Search the Community

A cloud cluckoo land thread on RM is questioning whether fans miss the old firm games. Very bizarre given it is the highlight of the season aside from occasional CL games. Watching us is absolutely terrible at the moment and I can't wait to get back in the SPL playing them again.

How much money has been pocketed by so called board members since Craig Whytes takeover it is an astonishing ammount of money we are talking about close on £100 million pounds has went through the club and what have Rangers football club got for it, well come April we have £1 million pounds left, Now i ask you another question what has Craig Whyte got for it, What has Craig Mather got for it, What has Imran Ahmed got for it, What has Charles Green got for it, What has Brian Stockbridge got for it, What have the Easdales got for it? What will Jack Irvine get for it? Back this board at the clubs Expense as you will need to look yourself in the mirror every morning.

The consequence... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/scottish-football/10499198/Financial-gulf-grows-between-Old-Firm-rivals-Celtic-and-Rangers-with-clubs-share-prices-facing-contrasting-fortunes.html The truth http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2250854/Charles-Green-pledges-Ally-McCoist-10m-spend-Rangers-flotation-LSE.html The source http://davidleggat-leggoland.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/what-happened-to-25m-war-chest.html

Easily our biggest problem position. Even more so than right back (which is our second biggest issue). Aird should never have been dropped. He wasn't fantastic in the last game. But he was significantly better than piss poor which is what Peralta usually provides. It may well be that it's not his fault as he's out of position and that's fine. But it doesn't change the fact that we have at least one other player who looks more effective there. Aird's performance in the previous game was significantly better than anything Peralta has shown up and again when he came on yesterday he added more than the Honduran. The only good thing I remember Peralta doing was one time he chased back with an attacker and won the ball back. I get really pissed off with people bashing the likes of Little more than his performances deserve but for me it is as clear as day, we are a better team with Aird (or one of the other options) playing instead of Peralta. I wouldn't be opposed to giving Peralta a few games at right back as I'm not convinced by Faure there either. We need to stop this habit of negative team selections though. The only reason I can think Peralta gets played is he is thought to be more solid, more defensively capable than an Aird or McKay. But if you watch him his positioning is poor, he isn't strong on the ball or in the challenge and he doesn't contribute fantastically to our defensive outlook. That's a myth. He was ridiculously easily bumped off the ball in the first half. Aird simply has to start next time out on recent performances. We look a much better, more balanced, creative and incisive team.

Wednesday 20 November 2013 Hearts administrators BDO hope to persuade the insolvency firm in control of UBIG to support the deal that would take Heart of Midlothian Football Club plc out of administration on Friday. "Tentative" discussions began yesterday and an agreement will need to be reached ahead of the meeting of creditors at the end of this week. Creditors holding 75% or more of Hearts' debts need to vote in favour of the CVA proposal. UBIG are the majority shareholders in HMFCplc, with a 49.9% stake, and are currently being run by Vilnius-based UAB Bankroto Administravimo Paslaugos after being formally declared bankrupt last week. BDO have now managed to establish a direct line of communication with their insolvency colleagues in Lithuania, and talks will continue over the coming days. Herald

ALLY McCOIST has welcomed Kenny Miller back to Murray Park to use facilities as he recovers from recent knee surgery. But even though the manager hopes to sign another striker in January, he insists the 33-year-old’s presence at the training ground isn’t necessarily a precursor to a move back to the club. Miller has been getting treatment at Auchenhowie over the last few days and he’s a player McCoist is a huge admirer of. Indeed, he has spoken in the past about being keen to recruit the forward again and would likely be interested if he became available. For the moment, however, Miller remains a Vancouver Whitecaps player – and McCoist has stressed the arrangement in place is simply to help the ex-Scotland star get back to fitness. “It’s great to see Kenny back,” McCoist said. “We’ve got an open-door policy for our former players see a lot of the guys coming back to pay us a visit. “We’ve offered Kenny the rehabilitation services we’ve got so Stevie Walker and the physios are looking after him in the afternoons. “I had a good chat with Kenny this week and he has had a knee operation. He looks well considering it wasn’t that long ago. “He’s as enthusiastic as ever and he’s in good form so he’s talking about getting back playing as soon as possible. “Kenny is still contracted to Vancouver and do you know something? I haven’t even spoken to him about his situation there. “The most important thing for him is that he gets himself fit again and back playing, wherever that may be. “I won’t lie to you. I wouldn’t mind strengthening our forward area and especially now that Andy Little looks like being out for months rather than weeks. “We haven’t touched on any conversations like that at all with Kenny though and he is with another club at this point in any case.” McCoist feels his forward line needs strengthening after a broken cheekbone and jaw sidelined Little until next year. Only Jon Daly and Nicky Clark are operating as recognised strikers at present in the senior squad, with Lee McCulloch playing much more often in defence these days. The club’s second-top scorer with 10 goals, McCulloch is clearly capable of moving forward if he needs to. McCoist doesn’t want to unsettle his side more than he has to though and added: “The skipper has been terrific for us at the back so we’ve only really got Nicky and Jon up front. “If we can, that’s an area where we’d like to strengthen and I’d be reluctant to move Lee back up front for a couple of reasons. Firstly, he’s playing very well where he is. “We’ve also got somebody up front in Jon who is battering in all sorts of goals at the minute so it’s an option to us but I wouldn’t be too keen on doing it.” http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/5574-kennys-here-to-recover

