KingBrian

Great sentiment, contrasted by the behavior in Brentford. The mhedia will claim that's why the flag was there, to play one-upmanship, but I'm betting it had to have been made well before Saturday. Greatly appreciated by the Owls' supporters in the ground it seems.

Great news, even if it's only for the last few minutes. He deserves an ovation for his contribution this year.

All around the world journalists have written about the unbelievable loyalty of the Rangers support - apart of course from here at home in Scotland. 50,000 in SFL3 is just mind blowing for most people. I know I'm going to take a moment to look around me on Saturday at the greatest support in the world. We really are the people!

It's all about the Rangers. For me the jury is still out on Charles Green.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/8677608/ Ally McCoist is eager to drive Rangers forward when he discusses budgets with new interim chief executive Craig Mather next week. Mather, the club's director of sports development since October, took on the new role following the resignation of Charles Green with immediate effect on Friday. McCoist is due to meet Mather this week to discuss budgets and he is eager to freshen up his squad, although he knows he will have to work within constraints. The Rangers manager told Sky Sports News: "Craig's been here for a while now and we had an initial meeting on Thursday which was obviously beneficial but with the game coming up at the weekend that took paramount importance. "We have pencilled in a meeting for early on in the week, Tuesday or Wednesday, and Craig's of the same opinion as myself that the most important thing is we move the club forward and in doing that we have to bring freshness to the club in terms of players. "I'll have a better idea in terms of a budget certainly in the next week or so and I'm looking forward to hearing that. "I was given a budget before which I was obviously delighted with but whether that will change or not, we'll just have to wait and see. "But definitely in terms of the club and indeed the team moving forward, the team this year have done fantastically well, just thrown together in the space of days and they've managed to win the league comfortably which was the objective. "And that'll have to be the objective next year as well because we obviously still have the transfer embargo, at this moment in time we're going into SFL Two but I think we are able to sign players who are out of contract at the end of the season and register them on the 1st of September. "It's not an ideal situation but it's one that hopefully we can use to our benefit."

Okay, I'll bite. What I saw last year was a man who worked extremely hard to put together a group with enough money to buy Rangers on the basis of achieving a CVA. Not enough personal wealth to do it himself. He even stepped back when joining forces with Kennedy because he felt that would increase the chances of securing the club. I don't know whether D&P ensured his efforts were doomed to failure or not - time might perha[ps tell. He is a genuinely able businessman and someone with a love of the Rangers. I for one think his heart is in the right place. None of us yet know what the evidence will show about Charles Green, but I believe Paul Murray is doing what he thinks is best for the club. Awaits incoming.

