Rangers World: "I spoke to Smithy when I heard he was down for a trial and Burkey saw him when he was down. "Obviously the gaffer has a few ex-Rangers players on the books and he seems to have done well with them so it would be great if Stevie could be the next one. "He is a great wee player so hopefully he can come down and join us." Cardiff are nine points behind Alex McLeish's Birmingham, who currently occupy second spot which carries automatic promotion, but they have two games in hand. There are eight games left in the Championship but Cardiff have four in eight days, starting with bitter rivals Swansea on Sunday morning. Rae said: "We are still in a good position. We have not been out of the top six all season and hopefully we don't fall out now. "We have eight games to go so the plan is to go on a run and just go for it.Ross McCormack celebrates his strike for Scotland "We have a heavy schedule of games coming up but that's normal down there. You seem to play more than you train but we are used to it now." Unfortunately, Scotland hero Ross McCormack will be missing for the Bluebirds after being sent off in the last league match - a 3-0 defeat by Sheffield United. However, Rae is in no doubt that he has arrived as an international player. He said: "He has been doing brilliantly for us since he joined and I think he's got it all in his locker. "Playing week in, week out at Cardiff has been a big thing for him and obviously helped him. "There is nothing like making your Hampden debut for Scotland and it was a bit special for Ross. In saying that he was probably our best player against Holland too so to get two man of the match awards and a goal can't be bad."

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

By Andrew Dickson BARRY FERGUSON couldn't care less if it was Celtic or Berwick he was facing for the League Cup on Sunday as long as he helps Rangers win it. The Ibrox captain is currently preparing for a first Old Firm final in six years ahead of the Light Blues' meeting with their Parkhead opponents this weekend. It's a match supporters are looking forward to immensely and while Ferguson's no different in that respect, he has played down the importance of who Gers' opponents are. He doesn't mean to be disrespectful when he says that - he simply feels that coming home with the silverware is more significant than who stands in his way of the trophy. Ferguson said: "People often ask me how good it would feel to lift another cup and the answer is that nothing ever changes. "The hunger to win is always there and whenever you get your hands on silverware again, it feels every bit as special as the first time you did it. "Once your desire to keep doing that goes, there is no point in playing football any more and you might as well give up. "To lift a trophy as captain of Rangers is a huge thing for me and it's special to all of my family and friends too. It means so much to us all. "It doesn't matter who it is against. People also question me about whether finals against Celtic are better to be part of than matches against other teams. "It really doesn't make a difference to me. We could be playing Berwick Rangers or whoever else this weekend and it would be just as big a game. "To win the trophy is the biggest thing and we must make sure we're the ones standing there with it once the final whistle goes." Ferguson has an outstanding record in domestic cup finals with Rangers and has won each one of the nine he has played in. Included in that run are three victories against Celtic and the Light Blues have won their last four Old Firm finals in a sequence stretching back almost 20 years. nIt goes without saying Ferguson is determined to make it five in a row at Hampden four days from now - but he knows what has happened in the past counts for nothing. He added: "We've got a good recent record in cup finals against Celtic and we're very proud of it but it goes out the window ahead of this game. "It's all behind us now and I'm not the type to look back at things. I tend to look forward instead and we need to consider how we go about winning this game. "We've still got a relatively new team and for a lot of the boys, this will be their first final with Rangers. "We know the match will difficult. It will take a lot of hard graft but hopefully we can come out on top."

AROUND 20 Rangers staff were last night facing the sack ââ?¬â? as the club cuts costs to beat the credit crunch. Bosses at the debt-ridden club have asked all 200 non-football employees to consider redundancy. The move comes weeks after the Ibrox side FAILED to flog any of its big names during the January transfer window. And only a week after its Ã?£3.9million loss for the second half of last year was blamed on the teamââ?¬â?¢s FAILURE to reach the Champions League. Last month chairman Sir David Murray warned: ââ?¬Å?We have to bring down costs. This financial downturn is a reality check for everyone.ââ?¬Â And last night a club source revealed: ââ?¬Å?There are rumours flying all over the place. ââ?¬Å?No one really knows what state the finances are in. ââ?¬Å?The bosses are said to be looking to shed about 20 jobs, which is a sizeable chunk of the workforce. There isnââ?¬â?¢t much sympathy for the clubââ?¬â?¢s players. ââ?¬Å?David Murray said they may have to take pay cuts. ââ?¬Å?But whatââ?¬â?¢s that when the axe is hovering over the jobs of day-to-day workers who have mortgages to pay?ââ?¬Â The voluntary redundancy offer applies to backroom staff at Ibrox and the clubââ?¬â?¢s Murray Park training ground. Decision In January, Rangers were on the verge of securing a much-needed Ã?£3.8m boost when they accepted Birmingham Cityââ?¬â?¢s offer for top scorer Kris Boyd. Explaining the decision at the time, Mr Murray said: ââ?¬Å?People are asking how bad is it at Rangers? If we did not take this action, it COULD have been bad.ââ?¬Â But the move fell through when Boyd, 25, could not agree personal terms. In the same month, The Scottish Sun told how the club was also considering the sale of captain Barry Ferguson, keeper Allan McGregor or defender Madjid Bougherra to fill the hole in its finances ââ?¬â? but all three stayed at Ibrox. Last week Rangers declared a loss of almost Ã?£4m for the last six months of 2008 ââ?¬â? and blamed the teamââ?¬â?¢s Champions League qualifier loss to lowly Lithuanian minnows Kaunas. M Murray has warned EIGHT first-team stars will be let go this June. Yet last summer he spent Ã?£17m on new players. They included Bougherra (Ã?£2.5m), Pedro Mendes (Ã?£3m), Steven Davis (Ã?£3m), Maurice Edu (Ã?£2.6m), Kyle Lafferty (Ã?£3m), Kenny Milller (Ã?£2m) and Andrius Velicka (Ã?£1m). But last night an Ibrox source insisted the redundancy move was NOT as a result of the clubââ?¬â?¢s failure to flog stars. The insider said: ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s nothing to do with selling players. The club would be looking at their costs anyway.ââ?¬Â A Rangers spokeswoman said: ââ?¬Å?The club is looking at its costs. As part of this review, it is giving staff the option of voluntary redundancy. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/article2302836.ece