Some may say thank god. http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/spfl-lower-divisions/ally-mccoist-plans-in-limbo-as-rangers-war-goes-on-1-3175660#.UnnIlangJ5Q.twitter Rangers manager Ally McCoist claims that the current state of play at Ibrox, where financial director Brian Stockbridge and non-executive director James Easdale are the only members of the board, is preventing him from planning for the future. McCoist revealed that he has had no-one to discuss the signing or offloading of players with since Craig Mather stepped down as the club’s chief executive three weeks ago. With the January transfer window approaching, McCoist, who volunteered to forego half of his annual £850,000 salary when the publication of the annual accounts last month, revealed that the club had lost £14 million in just over a year, is anxious to know whether or not he can strengthen his squad with a view to a run in the Scottish Cup. They were drawn away to Championship side Falkirk in the fourth round of the competition but McCoist believes that, should they prevail in that tie, Rangers will be considered as second-favourites to win the competition. He would like to supplement his squad in the new year but admits there must first be a ceasefire between warring shareholders when the club finally holds its annual general meeting, which may – or may not be – held on 18 December. McCoist, whose League One leaders face Dunfermline at Ibrox tonight, wants it to take place sooner rather than later. “Absolutely. I’m the same as every supporter, staff member [and] shareholder,” he said. “Let’s just get it done and move on. Let’s get the club moving forward again. “I think it is clear that everybody wants it to happen and it will happen. All we can hope for is we get a [definitive] result and Rangers can move forward again. Everybody would like a clear resolution. The future of the club is of paramount importance to everybody. It would certainly help if we could move on from that day.” McCoist admits that it has been much more difficult to do his job properly while the club continues to operate with a makeshift board. “It is not ideal, although I did speak with Brian [stockbridge] yesterday,” he said. “There is contact but it is difficult and not ideal working without a chairman and chief executive. “I haven’t spoken to Brian about possible future signings because, to be fair to him, he is [only] the financial director. It would undoubtedly help if I had someone to speak to about that.” McCoist, though, praised the contribution of Jon Daly, whose brace in Friday’s 3-0 Scottish Cup victory over Airdrieonians took his tally to 14 goals from 13 games since joining from Dundee United. “Jon was brought in to score goals,” he said. “He scored goals when he was in the top flight and he’s continuing to do so here. He will be around a long time if he continues to score goals. “He’s one of those boys that I believe, no matter what league he’s in, he’ll score goals. He’s different to Nicky Clark and Andy Little, more of an old-fashioned centre forward. Jon is aggressive and, if you put the ball into the area, he’ll score against anybody. He demonstrated that with two goals against Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final last season. “He’s so important to us off the pitch as well. He’s a proper man and he’s exactly what we need. Where we are as a club right now, we need good people in the dressing room for the younger lads to look up to. “We have that with the skipper [Lee McCulloch] and Lee Wallace and I believe we have that with Jon, too.” McCoist also rejected suggestions that the Dubliner was a short-term fix, signed only with a view to helping Rangers reach the Premiership before being jettisoned. “Jon gives us plenty of options,” he said. “In terms of holding the play up, he takes pressure off the back four. He can spin defenders and you can hit him with a diagonal ball. “We have players who can pass the ball and, at this moment in time, he definitely gives us something different. “I kicked my last ball for Kilmarnock when I was 39. Jon will only be 32 if things go to plan and we return to the top flight on schedule.” Rangers will move 14 points clear of third-placed Dunfermline with a home win tonight but McCoist refuses to take anything for granted, claiming that Jim Jefferies’ Pars are beginning to gel. “I think tomorrow’s game is against the team that a lot of people thought would be up there with us,” he said. “I can sympathise with them in many ways because we know exactly what they have been going through. “Hopefully, it looks as if they have turned the corner as well, which is great. They have got a really young team and their results so far, over the piece, have been fine. However, what they lack in experience on the park they will certainly make up for with experience in their dugout with the auld yin [Jefferies] there. We are looking forward to seeing him as well.”

