pete 2,494 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 It used to be one of the most sought-after posts in football ââ?¬â?? not just in Scotland, but right across the football map. Manager of Rangers brought with it the kind of kudos most aspiring bosses could only dream of. A huge kitty to wheel and deal in the transfer market, a club with the kind of stellar history to woo top stars, a passionate fan base and an unflinching opportunity to win silverware every season. Mix in the prospect of European football every year and itââ?¬â?¢s easy to see why the lure of the Ibrox hotseat has attracted high-calibre names down through the decades. Graeme Souness kick-started a football revolution when he returned from Italy to take up his first job in football management and pitched up at Ibrox. Dutchman Dick Advocaat had an extremely impressive CV and was highly prized when he decided to take over at Rangers, and Frenchman Paul Le Guen was the up-and- coming man in France when he crossed the Channel to occupy the hotseat. Although there were obvious sentimental reasons for his return for a second time, the job still proved enough of a pull for Walter Smith to call time on his spell in charge of the Scotland national team in favour of a return to Rangers. All three managers were backed to the hilt in terms of funding for new signings. But that was then ââ?¬â?? and this is now. As Ally McCoist waits in the wings to take hold of the reins, the fact is the job no longer holds the same appeal. Of course, within Scotland it remains a coveted position, sharing that distinction with the same seat of power currently occupied by Neil Lennon at Celtic. But would Rangers still manage to tempt big-name coaches from abroad to up sticks and move to Scotland? Doubtful must be the truthful reply. And that only serves up further proof as to the size of the task facing McCoist when the curtain falls on Smithââ?¬â?¢s reign at the end of this campaign. Having served his time as assistant manager for several years, there is no doubt he is ready to break free from his mentorââ?¬â?¢s shadow. But, as Rangers next year celebrate their 140th aniversary, McCoist is poised to inherit a club that is financially gridlocked. Kenny Millerââ?¬â?¢s impending departure is yet another crushing blow to the Light Blue legions, and serves to hammer home the financial problems facing their club. Smith has received praise for the way he has handled the situation and still won back-to-back titles as well as competing in the Champions League, but the task facing McCoist is even greater. Come the end of this campaign, McCoist, as things stand, will be left with just 13 recognised first-team players under contract, with the best of the youngsters to have emerged from Murray Park to supplement his meagre playing squad. David Weir is expected to finally retire, Sasa Papacââ?¬â?¢s contract situation is still not resolved, Andy Webster will not be offered a new deal in light of his injury problems and Salim Kerkarââ?¬â?¢s short-term deal will also expire. And with Miller expected to depart within days, or pen a pre-contract deal with Italian side Fiorentina, it would leave him with potentially the smallest group of players in the country. Out of the remaining 13, a further four will be moving into the final year of their deals, raising the prospect again of the bank having the final say on new contracts. Chief in that category are Madjid Bougherra and Steven Davis, both of whom would command big fees. With both eyes on the balance sheet, it would be highly unlikely the board would risk their contracts ticking down to the stage where they could also leave on Bosmans. Steven Whittaker, not one of the biggest earners at the club, is someone Rangers would be confident of striking a deal with and James Beattieââ?¬â?¢s deal will also expire in the summer of 2012, although there is the option of a further year. However, a year down the line, Rangers would then find themselves with as many as seven players out of contract. At the end of season 2012/ 2013, Allan McGregor, Neil Alexander, Kyle Lafferty, Maurice Edu, Lee McCulloch, Kirk Broadfoot and John Fleck will find their deals coming to an end ââ?¬â?? and McCoist will face the same problems. How many will be willing to remain for the same ââ?¬â?? and possibly less ââ?¬â?? money? Will the bank give him the cash to offer better terms to those who feel they merit a rise and will those salary offers compete with other clubs? That leaves Nikica Jelavic and Steven Naismith, whose deals wonââ?¬â?¢t expire until the summer of 2014 and 2015 respectively since they have only recently signed deals. Re-signing players, of course, is all part and parcel of football management. The conundrum for McCoist, as has been highlighted in the last couple of years under Smith ââ?¬â?? is it isnââ?¬â?¢t easy while Rangers remain in thrall to the bank. It goes without saying that if he is to make a success of his time as Rangers manager, then McCoist might just exceed everything all those before him have achieved. SUMMER CASH SPLASH OF PREVIOUS BOSSES... This is how past Rangers bosses splashed the cash in their first summer in charge after being handed the keys to the Ibrox transfer kitty. GRAEME SOUNESS 1986 Terry Butcher, Chris Woods, Colin West Spend: Ã?£1.5m WALTER SMITH 1991 Andy Goram, Stuart McCall, David Robertson, Alexei Mikhailitchenko Spend: Ã?