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On Saturday, the Cosgrove and Cowan show was interesting. They had Archie MacPherson on to essentially speak about Billy McNeill and Hibs Chief Executive, Leeann Dempster as guests. I was impressed with Ms Dempster, she was clear and concise in her appraisal of the Scottish game. She handled everything well, attendances, ticketing, Edinburgh derbies, attracting children to games, policing, stewarding, ..................................... etc. There was an honesty in her replies, even admitting the thrower of the Buckie bottle at Celtic's Scott Sinclair will in all probability, not be identified and brought to justice. It was obvious that Tam Cowan knew her well from her time in the CE role at Motherwell. He was anxious to draw the teeth on accusations that she was once a season ticket holder at Ibrox. Again, no hesitation in replying, "not for a few years, more like twenty years". She explained she was using her brother's season ticket at first, then got her own for two decades, before other other opportunities in life took greater priority. Leeann Dempster came across as a football person. Thus, BBC Radio Scotland are to be thanked for extending an invitation to such a guest and any question can be posed on behalf of the listeners. Step forward DrStu', his first question is, "given your time attending Ibrox, did you indulge in any dodgy songs"? Dempster did not answer directly, she used the opportunity to explain both her's and her club's opposition to strict liability. It's been mentioned several times on this thread, DrStu' is up to his knees, wading through the depths of sectarianism. He labels Rangers supporters as, "h-u-ns and typical orange wa-nkers", he is accosted by the British Transport Police at Queen Street station for bellowing, "can you spot a handsome h-u-n", and tells deliberate lies about Rangers supporters supposedly ransacking Barcelona cathedral in 1972, in his Daily Record column. DrStu' in his sixty-seventh year is LAZY. He needs the exposure the show provides, it allows him to keep his finger in any number of income streams. It's just he cannot be bothered representing all the license fee paying listeners, even when there's a very occasional interesting guest in front of him.

Kamara’s an interesting one. Was a very highly rated youngster at Arsenal. He got sent out on a couple of loans to lower league teams which never worked out then eventually got released. He ended up at Dundee for 18 months before joining us . Could be the best £50k we ever spend.

CHAMPIONS! Rangers Youth Academy @RFC_Youth #RangersFC under-18's have clinched the Club Academy Scotland under-18 league this afternoon by beating Hearts 3-1 at Oriam! The result means the Light Blues will compete in next season's UEFA Youth League. MATCH SUMMARY (link: https://rng.rs/2VG08d2) rng.rs/2VG08d2

Little recap ... 3 games left and the Scum essentially need a point? If anything, either they shall celebrate with the Sheep at their midden and have nice long trouble ladden jhourney back home. Or in their last game. Would hate it if the Sheep manage the unthinkable and then we need to win next week to stop them revel at Ibrox. Would actually not be surprised if tomorrow's result would set up exactly that. Remember how convinient the post-split fixtures were arrayed last season and all results went exactly how the Scum wanted them ... Anyway ... have I already grumbled about the late Sunday KO`s last and this week? For the whole season, Saturday and Sunday games get shifted to 12.15/30 or 13.00 hour KO, yet now it is 15.30 or the like. The Scottish Premiership Ibrox Stadium Rangers FC vs Hibernian FC Referee – Bobby Madden Assistants – Sean Carr and Graeme Leslie Fourth Official – Alan Newlands Missing: Jamie Murphy (Knee), Graham Dorrans (Knee), Gareth McAuley (hamstring, out for the season) Doubtful: Ryan Jack (throat infection) Live on Sky Sports Football and Rangers TV

