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PEOPLE used to call Walter Smith defensive. But compared to yer man Craig Whyte, the old silver fox was Jimmy Calderwood going 2-4-4-1. With his goalie up front as the one. There's an old saying that if you've done nothing wrong, you've nothing to hide. And it's run round my head again and again this week in regards to the new Rangers owner. Why IS he so secretive? Why DOES he bristle quite so angrily over any kind of criticism? I mean, he's done one truly impressive thing since taking over at Ibrox and that was to turn up at the first Old Firm game of the season alongside a blonde with a cleavage like Kenny McDowall jumping to head a Mitre. Yet here we are, more than a month on, and her name STILL hasn't come out. And in this day and age of celebrity tittle-tattle, that takes some doing. So if this is how closely he wants to keep his socialising to his chest, what chance is there of him letting his guard down when it comes to his hush-hush business affairs? Some men in his position would have dared the Beeb to come ahead with this week's documentary then gone to war if and when anything iffy was broadcast. Yet Whyte had the wagons in a circle before the apaches even appeared over the hill. He got his retaliation in first by banning Auntie in advance â?? a naïve piece of knee-jerkery, because the first thing his actions did was make far more people far more aware of the show than they might have been otherwise. Plus, it was a clear sign that he's not half as big a player as he wants us to think he is. Put the tackities into a Murray or a Lawwell or the like and they'll cut you out of their gang, spin a story to the opposition as their idea of punishment and make sure you're as unwelcome on their turf as humanly possible. But they take it, because they're strong enough to take it. Because they know that you're only one guy with a laptop while they're running a gigantic institution that's taken blows for 100 years and is still standing. Whyte, though, seems so brittle he makes Celtic's central defence look like Baresi and Maldini. He's actually very like Romanov in the way he deals with the outside world, the Lithuanian's insecurities highlighted once again by a media blackout in the wake of his manager criticising a referee; a blackout that comes by pure coincidence at a time when players are speaking out about unpaid wages. If Romanov thinks people can't see through stunts like this then it's a miracle that he ever made himself into one of his country's most powerful tycoons. And if Whyte thinks shutting out a national broadcaster will stop people asking questions about his ability to bankroll Rangers, he's even more like Tim Nice-But-Dim than he appears. Anyone who's been in debt knows nothing gets better till you stop hiding the final demands and start facing up to your problems. It seems for all the world like Whyte's actions this week are those of a man in denial about the weight of the worries he's taken on. If that's not the case, why is it that RANGERS are refusing to deal with the Beeb and not just the man himself? After all, apart from the fact that their name was in the title of the documentary, there was barely a word of criticism about the club. It was all about Whyte. Yet he felt the need to throw stones at his attackers from behind the red brick of the main stand. As for that criticism itself? Well, I'd love to go through it here with a fine-toothed comb, because some of it was serious stuff indeed. But, true to form, before the opening titles had run, Whyte's lawyers were issuing dire warnings of what they would do should any allegations be repeated in print. So I'll ask again: What's he scared of? If, as he says, it's all a pack of lies, why not face it down and tell us WHY it's a pack of lies; because just saying it is isn't enough. And let me say this. If there's one journalist out there in whom I'd put 100 per cent faith, it's Mark Daly, the man who fronted this investigation. I've known him since he was a kid on the local paper in Clydebank and his track record is there for all to see. He's infiltrated Greater Manchester Police to weed out racist officers, got to the bottom of the Royal Bank of Scotland's collapse and probed the Stephen Lawrence murder. He's a top-drawer, old-school digger who doesn't hang his theories on "insiders" and "sources". The spine of his documentary was an interview with Robert Burns, head of the UK Insolvency Service, the organisation dealing with every company that goes down the pan. It would be hard to imagine Mr Burns going on camera and on the record if he wasn't sure of what he was on about. Yet Whyte calls the documentary and its makers biased, despite it being stated on camera that they asked him more than once to give his side of the story. As he took the decision to refuse, maybe his definition of biased is different to the dictionary's. All in all, he's an odd one, is Craig Whyte. You take a Duncan Bannatyne or an Alan Sugar and they can't wait to tell the world how they made their squillions. Along the way, that means the world finding out stuff they'd probably rather it didn't. But in the end, they shrug and move on, because they know that the good stuff on the CV far outweighs it. You'd think that Whyte would be the same, that if he was big enough to run Rangers, he'd also be big enough to deal with the odd black mark he may have against him in the past. But then, that's the biggest unanswered question of all. Whether he IS big enough. Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/3888799/Why-do-you-feel-the-need-to-stay-in-shadows.html#ixzz1beY4wsf2

