Rangers News

Chairman Salutes Fans

Chairman Sir David Murray has paid a glowing tribute to the Rangers supporters for playing their part in the club's 52nd league title success.

Walter Smith's side played like real champions in Sunday's fantastic 3-0 victory over Dundee Utd and the Light Blues finished the season four points ahead of Celtic who could only manage a 0-0 draw with Hearts.

Rangers lost just one SPL game in 2009 and hit form at exactly the right time to secure a richly deserved league title for the club and Sir David has thanked the fans for their commitment throughout the campaign.

The Chairman told rangers.co.uk: "Yet again our fans have shown tremendous support throughout the season and I am absolutely delighted we were able to deliver the SPL title for them.

"Walter Smith, Ally McCoist, Kenny McDowall, the players and all the backroom team deserve great credit for guiding the club to a world-record 52nd championship - which is a phenomenal achievement.

"The team was given tremendous backing at Tannadice on Sunday and the fans were rewarded with a performance worthy of the title champions.

"Over 30,000 supporters then descended on Ibrox to pay tribute to the team after the victory over Dundee Utd, which is more than many top clubs in Europe manage for competitive matches.

"This demonstrates yet again the passion and loyalty of the Rangers fanbase.

"We have already had a huge demand for season tickets for 2009/10 and with the guarantee of Champions League group stage football and a number of high-profile matches against Europe's elite it should be another exciting season for our fans to enjoy.

"As you know, this is my 20th season at Rangers and we have shared some great memories and achievements. However, winning the league on Sunday was one of the highlights of my tenure at the club.

"I would like to thank everyone who has played a part in our success this season - supporters, players, management and staff - as this has been a challenging campaign for everyone.

"We now look forward to playing Saturday's Scottish Cup Final against Falkirk where our fans will once again give their backing to the team at Hampden."

Rangers FC

Die Gerüchte um eine Übernahme halten sich ja nach wie vor. Seit Wochen verstummen sie um Graeme Souness nebst Konsortium nicht mehr wirklich. Immer wieder gibt es angebliche Ibrox-Quellen, die dem Gerücht neue Nahrung geben. Könnte auch in diesem Bereich ein nicht uninteressanter Sommer werden. Viel besser werden die Zeiten für Murray sicher nicht mehr werden.

Könnte auch ein "Rache-Streich" der Tims sein
Nicht mal die Medien melden iwas darüber, also wird auch nix dran sein! Wenn doch, dann wird man es früh genug erfahren

Tims haben für so etwas einfach nicht die Cleverness.

Das Gerücht hält sich schon seit vielen Wochen. Es ist ja auch kein Geheimnis das SDM verkaufen will. Nur laut eigenen Aussagen nicht um jeden Preis und vor allem nicht an jeden Interessenten. Ein Souness mit entsprechendem Background, könnte aber durchaus für zumindest ernsthafte Gespräche diesbezüglich ausreichen. So ganz umsonst ist er ja in letzter Zeit sicher nicht in und um Ibrox gesichtet worden.

But at the end of the day only time will tell.

Solange Souness nicht Trainer wird, kann er jedes Amt bei den Rangers haben. Am besten einfach nur PR-Chef, mit mindestens 2 Pressekonferenzen pro Tag. Gott wär das geil

Meinte er letztes Jahr nach Fiorentina nicht auch "Manchester: get your girls locked" ?

Dann noch Donald Findlay zurück und die PR-Abteilung wäre mit einem Schlag wieder vorhanden.

Aaron Meets Govan Kids

THE KIDS of Govan High School's Autism Unit got a special surprise when Spanish star Aaron popped along to join their conversational Spanish class.

Aaron, who was also joined by local MP Ian Davidson, was more than happy to try to help out the youngsters tackle his native tongue.

The Autism Unit students learn Spanish because it is the most accessible foreign language for them to study.

Also, it provides an opportunity for them to enhance their social use of language and communication skills in an age appropriate setting.

As part of the Curriculum for Excellence it fosters global citizenship and contributes to international education.

Rangers FC

Murray hosts talks over plans for future

Sir David Murray, Walter Smith and Martin Bain met yesterday to draw up plans for a frenetic summer of activity on and off the field for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions.

The chairman invited the manager and chief executive to his Perthshire home to devise a strategy that will enable the club to strengthen for next season's title defence and Champions League challenge amid a downsizing of personnel.

The Herald understands David Weir, the captain, will be offered a new one-year contract despite suggestions he may wish to return to England to be with his family after two and a half years in Scotland.

While concerns have been expressed within Ibrox over relying on a 39-year-old for another season, the departure of Christian Dailly and Kirk Broadfoot's foot operation - which could rule him out for the start of next season - has left Smith with no dependable cover for Weir and Madjid Bougherra.

Barnsley and Reading have joined Blackpool in trying to sign Charlie Adam but none has come close to matching Rangers' £500,000 valuation.

Bain will now be charged with the task of relocating those identified as surplus to the club's trimmed-down first team pool of 20.

DaMarcus Beasley is believed to be considering options in Holland and back home in the United States after the winger was told he will no longer be part of the plans. He is one of a host of players with a year left on their contracts who are available to leave.

Barry Ferguson's proposed transfer to West Bromwich Albion has been delayed because of Celtic's interest in talking to Tony Mowbray about their managerial vacancy. But the 31-year-old will leave in the summer, to the Coca-Cola Championship or elsewhere after a low-key end to his Rangers career. Steven Smith, Graeme Smith, Andy Webster, Alan Gow and Andrius Velicka will also all be allowed to leave if any suitable offers are forthcoming and Bain will use the extended three-month break to streamline the squad.