by Matthew Lindsay RANGERS must land the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title if they want to avoid experiencing serious money problems in the future. That was the warning from financial expert David Glen today after the Ibrox club announced it has made a �£4million loss in its interim results. Glen, a senior partner in Pricewaterhouse Coopers, was unsurprised the Light Blues had performed so poorly. Walter Smith's team failed to make it to the Champions League group stage when they lost to Lithuanian minnows FBK Kaunas in the second qualifying round in August. advertisement As a result of that major disappointment, the Gers turnover was down dramatically to �£20m for the six months to December 31, 2008, from �£33m the year before. Those figures are in stark contrast to their Old Firm rivals Celtic who made a six- month profit of �£8m in the corresponding period. And Glen, who estimates the Gers debt is now around the �£25m mark, believes being crowned champions this season is vital to stave off the effects of the credit crunch. He said: "The results are pretty much as expected. Basically, this is what happens when a club doesn't have European football. That makes such an enormous difference to clubs financially. "In the last five seasons, Celtic have been pretty much ever-presents in Europe and that is a large part of the reason why they are in such a healthy position financially. "Rangers, despite reaching the Uefa Cup final in Manchester last season, have not been so successful. Hence the reason their debt is, at an educated guess, around about the �£25m mark." Glen added: "The trouble is that in the past when Rangers were in this situation they would work on the basis that they would get back into Europe the following year, or even the year after that. "They would work on the basis that things would come right. Often, they would turn to the bank to lend them more money. With the banking situation the way it is now, though, they can't gamble like that as much as they have done in the past. "They are on a knife-edge. Going another season without Champions League qualification is going to hurt them. "The crucial thing is they win the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. If they do, they qualify automatically for the Champions League group stage. If they don't, they need to get through two qualifying rounds. "They will be up against a better standard of opposition in the 2009/10 season, too. They will come up against good teams from Russia and the like. It will be a tough task to make it. "If they get into the group stage, their income is far more predictable. They will pick up �£10m - possibly �£12.5m if the second-placed team doesn't qualify for the group stage - and will be in a far healthier situation." However, Glen, an authority in the field of football finances, feels Rangers may attempt to trim their squad of first-team players in the summer even if they pip the Hoops to the SPL trophy and get into the Champions League group stage. Sir David Murray provoked outrage among the Gers support when he agreed to sell top scorer Kris Boyd to Coca-Cola Championship club Birmingham City for a �£3.8m fee in the January transfer window. Boyd, a lifelong Rangers supporter, dug his heels in and refused to join up with former Gers boss Alex McLeish at the St Andrew's Stadium - despite the promise of a hefty pay rise. But there were serious fears that several first-team players, including keeper Allan McGregor, defender Madjid Bougherra and midfielders Barry Ferguson and Pedro Mendes, would be offloaded in an attempt to balance the books. Glen continued: "As Sir David Murray said over the weekend, this (the club's interim results showing a �£4m loss) is what happens when a club has European overheads without European income. "The second half of the season is, in comparison with last year when they reached the Uefa Cup Final, are also going to show a huge decrease in income. There will be another significant drop-off. "Rangers just can't risk living with such a big squad any more. They have 28 first- team players at the moment and have said themselves they would like to trim that by about eight players. "I would expect the club to be net sellers in the summer - even if they win the league and get back into the Champions League." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2493042.0.0.php

GERMAN giants Schalke are lining up a summer swoop for Rangers winger DaMarcus Beasley. The Bundesliga side tried to land the American in the January window on an initial loan deal with a view to a permanent move. But the deadline day move failed to beat the clock and Beasley - who was interested in moving to Schalke - remained at Ibrox. However, reports in Germany today claimed that the former PSV Eindhoven man features prominently on coach Fred Rutten's wish list. Rutten is known to be an admirer of Beasley, having previously worked with him during his time as Guus Hiddink's assistant at Eindhoven. advertisement Beasley has never really producing consistent form after his �£750,000 from Holland 18 months ago and also hampered by an unfortunate knee injury. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2493034.0.0.php

By Andrew Dickson MADJID BOUGHERRA is in no rush to leave Rangers after seeing his move to the Premiership from Sheffield Wednesday go sour two years ago. The Light Blues defender joined Charlton from the Owls during the January transfer window in 2007. But after an enjoyable spell at Hillsborough, the Algerian's time in London was disappointing as the Addicks were relegated just four months after he went there. Bougherra was recently linked with moves to Newcastle and Marseille but appreciates things don't always improve when you go to play in more prominent leagues. The 26-year-old has become a huge favourite amongst Gers fans thanks to a series of commanding performances alongside David Weir in defence. And after seeing shades of his happy time in the Steel City over the last few months in Glasgow, he is adamant he wants to remain at Ibrox rather than go elsewhere. Bougherra told Rangers News: "When I look back at it now, I think I've made some clever changes of club over the years as I've made gradual progress. I moved up from Gueugnon - a very small team - to Crewe then went from there to Sheffield Wednesday and Charlton. "Now I am at Rangers so if I was to move on again, it would have to be to a massive side because I'm already at one just now. "What I don't want to do is the same thing as I did when I was at Wednesday. I really liked it there and because the city was in the north, the people were all very friendly. "It was just like Scotland in that respect but I left after six months because I got the chance to play in the Premiership for the first time with Charlton. "I had gone to England from Gueugnon and when you see the Premiership on TV back in France, you want to go there quickly. "I was still young when I was in Sheffield and having just turned 24, I made the wrong choice to move from there. I went too soon. "Had I finished the season with Wednesday, I would have had more experience at that level and enjoyed myself more as I was very comfortable in the city there. "I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it at Charlton because I did but we went down and it wasn't such a happy time after that. "Here at Rangers, I am really settled. The fans are fantastic and the staff are the same - they have made me feel so welcome and it is better to stay here. "I have learned from my experience with Wednesday and now I know I should have stayed there longer. "By the same token, I want to stay here longer because I'm happy at Ibrox and there is no need for me to go. "I might get more money at another club or play at a higher l

