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Can someone please explain to me why we don't sing this greatest anthem anymore The "authorities" (define them) have said we cant so we follow like sheep. It is legally proofable (is that a word) that this isn't a bigoted or sectarism song....so say lets start a campagn to bring back our anthem. If it means missing a word then so be it....but they cant ban 1 and not for another Hullo Hullo

Friday, 14 February 2014 12:15 Negatives To Positives Written by Andrew Dickson ALLY McCOIST could never have predicted the last two years going the way they have for Rangers and is hopeful positives will now start outweighing negatives at the club. The manager learned the afternoon before Valentine’s Day in 2012 that then owner Craig Whyte had filed to take the club’s holding company into administration. It wasn’t long before that became public knowledge and within 24 hours that process had been completed due to the club’s financial problems at that stage. What has followed since has been difficult for the Light Blues and its loyal support at times but the feeling is Gers are making progress again. Chief executive Graham Wallace is currently conducting a 120-day review of the whole business as he tries to shape a solid, structured plan for the future. That’s a work in progress, as is the evolution of McCoist’s team which, as it stands today, is going for a unique treble of trophies in the final weeks of the season. The Ibrox boss was in reflective mood this morning as he looked back at the club’s recovery since that dark day two Februarys ago. Amidst all the low points, there are more highs emerging as time goes on and that gives McCoist hope. He said: “It has been two years nobody would ever have predicted for the football club. They’ve been two really dark, bleak years. “There have obviously been positives but it goes without saying the negatives far outweigh the positives. “We had administration and liquidation but there are definitely positives for everybody at the club and the fans to look forward to now. “After winning the title by a great number of points last year, we’re in a fantastic position to do that again this year. “We’ve a Ramsdens Cup final and a home quarter-final in the Scottish Cup as well so there are positives to come out of a bleak two years. “You’re scared to look too far ahead other than a few days and towards the next couple of games and the like. “But I’ve always followed the philosophy that what will be will be. We will always attempt to do our best and hopefully that will be good enough to get us back to where we want to be. “Like the rest of the staff, we’ve got jobs to do and we’re very, very determined to do it. If we all work together, we’ll have a far better chance of getting us back to the top flight.” Despite staunch denials a second administration could be on the cards, some ill-informed sources from outwith the club wrongly persist with claiming that’s the case. Such suggestions bemuse McCoist, who is certain no such path will be taken. He added: “I speak to Graham on a regular basis and I’m meeting him again this afternoon. “I think he’d say to me if the money was going to run out but I’ve had no indication of that from him. “I’m aware of the financial difficulties and the position we are in at the moment but I’ve not been told anything like that.” http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/6321-negatives-to-positives

For anyone wanting anymore info on this scheme , the registration details are here , from the tweets that were coming out it sounds very promising http://scottishfans.org/rangers/

https://twitter.com/TheLoudenTavern

The silence of normally loud mouthed, so quick to condemn Scottish Press over the green and grey hordes attempt to get their homage to dead terrorists into the charts is deafening. The cowardice displayed by the media mirrors the cowardice of the terrorists rather aptly. Anyone for a helping of double standards? *Please move this admin if not appropriate for here.

Thursday, 13 February 2014 15:45 Defensive Options For Boss Written by Andrew Dickson ALLY McCOIST has hinted he’s likely to go for experience over youth at the back when Rangers travel to Ayr in League One this weekend. The manager has admitted teenage defenders Luca Gasparotto and Craig Halkett are in his thoughts after a series of good displays for the under-20s in recent weeks. Playing under Gordon Durie, they’ve helped the team to nine wins in a row and have only just seen a run of 703 minutes without conceding from open play come to an end. McCoist will be without his captain Lee McCulloch and French Tunisian Bilel Mohsni for the trip to Somerset Park as the pair serve suspensions. That leaves gaps to be filled in his rearguard and plenty of supporters would love to see the youngsters given an opportunity. But whoever plays will come up against the most experienced opposition forward in the league, ex-Gers and former English Premiership player Kevin Kyle. McCoist is wary of the 10-time Scotland international who, while in the latter part of his career, is still capable of making an impact. Despite struggling with injuries during his time at Ibrox, Kyle has overcome them to play for the Honest Men 20 times this season and score four goals as a foil for Michael Moffat. Although he has still to finalise his plans for the game, it appears McCoist will opt for a pairing of Sebastien Faure and Emilson Cribari to deal with Kyle on the west coast. Faure has made 22 starts for Gers this season and although Cribari has just three to his name, he was a regular last term as he made the first XI on 33 occasions. McCoist said: “We’ve got some good fixtures in the coming weeks and we’d be very hopeful we can win the league then have a chance to look at one or two boys. “Nothing would give us more pleasure than giving some of the lads an opportunity in the first team. “The boys are doing well very but it’s a different game on Saturday. It’s not an under-20 game and it’s against one of the most experienced strikers in the league. “Kevin, I would suggest, has been over the course and distance and he knows his way about the football park. “The best way I can put it is by saying Gasparotto and Halkett are acquitting themselves very well. “They’re certainly in our thoughts and it’s a compliment to the young lads that we’re thinking about them but we’ve other options too. “Sebastien has been playing at right-back and Emilson has been on the bench as well so that’s something we could think about as Richard Foster could come in at right-back. “A decision has not been made yet but Kenny (McDowall), Ian (Durrant), Jim (Stewart) and myself will sit down and have a talk about it.” http://www.rangers.co.uk/news/headlines/item/6314-defensive-options-for-boss

