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Finance Guru: Rangers in line to become richest Scot club amid Desmond reveal – Exclusive By Adam Williams speaking to Kieran Maguire - 21st January 2021 at 4:00pm Dermot Desmond and Celtic shareholders have given Rangers a helping hand to soon become Scotland’s richest club. So says finance wiz and new Football Insider columnist Kieran Maguire, speaking after a week of PR gaffes from the Hoops hierarchy. A widely criticised trip to Dubai and subsequent press conference meltdown from manager Neil Lennon came amid Rangers extending their yawning lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership. Celtic’s nine-year spell of dominance is collapsing, and so too is their financial advantage over Rangers. Maguire believes that the Parkhead moneymen’s decision not to invest in the club during their footballing supremacy may have opened the window of opportunity just wide enough for Rangers to slip through. He told Football Insider: “If the owner had put a little bit of money into the club, and he hasn’t put any money into the club for a long time now, Celtic could potentially have stretched the financial gap over their rivals to make it very, very difficult for Rangers to come back. “They didn’t do that and now Gerrard’s side are clearly competitive and going to win the Scottish Premiership this year. “I was on a radio show in 2018 and I said that Rangers just need one big season to eliminate the financial gap between themselves and Celtic. “If Rangers win the Premiership and qualify for the group stages of the Champions League, that would not only be eliminated but I think Rangers could potentially overtake Celtic in terms of their ability to generate revenue. “Although Europe is absolutely essential to that.” Celtic’s revenue fell by 15.8% to £70.2million over the last financial year — a pre-tax profit of £100,000. Rangers, by contrast, enjoyed an 11% upturn in revenue to £59m, although they posted a £15.9m loss. The Light Blues are accelerating away from Celtic atop the Scottish Premiership, with the gap between the clubs now at 20 points. In Europe, they have far outstripped their Glasgow rivals too, advancing to the first knockout round after Celtic finished bottom of their group.

RANGERS target Fashion Sakala has dropped a cryptic transfer clue on social media amid speculation linking the forward with a move to Ibrox. The 23-year-old striker, currently on the books at Belgian outfit Oostende, will be a free agent in the summer and has just six months left on his deal - meaning he can now speak to other clubs to negotiate his next move. Steven Gerrard's side have been credited with an interest in the Zambia internationalist, with the Premiership league leaders reportedly chasing a pre-contract move for the forward. Sakala is currently believed to be weighing up his options with a host of clubs chasing his signature - with the in-demand striker dropping a subtle clue on Instagram. Under a post, one user left a comment imploring Sakala to "come to Rangers" - with the Ibrox target 'liking' the comment. However, if Gerrard wants to get the deal done, he will have to give Sakala assuarances over his playing time - with the striker previously insisting that he will not move clubs just to sit on the bench. He said: "Yes, there is interest from other teams. At the same time, talks are ongoing with KV Oostende about a new contract and we will see where we end up. "I play in one of the best leagues in the world. If I were to leave, both the club and I would benefit from it. But I am still very happy here. "For me, signing a new contract would be no problem at all. I feel good here and have played almost every week in recent seasons. "If I decided to go to a new club, it would need to be somewhere I got to play every week and was content. But honestly, I am in no hurry to leave because I am happy here." https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/19028423.rangers-target-fashion-sakala-teases-ibrox-move-social-media/

Rangers are preparing a big offer to sign Anderlecht winger Francis Amuzu after missing out on the Belgium U21 international last summer, as reported by Voetbal24. https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/01/21/report-rangers-planning-big-bid-for-speed-machine-with-3-6m-release-clause/

? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B07515WWQ7I&feature=emb_err_woyt Couple of typical tims, go to 29 minutes ???

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FT: 2-2, once Livi brought on some of their 1st team players on it was all Livi.

Broon on the pitch for 5 minutes, red card for a deliberate elbow, his trademark.

Livi reserves score to make it 2-2

Offside goal to go 1-2 up against Livi reserves, are teams allowed to field a weakened team?

15 Minutes: Livi 1 - 0 Separate Entity FC

MARTINDALE PREVIEW David Martindale admits the team selection tonight is with one eye on the weekend's cup semi-final. But he sees tonight's team as a "different" one, not a weaker side. He said: “I’ve been playing it down in the media as I didn’t want to give too much away. “The last time this club was at a cup final at Hampden was 17 years ago. “So I think I have to maximise the opportunity to do it again and get this club to a final at the national stadium. “I have every single belief though that every boy on the park tonight will go out and do a job.”

THREE Bears investor George Letham has been appointed to the board of The Rangers Football Club Ltd. Documents lodged with Companies House on Tuesday show that Letham was named as a director on January 15. TRFC Ltd is wholly owned and operated by the RIFC plc and Letham will now take a seat at the top table alongside Managing Director Stewart Robertson, Ross Wilson, the Sporting Director, James Bisgrove, Andrew Dickson and James Blair. Letham was one of the 'Three Bears' that invested in Rangers alongside Douglas Park and George Taylor as Dave King, Paul Murray and John Gilligan won control of the club in March 2015. The 63-year-old currently has a 4.33 per cent stake in RIFC plc and will now have a say in the running of the football board at Ibrox. https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/19023475.rangers-announce-appointment-light-blues-investor-onto-ibrox-board/?ref=twtrec