New Rangers owner Craig Whyte is set to take a major hands-on role in the running of the Ibrox club ââ?¬â?? by succeeding Alastair Johnston as chairman. Johnston is set to stand down this week after successfully overseeing what has been a turbulent period in the Glasgow clubââ?¬â?¢s history. And, in a significant development for the Scottish champions, it appears Whyte is poised to assume his responsibilities. The multi-millionaire businessman kept a low profile during his take-over of his boyhood heroes and had been widely expected to take a back seat in the day-to-day running of Rangers. However, it seems that the Motherwell-born venture capitalist is keen to play an active part in ensuring the continued success of the club on and off the park. To be appointed chairman, he will have to show he is a ââ?¬Ë?fit and proper personââ?¬â?¢ and prove that in the last five years he has not been debarred as a director of a company. Johnston said: ââ?¬Å?As it stands, I am still chairman, but thatââ?¬â?¢s merely procedural and because of paperwork being worked upon with Craig Whyte. ââ?¬Å?My two-year stint is ending and Iââ?¬â?¢ll simply go back to being a fan. I was in the Far East on business last week, but managed to get back to the game at Kilmarnock before attending the SPL title party. ââ?¬Å?It was a great way for Walter to sign off as manager. He has very much been a cornerstone for the club over the past few years and has shown great leadership.ââ?¬Â Johnston, a senior executive with IMG, was delighted to leave the club after Smith, whom he persuaded to stay on for a final year, had led the club to the Co-operative Insurance Cup and Clydesdale Bank Premier League. And he expressed confidence that Ally McCoist, who has now taken over from his mentor as manager, will prove a success He said: ââ?¬Å?Martin Bain had been working hard on Walter during that period to try to keep him because we all knew how important that could be. ââ?¬Å?I then came into it with my own input and I would very much like to think I had some influence.ââ?¬Â Johnston added: ââ?¬Å?I donââ?¬â?¢t think Rangers can replace him as a figurehead and a leader, but I do think Ally McCoist can be successful as manager. ââ?¬Å?He is strong-minded, but will need to be. Heââ?¬â?¢s had an apprenticeship with one of the best and hopefully that will be prove significant.ââ?¬Â http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/editor-s-picks/craig-whyte-set-for-role-as-rangers-chairman-1.1102414?90022

CRAIG WHYTE has revealed his joy at finally taking over at Rangers and insists the key is to bring more trophies to Ibrox. Whyte finally took his seat in the Ibrox stand as the club's new owner for yesterday's 4-0 win over Hearts. And he was delighted at the reception he received from the fans as Gers took a massive stride towards Three-in-a-Row. He said: "It was absolutely fantastic and a really enjoyable day. I received a good reception from the supporters. Sir David Murray"It has been a long time coming as it has taken more than six months to conclude this deal. So it was a good moment for me. "It was a fantastic performance from the team - better than I could have hoped for. Now we just need to make sure we win the next two games to retain the league. "Rangers are a fantastic club and we can achieve a lot. "We can expand the commercial activities and the branding but it all comes down to doing well on the field. That's the most important thing. We need to keep winning trophies. "I'm a passionate Rangers supporter and that's a big part of the reason I bought the club. "At various points, to be fair to Sir David Murray as well, I think both of us kind of said: 'Let's forget about this and walk away.' But I persevered and I'm glad I did." Whyte paid tribute to Murray and outgoing gaffer Walter Smith as he prepared to launch a new era under manager-in-waiting Ally McCoist. He said: "What David has achieved has been tremendous. He was involved with the club at a unique period when it was possible to buy the best players in England and bring them here. "Unfortunately that's more difficult to do these days. So what David has managed to do for this club shouldn't be underestimated. "Walter is a legendary manager and Ally knows he has a hard act to follow. Let's hope he can do just as well." Whyte brought his father Tom to Ibrox yesterday and recalled how they attended games 30 years ago. He said: "My dad used to bring me here when I was nine or 10. We sat in the Copland Road stand. "So it was nice to be back here today, only this time as owner of the club. "I always enjoyed coming to the games. It was great beside the fans. "You can't sing songs when you're in the directors' box so in some ways it's more fun to sit in the stands. "Watching the football is nice but this is also a business. I plan to get under the covers of the business and there will be a lot to look at. I still have to meet the management team and speak about their plans. "But the focus in the next week or so is to win the league. I don't want to do anything to jeopardise that." Whyte has inherited McCoist as the club's next manager but has no problem with that. He said: "Ally is a Rangers man through and through. I'm sure he'll do a great job. "I had a very brief meeting with him a few months ago but I expect to sit down with him in the next few days. "I think we might need four or five players. I'll do what I can to help." So far i like what i hear. No over the top statements.