Now that we are back in our rightful place, I thought it would be interesting to look back at the Carlos Cuellar transfer again and the many questions it raises. The facts 1. We are told by the club that he had a release clause in his contract and he asked for a transfer. 2. We had absolutely no cash during the transfer window that we could even afford to bring in a loan signing, so if Cuellar had not been sold we would not have been able to bring in Davis and Mendes (and Edu). Some may argue that this is an opinion, but having studied the accounts I don't think that there is any doubt it is a fact. Where would we be if he had not gone? In my mind there is no way we would have been able to afford Davis, Mendes and Edu had we not sold Cuellar. I believe that the plan was always to buy them, but either with the Champions League cash or the proceeds from the sale of Cuellar as any available cash had already been spent on Lafferty, Miller, Velicka and latterly Bougherra. Our domestic defensive record has been good, and is the best in the league, and would probably not be a lot better had Cuellar still been here. However I shudder to think what our midfield would be like without Mendes and Davis, and I think that the football that has been played this season, while not being great, would be a hell of a lot worse without the pair of them and Celtic would be running away with the league at this point. Did Cuellar actually want to leave? After we got knocked out of europe the club's website went out of its way to stress that the club had received no offers for Cuellar. Why did it do that? Was it code to let others know that we were open to offers? It was obvious to everyone who witnessed the Kaunus debacle that we needed at least 2 midfielders and but it seems that we needed cash to be able to buy anyone and Cuellar was our most sellable asset. Cuellar watched the Kaunus game from the directors' box. Unusual behaviour for someone who planned never to play another game for us. I was totally disillisioned with the state of the club when we got knocked out of Kaunus, Perhaps Cuellar was too and thought "tae hell wi' this"? Perhaps he had been told that there would be no further signings while he was still at the club? For me, there are too many unanswered questions just to assume that the club wanted Cuellar to stay and would not have sold him if he had been happy to stay. Conclusion We are top of the league and we would probably not be there had Cuellar not left, so I have to be thankful to him for that. There are unanswered questions as to whether he jumped or whether he was pushed. His performances were outstanding last season and our memorable trip to Manchester was due as much to him as anyone, if not more. I don't have any bad feeling towards the big man and I wish him all the best in his future career and a part of him will always be "Carlos Cuellar, Rangers centre half".

Rangers captain Barry Ferguson says he is happy that a move away from Ibrox in the January transfer window did not materialise. More...

Are this current Rangers team (squad) and management team skilful enough and tactically aware to continue to squander glorious opportunities presented to us to leave (at this time) ordinary and laborious Celtc team in our wake? After the debacle of transfer window and the ââ?¬Ë?who will leaveââ?¬â?¢ and ââ?¬Ë?whoââ?¬â?¢ll be left at Ibroxââ?¬â?¢ soap-opera, we were left with (almost) a full squad to pick from, and more importantly hadnââ?¬â?¢t lost any players who could be counted as crucial in regaining the SPL title from our most bitterest of foes. This could have been portrayed as a slight advantage as Celtc failed to boost their meagre resources, Wilo Flood being their only signing. Any slight advantage we have this season, weââ?¬â?¢ll need to grab on to and maximise to its full advantage, as as the credit crunch starts to bite, and with no signs of it abating (in fact, itââ?¬â?¢ll get worse and could hit season ticket sales, advertising etc) the refusal of some players to be whored out of Ibrox, and the fact that Martin Bain has made it impossible for us to move on fringe players (salaries and length of contract, thatââ?¬â?¢s his domain), weââ?¬â?¢ll probably lose anything between eight and ten players in the summer. Anyway, that argument is a discussion for another day / time. Presently, we have somehow found ourselves alive and kicking in a title race that appeared over at the tale end of the year. Celtc has stuttered dramatically since defeating us at Ibrox but yet, we have still contrived to pass up the opportunity to overtake them and leave them in our wake. To refuse such a gift once (Pittodrie) was criminal, to have refused such a gift twice is incompetence. When Walter went 4-1-4-1 at Pittodrie and included Lee McCulloch in place of Kris Boyd, he showed his hand to the entire SPL. His cowardly tactics showed that The Rangers now donââ?¬â?¢t have the ambition to travel to Pittodrie and back their talent to take care of a very average Aberdeen team. The tactics that day were a direct result of Celtc losing four goals from set-pieces at the same venue the previous week. Putting simply, Walter shat himself. Never mind some fans said, a draw at Pittodrie was an ââ?¬Ë?OKââ?¬â?¢ result and kept us in the title race. Sorry, that draw didnââ?¬â?¢t keep us in the title race, Celtcââ?¬â?¢s inability to see of the likes of Dundee United, Hearts and ICT has kept us in this title race. Never mind, an OF game is on the horizon, time for Walter and Rangers to redeem themselves. In the build up to this game, every Rangers fan KNEW that Walter would once again shit himself and go to nullify Celtc, even though there was very little, if anything to nullify. Once again, we refused to take the initiative and passed up the opportunity to overtake a stale looking Celtc team. Now, how many other chances will we be presented with? And if we are presented with them, will be capitalise on them? Will our manager find a backbone and realises that this is the opportunity of all opportunities? The latest instalment of OF mania was a dire affair, with Rangers not displaying any real ambition until the second half. Perversely, we actually played well in the second half and had sufficient chances to win the game. Nevertheless, it was hardly a sparkling performance. The only upside, it showed how ordinary our opponents really are. We are in a position where our form against the other SPL teams could lead to us gaining a points advantage before the split and the concluding OF game of the season at Ibrox. We have three home games in the next four, whereas Celtc travel to Fir Park and Tannidice, where we know to our cost, results are never easy to obtain. So, hopefully Walters negativity will go into hiding over the next month and we can do what Rangers should be doing. Installing a belief in our players and trust and back their ability to defeat opponents. Never mind worrying about them, let them worry about facing the Rangers. Recently, I was watching some old Rangers DVDââ?¬â?¢s and something noticeable jumped out. In our two previous SPL triumphs, we were always scoring goals early in matches. We set an exhilarating pace to the games, especially at Ibrox, that didnââ?¬â?¢t allow teams to settle. This meant that by the time 30 minutes had surpassed, we were well in control of the games. There were very few games that werenââ?¬â?¢t ââ?¬Ë?in the bagââ?¬â?¢ by early in the second half. Recently, we have been the exact opposite as we havenââ?¬â?¢t been imposing ourselves on opponents until the second half. The aftermath of the game has hardly been surprising either. Dubbed the worst OF game in history (it was far from that) and we are blamed for that ââ?¬Ë?factââ?¬â?¢. The referee making mistakes right, left and centre and the only controversy in the media is that Vinegar Of Castlemilk was ââ?¬Ë?harshly bookedââ?¬â?¢. Oh, and guess what, Celtc failed to win an OF game and the old ââ?¬Ë?sectarian cardââ?¬â?¢ is played by the ââ?¬Ë?impartialââ?¬â?¢ delegate at the game (Dick by name,ââ?¬Â¦Ã¢â?¬Â¦..). However, we can actually take solace in the fact that the media are more then happy to criticise our performance (on and off the field) as it is a sure fire indication that they are worried and are trying every vile trick in the book to deflect any attention being given to Celtcââ?¬â?¢s terrible current form. Cammy F -