RANGERS will tomorrow night recognise the staggering support they have received from the Light Blue Legions this season and we've selected ten fans to represent them to pick up an award. The fans, who entered a competition to tell us what Rangers means to them, will attend a VIP reception where they will mix with the top team squad then enjoy a four-course meal with wine and then go on stage to accept the award. The loyal Rangers fans have smashed all kinds of records this season, including setting a world record attendance for a fourth tier match, and their backing has been greatest story of the recovery process. Manager Ally McCoist, whose idea it was to create the award, said: “The backing we had during administration and then from the first match of the season has been quite incredible. I’ve been staggered by it. “We have found ourselves talking about the supporters every other week and that’s because they have continued to inspire us as the campaign has gone on. “They have been immense – utterly magnificent – and I take my hat off to every single one of them. Nobody deserves an award more than them and they have truly earned it.” Our panel of experts picked their favourite ten entries and you can read them below: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stuart Horsburgh My father, who is 78 this year, first took me to Ibrox over 25 years ago. Every Saturday we went to games, home and away. He bought me shares for my 18th birthday, and I bought him some for his 65th! Going to games was our time-just us. I now have a 3-year-old wee boy. I can't wait until he is older, then three generations can go together. We both bought shares again, and have kept our bond/season tickets. Rangers is part of our family. A deep emotional involvement. We are Rangers people. Born, not created. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Donaldson Rangers, to me, are, beside being the most successful club in world football, an example of honour, dignity and leadership. Mr. Struth set the standards to which everyone associated with club should always strive to achieve. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Billy McMorran For me, Rangers are an emotional pilgrimage wrapped with a tradition of success. It's doubtful any other Football Club has dealt such a hand of drama over its course. Ally McCoist once said - "we don't do walking away" - and truer words were never spoken. Rangers' success has been made possible by generations of resolute supporters, devoted staff, talented players, and a grand arena on which to step upon and play. As long as there is football there will always be The Rangers; And as long as I'm alive I will enjoy the journey. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jade Russell Rangers to me is so much more than a football club. It's a family which is held together by determination, passion, pride and history. Generations of my family have supported this amazing club, it's in our blood and we don't do walking away. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Holly-Jade Johnston To me rangers mean: Family - I go with my dad every week and it allows me to spend time with him and we have built a strong relationship off the back of our team. Friends: Through Rangers I have met some amazing people who have helped me in some of my darkest and hardest personal times. Strength: No matter what has been thrown at us the team the team have held their heads high and gone from strength to strength. Courage: This last season has thought me that no matter what we are faced with we need to be brave and face our enemies and doubters. Pride: Rangers mean most of all to me pride and being proud of myself for standing up for my team. Having pride in supporting the best team in the world and dealing with our issue with dignity! Rangers to me mean everything ! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alexander Wilson I have been a supporter of Rangers for many years, ever since my first game at Ibrox. I can still remember the team, Ritchie, Shearer, Caldow, Greig, McKinnon, Baxter. Henderson, McMillan, Miller, Brand & Wilson. There have been many good times and some not so good, but my support for the team has never diminished. Indeed over the past few months my support has grown even stronger. Winning the Third Division title this season is our foundation for the future. I wish the players and staff all the very best. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lee McGowan Rangers is more than a club, it unites us together as family. Over the last year we have been through a lot, but being part of a family means that no matter what challenges are in-front of you, we face them together and stand by each other until the end. Although we may have disagreements, we will be the first to stand up and defend them. Past, present and future players all have a place in our hearts and memories that will live on through generations. But no matter where I am in the world, Rangers will always be home! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colin Hay Rangers are a huge part of our families life. This has been passed down over previous generations and will continue to be passed down to future generations.This family spirit has never been more evident than this season in terms of standing behind the team we support. We will always follow, follow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Emma Wardlaw To me, Rangers is more than a club. It means family, friends, loyalty, devotion and the highs and lows following a football team brings. From cold away days to standing in a packed Ibrox, the solidarity between us as fans and the players, management and staff makes everything worth it. Being a Rangers fan means following on, standing as one, wearing our colours loud and proud and as a great man once said, never walking away. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Craig Barratt Rangers Football Club is much more than its name suggests. It's a family, a great institution, one of the very best. Football is where it starts but its giving never ends. From excitement and happiness to drama and tears, most importantly it ends with friends. They're the people you rub shoulders with on cold match days, 50,000 blue soldiers, every one a familiar face. They're your dads, brothers, sisters, sons and mums, or even that wee guy Jimmy who got the chance of a ticket once. Together we stand strong no matter what they throw at us because when all is said and done there is only one Rangers. WATP.

Like other posters, I've had the pleasure of meeting Alistair a number of times and he was a top bloke. He was happy to chat, pose for snaps and sign autographs. So, for those reasons OP - I'm out.

That's how I understand it too.

Haters got to hate. Their manager is such a great role model for them.

Ffs, Penelope Pitstop!

Is it a really painful, cramping, period?

No, honestly. I can see and appreciate your point.

We were all disappointed that no "Rangers men" appeared last year, but I don't think we really know everything that went on. We do know that D&P were making some bizarre decisions. Some suggest a possible stitch up between D&P, Whyte, Green & even Ticketus that precluded any of the "Rangers men" ever being successful. There is also something about Whyte/Green Zues etc not being as fearful of liquidation than "Rangers men". Who wanted to be remembered as the "Rangers man" who took the club into liquidation? The key to all of that was the BTC. Now that D&P and the BTC are gone, perhaps there are some - like Dave King - who see a chance to come in. I would welcome that. I would welcome Dave King, Jim McColl, Paul Murray, Douglas Park all now putting money in. They seem to me to be wanting to do so not for a return, but to see us prosper. Investors do not necessarily need to be the ones then charged with running the club - so advertise and appoint the best men to do that.