Q&A Summary of Meeting With Jim McColl Official Statement - POSTED ON OCTOBER 25, 2013 Meeting – Attendees – Jim McColl, Malcolm Murray & Paul Murray plus representatives from Rangers Supporters Trust, Rangers Supporters Association, Rangers Supporters Assembly and NARSA – Clyde Blowers – East Kilbride 4.00 24/10/2013 Paul Murray gave a brief introduction on why the group represented had come together and Jim McColl listed a number of serious concerns they all shared about a lack of corporate governance and financial transparency. The purpose of the meeting however was to afford the representatives of the fans groups the opportunity to get answers to specific questions. Questions had been collated under 3 Core Themes Immediate Issues Future Plans, Investment and Operations Fan Ownership Immediate Issues The perception that amongst the fans groups represented is that there is perhaps 50% general support for the group and 50% who at this time are not : The hosts were asked to tell us a bit about their team and why fans should support each? Paul Murray and Malcolm Murray briefly explained their backgrounds much of which was seen as commonly known. The other 2 people nominated for Board positions were spoken about: Alex Wilson Has a wide ranging skill set in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations A history of working with very senior people at a number of Blue Chip organisations Extensive experience in managing operational changes at large organisations Alex has multiple season tickets for Ibrox and has been a long term fan Would be invaluable in building a new organisation and structure at Rangers Scott Murdoch Has a major interest in property management One of the largest portfolios in UK Major involvement in the London market Also operates in New York & Hong Kong Has been London based for 25/30 years Scott has been a lifelong Rangers fan He has extensive commercial contacts in a number of global brand companies At this time the hosts were asked to comment on the question of securing Ibrox Stadium and Auchenhowie and if they would consider an asset lock on them? They confirmed they would take steps to do that – this would entail consultation with the shareholder base. They spoke about Rangers Directors being bound by a constitution established to do just that and to also constrain future Boards from for example borrowing beyond agreed levels. The Financial Position – there were lots of questions on this: Have you a current view or a plan to do a detailed health check? How serious a threat do you consider there is of Admin 2? Do you envisage a short-term need for refinancing and how will you deal with it? Are you for or against resolutions 9 & 10 and why? Would you deal again with Ticketus? The hosts have detailed views on financial issues but their main concern is to create a structure at The Club led by a quality CEO. They have identified and had discussions with a suitable candidate who they believe would work with them. They have also targeted a highly credible Head of Finance. Making such high profile appointments will they believe gain further support from the major financial institutions invested in Rangers. They are satisfied that this will help in securing further investment if and when required. The business will have a very credible executive management who will not only look over the recent past forensically but implement robust business and financial plans. The football operation will be able to focus on developing the team and on the field performance. It was the group’s view that there is no real likelihood of a further administration nor did they see any issue over short term financing. Resolutions 9 & 10 are not hugely unusual but at this time they agreed with the questioners that this was not appropriate for Rangers. Ticketus are not part of any future plans. AGM – It was stated that Rangers fans generally feel they have a lack of information from all sides and again a number of specifics were posed: Have you had recent dialogue with any of the other main parties and do you envisage any of them being involved in the future? Daniel Stewart – yes in trying to speed up the AGM process and they are still trying to progress this. Paul Murray stated that AGM could be held somewhere other than Ibrox and has someone willing to pay for an alternate venue. The current Executive Directors of Rangers – not recently Dave King – yes and meetings are planned over the next few days. Nothing specific has yet been agreed with him. Martin Bain – Paul Murray has a business relationship with Martin but the group have no intention of inviting his involvement with Rangers Mike Ashley – not recently What do you think about the possibility of shares being suspended? Jim McColl suggested that such an action if taken by AIM would only be to protect shareholders What are your views on the date of the AGM? Disappointed that since the Court of Session ruling it seems that the current Directors are trying to delay it – they would like it to be held as soon as proper governance would allow. Future Plans, Investment & Operations Plans Members of the Rangers support many of whom are shareholders are rightly concerned to be comfortable with plans going forward and a series of questions were raised in this respect: Have you considered how to deal with and can you share your thinking on matters like Scouting Maintenance Operational budgets Media & PR Will you examine contracts entered into on such as Security, retail and catering – will you share your findings? Yes on both counts but that will be part of the detailed implementation of agreed business plans. The Club has suffered of late from the lack of proper plans and not having a scouting network for example. It may not be appropriate to report every change implemented by the executive management of The Club. One of the key responsibilities of a CEO will be to examine and renegotiate any contracts that are not to his satisfaction in serving the best interests of The Club. Have you identified and can you share info on potential future investors? There are a number of prospective investors. The Institutions have indicated future support if a suitable structure is put in place. A number of individuals are considered prospective investors under the same pre-requisite. How do you propose to get The Club back to the pinnacle of Scottish Football and playing competitively in Europe – do you have a timescale? What differentiates you and your 5-year vision from the current Directors? Establishing a strong management structure that gains respect and support from the market will be the first critical step. Fan Ownership There were a lot of questions on this topic a lot of questions on this: Have you already considered this issue in detail? Will you publically back a fan ownership scheme – a 50+1 deal? What timescale would that be likely to take? Will you work with supporters to develop this concept? Will you also show a care of duty to supporters like Borrusia D? How quickly if/after you are elected will you devote serious reported efforts to this end? The intention is firmly to work towards proper fan involvement. All three of the hosts confirmed their support for this. The nitty gritty detail needs to be addressed but a future shareholder structure where Financial Institutions, High Net Worth Individuals and Individual Fans and Fans Organisations all had significant holdings would be welcomed. The group would canvass the support for input before anything was implemented. There is a very positive view of Rangers in the City and the relative value gap between for example Manchester United and Rangers was perceived to be considerably less than the current relative values of the businesses. Likely changes to football in Europe and North America over the next few years are likely to benefit a big club such as Rangers. The way German football was completely restructured over 10 years demonstrates that massive change takes time. Nobody wants or supports extensive borrowing by The Club – that model has clearly and consistently been proved to be a seriously flawed one. The group stated that they want to build trust between the Board and all of the stakeholders in The Club and they believe the best way to do that is by appointing quality people. They stated that doing that (and reiterated that they believe they have identified such individuals) ensures financial support will follow. Close Jim McColl, Paul Murray & Malcolm Murray stated that they have dealt with all sorts of blockages but that they have and will stick with their plans to introduce changes. They welcome future dialogue and involvement with Fans. They want to re-establish Rangers as the most successful Club in Scotland but to do it on a sustainable basis. They want the AGM to proceed as soon as possible. It was agreed that minutes of the meeting would be produced as quickly as possible – approved by the attendees and circulated amongst the Rangers support.