KENNY MILLER is a shock transfer target for newly-crowned Russian champs Rubin Kazan. SunSport can reveal the Rangers striker is being tracked by the club set to make their Champions League debut next season. Now Kazan boss Gurban Berdiyew could swoop for the 29-year-old before the Russian transfer window shuts on March 1. They head a posse of Russian clubs, which also includes Spartak and Lokomotiv Moscow. They are willing to offer �£2million for Miller, who has 18 months left on his deal. Kazan stunned Russia as they swept to a historic first title. Their only real star is Ukrainian legend Serhiy Rebrov and Berdiyew wants to boost his squad before their new season begins on March 14. Ex-Celtic target Stephen Appiah is set to sign for Kazan on Monday after being at their Spanish winter training camp. Scotland star Miller could soon be set to follow. Although our transfer window has closed, Miller WOULD be able to join Kazan before March 1. The club is based in Russiaâ��s Tatarstan Republic and bankrolled by local industry. Ibrox bosses are still keen to offload a high-earner after banks ordered them to tighten their belts. Gers boss Walter Smith is a huge Miller fan but his hands would be tied if a Russian bid was tabled. Itâ��s understood Miller wouldnâ��t be put off by the prospect of moving east and would listen to any offer. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2237068.ece

The Old Firm matches may no longer decide the title, but winning them certainly won't do either side any harm. The inconsistent form of Rangers and Celtic this season, and the ease with which the lesser lights in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League have pinched points from both, mean Sunday's high-noon duel between the Glasgow rivals will, in all likelihood, not prove decisive. And yet, there are benefits to be obtained from victory this weekend that stretch beyond mere bragging rights and adding another three points to the total. Recent history tells us as much. Rangers went to Celtic Park four years ago, just as they do this weekend, looking to get their noses in front in a championship chase that threatened to go to the wire. They travelled in hope rather than expectation having failed to win in the East End for five years, but found in Gregory Vignal an unlikely hero. The Frenchman, on a season-long loan from Liverpool, gave Rangers a second-half lead after a glaring error by Rab Douglas, before Nacho Novo confirmed the victory with a second late in the game. advertisement It took a final-day loss by Celtic at Fir Park for Rangers to ultimately win the title in the most extraordinary of circumstances, but it was that Old Firm win that imbued them with the confidence that they could go on to sustain a serious challenge for the championship. "After the game we went top of the league and then everything was open," Vignal told The Herald. "It made us more confident that maybe we could do something because we had not won there for so long. It was very close all the way that season, but everybody in our dressing room knew when we won away from home against Celtic that we had everything we needed to be champions. "It gave us a big lift. Not just because we went to the top of the table but because if you can beat Celtic in their stadium, then you feel you can beat everybody else. "We believed we could win every week and could be champions. Of course, it was not that easy and we lost games we should not have, but in the end we became champions on the last day. Big Marvin Andrews used to always say, Keep believing' and he was right." Vignal's wandering career has seen him make stops at Montpellier, Liverpool, Rennes, Espanyol, Portsmouth, Southampton, and Lens - where he is currently stationed - but it is his time in Glasgow, and the Old Firm match in particular, that he recalls most fondly. "These games are so important for both teams, for the city, for the fans, and for the players, too. It's not just about the match, but what it means to everyone going forward. I still talk about the Old Firm game with my mates here in France, as it was unbelievable. Liverpool versus Everton is a big derby but Rangers versus Celtic is even bigger. The stadiums are bigger and the atmosphere is better. It was an incredible experience to play in these games." Rangers were keen to secure Vignal's services on a permanent basis once his loan deal had expired but the player elected instead to sign for Portsmouth. It is a decision he still regrets four years on. "It was a big mistake for me to leave Glasgow Rangers. When you play for a British team, the spirit and passion is unbelievable and I would love to come back again and play in Scotland or England one day. "I should have stayed. I spoke with Alex McLeish and the chairman about coming back to play in the Champions League in season 2005/06 because I really enjoyed working with McLeish, the chairman, and Martin Bain Rangers' chief executive. If the Rangers chairman wants to call me and bring me back to Ibrox that would be amazing." Before then, however, the 27 year-old Vignal has some unfinished business to attend to, namely helping Lens back into the top flight of French football. "We are top of Ligue 2 so it's going well. When I came back, I told the chairman I would stay to help them get promoted back to Ligue 1 and when you say something like that you have to keep your promise. "I have one more year on my contract with Lens and if the chairman says I can go, I will try to come back to England - or maybe Rangers - this summer or the one after. I spoke to Newcastle and Middlesbrough in the transfer window and was very close to coming back, but I made my promise to Lens, so for now I will stay. But one day I hope I will be back." http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headlines/display.var.2488906.0.Vignal_away_victory_can_inspire_Rangers_to_title.php