Absolutely not. Life is about opinions, discussion, working together to be more than we are individually. Thinking Ally does not have his heart in the right place though........????

Hmmmmm. Trust the views of anonymous posters on an online forum to come up with the best way of taking Rangers forward or trust a club legend who has single-handedly carried the club for the past year? It's a tough one. He is still saying all the right things - the club is the thousands of fans, not one or two people. There have been many times in the past year when Alistair's quotes were the ONLY thing I could believe. Just my opinion.

Manager Ally McCoist has urged Charles Green and Imran Ahmad to sell their Rangers shares to people who share the same vision as the fans. Commercial director Ahmad's departure was confirmed by Rangers today. The Ibrox side are investigating reports that messages posted on a fans' forum - criticising McCoist and former boss and board member Walter Smith - were linked to Ahmad's official Rangers email account. Speaking after today's 4-2 win over East Stirling, McCoist said: "I wasn't aware of [Ahmad's departure] to be honest with you. "I wouldn't comment on it just now because I've literally just found out about that and the investigation is still underway so I would comment after that." Ahmad was part of the Green consortium which purchased the business and assets of Rangers last summer. Green resigned as chief executive last week and is reportedly set to sell his shares to bus tycoon James Easdale. McCoist added: "The fans need somebody to come in that they can relate to and who can agree with their vision in taking the club forward." A banner unfurled by supporters at the match at Ochilview declared: "Rangers FC our football club, not a commodity for businessmen to plunder. We want our Rangers back!" McCoist said: "The fans are absolutely right. If anybody deserves their club back, it's the fans. "The support has been absolutely phenomenal, just when the club has needed them most. It is their club. "Once one or two individuals start thinking it's all about them, it's not. Far from it. "The club belongs to thousands and thousands of supporters and they are absolutely right. "They need to get their club back and we need to get our club back." He added: "I know for a fact that there are people here who have the club's best interests at heart. "Their only desire is to make the club better and progress and move forward. "We've got a fantastic staff and workforce. "We have to get things right at the top, which goes without saying. "And, when we do get things right at the top, I know for a fact that the staff and the workforce will continue to do their jobs, which they have done brilliantly." David Templeton netted a double and Ian Black and Robbie Crawford were also on the scoresheet, with Paul Quinn grabbing a brace for the Shire, who put up a decent fight in what was Rangers' last away match in the Irn-Bru Third Division. "I wouldn't say I'm glad to see the back of these games," said McCoist, when posed the question about their visits to less salubrious surroundings this term. "The whole thing has been a massive rollercoaster journey, which we knew it would be. It's been a great experience. "It's been a lot tougher than a lot of people thought it would be but it wasn't a lot tougher than we thought it would be. "The away journeys have been fantastic, they have been a great adventure and it's been a real learning curve for everybody within the club."

It's great to be a Bear - I'm sure I've heard that somewhere before!! Haha.

ALLY McCOIST last night came out fighting in the battle for Rangers and insisted he and Walter Smith would never stop acting in the club’s best interests. The Rangers manager rubbished claims allegedly made by director Imran Ahmad that he and Smith are “running Rangers into the ground by not cutting costs at Murray Park from £10million to £5m”. Ahmad, the closest ally to ousted chief executive Charles Green, is also said to have accused the Ibrox legends of “trying to run the club without putting a penny in”. These accusations were posted under a pseudonym on a Rangers supporters internet forum. It is believed the electronic trail leads to commercial director Ahmad’s official Rangers email account and that he will leave Ibrox as a result. Rangers have already launched their own investigation into last May’s Green-Ahmad takeover – particularly any links they had with disgraced former owner Craig Whyte. This week has seen some of the most bitter in-fighting in the boardroom since the Green consortium bought the club and McCoist has no idea when the off-field dramas will end. But he was adamant he and Smith, who is on the Ibrox board as a non-executive director, would keep fighting for the benefit of Rangers. He said: “I don’t see an immediate end to it sadly but we just have to prepare as well as we can for next season. “The allegations didn’t upset me at all because the vast majority of people will know they are not true. Anything Walter and I would do is, in our opinion, for the best. “We have in no way, shape or form attempted to take over the club. I can speak for Walter because I know the man – everything we are doing is to benefit the club. “We are not trying to take it over – that’s absolute nonsense. We are trying to do our own wee bit to take it forward.” McCoist believes the vast majority of the fans will take some comfort from the fact people with a genuine love of the club are trying to fight their corner from inside. He added: “I would hope that is the case. I’m a lot happier having Walter on the board. This time last year, it was all very new to us but I think it’s fair to say that the fans have the utmost trust in Walter. “People like Walter, Sandy Jardine and John Greig are people who epitomise our football club. “I don’t think it is a necessity having someone like Walter on the board but I think it’s an absolute godsend for me and the normal supporter. “Boards are made up of different individuals. I don’t think Walter would claim to be Businessman of the Year but he knows more about running the club than probably anybody else on it. “I think everybody at Rangers is genuinely thrilled he is there doing his best for us. “At this moment, no doubt supporters will be disillusioned. They must be saying to themselves ‘just what is going on?’ and I understand that. “I am just hopeful that at the end of the inquiry we can give them answers. We all deserve to know.” McCoist will meet new interim chief executive Craig Mather on Tuesday to discuss budgets. The manager said: “In my meetings with him he has seemed up front and is obviously delighted to have the job. He has been quoted as saying he would like to get it full-time. Time will tell if that develops. “The most important relationship at a club is between manager and chief executive, so I’ll be doing my utmost to make it a healthy relationship.”

