ian1964 10,372 Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Apr 5 2009 Andy Mcdonald BOOZE shame keeper Allan McGregor was handed a sensational Ibrox lifeline yesterday. And the Sunday Mail can exclusively reveal that Kevin Thomson is to take over from axed Barry Ferguson as Ibrox skipper next season. Keeper McGregor was not expected to play for Rangers again after furious boss Walter Smith dropped him and Ferguson for their Scotland disgrace. Now Smith may be prepared to give McGregor, 27, one final chance to salvage his career - butonly if he grows up. Senior sources at Ibrox yesterday insisted Ferguson will never play for the club again. But the same sources confirmed McGregor could make a sensational return to the first team. One said: "They both deserved everything that came their way after that performance midweek. "Walter's equally furious with them both but he sees McGregor's position differently to Ferguson's. "Barry's burned his bridges but there could still be a way back for McGregor. "Whether he's got the good sense to take it is another matter. Buckle "He's definitely out for the moment. But if he buckles down the door is not locked on him coming back. "He basically has to grow up and get a grip. It's down to him." The cash-strapped club also realise benching one of their prize assets can only reduce his value on the transfer market. The source insisted the only thing that will see him return is a massive change in attitude. McGregor has a history of attracting as many headlines for his colourful private life as his onfield performances. The source added: "It's down to him. Put it this way, Barry's out in the dark but there's a chink of light for McGregor." Ferguson and McGregor saw their careers implode last week after they were benched for a booze bender at the Scotland squad's hotel. Flick They compounded that by flicking the Vs at photographersduring the Iceland game. Ferguson, 31, was stripped of the Rangers captaincy on Friday. We can reveal Smith is ready to hand the captain's armband to midfielder Kevin Thomson when he returns from injury next season. Veteran David Weir will lead Rangers against Falkirk today but Smith believes Thomson is the player to take charge next season when he returns. He has been out since suffering ligament damage in November but is expected back early next season after successful surgery. An Ibrox source said: "There's no doubt Kevin will be captain next season all being well with his knee. "To be frank, there's not a wealth of candidates but he's got the attitude and respect of his team-mates." http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport-news/2009/04/05/walter-smith-prepared-to-give-shamed-keeper-allan-mcgregor-ibrox-lifeline-78057-21254880/ 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexscottislegend 2,043 Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Wrote about this on another thread. Sounds like common sense to me. Love the idea of Thomson being captain - I think his best days are to come. My only reservations are his propensity to injury and his occcasional rashness in the tackle leading to suspensions. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete 2,494 Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Walter Smith prepared to give shamed keeper Allan McGregor Ibrox lifeline BOOZE shame keeper Allan McGregor was handed a sensational Ibrox lifeline yesterday. And the Sunday Mail can exclusively reveal that Kevin Thomson is to take over from axed Barry Ferguson as Ibrox skipper next season. Keeper McGregor was not expected to play for Rangers again after furious boss Walter Smith dropped him and Ferguson for their Scotland disgrace. Now Smith may be prepared to give McGregor, 27, one final chance to salvage his career - butonly if he grows up. Senior sources at Ibrox yesterday insisted Ferguson will never play for the club again. But the same sources confirmed McGregor could make a sensational return to the first team. One said: "They both deserved everything that came their way after that performance midweek. "Walter's equally furious with them both but he sees McGregor's position differently to Ferguson's. "Barry's burned his bridges but there could still be a way back for McGregor. "Whether he's got the good sense to take it is another matter. "He's definitely out for the moment. But if he buckles down the door is not locked on him coming back. "He basically has to grow up and get a grip. It's down to him." The cash-strapped club also realise benching one of their prize assets can only reduce his value on the transfer market. The source insisted the only thing that will see him return is a massive change in attitude. McGregor has a history of attracting as many headlines for his colourful private life as his onfield performances. The source added: "It's down to him. Put it this way, Barry's out in the dark but there's a chink of light for McGregor." Ferguson and McGregor saw their careers implode last week after they were benched for a booze bender at the Scotland squad's hotel. They compounded that by flicking the Vs at photographersduring the Iceland game. Ferguson, 31, was stripped of the Rangers captaincy on Friday. We can reveal Smith is ready to hand the captain's armband to midfielder Kevin Thomson when he returns from injury next season. Veteran David Weir will lead Rangers against Falkirk today but Smith believes Thomson is the player to take charge next season when he returns. He has been out since suffering ligament damage in November but is expected back early next season after successful surgery. An Ibrox source said: "There's no doubt Kevin will be captain next season all being well with his knee. "To be frank, there's not a wealth of candidates but he's got the attitude and respect of his team-mates." Thomson captain next year. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bigbear Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Meanwhile the scumtic management stay silent about their player involved in the Loch Lomond incident. History BJK > No comment Borac > wasted Mc Geady Mc Geady > told wee strapon to fuck off S. Brown fuckin coward 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
calscot 0 Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Thomson would be my choice too. Seems to me Barry will be treated differently due to the PLG saga. He was trusted again after that to be a model professional but has broken that trust. His "previous" will be why he's not forgiven this time. I do think most of it's an over-reaction but there is a different level of responsibility if you are captain, and to repeatedly fall below those standards is a good enough reason to be stripped - but maybe not a sacking. However, Barry will have to leave as he is not the type of guy who will redeem himself as a squad player after being stripped of his captaincy. And as a disruptive influence on others, he has to go. While we have no-one in the squad to replace him, it could be good for us as it forces us to go out and get a replacement for a man who is a shadow of the player he used to be. We'll probably actually miss him till we do. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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