RANGERS will never, ever leave Kris Boyd. Thatââ?¬â?¢s why Kris Boyd could never leave Rangers. The prolific Ibrox striker has a written contract until the summer of next year. But his emotional ties to the club will last a lifetime. Thatââ?¬â?¢s how he looks at it. How he wants it. Birmingham boss Alex McLeish came calling during the January transfer window and the hitman could have joined the Championship club in the heart of England. But it would have ripped the heart from him. Today Boyd, 25, talks openly about the transfer which threatened to rock his world. A deal which would have taken from him what he holds dearest ââ?¬â? his beloved No9 Rangers shirt. Ibrox chairman Sir David Murray left the striker shocked, stunned and GUTTED when he accepted a Ã?£4million deal to sell him on. But Boyd turned the move down flat ââ?¬â? because he knew life at Rangers is as good as it gets. He said: ââ?¬Å?I know there will be people out there questioning my ambition. ââ?¬Å?Birmingham is a big club and could be in the Premiership next season. Thereââ?¬â?¢s no doubting that. ââ?¬Å?But for me, if aiming to reach 100 goals for Rangers and playing every week with that No9 jersey on your back isnââ?¬â?¢t showing ambition then I donââ?¬â?¢t know what is. What people need to realise is that everything about me says Rangers. ââ?¬Å?From when I was a kid growing up to right here and now. Nothing has changed. ââ?¬Å?From my bedroom wallpaper and curtains to the tracksuit and jersey that I used to run about in ââ?¬â? it was always Rangers. ââ?¬Å?Thatââ?¬â?¢s not something which changes overnight. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m not going to wake up one morning and suddenly think the club doesnââ?¬â?¢t mean anything to me. ââ?¬Å?It means everything. To give that up, for ANY club, would be difficult. ââ?¬Å?I simply wasnââ?¬â?¢t willing to pack everything up, leave Ibrox and go play for another team. ââ?¬Å?I grew up a fan and here I am wearing the No9 shirt. Why would I want to walk away from that? It wouldnââ?¬â?¢t have just been sad for me but also my friends and family, the people close to me. ââ?¬Å?Everybody knows I have a good relationship with Alex McLeish and that will continue. ââ?¬Å?He is the man who signed me for Rangers and Iââ?¬â?¢ll forever be indebted to him for that. ââ?¬Å?Who knows, I might work under him again in the future. ââ?¬Å?For me, heââ?¬â?¢s a great manager and someone who has always been very good to me. ââ?¬Å?But I just had to turn down his offer. It wasnââ?¬â?¢t the right thing for me, joining Birmingham.ââ?¬Â Advertisement Boydââ?¬â?¢s goals-per-games ratio makes him one of the most lethal and prolific strikers in Europe. But as far as heââ?¬â?¢s concerned life at Rangers is as good as itââ?¬â?¢s ever going to get for him. He doesnââ?¬â?¢t expect the Premier League big guns to break down the Ibrox front door to sign him. Thereââ?¬â?¢s only one way for Boydââ?¬â?¢s career to go when he leaves Rangers ââ?¬â? and thatââ?¬â?¢s DOWN. He added: ââ?¬Å?I just donââ?¬â?¢t think Iââ?¬â?¢ll move to another club the size of Rangers. ââ?¬Å?I doubt very much that Iââ?¬â?¢ll have the top teams in the Premiership coming for me. ââ?¬Å?If I ever leave itââ?¬â?¢s going to be to a smaller club. ââ?¬Å?Quite simply there arenââ?¬â?¢t many better places for a player to play his football than Ibrox. Add to that the fact that I wear the No9 jersey and it is everything that I ever wished for. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s an honour for me pulling on that shirt.ââ?¬Â It maybe explains why Boyd has had the full support of the Rangers fans throughout this troubled month. AC Milan brought their biggest names to Ibrox on Wednesday for a glamour friendly. But on a freezing cold night it wasnââ?¬â?¢t Ronaldinho, Kaka or even David Beckham who received the warmest of receptions. It was Boyd. He was cheered on to the pitch as a second half substitute with the striker as popular as heââ?¬â?¢s ever been. But then the supporters have been vocal in their backing of their No9 since the moment that it looked like he could be on his way out. At Hampden for the Co-op Insurance Cup semi-final with Falkirk last week there was a huge banner which read: ââ?¬Ë?No Boyd, no goals, no title (again).ââ?¬â?¢ The striker saw it ââ?¬â? and he appreciated it ââ?¬â? and now he wants to repay them in the only way he knows how. Boyd added: ââ?¬Å?The fans have been brilliant. ââ?¬Å?Every person Iââ?¬â?¢ve spoken to has been supportive of me. ââ?¬Å?Not one person has given me a hard time. That means so much to me and I really want to pay them back. ââ?¬Å?The only way I can do that is by scoring the goals which win them the title. ââ?¬Å?I canââ?¬â?¢t imagine anything better than achieving that by the end of the season. ââ?¬Å?Imagine Iââ?¬â?¢d left in January. How would I have felt looking at the boys winning the league and not being part of that. ââ?¬Å?I would have been delighted for the club but gutted for myself. I couldnââ?¬â?¢t bear the thought of that. ââ?¬Å?We won two domestic trophies last season but the one we really want is the championship.ââ?¬Â But what happens after that? Will Rangers still look to flog the family silver in the next transfer window. Boyd fervently hopes thatââ?¬â?¢s not the case. In fact, he would love nothing more than to open talks with the club and sign an extension to his current deal. He added: ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve stated that I want to stay with Rangers. ââ?¬Å?If the club want to sit down and talk to me about a new deal that would be great. ââ?¬Å?There is nothing I can do about that. Itââ?¬â?¢s all down to them in this case. ââ?¬Å?All I can do is keep giving my all when I step out on to the park. Thatââ?¬â?¢s my goal.ââ?¬Â http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2210739.ece

