stewarty

So we're all agreed then: drop Whittaker and play Broadfoot?

According to the Sun we've put a �£3m bid in for Juhasz, who seems pretty keen to come. Goian, Juhasz, Bartley, Weir as CH options looks decent to me.

The trouble with us bringing through young players is that very few of them play week-in, week-out. They get the odd run of games but then get taken out. The solution would seem to be to allow clubs to play reserve teams if the lower leagues.

�£1.7m not quite as much as was first suggested but is still a very good deal from our perspective.

Madjid Bougherra has left Rangers to sign for Qatar side Lekhwiya in a Ã?£1.7 million move. The Algerian defender, who moved to the club from Charlton Athletic in 2008, made his final appearance for the Ibrox club in their Champions League defeat to Malmo FF, a game in which he was sent off. Rangers boss Ally McCoist confirmed on Friday that the player had played his final game for the club and was in Qatar to finalise personal terms. "A fee has been agreed with the Qatar club in the region of Ã?£1.7million," he said. "There are just bits and pieces to be tied up there. I think that deal is just about done. He won't be playing against Chelsea tomorrow." Speaking of his move to Qatar earlier this week, Bougherra answered claims he was moving to the Middle East solely for financial reasons, saying it did factor in his decision given his late arrival to the game. ââ?¬Å?Football in the Middle East is evolving quicker than people think. It is true it is not on the same level as Europe, but I know the goal of the Qataris is to eventually make it as close to that standard as possible. ââ?¬Å?In the past, they would sign star players who were coming to the end of their careers. Now they want to sign younger players. "We must not be hypocrites either. When the doors of the big clubs in Europe are closed because of their networks, what should we do? ââ?¬Å?I came late into football. I was doing a computing qualification and I worked at the weekends like everyone else. I know where I come from. If at that time I was told I could have earned as much I can in Qatar, I would have said yes immediately.ââ?¬Â

Fleck needs to play 30+ games this season if he has any chance of making it long term at Ibrox. To be honest, he should really have been loaned out for the last couple of seasons and have played another 50 competitive games than he has done. Based on early season skirmishes he's not going to start games for us any time soon so I'd be delighted if he went and had a season at Blackpool.

GN_Stewarty reporting for duty.

Salmond, for all his faults, is no fool. Whether this is victory for common sense or the result of some Machiavellian strategy, the issue seems to have forced everyone into a consensus - i.e. that firstly something needs to be done, and that everyone needs to be consulted and that any bill has to be practical and fair. Result!

I'd like him to stay but I don't want the club held to ransom either. I think he is worth giving a substantial increase if he is on the �£7k p/w as rumoured. �£12k-13k p/w wouldn't seem unreasonable for an established first team player and Scotland International who can cover a number of positions. But if Kenny Miller can get �£50k p/w at Bursaspor, you can see why his head might be turned.

From today's BBC football gossip: Guess they've ditched their interest in Shagger then....

I wont manage to go for a season ticket quite yet but I do intend to get along quite a bit more this season after only getting to 3 games myself. Also, my boys are starting to get into their football much more now, so I think it is time!

I think with Goodwillie there is a good bit of potential. He has pace, an eye for goal and decent technique. Temperment-wise is where I'd worry. He seems to be the kind of guy that would enjoy hitting the town and that is bound to cause him problems as a more high profile player. And given his recent past re the alleged rape, he doesn't have his problems to seek, not lease as the case hasn't been concluded either way. It seems way too risky a proposition for me

Exclusive by Lindsay Herron GORDON SMITH has revealed he can't wait to start working with new Rangers boss Ally McCoist after becoming Director of Football at the weekend. The 1977/78 Treble-winning star is thrilled to be back at his first love and he hopes his experience from all aspects of football can be of huge benefit to McCoist who is seeking to bolster his squad ahead of his inaugural campaign. Smith has been joined on the Rangers board by Ali Russell who is the new Chief Operating Officer and will be responsible for the business side of the club. As well as his playing career, Smith has great grounding in coaching, worked in Europe, negotiated contracts as an agent for top players, has vast experience of the media and, of course, was chief executive of the SFA. Smith will be in charge of all aspects of the football side of Murray Park but he inists the first team is McCoist's domain and he will work with him. He said: "I have known Ally for years although we have never worked together before. "Funnily enough we first came across each other when I was at Brighton and he was at Sunderland. We played a match down at Brighton and we both scored that day and we went on to win 2-1. "I have always had a lot of time for him and we have had great fun before when we have met socially. "It will great to work with him. It's a new job for him and it's also a new job for me. "I have a lot of experiences that I can bring in from being a player, being in business inside and outside of football and hopefully I can help Ally in many ways. "He will be telling me what he needs. I am quite happy to offer my opinion if he wants it. I have been a pundit and an analyst for quite some time watching systems of play and the strengths of players. "I didn't offer my opinion on these matters when I was with the SFA because I felt it wasn't within my role as chief executive to do that. "I did once and that was when George Burley chose not to pick Davie Weir for the match in Norway and I said I didn't agree with him. "I felt we needed someone of Davie's experience for a game like that. We lost 4-0 and Davie was brought back in for the next squad. "So I don't intend to interfere with Ally either. He has to stand or fall by his decisions but if he seeks my opinion then I will happily give him it."