KILMARNOCK chief Johnston rejected a shares deal offered by the Killie Community Working Party, but he promised to stand down as chairman if it would appease those who were unhappy with his running of the club. MICHAEL JOHNSTON last night insisted he won’t sell Kilmarnock to the fans for personal profit. But he promised to stand down as chairman if it would appease punters unhappy with his running of the club. Johnston made that vow as he outlined new plans for Killie that include: * Two new investors each putting a six-figure sum into the Rugby Park outfit. * The formation of the Kilmarnock Community Engagement board, co-opting local politicians to help with the running of the club. * A restructuring of the debt by splitting the football operation and the hotel adjacent to Rugby Park into two separate companies. Johnston was last week asked to name his price for his shares by the Killie Community Working Party, backed by Supporters Direct Scotland. That move followed the collapse of interest in taking over Kilmarnock shown by a consortium of local businessmen. Last night Johnston broke his silence on both issues and told Record Sport about his vision of the future. He said: “What I’m after is new investment and there are two six-figure investors lined up. “I’m not looking to sell shares for personal profit. I want fresh capital for the club in the midst of a restructuring plan. “I’m looking for people who want to help Killie by buying new shares that would merit them taking a seat on the board. “The way forward is not going to be achieved simply by me selling my shares.” Johnston also has no interest in any scheme to buy the club over once he has got rid of its historical debt, which is understood to be £9million. He said: “That would seem like an unusual proposition to me. I’ve put in 11 years of hard work at Rugby Park, eight of them as chairman, but I’m constantly surprised by some of the novel schemes that are suggested. “However, I’m open to the idea of the club having a new chairman if there are people on the new board who are unhappy and want me removed.” In the meantime, Johnston has promised there’s no danger of Killie going into administration. He said: “We’re looking at the football club and hotel being split into separate companies. But there’s no danger of any insolvency event for either. “Good things are happening at Killie and positive news will be announced over the coming weeks. A new board containing local politicians and businessmen has long been an idea of mine and a pathway has been mapped out concerning debt restructuring. “There are other, confidential plans I can’t go into at the moment. But instead of groups putting money in a war chest with the idea of gaining a controlling interest, they would be better off putting it towards Killie’s working capital for the future.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kilmarnock-chairman-michael-johnston-insists-3139956