http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/top-football-stories/dr-jimmy-paterson-the-good-doctor-of-rangers-and-arsenal-1-2912036 “ARE you not playing for the wrong side?” There are some things a Scottish footballer can never be prepared for, and one of them is playing for England. Such was the fate of Dr Jimmy Paterson, who was born in London where his father, a Presbyterian minister, was preaching. In all other respects, the talented winger was a Scot through and through, and 100 years ago this month, Paterson won the first of his Scottish League titles with Rangers. He repeated the exploit after being decorated for bravery in the Great War and would surely have won Scotland caps were it not for the accident of his birth. International recognition came instead in the white shirt of England: as his career seemed to be heading to a close, he had returned to London and signed for Arsenal as an amateur. He did so well that he was selected to represent the English League against their Scottish counterparts. He was greeted by his former team mates with affection as well as a ribbing that he was not really English. And, as if disorientated by wearing an England shirt, when Paterson was presented with a bunch of flowers by a young girl just before kick-off, he still had them in his hand as the referee’s whistle blew. Too polite to throw them on the ground, he ran up and down the wing clutching them for several minutes until he found someone he could hand them to. It was a measure of the man. Brought up in Glasgow, he was sports champion of Bellahouston Academy, and his performances in the team that won the Glasgow Secondary Schools League attracted the interest of Queen’s Park. Soon rising to their reserve team, the Strollers, he then caught the eye of Rangers manager William Wilton and signed at Ibrox in September 1910. Although he made his debut that month because of an injury to the veteran Alec Smith, Rangers let him develop in the reserves as he embarked on his medical studies at Glasgow University. Paterson broke into the Rangers first team in November 1912, two months after his father’s death, replacing Billy Hogg at outside right. He made an immediate impact and was widely heralded in the press. Rangers duly won the league by four points and Paterson made his first trip abroad on the club’s tour of Denmark. The following season, he switched to the left wing, where he developed a prolific partnership with Tommy Cairns that lasted until his graduation as a doctor in 1916. In the depth of war, there was a severe shortage of doctors, and he was appointed Medical Officer to the 14th Battalion the London Regiment, the London Scottish. With the rank of Major, for the next two years he had a torrid time on the front line, where ‘Doctor Pat’ earned enormous respect from his fellow soldiers. One of them wrote in the Regimental Gazette: “We loved him for the trouble he took. We loved that kindly word of encouragement that did us more good than all the ‘number nines’ ever issued ex-stores. If that little medico works as hard in the football field as he worked that night, heaven help the opposition!” There was formal recognition, too, and he was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry in 1917: “Under an intense hostile bombardment, he hastened to the spot, dressed the wounded and cleared them from the road, personally seeing to their removal to the aid post. He then returned and cleared the dead from the road, setting a fine example of coolness and disregard of danger.” When hostilities ceased, after three years away from football, he made a surprise return to Glasgow. A journalist later recalled: “One day in September 1919, I learned from Jimmy’s younger brother Bobby that Jimmy had been posted to a Glasgow hospital. He added that, if I turned up at Ibrox Park the following evening, I might see Jimmy playing against Raith Rovers or, on the other hand, I might not. Jimmy had just arrived in Glasgow, untrained, and carrying too much weight, and was scared stiff at the idea of being thrown into action so soon. “His homecoming had not been made public but, quickly recognised by the Ibrox clientele when he ran on to the field, he was given a reception that nearly took the lid off the south stand. Despite his extra ‘tonnage’, he was at his brilliant best that evening, including a bonny goal that earned him another deafening ovation.” Paterson’s wing partnership with Cairns was restored and Rangers romped to the 1919-20 league title. However, he had a medical career to think of and, as early as December 1919, there was press speculation that Paterson intended retiring at the end of the season to join his brother-in-law, John Scott, in a London medical practice. Several city clubs were reported to be chasing his signature, but the decision was effectively made for him as Scott was Arsenal’s club doctor. Before he left Glasgow, Rangers supporters showed their appreciation by presenting him with a solid silver coffee and tea service, valued at 100 guineas (equivalent to about £3,000 today). In the autumn of 1920, he signed as an amateur for Arsenal but continued to be rewarded by the club, although the form of reward was somewhat different: he was presented with ‘gifts’, such as a baby grand piano from Harrods, a diamond-studded tie-pin and a fine Venetian vase. Following a series of outstanding performances on the wing, in March 1921 he was selected for the Football League against the Scottish League, coincidentally played at his new home ground of Highbury. Before the match, he came into the Scottish dressing room to shake hands with all the players, and was photographed with three of the Scots, but the sentiment ended there and his cross led to the game’s only goal, by Charles Buchan in the second half. He clocked up more than 70 appearances for Arsenal in four years, although, as an amateur, he had to balance his football with work as a doctor. He retired from football in 1924, but had a curious swansong two years later. Arsenal had an injury crisis in February 1926 and signed Joe Hulme from Blackburn, but he was cup-tied, so manager Herbert Chapman turned to Paterson for a surprise recall in the FA Cup. He showed he had lost none of his magic by scoring against Aston Villa, and newsreel film of that goal can be seen online. Not long afterwards, he left London and moved to a country practice at Bramley in Surrey, staying there until he retired to Ayrshire in the 1950s. His daughter Mhairi, who now lives in Edinburgh and recently saw that newsreel footage of her father for the first time, recalls him watching wistfully as soldiers prepared for D-Day: although he said nothing about his own wartime experiences, he knew what horrors lay ahead for them. Dr Paterson died of a heart attack in 1959, aged just 68. Despite being considered one of the outstanding talents of his day, he was never given the recognition he deserved with a Scotland cap, through no fault of his own. But, in true amateur spirit, he had no regrets and, despite playing for two of Britain’s most glamorous teams, he recalled shortly before his death: “My happiest football days were at Good Old Bella.”