getting that stupid lennon video playing again each time I come to main site, please stop it, his voice drives me nuts.

Our happy go-lucky, main site correspondent Andy Steel asks if Rangers starting afresh was ever a realistic possibility: http://www.gersnet.co.uk/index.php/latest-news/177-myths-of-rangers

DAVID TEMPLETON and Dean Shiels will be among those featuring for the under-20 team tomorrow in their latest SPFL fixture against Motherwell at Ibrox. Both players have been left frustrated by a lack of game time lately, a result of their limited involvement in the pre-season programme due to injuries. They have each scored in substitute appearances – Templeton most recently at the weekend against Stenhousemuir – but boast just six starts between them in 11 games so far. They’ll each be in the first XI for tomorrow evening’s meeting with the Steelmen, which kicks off at 7pm. Entry is free. It’s a match in which coach Gordon Durie is looking for a positive reaction from his side after its 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen in its most recent outing almost a fortnight ago. Even before that, in a 2-1 win over St Mirren in Paisley, the Light Blues weren’t always at their best. Durie wants a better performance as Gers look to build on other victories against Dunfermline and Ross County, as well as an opening-day point against Hamilton. They currently sit fifth in the table, three points off the summit with a game in hand, ahead of a full card of fixtures this midweek. Durie said: “We’re looking forward to the game after the result a couple of weeks ago against Aberdeen and we want a good reaction from the team. “We’ve played five games so far and we feel there’s a lot more to come from the side so hopefully that’ll come tomorrow. “We’re happy with our points return but we’re looking to win every game we play in and in that respect we’ve not got what we’re looking for up to now. “I’m sure in the coming weeks we’ll get that from the boys and it can be quite hard for them because we’ve got to chop and change the team quite a lot with first-teamers coming in. “That’ll happen again this week and we’ve got Temps and Dean coming in, along with Kyle and Steve. “David and Dean need match time. You can train all you want but you need minutes under your belt in games. Hopefully the two of them will benefit from getting 90 minutes.” http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/academy-news/item/5193-duo-set-for-20s-test