From France Football Steven Gerrard à Rennes pour Mexer L'ancienne gloire de Liverpool, désormais entraîneur des Glasgow Rangers, a été aperçue à Rennes. Il s'intéresserait au profil du défenseur Mexer. Le manager des Glasgow Rangers et ex-gloire de Liverpool, Steven Gerrard, a été aperçu dans un restaurant à Rennes, ce jeudi midi, et ce n'était sans doute pas pour découvrir la gastronomie bretonne. Le club écossais semble en effet être l'un de ceux qui s'intéressent à Mexer, le défenseur mozambicain de Rennes, 30 ans. Julien Stéphan évoque le futur mercato rennais Pilier essentiel de la défense bretonne cette saison, il arrive en fin de contrat en juin sans qu'il n'y ait eu d'accord jusque-là avec Rennes sur une prolongation. Le buteur de l'égalisation en finale de la Coupe de France contre le PSG (2-2, 6-5 aux t.a.b.), d'un coup de tête magistral, est un joueur sur lequel Julien Stéphan, l'entraîneur rennais, aimerait encore pouvoir compter la saison prochaine. https://www.francefootball.fr/news/Steven-gerrard-a-rennes-pour-mexer/1014820 Everything clear? Well, it might be something like ... Steven Gerrard in Rennes for Mexer The former glory of Liverpool, now coach of Glasgow Rangers, was seen in Rennes. He could be interested in checking out the defender Mexer. Glasgow Rangers' manager, former Liverpool man Steven Gerrard, was seen at a restaurant in Rennes on Thursday afternoon, and it was probably not to discover Breton gastronomy. The Scottish club indeed seems to be one of those who are interested in Mexer, the 30-year-old Mozambican defender from Rennes. An essential pillar of the Breton defense this season, his contract ends in June without there being any agreement so far with Rennes about an extension. The scorer of the equalizer in the final of the Coupe de France against PSG (2-2, 6-5 on the tab), with a masterful header, is a player on which Julien Stéphan, the Rennes coach, would like still be able to count next season.

The View from the Terrace is on BBC Scotland's new second channel, 23.00hrs on Friday nights. It is recorded on Wednesday evenings, they need a couple of days to edit the hours of film. The presentation of the show is four to five guys sitting on opposing settees talking all aspects of Scottish football. It is divided into a dozen short segments, each a different discussion topic eg 'secret sauce' ie the player in your team that his a hidden gem. The four guys are Craig Telfer(Stenhousemuir), Craig Fowler(Hearts), Joel Sked(Hearts), and Shaughan McGuigan(Raith Rovers). The fifth presenter handling social media highlights is Robert Borthwick(Hearts I think). The over arching chap that commissioned the show is also a Jambo. The content of the show is mainly very good and informative. There is a good emphasis on lower leagues, a bit geeky but they know their stuff. They've had a few digs at Rangers and Rangers supporters, but hey it's BBC Scotland, it's a rites of passage thing. James Cook is the precedent. Further, they stick it on ra Sellik too, but not Sellik supporters so far, but hey it's BBC Scotland. Genuine criticism is that it comes across as a bit too middle class, five thirty-something graduates with a sense of entitlement. Reference Craig Fowler, he has made a cnut of himself twice so far. A couple of weeks past, he did a piece on Greg Stewart being a wonderful player on the show(remember recorded on Wednesday), the next day it's announced he is signing for us, by Friday he utilises the Scotsman on line to stick it on Greg Stewart ie good at Killie, bad at Aberdeen and Birmingham. He also was adamant that Gerrard had only improved Rangers by the merest margin. The latest Hastie thing indicates Fowler is clearly rawkin' the James Cook vibe, grasping aspirations trumps all. If the show gets a second season next term, I suspect it will take over from Cosgrove and Cowan.

Strange Stat In the 7 games against Hibs in the top flight since both were promoted from the Championship, there has never been a home win. Time for that to change !

Might be better down at the Crucible and for us to bring in some young blood .

