ian1964

By Andrew Dickson WALTER SMITH paid tribute to Nacho Novo after the Spaniard's brace inspired Rangers to victory in the semi-final of the League Cup against Falkirk. Novo scores the first goalThe former Dundee hitman struck twice in the first half at Hampden to give the Light Blues a two-goal lead at half-time. A constant threat to the Bairns, he had chance in the second half to complete a hat-trick before Kris Boyd netted to make it 3-0 at the end. Novo has been used sparingly this season and tonight's match was only his eighth start of the campaign. But it was easily his best game of the season to date and Smith admits he was impressed with the striker's work ethic. He said: "Nacho is always alive and well and tonight he caused Falkirk a bit of trouble with his movement. Novo was the goal hero at Hampden"He managed to get himself a couple of good goals and that is great for him as he deserves them for the amount of work he puts in." It was a comfortable night for Smith's men in the end as they adapted to a poor surface far better than John Hughes' Bairns. The manager was pleased to see the team reach its fourth final in his second spell in charge at Ibrox with some good football along the way. Now he will take his team back to Hampden on March 15 to face either Celtic or Dundee United, who meet in the other semi-final tomorrow night. Smith added: "We are delighted. It was always going to be a difficult game tonight and Falkirk had two opportunities in the first five minutes. "It took good saves from Allan McGregor to keep them out and it took us a little bit of time to settle down. "Once we did that, we got the first goal and I felt whoever got that would have a big advantage as the evening went on. Stevie Naismith in action against Falkirk"From there, we went on to play some decent stuff and created some good chances throughout. In the end, I felt we deserved to win." Another bright spot for Rangers was the second first-team appearance by Steven Naismith after his return from a serious knee injury earlier this month. Just as he did at St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup two weeks ago, the former Kilmarnock youngster put in a good shift and caused all sorts of problems for Falkirk. Smith said: "Steven has been doing well in his comeback, although I've stressed to people it takes a number of games for a player to find their rhythm. "Defenders and central midfield players can come back a little bit easier than those who like to play further forward. "It takes them a bit of time to get started again but Steven is getting there now and he did well tonight."

Novo for me, although I thought Naismith played really well

By Lindsay Herron SIR David Murray has called on all fans to unite with one aim, stop playing into the hands of Rangers' competitors by scoring own goals in the media and accept that he is acting to secure the financial future of the Club. Some supporters were dismayed when they learned that a player had to be sold in the January transfer window and then a small group issued a 17-point list of complaints under the heading "We Deserve Better". Today, the Rangers chairman clarifies the current position the Club is in, explains the new structure for the future and calls on every supporter to get behind the team as they strive to bring the Championship back to Ibrox. Sir David MurraySir David has revealed that the squad will be trimmed from 28 down to 20 and bolstered by the best crop of youngsters that Murray Park has ever produced. He has explained that money must be brought in to compensate for the losses of this season which have been exacerbated by the current economic downturn. And he has reiterated that if he does not act with fiscal prudence then future investors may be put off and the financial future and stability could be undermined. Speaking exclusively to Rangers Media, Sir David said: "Over the past couple of weeks there has been an increased amount of media reporting about our Club and for the avoidance of doubt the required clarity needs to be given to our supporters. "If we go back to last year; it was a tremendous season. However, it is obvious that our runs in the two domestic cups and, of course, the memorable run to the UEFA Cup Final had a detrimental affect on winning the league. "I think any fair-minded Rangers fan would agree with that. "Then came the start of this season and we had the problem of Carlos Cuellar leaving the club on the back of the Kaunas result. "I met with a group of supporters at that time and I told them that we were unaware that Cuellar was invoking his get-out clause and leaving but I also told them that we would spend the money received and that was achieved.Ally McCoist and Walter Smith "At that point we had not entered the level of economic downturn which currently exists. "We are no different from any other business. Our static overheads are too expensive and we have less revenue. "You have to look to the future and analyse where additional revenues are going to come from outwith an extended run in Europe. "We had to take these things into consideration because the Club must be run professionally and financially correct. "Yes, we could continue to spend money but we would develop more problems and the Club would not be in a good condition. "What we must not do is play into the hands of our competitors by scoring own goals in the media. "We have to stick together and if we do that then we can come through this situation successfully. "I accept as the Chairman of the Club I am not immune to analysis or criticism. "We are a great Club with a great history but we must remain positive. "This mischievous element that we have is only going to destroy the things that they supposedly care so passionately about. Murray Park"I genuinely believe that the plans we put in place when Walter came back has been knocked off course by a couple of factors in a very, very difficult economic climate which I believe will become markedly worse before a recovery in the future. "What I'm doing is not panicking. It is a controlled management of the Club. "We have a financial facility with the bank and we must work within that framework. "I spoke to Walter and confirmed the need to bring in funds to compensate for the fact we are going to make a loss this year. "However, if we don't sell any of our players during this window then we don't sell any of our players during this window. "I think most Rangers supporters must realise that our overheads are too high for our income.Chris Burke "What can happen is when you announce that you are ready to sell then it can happen that regular first team players are targeted when you would rather that was not the case. "I have a responsibility to run the business properly. It's easy for people to be critical, but they are not offering any solutions. "As a Rangers fan I can understand why people are questioning why we are doing it but it's not just about the short-term, it's about the long-term financial stability of the Club." The trimming of the squad has started with the departures of Jean-Claude Darcheville and Chris Burke and Rangers want to get to a situation where they work with a smaller group bolstered by a fine crop of younger players. The Chairman added: "At the AGM in October Walter made it clear that the squad was too big and that we didn't need 28 full time pros and going forward he would run with 20 and younger players. "It is no coincidence that players like Loy, Furman, McMillan and Shinnie are all out getting experience at the moment and we are hopeful they will come back ready to be part of the pJohn Flecklans. "We have John Fleck, Jamie Ness and Danny Wilson now knocking on the first team door and they are undoubtedly part of our future. "In November I did say that we needed to prune the squad and essentially move six or seven players. "However, I also said that if there was an emergency then we would bring in a player if required. "Murray Park is now bearing fruit. People have complained about our youth system but it takes time to work. "We have never had so many players out on loan and we have never had so many promising young players. "I understand that some fans have concerns but I hope they understand that I am acting in the best interests of the Club and if we stick together we can achieve our goals." "Finally may I take this opportunity to thank all the supporters who have taken the time to write to give me their backing. Thank you, it is greatly appreciated."