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has hinted that the club will be unable to offer transfer fees for any of his targets during the January transfer window. The Scottish League One side saw moves for Bosnian defender Boris Pandza and former Hearts captain Marius Zaliukas fail this week. McCoist has said that he is uncertain if he will be allowed to spend money as the club aims to secure a return to the Scottish Premiership. "It's my job to get the best possible team out on the park for the fans. Like any other manager I've got a budget to work within," quotes McCoist as saying. "Without doubt I am more mindful of what I spent after all the hardships we went through last year. I have to think about the long-term future of the club because we don't want what has already happened to happen again. But we're talking about [wage] budgets here, not even about transfer fees. "I believe longer term, we will definitely need to spend once we get back to where we want to be. But I can understand the argument right now that we should have a team built within the budget limits to get through the divisions." http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/rangers/transfer-talk/news/mccoist-rules-out-rangers-deals_107547.html

Lifted from FF: BR3 Staunch BR3 Staunch is online now FF Squad Member Join Date: 31-12-2012 Posts: 697 Default Kenny Miller is currently in McGills garage talking to Easdale Ronseal. Kenny Miller is currently in the McGills bus garage in Greenock talking to Easdale and as he doesnt own any buses you can guess why. Admin can PM me for source.

I'd say we need to move on other players first but interesting news nonetheless... http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/4983-zaliukas-trains-with-gers

Following on from a thread in Footie chat about Morton knocking Celtic out the league cup, I thought had we still been in the competition then the trophy would be there for the taken. But my comment was Id still be happy to settle for a League One and Ramsden's Cup double. It got me thinking about the Scottish Cup. Oh yes I'd love to win that but are we ready to compete with the SPL sides? On paper we are. I wouldn't be swapping our squad for any in the SPL right now including Celtics as I think we have the basis of a good squad to compete. Add in a few quality signings when we are back to the SPL then Id say we will be top 2 for sure. It boils again down to our style of play and management ability as to how good we can be, as last season we were easily beaten by Inverness and Dundee Utd. But we are probably far more prepared this season. As we are more prepared with a stronger squad that have had a full pre-season: What is our realistic expectations in the Scottish Cup? Of course the luck of the draw will always come into it. Are some fans still wanting to boycott it in protest towards the SFA and anti-Rangers SPL clubs? I know I could understand that point of view. Does anyone want to avoid playing an SPL side yet in case a) we get turned over and b) assist in financing them? The jury is still out for me. I don't want to return to Tannadice nor head for Pittodrie to satisfy the vile hatred from elements of those places. But if we were to draw Ross County or Kilmarnock I'd take that right now as a) it would be a good test and b) I think we could beat those. I do think the sticky balls will be in play this season and we will get Celtic.

I was wondering if any Gersnetters knew the name of Jum Spence's 'zine? He founded and Edited it for several years and his current designation at BBC Scotland is as a direct result of this particular publication. It was a case of BBC Scotland wanting to be seen to embrace the new media. I would like to peruse a copy/copies to how Jum referred to Rangers and Rangers supporters? Further, as Editor; what content was approved?