........Ex-striker & coach lift lid on Craig Whyte disaster which still haunts Ibrox club 13 Feb 2014 07:20 IT'S the story that rocked Scottish football to the core and is still affecting those who endured it. Two years on from officially sinking into the financial abyss Record Sport has lifted the lid on the turmoil of Rangers entering administration. DAVID HEALY knows there were Rangers players who used the club’s slip into administration to strengthen their own position. However, the Ulsterman failed to get the one thing he wanted more than anything else – an extra year at the club he loves. Of all the demands from the Ibrox stars and their agents during negotiations to pull the club back from the brink Healy’s request was the most sympathetic. Tomorrow will mark the second anniversary of the day Rangers plunged into administration under disgraced former owner Craig Whyte and sent shockwaves through Scottish football. Healy had been through it all before with Leeds United but had the luxury of a safety net in England – which doesn’t exist north of the border – where the PFA step in to pay any wages. The Northern Irishman revealed that in the numerous team meetings in the days following administration the one thing the players wanted more than anything else was to see the club and its staff saved. That is why they agreed to a pay cut. Then came the individual negotiations between players and Duff & Phelps and it was then that Healy – now retired after a spell at Bury – realised his short stint at his boyhood heroes was going to end. The 34-year-old said: “The administration, as terrible as it was for everyone, doesn’t take anything away from the experience of playing for Rangers. People might ask questions as to why I left but the truth is I wasn’t actually offered a contract. “We were asked if we’d take a pay cut to keep the club afloat and at the time I’d have played for free so that wasn’t a problem. It was just disappointing because we took the wage cut and I knew people were asking for transfers or clauses in their contract maybe to benefit them. “Listen, that’s fair enough, that’s modern day football. But for someone like myself, I think the administrators probably thought I was mad because I just wanted another year. My deal was up in the summer and I spoke to the administrator myself because I didn’t need an agent and the only thing I said was ‘give me an extra 12 months’. “I think the administrator spat out his tea because others had been looking to get away and asking for clauses and all I’d have liked was another year. “It didn’t happen, Rangers were financially unstable and I understood the situation and I ultimately left and joined Bury. Nobody knew who was under threat.. we heard our cars were being towed, says former coach “I’ve read people saying if Rangers had gone to the Third Division I wouldn’t have wanted to stay but I’d have played on the astroturf opposite Ibrox Stadium to pull on that jersey. “We knew at the time Rangers were going to be penalised, there was talk of the First or Second Division, but it wouldn’t have mattered to me. “I would have stayed and happily played the extra year as Neil Alexander did and the current captain Lee McCulloch, who has a long history of being a fan himself. “You can see in his performances that Lee loves the club, not only when I was there but more recently. I still watch Rangers and my dad still goes to watch them – Stranraer is the local game this season with it being a couple of hours on the boat from Belfast. “I was coming to the wrong end of my career but other lads felt it was an opportunity to go and futher themselves in the Premier League or abroad but for me I wouldn’t have hesitated to play in the Third Division. “But the administrators told me they were in no position to offer me a deal because of the strain on the club and they didn’t know who was going or staying or who would be sold in the summer. “I think he was just taken aback because so many different clauses had been requested. My only clause was that I would love to have stayed. We didn’t even talk figures or anything, I just said I wanted to stay. It never went any further. “I understood the situation and coming to the end of the season I didn’t really play for whatever reason but thankfully I did get a chance post-administration with eight or nine games and I scored a few goals. “It was just disappointing that I knew my future was going to lie elsewhere and it dawns on you that you’ll be leaving such a great club. I was just thankful to have had the opportunity.” http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-two-years-financial-collapse-3140239

DAVID Robertson witnessed Ally McCoist overcome adversity on more than one occasion in his playing days to become a Rangers legend. And he has backed his old team-mate to tough out the trials and tribulations of being manager at the Ibrox club and make a success of the latest chapter of his career. Robertson, who is now a coach at USL Pro League club Phoenix in the United States, still takes a keen interest in the fortunes of the Glasgow giants. The former left-back has been impressed with how McCoist has fared since succeeding Walter Smith as boss nearly three years ago. And the 45-year-old believes he has the mental strength needed to withstand the intense scrutiny and lead Rangers back to the forefront of the Scottish game. He said: "I still follow how Rangers are doing back home pretty closely online over here and it amazes me when I see the criticism Ally gets sometimes. "His team is unbeaten in the league this season and is still involved in two cup competitions. "It would be a tremendous feat for Rangers to reach the Scottish Cup final this season. It would be a huge achievement for the club. But Ally still gets criticised for performances and results! I don't know what more he can do. "Everybody expects them to win League One this season. I am sure the same will be true next season when they go up to the Championship. "So when they do these things Ally doesn't get any praise because it is simply what is expected of them. But it has always been that way. "When I was at Rangers if we won a league and cup double it was considered a disaster. Even if you won a treble people said: 'Well, you should be doing it anyway!' "Yes, Ally has a full-time squad in what is largely a part-time league and a large wage bill, but I still think that he has a tough job. "The club is still getting 40,000 to 50,000 people coming to their games every week. There is a lot of pressure on him for the team to perform. "I have managed at lower league clubs, at Elgin City and Montrose, without that number of fans and you still feel the pressure." Robertson added: "If you are second at Rangers it is not good enough. At some big clubs you might get away with third or fourth. Not at Rangers though. "I don't think there is any club out there where the pressure is so intense. But Ally has dealt with that pressure for all of his life. "When Graeme Souness was in charge at Rangers he tried to force him out. But Ally loved the club so much he stayed where he was and fought his way back in. "Then Ally broke his leg and everybody said he was finished. But he came back from that as well and was as good as he ever was. "It says a lot about his character that he can remain so upbeat with everything he has to deal with. "There is nobody I would rather have in charge of Rangers at the moment." Scotland international Robertson won six Scottish titles, three League Cups and three Scottish Cups in the seven years that he spent as a player at Rangers. During that time, the cultured defender also played alongside Light Blue legend Ian Durrant. And he reckons there is no better man to help McCoist get Rangers back to the top flight than the former midfielder. Robertson said: "Ian is a real character and real Rangers man as well. "I am sure it will hurt him to see the club in the situation they are currently in and he will be keen to get them out of it along with Ally. "Ally and Ian will be doing everything they can to take Rangers back to the Premiership. "Ally was full of records as a player. So who knows? Maybe he will be a record breaker as manager as well. "Maybe he will be the first Rangers manager to win every league in Scotland." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/robertson-ally-has-been-tried-and-tested-151917n.23419367