Any chance a mod/admin can save these links for future games ?, especially the top one as that seems to be working ok

Any of the above links working ?

http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?ma...77&part=sports http://itwp.ucoz.co.uk/news/2009-01-27-570 http://football-liveonline.blogspot....kirk-live.html http://livefootball-streaming.blogsp...streaming.html http://livefooty.doctor-serv.com/

Aye :cheers:

http://atdhe.net/live-tv-2687.html

DAVID WEIR believes his good friend and former teammate John Hughes deserves great credit for the job he has done at Falkirk over the years and is confident his hometown club can pull clear of the SPL relegation zone in the next couple of months. David WeirRangers' League Cup semi-final opponents are currently languishing in eleventh place in the league table after a disappointing first-half to the season and four wins from 23 games has sent their confidence crashing. Weir, however, believes the form book will go out the window tonight at Hampden and that both sets of players will give their all to make it through to a showcase final against either Celtic or Dundee United on March 15. It will be a special evening for the 38-year-old defender who still has fond memories of his three year spell at Falkirk and being in a squad with Yogi Hughes. Davie joined the then First Division side in 1992 and went on to play over 100 games in a Dark Blue jersey. At that time survival football was served up on the old Brockville menu with the club skipping back and forth between divisions. And Weir insists that the current crop of players at the Falkirk Stadium have more than enough quality to avoid the drop and start climbing the league before May. He said: "I don't think staying in the SPL will be a problem for Falkirk. I know it's easy for me to say that but they have a lot of good players in their squad. "The first-half of the season might not have gone how they would have liked but there is no doubt they can pull away from that and I hope they can. David Weir "Over the years I think John has done a great job at Falkirk and he has firmly established them as an SPL club. "They were in the semi-final of the League Cup in 2007 and they have done the same this season so they will be looking to go one step further and that's something we need to be wary of when we face them. "But John's definitely raised the bar and brought a bit of stability and credibility to the club along the way." Davie is relishing the prospect of returning to the national stadium and still looks back at last season's epic League Cup final against Dundee United as one of the highlights of his career. David WeirKris Boyd's winning penalty in a dramatic shoot-out handed the defender his first winners medal in a Light Blue jersey and for that reason alone he would love to retain the trophy. He said: "All the players here want to beat Falkirk and reach the final, that goes without saying, but it will be a tough game. "We lifted the League and Scottish Cup last season so, of course, we want to do the same. "Winning trophies is a good habit to get in to but first and foremost we need to reach the final this year which will be tough. "Reputations count for nothing and it's the best team on the night that will go through. "It will be a great occasion and the fact that Falkirk is one of my former clubs will make it a wee bit more special."