Written by Mr S. Funk It's difficult to ascertain whether it's just another wind-up aimed at our club and fans or not with them coming so thick and fast from our friends in the Scottish press, but rumours are well and truly buzzing around in the mainstream media regarding Celtic Park 'emerging' as a possible venue for the Ramsdens Cup final if Rangers were to win our semi-final and a place in the cup final on the 6th of April. You couldn't make this madness up unless you were a descendent of the Grimm brothers, but before going on to discuss it any further I think it's important to ask the question as to why this is even being discussed and leaked to the press this early when the Cup final in question isn't scheduled to be played until April? Is madness like this a direct consequence of our 'friends' in the east end getting beaten by AC Milan in the San Siro last night or is it just a strange coincidence? Anyway, coincidence or not, to add further to the question as to why venues for this Cup final would even be getting discussed as early as this when the semi-finals are scheduled for next month and only a few weeks away, you really have to wonder why there's been any kind of urgency to discuss it at all when they could easily have left any venue discussions until after the semi-finals and shown a little bit of respect for the teams still in the competition. We still need to win our semi-final against Stenhousemuir which is currently scheduled to be played at Ochilview Park in a few weeks time with no winner guaranteed, but the loonies now running Scottish football don't 'do' respect. We already know they have a less than an acceptable level of respect for Rangers and it would now look as though they have no respect for the other teams still in the Ramsdens Cup given the timing of this leaked proposal. It's either that or the other teams in the Ramsdens Cup competition are just seen as collateral damage when it comes to winding-up Rangers or getting one over on us, so which is it? After all, the scheduled semi-finals are almost a full six months before the scheduled final, so was there not enough time in that six month window to discuss and arrange a venue for the final? Answers on a postcard to the loonies in suits at Hampden. Let's get down to the logistics here because that's the excuse for this ill-timed and completely mad suggestion. With Hampden unavailable due to preparations for the Commonwealth Games, we're being led to believe that the only other ground capable of handling the expected demand for tickets is Celtic Park. Seriously though, can that old monstrosity of engineering known as their main stand really handle the bouncy? I think the answer to that last question is that nobody in their right mind would take the risk, but further to that, I do actually think the suggestion of the Ramsdens Cup final being played at Celtic Park is nothing more than a wind-up. Ok, so one of Ramsdens head branches might be in the Forge shopping complex practically next door and the ribbons on the Cup silverware might be green & white, but let's be honest, with the Commonwealth Games just round the corner, they're not likely to have us Rangers fans over for a pre-games party are they? Seriously, file this one in the wind-ups from the Loony Tunes-brigade category. That's all folks!

Apparently the Dunfermline match at Ibrox on Saturday October 12 with a 5.30pm k.o. will not be moved to accommodate the Ramsdens Cup Semi-final tie whoever we get. Good.

Haven't seen this on RM or here but according to the Daily Mail today McColl's gang tried to bring back McClelland as the chairman. Absolutely frightful stuff if true. A real return to the old days when he was Murray's puppet and presided over record levels of debt. I'm neither here nor there with the current board and prospective future board. To me they all remind of the South Park episode where a douche and a turd compete with each other. But it's absolutely disparaging that our prospective leaders want a return of one of our past failures.

... you know, someone had to do it! I'll write and update a list of targets in the first post. Signed: - Nicky Clark (QotS, free, compensation, 3-year deal signed) - Jon Daly (DU, free, 2-year + 1-year extension deal signed) - Cammy Bell (Kilmarnock, 4-year deal signed) - Nicky Law (Motherwell, free, 3-year signed) - Steven Smith (free/Portland, 2-year-deal apparently signed) - Arnold Peralta (Vidal, free, 4-year-deal signed) - Ricky Foster (free, Bristol City, 2-year deal) - Biliel Mohsni (free, 2-year deal) - Kenny Miller (free/Portland, resigned) - Lee Robinson (QotS) - Tom Hateley (Motherwell, free) [ - Chris Humphrey (Motherwell, free, was in talks) signed for Preston North End] Gone: - Neil Alexander (end of contract) - Kane Hemmings (end of contract) - Kal Naismith (on loan, Accrington Stanley) + + + From FF ... Links galore ... The Express