£5.2m DICK ADVOCAAT 1998 Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Arthur Numan, Andrei Kanchelskis, Colin Hendry, Gabriel Amato, Rod Wallace, Lionel Charbonnier, Daniel Prodan Spend: Ã?£26.7m ALEX McLEISH 2002 Mikel Arteta, Kevin Muscat Spend: Ã?£5.8m PAUL LE GUEN 2006 Libor Sionko, Karl Svensson, Lionel Letizi, Jeremy Clement, Filip Sebo, Sasa Papac, Lee Martin, Phil Bardsley, Makhtar Nââ?¬â?¢Diaye, William Stanger, Antoine Ponroy Spend: Ã?£4.2m WALTER SMITH 2007 DaMarcus Beasley, Andy Webster, Alan Gow, Kirk Broadfoot, Jean-Claude Darcheville, Graeme Smith, Carlos Cuellar, Roy Carroll, Lee McCulloch, Steven Whittaker, Daniel Cousin, Steven Naismith, Amdy Faye Spend: Ã?£10.4m PLAYERS UNDER CONTRACT... 2012 Madjid Bougherra Steven Whittaker Steven Davis James Beattie 2013 Allan McGregor Neil Alexander Kyle Lafferty Mo Edu John Fleck Lee McCulloch Kirk Broadfoot 2014 Nikica Jelavic 2015 Steven Naismith STAR KIDS Jamie Ness, Kyle Hutton, Gregg Wylde, Darren Cole If we don't get funds for contract renewal or bringing in replacements then 2012-2015 are going to be very baron years I fear. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 743 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 GRAEME SOUNESS 1986 Terry Butcher, Chris Woods, Colin West Spend: �£1.5m WALTER SMITH 1991 Andy Goram, Stuart McCall, David Robertson, Alexei Mikhailitchenko Spend: �£5.2m DICK ADVOCAAT 1998 Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Arthur Numan, Andrei Kanchelskis, Colin Hendry, Gabriel Amato, Rod Wallace, Lionel Charbonnier, Daniel Prodan Spend: �£26.7m Pretty gutting to read that. Souness signs Englands captain and No.2 keeper.....thats like us signing Ferdinand and Foster? today (although McGregor is better than Foster). WS signed Goram who was easily a top 5 internation keeper in the 90s, 2 top Scottish internationals who would walk into both Rangers and Scotland teams today along with a Russian great. Advocaat brought in 2 dutch stars, a french world cup winning keeper, a premiership legend, a couple of neat goalscorers, one of Scotlands best defenders and...well erm Prodan. Imagine getting the equivalent and Johnny Woodgate today! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zappa 0 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 (edited) I read this last night and couldn't help but thinking that it's deceiving at best to list what managers supposedly spent in their first year. Not only is it deceiving with regards to what those managers actually spent because it only lists incoming transfers within a short period, but it's also deceiving because it's listing the spending of managers over a 25 year period. You can't just stick some numbers and dates down because a million pounds 25 years ago was the equivalent of way over double that amount now. Edited January 14, 2011 by Zappa 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gribz 743 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I read this last night and couldn't help but thinking that it's deceiving at best to list what managers supposedly spent in their first year. Not only is it deceiving with regards to what those managers actually spent because it only lists incoming transfers within a short period, but it's also deceiving because it's listing the spending of managers over a 25 year period. You can't just stick some numbers and dates down because a million pounds 25 years ago was the equivalent of way over double that amount now. Agreed that the figures cant be compared but the fact that money was made available at open will says something. The other side of the coin without the money figure is to look at the quality of player we were capable of bringing in - now that does say something. What would Terry Butcher at his prime be worth today? So it shows that we could attract top notch players and now we are chasing Goodwillie from Dundee Utd - says it all really! But that also shows how much scottish football has went back, when we were signing Terry Butcher Dundee Utd had a terrific team and players like Sturrock, Hegarty etc were easily a higher standard than what Utd have now. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbr 1,247 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Agreed that the figures cant be compared but the fact that money was made available at open will says something. The other side of the coin without the money figure is to look at the quality of player we were capable of bringing in - now that does say something. What would Terry Butcher at his prime be worth today? So it shows that we could attract top notch players and now we are chasing Goodwillie from Dundee Utd - says it all really! But that also shows how much scottish football has went back, when we were signing Terry Butcher Dundee Utd had a terrific team and players like Sturrock, Hegarty etc were easily a higher standard than what Utd have now. Remember the English were banned from Europe and sky was but a chairman's wet dream back then 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 0 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 Walter, stay I created this page on Facebook - I'm not saying McCoist will fail, just that I don't know what to expect. And I'd sooner trust Walter, and what I know, than change to a new charge who's untested. But I am hoping whoever is in charge will have money. If not, we're entering a very tough period. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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