DUNFERMLINE HAVE extended the loan spell of Rangers reserve striker Rory Loy until the end of the season. The 20-year-old has impressed since his arrival last month and could be available on a permanent deal come the summer when his contract at Ibrox expires. Loy struck his first goal for the Pars in their last outing against Airdrie United and although he has settled quickly at East End Park, his ambitions still lie in Glasgow. He said, ââ?¬Å?Obviously my ultimate goal is to play for the club I am signed for which is Rangers, so hopefully I can do that by playing as well as I can for Dunfermline and looking to impress. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m getting on well here and Iââ?¬â?¢m now on loan until the end of the season, but Iââ?¬â?¢m in talks about my contract with Rangers and will just need to wait and see what happens.ââ?¬Â ââ?¬Å?I came here to play first- team football and I have been involved in most games. ââ?¬Å?The only game where I havenââ?¬â?¢t made an impact was against Dundee, but I have settled in well and Iââ?¬â?¢m really happy to be here. ââ?¬Å?The fact the loan is being extended hopefully means I am doing something right and I will try to continue with that for the rest of the season.ââ?¬Â Loy has coped comfortably with the transition to first-team football and has relished the opportunity to play in front of a crowd each week. With last weekendââ?¬â?¢s game against St Johnstone cancelled due to a frozen pitch, his sights are now set on a clash with Queen of the South on Saturday. He said, ââ?¬Å?I was looking forward to the Saints game which would have probably been one of the biggest I have played in, in terms of a top of the table clash. ââ?¬Å?Hopefully, results will go our way this weekend and we can be even closer to the top by the time the game comes round. ââ?¬Å?I think every player relishes the bigger matches. ââ?¬Å?I want to play in every game, but the big games are special and to be involved with the crowds and the atmosphere is really what itââ?¬â?¢s all about. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m finding the first division is a bit stronger and quicker than the SPL reserves. ââ?¬Å?Having said that, there is a fair mix in the reserve leagues and from game to game you donââ?¬â?¢t know if you will be playing against a boy of 17 or an experienced professional of 35. ââ?¬Å?Becoming a footballer is a gradual process and there are not many players that jump straight from playing schoolboy football up to first team level.ââ?¬Â Manager Jim McIntyre praised Loyââ?¬â?¢s attitude since coming to Dunfermline, but would not be drawn on the possibility of a full transfer. He said, ââ?¬Å?Rory has done an excellent job for us a since signing on loan and we have extended the agreement with Rangers to keep him here until the end of the season. ââ?¬Å?It is important to have options in all positions and also to have competition for places and that is something Rory has provided. ââ?¬Å?He is quick and direct and can play up-front or in the wide positions and that is where we need more options,ââ?¬Â he added. http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009/01/27/sportstory12555491t0.asp

Aye...........paper talk

Thank fook...........I'll no need to listen to his drivel now

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1127456/EXCLUSIVE-The-drop-Sponsors-Carling-ready-pull-plug-Old-Firm-deal.html?ITO=1490

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/i/inverness_ct/7842208.stm

Rangers fans GMP want to speak to http://www2.jpscotland.co.uk/slideshows/sportslideshows/rangers-uefa/