Not that I believe it, but, anyway: http://asia.eurosport.com/football/spl/2011-2012/gattuso-considering-rangers-coaching-job_sto4133511/story.shtml He had already played for the club in 1997-98 and his wife is Scottish. The Italian newspaper claims Gattuso is considering the next step in his management career in Glasgow with the Rangers side he never stopped caring about. However, La Gazzetta dello Sport also maintains he has already received an offer to take over, but turned it down. Rino retired from playing last year and aged 36 he has had brief spells as player-manager of Swiss club Sion and Coach of Serie B team Palermo. He was sacked after just six Serie B games in charge of the Sicilian side. Glasgow Rangers are in the Scottish League One after bankruptcy.

For anyone who hasn't checked it out yet, Gersnet now has a column in Seventy2 mag. In issue 8 we had an article from bluebear54 and in issue 9 which is in the shops now, we have an article from stewarty. In future issues we'll hopefully have articles from amms, andy steel, D'Artagnan and other Gersnet forum members. Check it out!

" I've spoken to the manager about it and told him that, if the opportunity arose for me to go and test myself at a big club or a higher level, then I'm ready to do that. I'm happy here and won't force anything to get out. But I can't sit here and say I'll be a Killie player for the rest of my life. It's not in my hands. All I can do is perform well and see what happens in the summer. I've already proved I can play at a big club, because you don't get any bigger than Rangers. I have the mentality to play at a higher level. "

Positive stuff! http://www.therst.co.uk/rst-share-purchase/

......to automatically relegate clubs in administration Doubts over implementing punishment lead to rethink as existing points deductions kept in place The Scottish Professional Football League has abandoned plans to punish clubs who enter administration with automatic demotion. When the proposal was put forward by the president of a lower league club at an SPFL board meeting last October there was initial enthusiasm, with the feeling that such a severe sanction would act as a deterrent for any financially troubled club who viewed administration as a way to wipe out debts and remove employees from their wage bill. However, following several months of negotiations with all 42 member clubs, it has been decided not to place that punishment on the statute books. While support remained for the move, the majority opinion was that there were issues attached to it which could not be immediately resolved. “There was a wide consultation process and we spent time looking at it but, ultimately, the prevailing opinion was that there were complications arising from it which raised other questions,” said a Hampden source. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/scottish-football/10631856/Scottish-football-abandons-plans-to-automatically-relegate-clubs-in-administration.html

