ian1964

Chelsea's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich has been toppled from the summit of the Football Rich List, published on Wednesday in the new issue of FourFourTwo magazine. Abramovich has lost Ã?£3bn in the recession and is now worth Ã?£7bn. That's less than half the wealth of the new man at the top of the list, Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan, who is estimated to be worth Ã?£15bn. The people on the sixth Football Rich List, researched and published annually by FourFourTwo, are worth a total of Ã?£61billion. The list includes 11 billionaires and 25 new entries. Although some of the new entries are foreign ââ?¬â?? like Sheikh Mansour and the new No.2 Lakshmi Mittal, who has joined Formula 1 entrepreneurs Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore in investing in QPR ââ?¬â?? only a third of those on the list are from overseas, with the 64 Brits including three WAGs. The Top 20 on the Football Rich List are: 1. Shekh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nayan (Manchester City) Ã?£15bn
 2. Lakshmi Mittal & family (QPR) Ã?£12.5bn 3. Roman Abramovich (Chelsea) Ã?£7bn 
 4. Joe Lewis (Tottenham Hotspur) Ã?£2.5bn
 5. Bernie & Slavica Ecclestone (QPR) Ã?£2.4bn 6. Stanley Kroenke (Arsenal) Ã?£2.245bn
 7. Alisher Usmanov (Arsenal) Ã?£1.5bn
 8= Lord Grantchester & The Moores Family (Everton) Ã?£1.2bn
 8= Dermot Desmond (Celtic) Ã?£1.2bn
 10= Lord Ashcroft (Watford) Ã?£1.1bn
 10= Malcolm Glazer & family (Manchester United) Ã?£1.1bn
 12. Simon Keswick (Cheltenham Town) Ã?£966m 
 13. Trevor Hemmings (Preston North End) Ã?£900m
 14. Mike Ashley (Newcastle United) Ã?£800m
 15. Randy Lerner (Aston Villa) Ã?£750m
 16. Tom Hicks (Liverpool) Ã?£700m 17. The Walker Family (Blackburn Rovers) Ã?£660m 18. Mohammed al-Fayed (Fulham) Ã?£650m
 19. Sir David Murray (Glasgow Rangers) Ã?£600m
 20. Steve Morgan (Wolves) Ã?£400m
 The new England manager Fabio Capello is also a new entry worth an estimated Ã?£25m with a Ã?£6m a year contract and a Ã?£10m private art collection and Sir Elton John ââ?¬â?? who has rekindled his interest in Watford ââ?¬â?? is a new entry at No.28 with a Ã?£235m fortune. However, Sir Elton may not have chosen a wise time to get back in the game. The recession may not have hurt football yet, but financial expert Professor Tom Cannon thinks clubs will soon start feeling the pinch. "Season tickets will probably be down by about 10 percent but renewals will be down by at least 15 or 20 percent," said Professor Cannon. "That's where the problems will be as you go down the divisions." More from Professor Cannon on the dangers to football And FourFourTwo Editor-in-Chief Hugh Sleight is similarly worried about football's financial future. ââ?¬Å?Judging by this list, football is the last remaining financial bubble," he said. "The combined wealth of our Top 100 is now Ã?£61 billion, compared with Ã?£41.7 billion last year and Ã?£20.45 billion in the first-ever Football Rich List in 2003. 
 
ââ?¬Å?Weââ?¬â?¢ve also got 25 new entries in the 100, primarily because of the continued rush to invest in British football over the last 12 months. 

 ââ?¬Å?But the landscape has already changed dramatically because of the recession. As Arsene Wenger rightly pointed out, football will suffer just like any other industry. "So far there seems to be a time lag but as economic conditions continue to bite, clubs and owners will feel the effect and it will then be interesting to see the reactions of these very wealthy men as they see their fortunes disappearing. In 12 monthsââ?¬â?¢ time, this list could look very different indeed.ââ?¬Â
 http://fourfourtwo.com/news/england/23107/default.aspx

If it is the case that we are in financial dire straits,which obviously we are,and have to sell players to bring in cash,what is the point in wasting more cash on mediocre players that IMO won't improve us on the park ?.If we sell because of financial difficulties then surely it is time to throw in a couple of youths or fringe players,i'm thinking Edu here or Aaron or Fleck, we cannot keep wasting money

2-1 Spurs now

1-0 Burnley

'' Aye but you've got to give credit to Celtic for their tremendous consistency ''

I wonder who the next one out the door will be ?