JOHN GREIG and Davie Cooper are two of Rangers’ all-time greats, legendary figures in the history of the club and idolised by the club’s supporters. Both players had blue blood running through their veins. In terms of their sheer devotion to the Ibrox outfit, they were identical. But, in truth, they were different characters all together. So much so that, in the early 1980s, with Greig as manager and Cooper playing under him, they ignored each other as a simmering feud threatened to boil over. It’s a notion most Rangers fans find difficult to understand. But the relationship between the pair at that time was a strained one – as is revealed in Neil Drysdale’s book, Coop: The Life of Davie Cooper, Scottish Football Hero. Quite simply, the winger didn’t fit into the style Greig wanted his team to play and was regularly left on the bench. That frustrated Cooper who, admittedly, took his omission to heart. He wasn’t dubbed the Moody Blue at Ibrox for nothing. That led to an impasse which was only made worse by his refusal to join Brighton in the summer of 1980. That was partly stubbornness but Cooper also couldn’t bear the thought of leaving his home in Hamilton and, more importantly, the club he loved. In Drysdale’s book, he examines the stand-off and, ultimately, the wing wizard’s acceptance that he failed to give Greig total commitment during his time as Rangers boss. He writes: “It was an indication of how relations had soured between Greig and Cooper that when the 24-year-old got the chance to leave, after an approach from Brighton boss Alan Mullery, he should end up staying while Gordon Smith headed south for a record transfer fee of £440,000. “Cooper was reluctant to leave his roots but there is pride in origin and then there is stubborn obstinacy. “Mullery wanted both Smith and Cooper but was told by Greig that he would only sell one of the two. Given how little subsequent use he found for Davie in his plans, it beggars belief the Rangers boss wasn’t ready to move him on if the price was right. “Greig made it clear to Cooper he would be well advised to contemplate expanding his horizons and – considering the money on the table – putting himself into the shop window with a switch to Brighton. “However, that cut no ice with the player who glanced at the map, calculated he wouldn’t be able to get home to Hamilton very often, and so wasn’t interested. “To some extent, one can see why a proud Ibrox man wouldn’t be overly delighted at the prospect of joining the likes of Brighton. But if he had gone and shown his abilities under Mullery, there would surely have been more enticing offers for him in the years ahead whereas he knew that as long as Greig was his gaffer, he would be spending more time keeping benches warm than playing. “Smith said: ‘Alan had been keeping tabs on both Davie and myself and wanted to sign the pair of us but John would only let one go. ‘I don’t believe Davie had any regrets about not going, but I wonder what might have happened if he had. There is no doubt he had more than enough natural ability to make a success of it in England. He could have ?tted in anywhere. ‘But you have to understand that Davie was living the dream and he loved the club, it was as simple as that.’ “It was now obvious that Cooper wouldn’t be wooed away from Rangers and had to accept he was a peripheral ?gure in Greig’s plans. And for those who cherish thrilling football this was a waste of one of the few genuine entertainers on the Scottish domestic circuit. “But while Greig could be faulted for his dearth of ?exibility, especially given the mediocre results attained by players he did select, Cooper wasn’t blameless. “As the months passed he fell into a slump exempli?ed by a lack of intensity at training and unwillingness to scrap for a place in the team. It might be he had concluded there was no merit in battering his head against a brick wall. “But that didn’t excuse his attitude and he subsequently conceded he should have battled harder rather than resort to the dumb insolence which typi?ed the dialogue – or absence of it – between him and Greig. “Cooper started turning up a few minutes late for training, then, once changed, went through the motions. It was childish and he knew it. Davie said: ‘I grew sloppy and the more frustrated I became, the less inclined I was to push myself on the training pitch. Then, when I found myself on the bench, I don’t think my attitude was all it might have been.’ “It was a stalemate which couldn’t have a happy ending. He and Greig were chalk and cheese and only one of them was cracking the whip. “Cooper’s disenchantment increased the more he found himself sidelined. It was an unhappy situation but one which had been brewing for 18 months. “Davie felt isolated, even unwanted at Rangers, even though he refused to take the easy option of demanding a transfer. But a decade down the line, he admitted: ‘I was out of sorts and took it out on John. It was unprofessional and I wish I had shown more application because we needed all the help we could get at the time. ‘John offered me a second chance but I couldn’t get it out of my head that he had given me a raw deal. ‘I look back and wish I’d realised it wasn’t personal. It was just the two of us were different. That didn’t mean either was right or wrong.’” Greig’s spell as Rangers boss ended in 1983 when he was replaced by Jock Wallace. He had won just two League Cups and two Scottish Cups in five years. But his place in the hearts of the supporters was never in doubt and they named him the Greatest Ever Ranger in 1999. Cooper, before and after his death in 1995, was similar to Greig in terms of the fans’ adulation of him. After Greig left, he shone under Wallace and Graeme Souness after that. He became a Rangers legend which, despite that spat with Greig 33 years ago, was all he ever really wanted.