........it was really difficult to walk away TIME will eventually heal Rangers' wounds … but the pain remains for Maurice Edu. It is two years on Friday the Light Blues were plunged into administration and the wheels put in motion on a series of events that would see a title-winning squad decimated, Ally McCoist's side drop to Scotland's lowest division and supporters put through an emotional wringer as their club was engulfed in crisis. Edu was one of the last players to jump ship at Ibrox, the American not heading for the exit door until late in August, 2012, as he signed for Premiership side Stoke. By then, a host of his team-mates had long since gone, stalwarts like Steven Naismith, Steven Whittaker and Allan McGregor leaving on free transfers. The actions of some players during that turbulent summer left a sour taste in the mouths of many, but the pain on the terraces was shared in the dressing room. "Everyone was in a different situation and everyone's circumstances were different," Edu told SportTimes. "You can't really compare one situation to another and say 'he should have done that or shouldn't have done that'. "From my point of view, I was in a position where, if I left, I wanted to get the club a fee. It may or may not have impacted on the situation, but I wanted to help. "I was in a position where I was able to do that and it was something I wanted to do. I thought it was a good gesture and a way of giving back to the club as much as I could. "But, as I say, everyone was in a different situation, so I can't comment on what the other guys did. "It was hard for all of us to leave. We had sympathy with the fans. It is the club they support and love, and it was going through a hard time. "Nobody wanted to see it happening to Rangers. It was hard for the players. People were saying 'it is just a job for them, they don't really care'. "But when you have been a part of Rangers, especially for as long as most of us had been there, you grow close to it and it is more than just a club. "We were the Rangers family - the players, the staff, the fans. We all felt close to the club, so it was hard for us to have to part ways and leave under those circumstances." Edu's exit brought a premature end to a successful Ibrox career that saw him win several honours following his £2.6million switch from Toronto in August, 2008. A fourth successive SPL title was in Rangers' sights when their financial collapse turned the club upside down. And the American international is confident there will be a bright future at Ibrox once again. He said: "I enjoyed my time there. It was great for me to be winning trophies and playing in the Champions League and I wish Rangers all the best for the future. "Everyone who has played for the club and supports the club is anxious to see them back where they belong as soon as possible. "Rangers should be winning leagues and cups, and I am sure everyone can't wait to see another Old Firm game. I, and I'm sure my former team-mates, want to see them back where they belong. "Hopefully everything can be sorted and the club will be back at the top soon." As part of the squad that, under the guidance of Walter Smith, saw Rangers dominate domestically after the disastrous Paul Le Guen era, Edu is still fondly remembered by the Light Blue legions. And the 27-year-old admits one moment - his dramatic Old Firm winner at Ibrox four years ago this month - stands out as one of the highlights of a successful Ibrox career. Edu said: "Scoring in any Old Firm game is going to be a great moment and a great experience but, with the circumstances of that game in terms of where we were in the table and the fact it happened in the last seconds, made it all the more special. "I couldn't have written the script any better. It was only a tap-in, but everything around that game made it a special moment, not just for myself but for all of us involved." While Rangers have made good progress on their road to recovery, Edu has endured a frustrating spell since his Gers exit. The midfielder only made a handful of appearances for Stoke but, after returning Stateside, will meet an old friend when his Philadelphia Union side face the Vancouver Whitecaps and striker Kenny Miller. Edu said: "My time at Stoke wasn't ideal and I wasn't playing much. It was important for me to get back playing, especially in a World Cup year, so when the opportunity came up, it was an easy decision for me. "It will be good to play against Kenny. I haven't seen him for a while. But I still followed his career and he has done well since coming to the MLS. It will be good to catch up with him." A return across the pond is a timely one for Edu as he looks to kick-start his career and sets his sights on Brazil. And he admits a second stint in Light Blue would be another dream come true. Edu said: "I definitely wouldn't rule it out. You never know what can happen. "I really enjoyed my time at Rangers and it is a club I will always hold dear to my heart and support and follow what is going on. "If I ended up coming back in the future, that would be really great." http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/we-were-part-of-the-ibrox-familyit-was-really-difficult-to-walk-away-151744n.23408918

While looking how Albion Rovers would welcome the news about their Quarterfinal at Ibrox, I stumbled upon their Squad Fund page ... Reflecting on our stay in SFL 3 last season, Division One this campaign, various cup games and all, has it actually been determined how much money has been handed down to the ailing lower league sides due to our predicament? I would reckon that e.g. Albion Rovers' would be safe from nigh anything thanks to next month's QF tie, as we hand half of our money to them under cup rules? Enforced stay or not, I wonder whether the former SFL 3 sides, nor the Division One teams have anything to complain about?

I don't have the article but suspect you can get all the info you need from this page shown on facebook:

As the draw is to be made after the Dundee Hibs v St Midden game, I just thought I'd start a thread on it. What will be the best draw for us?, I want Albion Rovers @ Ibrox:rfcbouncy:

..........with his sly dig at Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell HUGH believes the Rangers manager's gripes over the decision to host the League Cup final at Celtic Park were off the mark. IF Ally McCoist thinks Peter Lawwell was behind the decision to have Parkhead host the League Cup Final then he should have come right out and said it. It would be insulting your own intelligence not to believe the Rangers boss was making a veiled reference to Celtic’s chief executive when he said he’d have bet on Ibrox being snubbed and insinuated the decision was a carve up. Ally might feel battered from pillar to post as the second anniversary of the day Rangers went into administration approaches on Friday. But he’s coming across as someone who’s making noises for the benefit of the less discerning among his club’s supporters. The ones who believe the Ramsdens Cup would be part of a “Treble” if it’s won against Raith Rovers. Ally’s using diversionary tactics to deflect attention away from a team that has lately been getting stick for playing a brand of football that’s unattractive to a lot of the people who pack Ibrox. When Celtic Park was suggested as a possible venue for the Ramsdens Cup Final there were plenty of Rangers fans who objected to the idea. And their dissent was based on the fact they would have been uneasy about giving Celtic a substantial fee for the hire of their ground for the day. But they’d have thought it perfectly acceptable to make the Fife side play the final at Ibrox and surrender any semblance of equality they might have had going into the game. So in the interest of fair play Easter Road got that “Showpiece” while the SPFL then performed a balancing act forced on them by the need to maintain public order. Celtic Park gets two finals. Ibrox gets both Scottish Cup semi finals. No need for martial law to be introduced to keep protesters under control. What do we look like? Are we seriously to believe Lawwell walks into a meeting of the SPFL board and instructs the other members on how they’re to conduct their business over venue allocation? Dalmarnock’s Don Corleone tells the board their names will be on the contract to hire Celtic Park on March 16 or else their brains will. This isn’t the movies, it’s real life. I’m told the decision was taken by Neil Doncaster and SPFL secretary Ian Blair and was only communicated to Lawwell by telephone. Fergus McCann once attended a business meeting during his time at Celtic where he listened to one employee talk about the institutionalised bias against the club. The meeting was brought to an abrupt halt while Fergus instructed the paranoia sufferer in question that he didn’t ever want to hear the accusation repeated in his presence. He then admonished the guilty party by saying: “If you believe that, you’re 1-0 down in life, never mind football.” Rangers need someone with McCann’s vision, principle and integrity to lift them back to the top. There are lots of people with plenty to say about Rangers and their future but they’ve so far shown a marked reluctance to come forward and put their money where their mouths are. McCann knew it would cost him everything he had to stop Celtic being liquidated but he took on the club’s debt and saved them. There are people on the periphery where Rangers are concerned who give the impression they’re quite happy to wait and see if the club goes to the wall. At which point they’ll come in and pick up the pieces without straining themselves, financially speaking. The courage of your convictions, that’s what we’re talking about here. It could be argued Celtic needed McCann more than his money since he had a vision and a plan from which he never deviated. Rangers may wish they had someone like him as they curse the anniversary they’ll always have cause to regret. In the meantime, don’t sully your reputation with unfounded allegations, or else SFA compliance officer Vincent Lunny might construe your words as being injurious to a man’s reputation. Not that Lawwell enhanced his standing with his tit for tat response about betting on the biggest and the best stadium if you want to win. Petty point scoring does neither club any favour although I’m willing to bet such behaviour will never end as far as the Old Firm are concerned. DUNDEE chief executive Scot Gardiner says it was 100 per cent John Brown’s decision to quit as manager. Call me an old cynic, but the absence of any public comment by Bomber tells me two things. The first is the existence of a confidentiality clause. The second is that estimate of 100 per cent will remain irrefutable evidence in the absence of any chance to cross examine the witness. IF Eric Djemba-Djemba plays today it’ll be the start of a journey that has him passing through St Mirren’s history. Passing through as opposed to making a tangible contribution to it, and wrongly described as the club’s biggest signing. St Mirren have won four major trophies in 137 years. I’d argue Steven Thompson, who scored in the League Cup Final win last year, has made a lasting contribution to Saints’ history. And means more to them than a mercenary. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hugh-keevins-rangers-boss-ally-3127340

Lifted from FF. No source given. At least it shows investigation is happening : Green fingerprinted by fraud cops re Whyte investigation EX-Rangers chief executive Charles Green was fingerprinted by fraud cops investigating the club's former owner Craig Whyte. Officers interviewed the businessman in an informal meeting at his lawyer's office in London. A source said last night: "They wanted Charles" fingerprints to prove he did not sign crucial documents on which his signature mysteriously appeared. "The detectives guaranteed this was the only purpose. They were at pains to confirm Charles was not under caution." Yorkshireman Green, 60 - who quit last year - led a consortium which bought Rangers in 2012 following the club?s plunge into administration after Whyte's disastrous nine months at the reins. Cops are looking into how Whyte, 43, borrowed millions to fund his purchase of Gers from Sir David Murray in 2011. They want to know whether Green's signature was scanned with a digital gadget and used to rubber-stamp the boardroom paperwork in question - as has been alleged by an internal club inquiry. Green met two officers last week at his solicitor?s office in Covent Garden, central London. The source added: "It was a friendly meeting, by appointment. There were sandwiches and coffee laid on and it lasted about an hour, including Charles giving his statement and his prints. He is happy to help with the police inquiry." Last night Green confirmed he'd been fingerprinted. He said: "I met with officers and provided them with elimination fingerprints but categorically confirm this was not under caution but to assist the police with their investigations into Mr Whyte." Whyte was banned from Scottish football for life in 2012 after an SFA panel ruled he was guilty of 'scandalous business activities' - including failing to stump up £13million in taxes. The forgery allegation emerged in a probe by lawyers Pinsent Masons, commissioned by Rangers, into his claims that he still has a legal stake in the club. Whyte insists he was involved with Green in the deal to buy Gers' assets from administrators in May 2012. But Green claims he hoodwinked the tycoon to gain his co-operation and the keys to Ibrox. Pinsent Masons considered Whyte had no claim. But his alleged stake was listed in Rangers annual accounts in November as a possible future debt. A source close to Whyte said: "Craig is aware police have been speaking to Green." A police spokesman said inquiries are ongoing. Rangers = no comment.