Been reading your tweets Frankie - cheers! If this is a sign of things to come from an SNP majority government, I am less than thrilled.

I often read from those who complain about us that we make excuses, deny there's a problem, blame someone else, etc. But if we were seen to be proactively getting involved in trying to positively shape this with what little time is available, this will surely disarm those critics to an extent - especially if they continue to trot out the "our songs are political" line. One thing I'd like stressed, and judging by your piece at the weekend, I would imagine this to be the case; is that we, as football fans and members of society, are absolutely behind efforts being made to tackle the problem of sectarianism, regardless of how significant a problem it is perceived to be. Therefore, playing devil's advocate to an extent, perhaps we ought to get behind this bill, however unworkable it seems just now? Additionally, if we can make representations to ensure there is a sunset clause inserted so that further legislation is required to refine the legislation based within a relatively short timeframe (maybe 24 months), or the legislation would cease to have effect after that date.

Good work yet again Frankie. Totally understand about keeping things confidential for the time being but I'd imagine its going to follow a similar path to the the investigation piece from the weekend in terms of the thread of thought.

If we're to believe what Whyte is saying, Bain effectively sealed his own P45 by agreeing to the IRB statement that came out just after the takeover was completed. The outcome of the internal investigation will certainly be interesting but given the legal proceedings now initiated by Bain, I doubt we'll get wind of it for a while yet.

Thankfully it dispels some of the Timmy myths. What happens next seems to largely hinge on any potential tax liabilities, but then we knew that already.

Comes down to performances at the end of the day. If he plays well and scores goals consistently, everything else will fall into place.

No matter how Celtic spin this, he precided over a Gers 3IAR. Roon ye!

Lets face it, true or not, he's moving into the last 12 months of his contract so the ball is in his court. If he wants away, I'd hope he's already signalled his intentions to Ally so that he can secure a decent fee, and so that he can make moves for a replacement. �£3m fee that the story quotes us as demanding seems quite ambitious when you consider his initial purchase price as well as the likely value of his last year in contract. �£1.5m to �£2m would seem to be a fairer value and to be honest, if a club in the PL was looking at him, I can't see them being priced out of a move at those numbers and therefore the whole premise of this story, i.e. that he wants to move on his terms in case we try to scare away bidders with a ridiculous fee demand, seems rather speculative.

Ideally, yes. How realistic that may or may not be, is anyone's guess until Whyte makes clear his financial strategy. The flip side would be that bringing in that number could potentially hamper the development of some of the young players that have broken through, so a balance needs to be struck.

If we have a shot of getting him, even if only back on loan, I'd hope we jump at it. A guy like Bartley already knows what it takes to be a Ranger, and thats worth more than �£1.5million!

Goalkeeper aside, I think we need to strengthen all over - defence, midfield and attack. Defensively we need a centre-half, possibly 2. I'd also say a right back if we lose Foster who was decent enough as cover. I suspect we might hand on to Sir David of Weir for another season but I'd also like to see us invest a bit of cash in Bartley given his undoubted talent and versatility. Whether we'd get him permanently I dont know, but a season's loan would do for starters. In midfield I think we need a more creative presence. As good as Davis was for the latter part of the season, we need another player to supplement for when Naisy has his inevitable spell out with an injury. I'd also say a wide player too. Conway from Dundee United has been suggested by many but I've never been overly enamoured by him. I'd also suggest the wide player be right sided as I'd prefer Wylde to be first choice on the left. Another Striker would be good. A hybrid of Boyd's ruthlessness in the box, and Miller's workrate would do!

Its up now!