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan feels the current transfer window system unsettles clubs and players. More...

English footballâ��s television rights bonanza was in full swing last night as Sky paid more than �£1 billion to secure its grip as the main Premier League broadcaster. The company has kept its hold on the majority of live games, 92 out of the 138 matches available, by retaining its four existing packages. With the Premier League going to a second round on the other two outstanding packages, an auction thought to involve Sky, Setanta and ESPN, the 20 clubs will be hoping to exceed the �£1.7 billion from the 2007-10 deal and set a record. The bids arrived yesterday at the Leagueâ��s legal offices and Sky, the satellite broadcaster that is 39.1 per cent owned by News Corporation, parent company of The Times, ensured that it would not lose its dominant position by keeping the premium slots, including the Sunday 4pm kick-off. Although the Premier League declined to comment, sources disclosed that Sky had kept its four packages. No figures are known, but it is believed that the company will have paid close to the present �£1.314 billion. Related Links * Clubs bank on boom as world goes bust * Setanta to broadcast Premier League * Sale pitch, then Setanta calls off the game Only once in the Leagueâ��s history have domestic live rights failed to rise, in 2004, when they dipped from �£1.1 billion to �£1.024 billion, and there was a huge leap three years later. The clubs certainly set about the January transfer window as though confident that the revenues would not drop away. Barclays Premier League clubs spent a record �£160 million, defying the credit crunch that has afflicted so many businesses. While Arab wealth at Manchester City accounted for some of that spending, it is the television income that underpins the Leagueâ��s finances. Under European Union regulations, Sky is entitled to own five out of the six packages, and with ESPN, the Disney-owned broadcasting giant, joining the bidding â�� and Setanta desperate to keep the two packages it bought for �£392 million last time â�� there will be a further round of bids. The process is kept so secretive that none of the companies knows who it is bidding against, or how many rivals are involved. Sky was always expected to step up to the plate for the 2010-13 rights. Half-year results announced last week showed operating profits up 31 per cent to �£385 million. Broadcasters remain confident in the strength of the Premier League to attract subscribers. Money from the television companies has attracted some of the worldâ��s leading stars and two English clubs, Manchester United and Chelsea, contested the Champions League final last May. It is the most popular league in the world and, having recently missed out on the rights for German football, ESPN is known to have set about securing a significant presence in Europe by winning Premier League rights. Club chairmen will receive an update when they gather in London tomorrow. They will be relieved to know that the majority of the money has already been banked. On top of Skyâ��s input, the league has also sealed a deal with BBC for the 2010-13 highlights package for �£173 million, slightly above the existing cost. Setanta will be the most anxious of the bidders, having established itself in the market through its Premier League rights. More than �£5 billion has been ploughed into the English game by the television companies since the formation of the Premier League and Skyâ��s initial �£304 million investment. From the strength of the bidding yesterday, it seems as mutually beneficial a relationship as the day it started. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article5655101.ece