http://metro.co.uk/2014/02/07/why-rangers-should-put-more-faith-in-youth-4293756/ Thoughts?

http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/rangers/263136-ally-mccoist-id-have-bet-on-ibrox-not-being-picked-for-league-cup-final/

.......for his own good but Graham Wallace will sort club out 6 Feb 2014 07:37 RAE says he is still raging at the antics of Charles Green during his short term in charge at Ibrox claiming he was all about soundbites but with no substance. ALEX RAE could see right through Charles Green’s bluff and bluster from day one at Rangers. But the Ibrox stalwart reckons Graham Wallace’s silence speaks volumes for his ability to do the job as chief executive. From joining in at Brechin when fans chanted “if you hate Stewart Regan, clap your hands” to the numerous outlandish statements, Rae knew Green wasn’t the man for his club. And it still riles the former Light Blues title winner there is talk of his old club being on the brink again financially while the outspoken Yorkshireman lives it up in his French chateau. Rae isn’t surprised – just gutted his suspicion about Green turned out to be right. And like so many other Gers fans he’s now pinning his hopes on the former Manchester City chief operating officer to sort out the mess. Lifelong fan Rae – recently axed as Blackpool’s assistant boss – said of the current cash situation: “I’ve been alarmed for a while. “Even going back to the early days of Green, it never really sat right with me. You could see it coming. There were good soundbites but never any direction. “There was no plan in place and unfortunately he’s walked away with a fortune. “I’m a member of Sandyhills golf club and I used to play with my mates in the medal. “My best mate is a Celtic man and he used to get me about the third or fourth hole when he told me they were going to put statues up for Green. “My head would go. I used to post terrible scores because I would start arguing with him on the course and he was just loving it. It’s been a shambles. There is no legacy. “There is no doubt he was in it for himself. I didn’t buy into all the soundbites and rubbish he came out with. “The future looks much better as Wallace has come in and seems to have taken a step back. Previous chief executives made wild statements they never backed up. “The fact this guy is silent and taking stock of the operation bodes well for us. He seems to have a plan and this is something that’s been lacking since Martin Bain’s days. “There was a period where we didn’t even have a chief executive. You look at all the departments within Ibrox, there was no guidance, no direction and everyone was on their own. “But Wallace has come in and started to direct things right down to the management and hopefully the club will prosper. “Wallace seems to know where he wants to go. It might only be a case of assessing in the short term and then implementing things for the betterment of the company. “I wouldn’t like to see him going. There are elements of the board some people aren’t quite sure of and that’s worrying but if Wallace tells the fans what’s happening they will be inclined to follow him.” Rae likes the way Wallace quietly conducts his business as he bids to bring much-needed stability to Ibrox – in sharp contrast to Green. His attention-seeking antics started in Gers’ first game following liquidation at Glebe Park when he applauded as the fans chanted against SFA supremo Regan. Rae said: “I remember Green’s behaviour just a couple of days after Rangers got their membership. I couldn’t believe what he was doing. “I consider Rangers to have been class throughout my time and he wasn’t someone I thought to be flying the flag for Rangers or representing the club in the manner that role demands. “Even prior to that I could see things. I just thought it was a case of doing what had to be done but there was no conviction there. “It was a mad ego trip for him. He was great for the media. “You heard stories about money going out left, right and centre and pay-offs for guys who were there five minutes. “A couple of weeks ago I saw another guy from Zeus Capital pocket around £500,000 when he sold his shares. “One thing about football fans is they want to believe in the people in charge. They want to believe they are going to take the club forward. Unfortunately, this guy has duped everyone.” The turmoil off the park has left boss Ally McCoist working under tough circumstances in his first managerial job. And Rae said: “The dynamic Ally has had to work within has been a nightmare compared to every other manager. “Last year they couldn’t have any pre-season friendlies and there was a transfer embargo. It’s been pretty poor. It’s probably been more than a year now since they had a chief scout. For an organisation such as Rangers, that baffles me. “If you’re trying to put things in place you need a chief scout to oversee a network and find the right targets. Infrastructures needs to be restored to the level Rangers are used to.” Despite all this Rae believes his old club are strong enough to mount a Scottish Cup challenge this season with Dunfermline standing between them and the last eight tomorrow night. He said: “Rangers have as good a chance as anyone of winning the Scottish Cup. “They beat Motherwell last season and are a lot stronger now. I watched them at the weekend and they had Dean Shiels and Jon Daly who, less than 18 months ago, were up for Scotland’s Player of the Year. “In terms of firepower the pair of them could hurt anyone. They’re littered with top flight-standard players so could turn anyone over on any given day.” And Rae would love to see the Old Firm paired together before the tournament ends in May. The former hardman midfielder said: “I’m missing it like everyone else. Celtic will be favourites – but cups always have major upsets.”