Birmingham City's bid to sign Rangers striker Kris Boyd has stalled after the club and Mark Donaghy, Boyd's agent, failed to agree on personal terms. Boyd, Rangers' top scorer, did not travel south because of the breakdown in the talks and is expected to be at training on Thursday at Murray Park. Earlier, the St Andrew's club told BBC Sport that Rangers had accepted an increased offer for the 25-year-old. With no further talks planned, Boyd's future may yet still rest at Ibrox. A source at the English Championship side, who were prepared to pay almost �£4 million for the striker, told BBC Sport that they expected Boyd to discuss a five-year contract. "I'd be 75% certain that Kris Boyd will be a Birmingham player by the end of the week," added the source. MY SPORT: DEBATE Give your reaction to this story Boyd, who was signed for Rangers by Blues boss Alex McLeish, is the top scorer in the Scottish Premier League with 18 goals. The Championship side are keen to bolster their forward line, with Garry O'Connor sidelined by injury and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie's loan period ending. It remains to be seen whether the Blues will follow up their initial discussions with Boyd's representative or whether they will focus their attention on other signing targets. Cardiff City failed with a �£2.5m bid for Boyd in the summer but the player recently revealed that he had considered leaving Ibrox. He was frustrated at being overlooked for key matches last term but his form this season has been impressive. Rangers manager Walter Smith has made no secret of the need to prune his squad but news of a possible sale is sure to surprise supporters of the club. Boyd has scored 91 goals since moving to Ibrox in January 2006 despite struggling to become a regular starter under McLeish's successors Paul Le Guen and Smith. During this campaign he has formed a productive partnership with Kenny Miller, and Smith has made the former Scotland team-mates his automatic first-choice pairing. BBC Scotland football correspondent Chick Young said Kilmarnock would be due 20% of any future Boyd transfer fee. "If Birmingham knocked the fee up to �£4m then that would be �£800,000 due to Kilmarnock," he told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound. "That would be a great windfall for a club that has been financially struggling." Rangers have already sold Daniel Cousin and Jean-Claude Darcheville this season, while summer signings Andrius Velicka and Kyle Lafferty have failed to make an impact. In October, Boyd, who has scored seven goals in 15 international appearances, said he would not play for Scotland again under manager George Burley. The striker was upset after not being included for the World Cup qualifier with Norway, which ended in a 0-0 draw at Hampden

Missed that on real radio,don't suppose anyone has it recorded ????

It's a good move for the lad IMO,playing in the SPL & and we will get more opportunity to see him

I was making this point earlier mate,the very least that should happen is that he gets a chance

Defiant David Murray last night insisted Rangers would emerge from the winter transfer window strong enough to force the title race to go to the wire. The Ibrox chairman also furiously refuted claims that they have become a '' selling club '' revealing much more had been spent in the transfer market over the past five years than had been banked. And as top scorer Kris Boyd put the finishing touches to his �£3m plus add-ons transfer to Birmingham. Murray admitted it was not a deal which Rangers had promoted as they would have preferred he stayed and others were moved on. He conceded however that most players were for sale in the current financial climate as he saught to reduce the first team squad of 28 players and slash the wages bill of �£24m a year by almost a third. ''Rangers will come through this period. I have absolutely no doubt about that. We are still good and strong anough to end up on top.'' declared Murray. "I am doing everything I can to ensure this club will be stronger in the long term, but I'm sorry I can't win matches as well. "Rangers won't be struggling to survive, Rangers will get through all of this with the proper care and decision making.There is no panic here. We are not immune to what is happening in the world today, but we can and will cope with it. "We are not in meltdown and I'd like Rangers fans to understand that. We know what we are doing and I repeat we can still come out on top after the transfer window has closed.'' Reflecting on the impending loss of top scorer Boyd and the furore the move has caused among supporters Murray explained it was a case of a buyer coming forward without invitation and did not mean Rangers could be classed as a selling club. "I'm disappointed we're doing what we are at the moment with Boyd but I say categorically we are not a selling club. ''We did not want to promote the sale of Boyd but had to consider it when offer was made In a perfect world we would not sell him but the offer was for him and no others have so far come in so it had to be considered ''You can't always get players out that you are willing to let go. You need buyers before you can become sellers "Over the past five years alone we've spent �£52m on players. You can add 10% more if you take in agents' fees and signing-on fees for the layers and we've taken in �£30.9m through selling players. "Even if Boyd does go this year we'd still be net sellers for the current year .Mendes, Davis, Edu, and Bougherra were all bought in for around �£11m after we got �£7.8 for Cuellar so again more has been spent than has come in. "The facts don't back up this notion that Rangers have somehow become a selling club. It's simply not the case.'' he added. "My message to the fans is, please believe me when I say I have the genuine interests of this club at heart. We will come through this. But at the same time we have to make sure we win matches and that's why I am sorry it looks as though Boyd is going."

And so it finishes 1-0, well done Derby

Hearing rumours that the Boyd deal is off

1-0 Derby,cracking strike by Commons

SSN saying they can't agree terms so the move is on hold

RANGERS can confirm this afternoon that Jordan McMillan has moved on loan to Hamilton Academical FC until May. The 20-year-old defender has been a regular with Tommy Wilson's Reserves this season but will hope to gain valuable first-team experience with Billy Reid's side. Despite being named in Walter Smith's squad on several occasions in 2008 the young Glaswegian has yet to make his debut but is highly rated at Murray Park. McMillan is one of several second-string stars to accept a loan move in recent months but the first to secure a deal with another SPL club.