WHEN the January transfer window slammed shut at 5pm on Monday night it would have been understandable if Walter Smith breathed a deep sigh of relief. Having batted away more questions about player speculation than Babe Ruth hit home runs the gaffer can now focus his full attention on forthcoming games and he is not the only one glad to see the back of this unsettling period. Allan McGregor celebrates at the final whistleAllan McGregor was one of several first-team regulars linked with a move away from Ibrox in recent weeks due to his high market value but the club's No. 1 is delighted his immediate future is now set in stone. The talented keeper, who celebrated his 27th birthday on January 31st, admits he has unfinished business at Rangers and that helping his teammates lift the SPL trophy in May is at the top of his priority list. Leaving the club with a domestic treble hanging in the balance was never on Greeg's agenda and he is confident of adding to his medal collection from now until May. He said: "Personally, I am glad to see the back of the transfer window. "So much is said in newspapers and on websites about this player leaving or that one going somewhere else that it can become a bit annoying. "But, for me, all the rumours just go in one ear and out the other. "I don't tend to read papers at the best of times so I take everything with a pinch of salt. "If something happens and a player does move on that is part and parcel of football. "We have a very big squad and the biggest difficulty the gaffer has is keeping everyone happy. "If you have 28 players there are inevitably some that are going to be frustrated at not being involved, that is only natural. Allan McGregor saves a shot on goal "But I suppose the biggest worry in January is when you lose a key player, someone who has been a big part of the team in the first-half of the season. "Last year we sold Alan Hutton who was brilliant but Spurs obviously offered a lot of money. "At that time it was a blow but we regrouped and big Kirk came in and has done a great job. "That is the sort of thing that can happen to any club and you have to deal with it. "I am just glad all the rumours and speculation is now over and we can move forward." Allan McGregor, ScotlandAllan believes there is a steely determination in the Gers' squad to bring the SPL trophy back to the Ibrox Trophy Room in May and insists that if this dream scenario becomes a reality it will be up there with the best moments of his life. He said: "If we do win the league you will see on my face just how much it means to me, it would be frightening. "I remember how it felt to win the championship being on the bench at Easter Road in 2005 so I can only imagine what it would be like if we can do it this season. "But at this moment lifting the trophy is just a dream and it's alright saying you would love to win it, the fact is we have to go on and actually do it. "There is still a lot of football to be played and we have some massive games coming up. "The players here always stick together and if we have a disappointing result on a Saturday we pick ourselves up as soon as possible. "It's been like that a wee bit this season, there has been a lot of disappointing results but we are still in it. "We maybe shouldn't be with the amount of points we have dropped but we are and there is still so much to fight for." This weekend Walter Smith's squad continue their quest to retain the Scottish Cup when they travel to Forfar to take on the Loons in round five. Station Park might not be the most glamorous of venues but it is a place Allan holds close to his heart. Allan McGregor On February 24, 2002 the keeper was handed his long-awaited Rangers debut by Alex McLeish and he remembers it vividly to this day. The Light Blues were 6-0 up when Greeg's replaced Stefen Klos as a 73rd minute substitute but, nevertheless, it remains a highlight of his career. He said: "Going on against Forfar back then was great for me although it came as a real shock. "I was doing a wee warm-up at the side of the pitch and Andy Watson came over and asked me if I wanted to go on. "I thought he was at the wind-up because Stefan wasn't injured or anything like that. "But he was serious and I just said 'go on then, let's go' and that was me making my debut. "We were 6-0 up at the time and I didn't really have too much to do but it was still magic to get a game, I was buzzing. "I remember the changing rooms were small and it was really cold but it was a special moment for me. "You always remember where you made your Rangers debut."

PEDRO MENDES insists Rangers are in great shape to challenge on all fronts after no key players left in the Transfer Window and the SPL gap was closed to just two points. The Portuguese midfielder was one of a number of Rangers players linked with moves but none came to fruition. Now he feels Rangers can really kick on and realise their dreams of winning the top honours in Scotland. He said: "January is always a month of speculation about transfers and possible transfers but the main thing now is that the whole thing is finished, it's closed. "There was an atmosphere of uncertainty about the club. There was a different story each day about some club talking about a certain player. That can cause a little bit of doubt. mendes_160"We are now looking forward to the rest of the season. "To make things clear, from my part and the club's part there is a clear intention. Both parties were thinking the same way. "Any player that left in January would have been missed but no-one left so we have the same team. "The main thing now is Rangers. We have a great chance to win the title. "We are now in a good position. A few weeks ago we were seven points behind, now it is just two. "The problem we had was that we relied on other results but now can depend on ourselves because if we win the next league match we will go top of the league. "Everything is open to us. We wall want the same and the next four months will be very interesting."

by Thomas Jordan PEDRO MENDES today shot down fears he could have left Rangers in the transfer window. The Portuguese midfielder was the subject of a late move from Bolton, who were prepared to pay upwards of �£3.5million for his services. But having just arrived in Glasgow from Portsmouth in the summer, the 30-year-old held talks with chairman Sir David Murray a couple of weeks ago and told him he was not interested in leaving - despite the club's need to sell. Mendes said: "There was a lot of speculation during January, but it is closed now and we are looking forward to the rest of the season. advertisement "On my part and the club's part there was a clear intention for me to stay. That's what I will say about my own situation." Mendes believes that with the cloud of uncertainty now lifted from Ibrox, the squad can focus on challenging Celtic for the Treble. He added: "We have a great chance to win the title now. There has been a bit of doubt in the air recently because of all the speculation so I'm sure everyone is pleased that is finished now." Before Rangers get back to domestic business in the Homecoming Scottish Cup at Forfar this Sunday, they have a glamour friendly against AC Milan at Ibrox tomorrow night. Having been deprived of European football due to the disastrous KO in Kaunas back in August, the match against David Beckham and Co at least gives the fans a chance to see some big names close up. Mendes said: "It's a great game for us to look forward to as they are a fantasic side with some of the best players in the game. "Not having European football has been a big loss for us, and the main thing is we get it back next season. But this is a game to relish." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2486699.0.0.php

Rangers manager Walter Smith says keeping his top players during the transfer window has boosted their hopes of winning the SPL title. More...

A post that Shroomz will enjoy and will make MF irate. :devil: I make no apologies for stealing this from FF, I thought it would be a good post to stir debate and bring a bit of optimism to the board after what was a fraught transfer window:

A frantic day of transfer activity is anticipated as clubs have until 1700 GMT before the window slams shut. More...