Lafferty will get his chance now I would presume

I've said it before and will say it again, ALL RANGERS PLAYERS ARE FOR SALE

Gow has signed 2 & 1/2 year deal with Wolves

[ame=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=orz_KQE416w&feature=related]YouTube - The Hokey Cokey At Ibrox[/ame]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_4754576,00.html

http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/intligen/startseite/artikel/501472

I think he means Larson

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=43a_1220724645

RANGERS would be committing championship suicide by flogging the family silver in a bid to balance the books. Former Ibrox favourite and SunSport columnist Billy Dodds believes the sale of Barry Ferguson and Kris Boyd would rip the heart out of Gers. Skipper Fergie has been linked with a Ã?£2.5million move to Newcastle while we revealed this morning that Boyd is a Ã?£3m target for Alex McLeishââ?¬â?¢s Birmingham. Dodds knows his cash-strapped old club could be tempted to cash in ââ?¬â? but he has warned them theyââ?¬â?¢d be kissing their SPL title hopes goodbye if they did. He said: ââ?¬Å?The way things are going for Rangers right now you just canââ?¬â?¢t imagine Walter Smith would entertain selling either of them. ââ?¬Å?I could name a few others Iââ?¬â?¢m sure heââ?¬â?¢d like to get shot of first before heââ?¬â?¢d even consider parting with Boyd or Ferguson. ââ?¬Å?The title race is far from over and to win titles you need to have your best players available ââ?¬â? Boyd for his goals and Ferguson for his leadership qualities. ââ?¬Å?Business is business I suppose, but I donââ?¬â?¢t think Rangers can afford to sell them. ââ?¬Å?The only way they would be tempted is if silly money was offered. But the figures being quoted arenââ?¬â?¢t in that bracket, nowhere near it. ââ?¬Å?Rangers themselves are operating in the market weââ?¬â?¢re talking about here. I donââ?¬â?¢t think itââ?¬â?¢s feasible. ââ?¬Å?I donââ?¬â?¢t think itââ?¬â?¢s the right time, the right players or the right money. If they were to sell both players Rangers are 100 per cent certain to lose the title. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s a massive gamble and one Iââ?¬â?¢m sure Smith wonââ?¬â?¢t entertain. They would lose even more money by losing out on the title.ââ?¬Â Rangers fans will be reeling from the news that Big Eck has his sights set on Boyd to lead Brumââ?¬â?¢s push for promotion back into the Premier League. But Dodds says Gers should throw out his cheeky Ã?£3m bid for a player he rates around Ã?£5m ââ?¬â? and worth his weight in goals. Doddsy explained: ââ?¬Å?If you take Kris Boyd out of the team thereââ?¬â?¢s not another striker at Rangers who comes close to matching his return. Thatââ?¬â?¢s why Iââ?¬â?¢d laugh off Birminghamââ?¬â?¢s bid of Ã?£3m. ââ?¬Å?When you think of the money thatââ?¬â?¢s swilling around the Championship and some of the fees already shelled out then you would have to say Boyd falls into the Ã?£5m category. I think heââ?¬â?¢s worth that easily. ââ?¬Å?Boyd is invaluable to Rangers. His goals can help catch Celtic, Iââ?¬â?¢m sure. Sell him in January and the Gers fans can forget that. Advertisement ââ?¬Å?The other problem would be replacing him. Smith would have to buy someone else if he offloaded Boyd and where do you find a striker like Boyd for Ã?£3m? Players like that are hard to come by. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m not having these people who judged him on one game against Celtic. Play him three or four times and if he doesnââ?¬â?¢t score then fair enough. ââ?¬Å?But heââ?¬â?¢s scored for his country and is scoring for fun in the SPL. Heââ?¬â?¢s the best finisher in the country by a mile. Thatââ?¬â?¢s why heââ?¬â?¢s worth more than Ã?£3m. Rangers would be mad to sell him for that. ââ?¬Å?Alex McLeish knows what he would be getting, heââ?¬â?¢s the man who signed him for Rangers. ââ?¬Å?Birmingham are struggling to score goals and thereââ?¬â?¢s no doubt Boyd is the answer. But Rangers canââ?¬â?¢t afford to let him go ââ?¬â? and thatââ?¬â?¢s the bottom line.ââ?¬Â Ferguson is another player Dodds reckons Gers canââ?¬â?¢t afford to lose. The captain is edging back to his best after ankle surgery kept him sidelined for the first five months of the campaign. Dodds said: ââ?¬Å?Ferguson is hugely influential at Rangers. I know. I played alongside him. ââ?¬Å?Heââ?¬â?¢s had his critics this season but give the guy a break, heââ?¬â?¢d been out injured for five months. ââ?¬Å?I think you saw the real Barry against Dundee United a few weeks ago. Heââ?¬â?¢s getting back to his best slowly but surely. It was always going to take time. ââ?¬Å?Listen, Barry is a moaning faced so-and-so but thatââ?¬â?¢s only because he loves to control games. ââ?¬Å?He loves to dictate and thatââ?¬â?¢s why he doesnââ?¬â?¢t like to push forward high up the park too early. ââ?¬Å?He doesnââ?¬â?¢t dictate when he pushes up the field and itââ?¬â?¢s no coincidence that in the last few weeks heââ?¬â?¢s been dropping off. ââ?¬Å?Barry is still a Ã?£4-5m player. He went for Ã?£7m a few years ago, remember. ââ?¬Å?Newcastle are talking about a Ã?£2.5m bid but that should be laughed off too. Heââ?¬â?¢s worth at least double.ââ?¬Â Gers boss Smith is bracing himself as Newcastle and Birmingham prepare concrete bids. Dodds said: ââ?¬Å?Rangers would only let them go if it was top dollar we were talking about but itââ?¬â?¢s not. ââ?¬Å?The destination of this seasonââ?¬â?¢s title depends on it, Iââ?¬â?¢m sure.ââ?¬Â http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2097860.ece