Comparisons? Remember the day Steven Gerrard was revealed as the next Rangers Manager? BBC Scotland's Chief Sports Correspondent, Chris McLaughlin remembers it well, he stood on the grassy knoll at the edge of the Hinshelwood waste ground, as the national media passed him by. The club had withdrawn his press privileges three years previously, after he broadcast a match report of a 2-6 Rangers victory at Easter Road in the Petrofac Cup, leading with, "Police have arrested four supporters from the away section and charged them with alleged sectarian chanting". Chris did social media then, and he justified his leading and including this fact in a match report, by stating he always spoke to the Match Commander before broadcasting. There is a direct comparison because a few weeks later, Christopher's favourite football team was playing at Pittodrie. Those watching endured the usual IRA karaoke, and waited on Chris to provide his match report on national radio. It contained no mention of sectarian chanting and no arrests. Bears engaged with Chris on social media, reminding him of his claim he always spoke to the Match Commander. Chris assured all he had spoken to the appropriate police officer, and their were no arrests for sectarian chanting. Imagine our surprise when the Aberdeen Press and Journal revealed the next morning, that six supporters from the away section had been arrested for alleged sectarian chanting? Back to the grassy knoll, Chris determined to get an angle on Gerrard's signing that other media sources had not pursued. He found someone who played at Rangers and shared the pitch with Gerrard as a teammate. He passed the interview on to Phil Goodlad and the Shetlander addressed Charlie Adam. It was pre-recorded and hail-hailed by the usual PQ Gang Hut suspects as a must listen. Charlie concluded Gerrard had made decent signings and had enough man management skills to secure second, comfortably. The occupants of the Gang Hut did NOT agree with that particular conclusion. Big Dick, Wullie Miller, Tom English, and Allan Preston were having none of it. A comfortable cooing ensued as Tom English pronounced, "the Scottish game has changed since Charlie left, he is out of touch, his conclusion is arrogant". Wullie Miller delivered the coup de gras, "Rangers have always been arrogant". The season progressed and the first half was a blur of games. Our league and league cup fixtures were regularly interspersed with a 14 game Europa Cup run. PQ's focus was our defeat to Aberdeen in the semi-final of the league cup, Umar Sadiq produced much hilarity and we were reminded he was a Gerrard signing. The league cup final had Liam McLeod purring that normal service had been resumed as Scotland's best two teams in the last several seasons, were once again contesting the trophy. The end of March saw the last rites being administered to Strict Liability, as Dolly sectarianly abused Gerrard at Ibrox. Songs about the Ibrox Disaster and the engraving in two foot high letters, 'HaHa 66' on the Rangers team coach in an Aberdeen Hotel car park; ran contrary to Wullie Miller's Sunday newspaper empathetic claim, like Steve Clarke he was happy to leave Glasgow as a teenager, "there is no bile in Aberdeen". Now, the Gang Hut will NOT discuss bilious Aberdeen, but they realised an interference must be run on strong claims for strict liability. The beginning of April saw a return to that question, 'has Gerrard improved Rangers'? The spectrum of answers from the Gang Hut was narrow, some reckoned on a marginal improvement, others offered Gerrard's Rangers were not challenging for the title and would be fortunate to finish ahead of both the Dons and Killie. Fairs fair, and I must mention Billy Dodds EBT and Stephen Thompson EBT. Both mentioned our 14 game Europa Cup run compared to last season's two game calamity against Progres. Obviously, it was a three line whip across PQ, because even the very new, 'View from the Terrace' on BBC Scotland's second channel discussed it and Craig Fowler supported the preferred conclusion. Last Sunday, Big Dick, Liam McLeod, Wullie Miller, and Neil McCann gather inside the Gang Hut to watch Sky's coverage of the Rangers v Aberdeen league fixture. There has been six sports desks leading up to the game. They are unremitting in their presentation on every hour, "Celtic can secure their eighth consecutive league title today if Rangers sill any points in today's match. Aberdeen have already defeated Rangers on each of their three visits to Glasgow". I presume the PQ take is that Rangers supporters do not have aspirations? All season, it is never what we could win, always what we can lose. Reporting on the game was more of the same, Both penalties were dubious, Tav's offside/on side not discussed, and Big Dick wanted Defoe cited. Sportscene's Michael Stewart found the penalties laughable and Katic should be embarrassed. They showed Tav' on side but did not discuss it. You won't be surprised to hear, the Sportsound question had changed, 'has Neil improved Celtic'? Big Dick read out the comparing stats, and the panel concluded Neil had bettered Brendan. Just for the record, it appears Charlie Adam's view was legitimate; but Big Dick did not consult the league tables to provide the necessary comparison. This Saturday, the cloth eared Chris McLaughlin will be at Pittodrie and will reveal in a bilious manner, what kit Derek prefers when playing away! Charlie Adam can get tae fcuk.

Cheers for that mate.

Makes you wonder what Kamara might be worth in a couple of years

If a bid anything like that came in he’s gone and I would be happy with it. That could be a title winning fund.

Emery's Arsenal will go to Valencia after scoring three in London. Emery was in charge of Valencia when we were playing them on CL duty, unfortunately we couldn't stop the getting the three goals. It was a long time ago (2010) but some things don't change, Lafferty was brought on as an 83rd minute substitute for Edu, just as nearly nine years later, he was brought on as an 83rd minute substitute for Defoe at Tynecastle a couple of weeks ago. For the record, McGregor and Davis started both games as well.