Smith has also been assured there will be the facility to strengthen, but not on the scale of previous years. Indeed, depending on the manager's targets, he may have to sell one of his assets to subsidise any heavyweight arrivals.

The prospect of Alex McLeish making a renewed bid for Kris Boyd receded last night when he broke Birmingham City's transfer record to sign the Ecuadorian internationalist, Christian Benitez, from Mexican club Santas Laguna.

Madjid Bougherra, Steven Davis, Maurice Edu and Kyle Lafferty have all been ring-fenced as the future spine of Smith's team after the manager stressed his intention to stay on for one more season.

Allan McGregor and Pedro Mendes may be available for transfer if the right offer is forthcoming. McGregor has lost his status as first-choice goalkeeper after his part in the Cameron House drinking session with Ferguson while on international duty and continues to enjoy a busy personal life.

Mendes has shone only intermittently since his £2.5m transfer from Portsmouth and, with Kevin Thomson due to return from cruciate ligament surgery in time for next season, Rangers may consider selling the Portuguese midfielder.

Lee McCulloch, meanwhile, has described first-team coach Ian Durrant as the unsung hero of Rangers' double success.

The midfielder, who spent much of the season playing under Durrant for the club's reserve side, said: "Durranty's brilliant and he always wants to help the boys in our team, particularly the younger lads and ones who haven't been here that long.

"He's a great guy to have about and is always there to offer you a wee bit of advice or support.

"Ian's just as important as anyone else in our squad, even if he's there in the background a lot rather than the limelight.

"He doesn't get many headlines or a lot of the plaudits because the focus is rightly on the gaffer, Coisty and Kenny.

"When he talks, all the boys listen to him - and I'm talking about experienced lads such as Davie Weir as well. He's fantastic to have around."

Herald

Rangers TV Statement

WITH the sad news Setanta has ceased broadcasting in the United Kingdom, our supporters will no longer be able to enjoy Rangers TV.

The channel built up a strong and loyal following in the past few years and everyone at Rangers Football Club and the supporters would like to thank the staff who worked so hard to make it a success.

It is hoped there will be an opportunity to restore a dedicated Rangers TV channel in the future but this will be dependent on discussions with broadcasters.

Rangers FC

Loan policy may change for Gers

Rangers will review their loan policy after several youngsters endured frustrating spells away from the club last season.

A number of reserve-team players went on loan to clubs such as Partick Thistle and Dunfermline last season, while first-team player Charlie Adam spent the second half of the season at Blackpool.

But reserve coach Tommy Wilson admits there is no point sending youngsters out to sit on the bench at other clubs.

"The response has been quite mixed," Wilson told Rangers World.

"Some of the lads have gone out and played regularly and gained from it. Other players have gone out and not featured.

"We played Celtic reserves without Steven Kinniburgh, who went to St Johnstone and never kicked a ball, and had to play a 16-year-old.

"The loan thing is something that, together with the first-team staff, we will review thoroughly.

"It's never going to be perfect but we need players to go and play more regularly for the first team.

"Dean Furman is a good example of how it should work - he went to Bradford and had a fine season down there at a good standard.

"We might need to be more selective in terms of where we send the boys and get more guarantees from the clubs.

"I imagine next year the first-team squad is smaller, so there might be less opportunities for players to go out on loan."

TT

See New Kit On Monday!

EVERY Rangers fan is eagerly anticipating the release of the new home kit for season 2009/10 as the Light Blues get set to defend their magnificent League and Cup Double.

And you will be able to see it first right here on the official web site from 9am on Monday morning!

You can see Mo in the kit on MondayMidfield stars Kevin Thomson and Mo Edu are giving a bit of a strip tease in our pictures but you will be able to see it all next week.

Be one of the first to have the new 09/10 home kit delivered to your door. A limited number of kits will be available to pre-order from Monday July 6 until Friday July 10* to allow fans worldwide the chance to secure their strip for launch day

You can pre-order online on the official web site or via mail order on 0871 702 1972 from Monday on a first come first served basis.

Fans pre-ordering will also receive a limited edition Kevin Thomson print!

The SPL Champions will officially launch the new home strip on Thursday, July 16 and it will be available to purchase exclusively from Rangers outlets including the Rangers JJB Megastore at Ibrox Stadium, the Argyle Street Rangers JJB store, online right here on rangers.co.uk and via mail order on 0871 702 1972.

Rangers FC

Einen Tag früher als angekündigt (wohl weil gestern die ersten Gerüchte-Fotos durchsickerten) hat der Club das neue Trikot präsentiert:

Kevin 1
Kevin 2
Kevin 3
Mo
Kenny

Das werden Erinnerungen wach, denn es ist eigentlich fast so etwas wie eine Neuauflage des beliebten Trikots Ende der Achtziger.
Siehe Trikot 1987 - 1990

Schon merkwürdig, wenn man mal auf FF vorbeischaut. Sonst gibt es eigentlich immer etwas zu nörgeln, aber dieses Mal sind sie nahezu alle restlos begeistert.

Ich persönlich finde es durchaus gelungen, konnte aber auch sehr gut mit dem Jersey der letzten Saison leben.

Also ich halte ja generell nicht so viel davon, jede Saison ein neues Trikot zu haben, welche sich in den letzten Jährchen eh kaum verändert haben. Aber das neue gefällt mir richtig gut....hat etwas Nostalgisches....

Schön schlicht gehalten, hat auf jeden Fall Stil

Also ich find das neue Trikot einfach KLASSE!!!

ja ist nicht schlecht,erinnert stark an die ADMIRAL-Zeiten!

besonders geil,der Kragen in red,white & blue

I like it !!