ALEX McLEISH is preparing a �£3million bid to lure Kris Boyd away from Rangers. Former Gers gaffer Eck wants the 20-goal hitman to fire Birmingham City into the Premiership. SunSport can reveal McLeish will launch an official move for the 25-year-old within days. He brought Boyd to Ibrox three years ago in a �£400,000 deal from Kilmarnock. McLeish also handed the free-scoring star the majority of his 15 Scotland caps. Now he wants to work with him for the THIRD time as he seeks to lift City back among the big boys. It is understood McLeish stepped up his interest after Boydâ��s double in the 3-0 win over Caley Thistle on Sunday. The brace in Inverness lifted his Gers goal haul to 91 in just three years. Big Eck has already taken Scotland strike stars James McFadden and Garry Oâ��Connor to St Andrewâ��s. But Birmingham have scored fewer goals than any of the other top eight sides in the Championship. They are outside the lucrative automatic promotion positions on goal difference alone. On-loan striker Quincy Owusu Abeyie was sent back to Russiaâ��s Spartak Moscow yesterday after failing to sparkle. And McLeishâ��s priority for this monthâ��s transfer window is to add much-needed firepower. He has never hidden his admiration for Boydâ��s predatory talents and is now ready to test Gersâ�� resolve. Light Blues boss Walter Smith has repeated his desire to hang on to his key first-team regulars as Gers chase the SPL title. Newcastle United are keen on captain Barry Ferguson while Marseille have been linked with stopper Madjid Bougherra. Smith only wants to get rid of fringe players like Christian Dailly, Brahim Hemdani and Andy Webster. Frozen-out frontman Alan Gow headed south for talks with Birminghamâ��s league rivals Wolves yesterday after they agreed a �£450,000 fee with Gers. But Big Eck â�� the last Ibrox manager to capture the SPL title â�� will still make a move for Boyd. However, the hierarchy at Rangers know it would be a hugely unpopular decision to sell the fansâ�� favourite. http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/article2097653.ece