First of all, I'd like to make clear I'm as excited as any other bear about today's news about a hitherto unknown Scottish millionaire supposedly being in the final stages of buying our football club. To have the debt cleared and a fresh new regime in charge of our future is intriguing and it's no wonder our fans are keen to find out more. And that is the key to judging this front page 'exclusive' - we must know more. It's all very well the James Traynor's and Darrell King's of this world bagging themselves a few more readers today but while the hyperbole sounds good, we need some meat added to the bones. Despite the public protestations of the club in recent months, private negotiations have been ongoing regarding the sale of it to a consortium of interested parties - some of whom may have pulled out, some not. These include the new face, 'turnaround specialist' Craig Whyte along with the previously named Andrew Ellis and Vladimir Antonov. Others such as current Rangers director Dave King may well be involved further down the line. Certainly, speculation in the background has been rife and, as always, it is difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. Even in the newspaper reports of today we have no official club comment and can only take the word of 'sources' and 'insiders' amongst the usual sound-bites about debts, tax queries and war-chests. This is where our support must then ask themselves a few questions. The last decade has seen dramatic downsizing occur at our great club. From the extravagance of Dutch international signings and 5* training grounds, to the paucity of broken Jumbotrons and loan swaps with Aberdeen; never has our future been so worrying. Indeed, if it were not for the best efforts of Walter Smith and his players in delivering a UEFA Cup Final run and two SPL titles on the trot, the current debt of around �£25million would be much higher. Therefore, any removal of this debt and the associated inflexibility of the bank who hold it is definitely something to be happy about. The question is how does any new owner stop the same situation happening again? Does he invest more money into the squad and hope that this brings continued domestic success - as well as the crucial CL monies? Or does he maintain prudence and gamble on the qualities of the existing manager and players? Risk-taking is something that has been at the forefront of our club's strategy since Sir David Murray bought the club over 20 years ago. Some have come off [Walter Smith (twice), Mo Johnston and stadium improvements], some have not [Paul Le Guen, Tore Andre Flo and over-investment in the Advocaat era]. We don't have the luxury of such mistakes now so any new club administration must be aware of the risks involved. �£20million 'war-chests' make for good newspaper sales but I doubt Craig Whyte (or his associates) will be gifting this cash, so how do we eventually pay for it? Wouldn't we just be swapping one �£20million+ debt for another? If one positive has come out of the decade of downsizing it is that surely Rangers fans are more savvy than ever before. While we're all ambitious and have high expectations, we must accept that our future isn't one which can be gambled away on a whim. After all, we can all argue for or against the Murray era but one of the few consensuses between these camps is that it lacked vision, lacked planning and lacked supporter involvement. As such, before we back any new owner we must know more about their plans. Rangers supporters are the lifeblood of the club and our financial contribution has never been more important. Our loyalty and commitment should not be taken for granted and for our backing we're entitled to be treated with respect and worked with (instead of against) as we enter any new ownership era. Yes, we cautiously welcome the news of Craig Whyte's interest but there is much more to be done before we can accurately judge the merits of his intentions. This should not be done on the pages of tabloids but in direct consultation with a support eager for positive change. Actions speak louder than words.