PLENTY of players are let go on transfer deadline day but this may be the first time an entire club feels a sense of release. For the past year, Rangers have been subject to the registration embargo, an imposition that has prevented Ally McCoist fielding all of his summer recruits. With restrictions on the number of trialists that can play before the embargo expires at midnight tonight, it has created an artificial start to the season with the majority of Rangers' prospective signings spending matchdays in the stand, ineligible to take to the field. From tomorrow, however, they will be free men once more, It means that this afternoon's SPFL League 1 match against East Fife takes on added significance. It is the last day for the likes of Stevie Smith and Richard Foster to watch from the stands and also the final opportunity for those who have started the season to show they deserve to hang on to their jerseys once McCoist has his full squad to choose from. It is a nice position for the manager to be in. There is an argument that a club like Rangers should not need such a spread of resources to win the third tier of Scottish football but McCoist wonders aloud whether a lack of competition for places last season was one the reason for the team's inconsistent form. He is excited by the idea of having the option of flooding his team with eight new signings but also challenged the incumbents to show they deserve to hang on to their place. "I firmly believe that if you're in the team and playing well then you deserve to stay there," he said. "It goes without saying that we've brought in good players who will benefit the squad but if you're in the team on merit you've got to try to stay there. Competition for places is one thing we didn't have last year. Whether that was the reason for the lack of consistency I don't know. It might be in your mind that you're going to play every week, which can't be a good thing. But certainly this year we feel we've got boys in the squad, when they're not playing, will push the boys that are." The Scottish Football Association has elected to close their transfer window this evening, rather than extending it until Monday to acknowledge the deadline falling on a weekend. Had Scotland followed the lead of England, Germany, Italy, France and others by allowing the clubs to do transfer business for a further two days it would have afforded Rangers with the chance to sign players on Sunday and Monday, thus calling into the question the effectiveness of their embargo. McCoist had been unaware of the potential loophole but admitted his surprise. "It's unbelievable," he said, of a decision that the SFA claimed was taken because Saturday is a "working day" for them. "It would be worth asking why they went against UEFA because it is a little bit strange not to go with the other associations. If we'd had those extra two days it might have changed things for us." Kenny Miller falls into the category as someone who could, in theory, have been signed had the window been extended. McCoist has spoken about the possibility of bringing the striker back to Ibrox for a third spell and plans on revisiting that possibility in January. "I just feel a player of that type would be great, for Nicky Clark especially. A lot of people might wonder why [we are considering signing Miller] but we feel that a player like that would help us on the training pitch as much as anything else. "He's under contract, and has just extended it another six months, so that avenue is closed to us at that moment in time. But we'll re-assess it in January. You could make a real argument that he's the best striker the country's got at the moment so it would be ridiculous of me not to pursue it if we could." McCoist confirmed Herald Sport's story that he is considering a salary reduction as part of the club's cost-cutting reduction. He also welcomed the investigation by Craig Mather, the Ibrox chief executive, into an email apparently sent by one of the club's media advisors denigrating John Greig and hoped the man voted the Greatest Ever Ranger would be back at the club soon. "I wasn't aware of the email until this morning," McCoist said. "It would be wrong of me to comment on something that Craig is going to have a look into. That said, he's the Greatest Living Ranger as voted by the fans and I think the world of John and what he's done for me and the club. I'd love to see him back. I've said all along John Greig, Sandy Jardine, Walter Smith . . . that's the line right through the club for me." http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/one-window-closes-another-one-opens-for-mccoist-as-embargo-ends.22019764

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has admitted he is keen to lure veteran striker Kenny Miller back to Ibrox. The Scotland striker is currently under contract with the Vancouver Whitecaps until the summer of 2014, and McCoist has yet to hold any talks with the player. Rangers remain under a transfer embargo and can recruit only free agents on September 1, and under the terms of Miller's contract with the MLS side, McCoist would not be able to sign him until January at the earliest. But speaking after a 2-0 win over Berwick in the Ramsdens Cup, McCoist said: "Kenny would certainly interest me, I would be lying if I said he didn't interest me quite a lot. "If there was an opportunity to get Kenny, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't explore that. We will have to wait and see. "I keep in touch with Kenny, but I haven't spoken to him since the day after the England game. In terms of the possibility of him coming here, I haven't spoken to him about that. "I wouldn't rule it out. I'll certainly be making enquiries in the next wee while. If it's a possibility, it's an avenue we would look to possibly pursue. "I don't know if Kenny would want to come, if we could afford him. There are millions of questions but I do think we need another forward." McCoist also expects some of his players to depart the club before the current transfer window closes next week. He added: "That's a possibility. There have been one or two enquiries made about one or two of our players. "But it would be unfair of me to mention them because the players don't know yet and it's miles away from anything concrete happening." Goals from Barrie McKay and Andy Little secured victory over Berwick and McCoist said: "I thought it was a solid performance and a well-deserved win." http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11788/8892872/ally-mccoist-keen-to-bring-kenny-miller-back-to-rangers