HIGHLAND hero Kris Boyd does not believe Barry Ferguson will be tempted on a return to the Premiership after Newcastle declared a public interest in the Rangers skipper. Boyd, who scored twice in yesterday's 3-0 win at Inverness, feels Ferguson would prefer to remain at Rangers, Barry FergusonBoyd said: "We know in this market everyone has his price and whatever happens happens - that's the way football is "But I'm sure Barry wants to stay here and play his football with Rangers. "He has left the club once before and didn't particularly enjoy his time down south. Now he's enjoying it and he's back to being the player he once was. "We don't want to lose him and I'm sure the manager won't want to lose him either because he's such a huge influence on the team." Walter Smith was disappointed with Joe Kinnear's public comments about Ferguson and Newcastle have also been linked with a move for Madjid Bougherra. However, Boyd insists that speculation did not affect Rangers in a poor first half in the Highlands. He said: "Inverness made it difficult for us in the first half and all credit to them for doing so. They've been struggling recently but still came out and had a go. When we got in at half time we had a chat and basically knew we had to do better. "The message at the break was that a few of us would be coming off if we didn't improve in the first 15 minutes after the break. And it was a great goal from Pedro that set Kris Boyd and Kirk Broadfoot celebrateus up to go on and win." Boyd's double takes him to 20 goals for the season which has thrilled him but he knows that continuing to cut into Celtic's SPL lead is the key. He said: "I'm obviously delighted with the number of goals I've scored so far but the bottom line is we are still five points behind Celtic which isn't good. "We need to go again when the league resumes after the Scottish Cup and get ourselves back within touching distance of Celtic. "I was pleased with my goals but at the other end Allan McGregor was just as important. He made world-class saves and the one just prior to our second goal proved how important he is to our team."

NO

Andrew Dickson reports from Caledonian Stadium WALTER SMITH insists the most important thing Rangers can do is keep winning after they closed the gap between them and Celtic in the SPL to five points. Pedro Mendes celebratesThe Light Blues' 3-0 victory over Inverness at Caledonian Stadium today was crucial after their Old Firm rivals could only draw with Dundee United yesterday. It was the perfect response after last Saturday's derby defeat and showed, if proof was ever needed, that the championship race is still far from over. Pedro Mendes opened the scoring in the frozen north before Kris Boyd's double clinched a vital success. Smith said: "We started well enough in the first 10 or 15 minutes but then I thought we were poor in the last half hour of the first half. "The game itself dropped down a bit so it was up to us to lift things and we got off to a terrific start after the break. "Pedro scored a great goal once the game got underway again and I think that set us up for a good win. "We were a lot better in the second half than we had been in the first and were far more incisive. "The important thing for us just now is to win. Everybody makes the comparison between us and Celtic but the biggest thing is that we go on a run of victories.Kris Boyd scores the third goal against ICT "We need to look at our own performances rather than anybody else's. It's our fault we are trailing in the championship and we have to adjust to that. "We must make sure, in the games we have coming up, that we get into a situation where we can eradicate a few of the errors we've made in the first part of the season." Smith paid tribute to Mendes, whose goal just 24 seconds into the second period broke the deadlock for a Gers team badly needing to come out on top. The Portuguese midfielder's effort was sublime as he curled beyond Ryan Esson from 25 yards after good work by Nacho Novo. Smith added: "Pedro's goal was good and it was a welcome one as we needed something to lift us a little bit. "As I said to the players at half-time, we needed to get ourselves up as the game suited Caley Thistle with the way it was panning out. Pedro Mendes celebrates"We had to go on and win the game and we went on to do so after a good start. I felt we deserved to win." Mendes and Kenny Miller both came off in the latter stages with minor injuries but Smith does not expect either to be sidelined for long. With nine days now until the team's next game against St Johnstone in the Scottish Cup, it is hoped both will be fit enough to take part in that fixture. Smith said: "Kenny had a knock just above his knee and Pedro had to come off because he had a thigh strain. "Hopefully neither injury keeps them out for any great length of time. We'd like to think they'll recover before our next match."

FECK George Burley

Mmmmmmmmm............nearly called it right

Correct, and I would accept it

SSN just said Big Boogy is back today..........then backed that up saying Newcastle will offer �£6m for him ???

Yip, my my prescription McEwans Export:drink:, however despite the doom and gloom are capable of going up there and hammering them, so I'll stick with my prediction, but will accept a 1-0 win

I will go for Inverness 0 Rangers 4, Boyd 2,Miller & Novo