The interview with the Ross County Chairman was on Radio Scotland. He said he was optimistic a deal would be done next week and proposals would be in place for next season. The one thing he was clear wouldn't be included in any changes was the 8 8 8.

Guys in front of me - every time Jig scores - stand up and sing: He plays centre-half, he plays centre-mid, Lee McCulloch could play for Madrid!

Spot on!

Seriously?

Two Rangers players have been named on the short-list for player of the year in the SFL divisions. Left back Lee Wallace, who was one of the first players to commit himself to Rangers after the club entered administration, and winger David Templeton, who signed for the squad in 2012, will take on Elgin Citys Daniel Moore and Queens Parks David Anderson for the division three title. In division one Patrick Thistles Chris Erskine will take on Livingstons Stefan Scougall, Falkirks Lyle Taylor and Greenock Mortons Michael Tidser for the title. In division two Queen of the South players Daniel Carmichael and Nicky Clark are up against Arbroaths Steven Doris and Brechin Citys Andrew Jackson. Last years winners were Falkirks Farid El Alagui in division one, Cowdenbeaths Jon Robertson in division two and Alloa Athletics Stevie May in division three. The nominees were produced after votes were cast by players from across the four Scottish leagues. The winner of the awards, sponsored by the Cheque Centre, will be announced at a star-studded dinner at the Hilton Glasgow on Sunday, May 5.