PUBLISHED 19:22 4th February 2014 . . . manager leaves the Liberty Swansea City and manager Michael Laudrup have tonight parted company. Garry Monk will take up the reigns as head coach alongside current first team coach Alan Curtis for the foreseeable future. “It is a decision we have taken reluctantly,’’ confirmed Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins. “But it’s a decision made in the best interests of Swansea City Football Club and our supporters. “It is the first time in nearly 10 years that the club has parted with a manager in this way, but we had to remove the constant uncertainty surrounding the club and Michael’s long-term future with us. “I had a meeting with Michael today in a final attempt to support him and establish a way to improve the work of the backroom team to secure the results we need over the final 14 Premier League games. “However, after thinking long and hard about the best way forward, I felt it was unlikely we would achieve a stable environment at the club to allow us to get back to basics and produce the performance levels that have served Swansea City so well over the last few years. “Now we need to put that uncertainty behind us and move forward as a united football club on all fronts, while placing on record our gratitude to Michael for the work he has done over the last 18 months and wish him well for the future.’’ The Swansea chairman concluded: “I hope all our supporters can fully understand how difficult this period has been for us and I would urge everyone connected to the football club to get behind Garry Monk, the staff and players.’’ The club will be making no further comment at this stage, but will endeavour to keep our supporters updated with any future development. Read more at http://www.swanseacity.net/news/article/ml-leaves-1340293.aspx#d9ePG40rqxbWHkFl.99

Should be unbelievable but is just expected nowadays. --- The Scottish Professional Football League has decided not to take action against Celtic for a banner shown by their supporters in a league match with Aberdeen. Since November, the league have been investigating the display of a giant H by a section of fans at Parkhead, which was accompanied by the message "they fought and died for their wee bit hill and glen." Complaints were subsequently made to the SPFL, who confirmed they would determine whether the banner breached their rules on unacceptable conduct. STV understands the league have ruled there is no evidence to suggest their rules were breached in the incident. SPFL regulations say action may be taken if a person present at a match uses "words or conduct or displaying any writing or other thing which indicates support for, or affiliation to, or celebration of, or opposition to an organisation or group proscribed in terms of the Terrorism Act 2000." However, a club is not automatically punished under SPFL rules if a potentially offensive banner is displayed. The league's regulations state action can be taken if a club has failed to take the necessary measures to prevent spectators from "engaging" in unacceptable conduct. They can then only be hit with sanctions if it can be proven the club failed to adopted and implement procedures to try to ensure such incidents do not take place. The onus is also placed on clubs to be seen to "effectively deal" with any incidents of unacceptable conduct. A failure to do so may also constitute a breach of league rules. Celtic condemned the display of the banners shortly after, saying they had not been approved by the club and were not welcome within the stadium. UEFA, who have different rules regarding the display of offensive banners at games under their jurisdiction, fined Celtic £42,000 following a display at the Champions League match with AC Milan last November. On the banner, unfurled before the match, images of William Wallace and Bobby Sands were shown alongside the message: "The terrorist or the dreamer? The savage or the brave? Depends whose vote you are trying to catch or whose face you're trying to save." -- Can you imagine what this will encourage them to display next? FFS, what a state..............