I'd prefer to take that challenge head on and look to set-up the final day for what could be termed the truly wonderful unthinkable.

Gary Ralston is Rangers friendly as far as I know.

Fowler does a programme "A view from the terrace" on the new BBC Scotland channel. They say he is a Hearts supporter and not a Rangers hater but I have my doubts about the second part. Any time I read or heard his stuff in the Herald it was pretty Rangers negative.

Great to see that our Manager and our player(Arfield) in receipt of these awards. At last we are being recognised.

Correct. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Scottish_Professional_Football_League_monthly_award_winners

I read on one of 26th's posts that Craig Fowler now does some work for PQ. The angle his most recent article at the Scotsman takes would tend to suggest he needs some brownie points with the PQ heid yins after no Celtic players were up for the YPOTY award. It's titled... How Motherwell and future Rangers winger Jake Hastie grabbed a YPOTY nomination and it goes on to question why Hastie was nominated. It questions the voting process, how seriously players take it when carrying out their research before voting and states foreign players get a raw deal because they aren't considered young (inference is think Ajer) !!!....I kid you not Full article @ https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers/how-motherwell-and-future-rangers-winger-jake-hastie-grabbed-a-ypoty-nomination-1-4919749

I think our last Manager of the Month award was Mark Warburton for January'16? Could be wrong?

Back in January, the 6 month loan was ideal. It didn't really work out but there didn't seem to be any obligations beyond that. Once the season was essentially over, he started to perform to a better level coinciding with a change in shape that seems to suit the team as a whole. Is that worth a contract ? ... for me, won't know until after the Celtic game. Good business for the club for it to be only a 1 year deal opposed to 2, IMO.

From our perspective this should have been a simpler transfer window. We don't need the volume of players, but rather a few quality additions. The 'problem' we have is that for the first time we have 6 or 7 players that will be wanted by other clubs. When you read the various reports linking our current players with moves away you realise it hasn't happened for years. There's no doubt we are on our way back and Mark Allen (alongside with the rest of the football management team) is doing a great job in making sure we are investing our transfer funds, albeit limited, wisely.

So it took the fiscal's office more than a month to say "we got your letter Murdo we'll get back to you when we can be bothered". No chance of any proper scrutiny of this shambolic loss of evidence. There are totalitarian dictatorships whose legal systems are more transparent than Scotland's when there is something embarrassing to hide.

I hope the consensus at Parkhead is that Lennon has improved Celtic - I hope they keep him as I believe SG will have his number next year if it is Lennon vs Gerrard in the dugout.

He appears to have worked himself back to fitness and should be fine after a pre season. A year is decent business.

Why has this Rangers bashing started to become more popular? We've had McCoist, Ferguson, Boyd, McCall, Dodds, and plenty of other ex-Rangers step in to cause our club harm? Is it necessary to be anti-Rangers to be quoted these days? And even if it is, why are so many ex-Gers so quick to put the boot in? Why don't they politely decline a comment if they have nothing good to say? Some like McCall and Dodds are nobodies anyway, but how disappointing it is to see people like McCoist and Ferguson speak of our club the way they do. When we win 55 and the invites are going out for the biggest party ever, our club icons should all be invited, however guys like these should be blacklisted. They can sit outside with their BBC and daily rag chums. Our club had a code of conduct at one stage, and ensured we maintained a level of class and dignity that was unrivalled. What has happened to that? Of course we all know that Ferguson and Boyd were classless morons while they were at the club (in contrast with their playing abilities) so maybe they shouldn't be a surprise, but others just shock me. I often wonder what John Greig thinks when he looks at people like Barry Ferguson. Both were very successful Rangers. Both were captains. That, sadly, is where the similarities end. Its also strange that some of our foreign icons like Albertz, Laudrup, Lovenkrands, Novo and Negri remain loyal while the homegrown ones don't appear to have the same respect for a club that gave them so much. Any ideas why some of our more recent crop of ex-players seek to do us damage? Whatever the reason, it's sad.

Am I missing something as I believe these names are put forward from fellow players for nomination,and no other source,therefore it is an accolade to be nominated.