A Glimmer Of Hope It appears that everything and anything that is related to Rangers at the moment is as gruesome as the plot in an Allan Guthrie novel, isnââ?¬â?¢t ironic that we have been given the kiss-of-life in our quest to regain our title for the first time in 4 years? Following the fortunes, performances and results of our beloved club usually through gaps in clenched fingers and with bated breath, isnââ?¬â?¢t the easiest at the moment (that is an understatement). Despite our, and other, results going in our favour over the weekend, the overall performance from Rangers is no better than dross. However, we do have the ever improving and at times exhilarating performances of John Fleck to give us hope and some newfound confidence that the art of running at pace, pinpoint passing, guile, strength and belief in ones own ability isnââ?¬â?¢t a dead art in and around Ibrox. This was penned hours before the transfer window is due to close, so as I write this, John Fleck is still a Ranger! Iââ?¬â?¢ll touch on the off-field furore surrounding Fleck as this cannot be glossed over. Now, John Fleck wonââ?¬â?¢t have been the only 17 year old in a nightclub at the weekend, but he should know better. I hope that Walter Smith fines the lad and that the lad learns his lesson. It is also worth critiquing the coverage of this ââ?¬Ë?incidentââ?¬â?¢. When a Celtc player is accosted in public, you read about sectarian abuse, sectarian thugs, sectarian language etc. When a Ranger player is involved, this is downgraded to ââ?¬Ë?yobsââ?¬â?¢. Wonder why that is? Anyway, back to the positive side of this, as yet, short success story. We have all heard, read and seen Fleck over the last couple of years and we have all been raving about this young prospect, and rightly so. It isnââ?¬â?¢t often that such a talent is unearthed, coached correctly and is able to turn promise into real class. John Fleck has all the attributes to become ââ?¬Ë?the real dealââ?¬â?¢. If early glimpses of Fleck are to be built upon, we have a lad that is destined for greatness. We all want Fleck to develop like some of his predecessors; Hutton, McGregor, Ferguson et al, rather than bursting onto the scene only to disappear like; Adam, Burke, McCormack and McLean. Last seasons cameo in the Scottish Cup Final couldnââ?¬â?¢t have failed to wet our appetite for Fleck to burst onto the scene this season. He has been unlucky with injury and this meant that his opportunities were curtailed to a certain extent and we are now only beginning to see glimpses of his undoubted talent. If John Fleck can continue to mature and improve, there is no guessing on how good this player could be. He has all the attributes; fast, strong, character, awareness, guile etc. His strength of character was summed up at the penalty on Saturday. For a seventeen year old to physically out-manoeuvre and out muscle, not only the overetly physical Dundee United defence to win the award, but to out-muscle anyone who was going to attempt to stop him taking the resulting penalty. As someone near me commented; ââ?¬Ë?Baws of steelââ?¬â?¢. Now that we have a genuine reason to be cheerful, I donââ?¬â?¢t want to sound negative here, but we as fans MUST allow Fleck the space and opportunity to blossom. As will be the case, heââ?¬â?¢ll have off days, heââ?¬â?¢ll miss sitters, heââ?¬â?¢ll misplace passes. When this happens, we MUST stay with him. We mustnââ?¬â?¢t get on his back (ala Burke, Adam et al) and we mustnââ?¬â?¢t expect John Fleck to carry all our expectations on such slender shoulders. John Fleck is the genuine article and we MUSTNââ?¬â?¢T ruin him before he has an opportunity to deliver on his unmistakable promise. Back In The Race Thanks to Aberdeen and now Inverness Caly, we are well and truly back in the title race, and with out next SPL fixture being the third old-firm game of the season, we have the opportunity to go top of the pile. There will be plenty of time to analyise the forthcoming OF game as well as the merits of differing tactics and team selection. If we prepare correctly and enter this game with correct team and tactics there is no reason as to why we canââ?¬â?¢t get the performance and result that would see is leap-frog Celtc. However, that is for another day. Saturday saw us once again struggle to open up a very compact and resilient Dundee United defence. Whilst we werenââ?¬â?¢t at our best the officials once again didnââ?¬â?¢t help our cause. I thought that Grainger should have received a yellow card (at least) for his awful tackle on Nacho Novo which will see Novo miss at least 3 games (why did our medical staff allow Novo to continue for 20 minutes after being clearly in agony with this injury?). Television evidence also shows that Kyle Laffertyââ?¬â?¢s ââ?¬Ë?goalââ?¬â?¢ shouldnââ?¬â?¢t have been chocked off for off-side. He is clearly on-side and BOTH linesmen were quick to flag Rangers players off-side all game. The referee got the penalty award correct no matter what Craig Levin says. Looking at our performance, only Boogie, Novo (prior to injury) and Fleck rose above mediocrity and there are a few players who could and should be offering more. However, three points is three points and coupled with Celtcââ?¬â?¢s inability to defeat ICT (even after another incorrect off-side decision going their way) has allowed us to close the gap and given us another opportunity to get back into pole position in the SPL title race. State Of The Nation It isnââ?¬â?¢t often that I deviate from Rangers in my rants, but a couple of incidents that occurred on Saturday, coupled with the economic down-turn has moved me to discuss the dwindling state of this once great nation. On Saturday evening, a man was murdered in my street, allegedly knifed to death by a 16 year old youth over an argument relating to volume of music being played at a party (this wasnââ?¬â?¢t late, 10:30PM). The Mobile Police Incident Unit sitting round the corner the only reminder of this incident. Whilst discussing this with a friend yesterday, he told me about an incident that he witnessed on returning from the football on Saturday. He was walking towards Paisley Road West and saw a young Rangers fan being threatened and chased by knife wielding thugs (sounds like a headline from the rags). Now, after doing some investigation, it appears that this isnââ?¬â?¢t abnormal behaviour in and around that area. This really saddens this ââ?¬Ë?old-timerââ?¬â?¢ who whilst being able to remember gangs et al, canââ?¬â?¢t remember them carrying knifes as freely and readily as the youth of today. Is it now the norm to complain about noise level and get knifed for your troubles? Is it the norm for gangs of youths to chase down kids whilst wielding (not necessarily using) knifes? If so, our country is further in the shit that even this old cynic believed it was. Cammy F ââ?¬â??

Transfer window has now closed. Boyd is still here! Mendes still here! McG still here! Bougherra still here! and........ Fleck still here!