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I’ll never go down the Elland road


steviedavis7

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ALASTAIR JOHNSTON has followed Rangers every step of the way for half a century.

And the new chairman is determined to keep Gers alive and kicking for the next generation of fans.

The global credit crunch has bitten hard at Ibrox with cash cuts across the board.

Sir David Murray has put the club up for sale and countless big earners have been axed.

Now Murray's successor has warned that the tough times are NOT over - as he refuses to risk Gers crumbling like Leeds United.

Johnston said: "Rangers have a long history. This is a wonderful Scottish institution which has been handed down by our forefathers.

"I want to pass it down in reasonable shape to the next generation.

"I want to ensure in this very tough economic and sporting climate that Rangers survive with strength for the next generation.

"Two words come to me in that sense - Leeds United.

"It would be a travesty, a disaster and a total let-down for hundreds of thousands of Rangers fans to let this club get into that position.

"I don't think Rangers were perilously close to that.

"But Leeds is an example that if you buy your way out of a crisis with no sense for the repercussions then look what can happen."

Lifelong Gers fan Johnston is determined to keep a tight rein on spending.

As he spoke at Ibrox, he stopped short of making cash pledges for the January transfer window.

And he insisted he'll make tough decisions on player SALES if he needs to balance the books.

It wasn't the message Gers fans wanted to hear after slipping four points adrift in the SPL title race.

But the US-based chairman insists there will be no return to the lavish spending of Murray's heyday.

Johnston said: "I have been asked several times over the last few weeks how do I deal with the joint role of being a fan and being chairman.

"As I sat at the Aberdeen game on Saturday it was brought home to me.

"As a fan I have a view and as the chairman I am forced to take a different view. I've to be less passionate, less romantic and more objective.

"Maybe I'll have to sanction a player sale that as a fan I'd not want but as chairman I have to do. But I have to deal with a situation where an economic crisis has befallen Rangers and the world.

"Rangers are victims of that and are no exception.

"I'll deal with the January window and what we will do in it closer to the time.

"The decision will be based on the performance of the team, the status of the club and what the management team consider we have to do.

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"But I don't want to get Rangers into a situation where we are judged by the amount of money we spend.

"We are not going to get into a war with ourselves or anyone else on which club spends more money.

"That's not a game we are going to play. We should be judged by performance on the field and success we deliver for the team."

The on-field displays in the SPL have been alarming as Gers have gone on their longest goalless run for 15 years.

But Johnston has urged fans to hold their nerve ahead of a colossal few days.

He added: "We must take a longer term view than just catching up four points on Celtic.

"I've come in at a time when depending on the view you take, the club is in crisis.

"But I absolutely don't share that view.

"We are sitting here with Rangers as SPL champions, Cup holders, having qualified for the Champions League and having a reasonable start to the Champions League.

"While sitting four points behind Celtic is not desirable, it is hardly a crisis."

Johnston will leave the day-to-day running of Gers to chief executive Martin Bain and manager Walter Smith.

But he can envision a day when the club's next owners are running Gers in a league outwith Scotland.

He added: "I can see changes coming in European football. There will be a shake-up.

"When the next big party comes in football, I want Rangers to be there."

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/ho...lland-road.html

i think alistiar johnstone is right going down this road i dont want another murray story like in 2003 when we where in debt by around 80 million

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ALASTAIR JOHNSTON has followed Rangers every step of the way for half a century.

And the new chairman is determined to keep Gers alive and kicking for the next generation of fans.

The global credit crunch has bitten hard at Ibrox with cash cuts across the board.

Sir David Murray has put the club up for sale and countless big earners have been axed.

Now Murray's successor has warned that the tough times are NOT over - as he refuses to risk Gers crumbling like Leeds United.

Johnston said: "Rangers have a long history. This is a wonderful Scottish institution which has been handed down by our forefathers.

"I want to pass it down in reasonable shape to the next generation.

"I want to ensure in this very tough economic and sporting climate that Rangers survive with strength for the next generation.

"Two words come to me in that sense - Leeds United.

"It would be a travesty, a disaster and a total let-down for hundreds of thousands of Rangers fans to let this club get into that position.

"I don't think Rangers were perilously close to that.

"But Leeds is an example that if you buy your way out of a crisis with no sense for the repercussions then look what can happen."

Lifelong Gers fan Johnston is determined to keep a tight rein on spending.

As he spoke at Ibrox, he stopped short of making cash pledges for the January transfer window.

And he insisted he'll make tough decisions on player SALES if he needs to balance the books.

It wasn't the message Gers fans wanted to hear after slipping four points adrift in the SPL title race.

But the US-based chairman insists there will be no return to the lavish spending of Murray's heyday.

Johnston said: "I have been asked several times over the last few weeks how do I deal with the joint role of being a fan and being chairman.

"As I sat at the Aberdeen game on Saturday it was brought home to me.

"As a fan I have a view and as the chairman I am forced to take a different view. I've to be less passionate, less romantic and more objective.

"Maybe I'll have to sanction a player sale that as a fan I'd not want but as chairman I have to do. But I have to deal with a situation where an economic crisis has befallen Rangers and the world.

"Rangers are victims of that and are no exception.

"I'll deal with the January window and what we will do in it closer to the time.

"The decision will be based on the performance of the team, the status of the club and what the management team consider we have to do.

Advertisement

"But I don't want to get Rangers into a situation where we are judged by the amount of money we spend.

"We are not going to get into a war with ourselves or anyone else on which club spends more money.

"That's not a game we are going to play. We should be judged by performance on the field and success we deliver for the team."

The on-field displays in the SPL have been alarming as Gers have gone on their longest goalless run for 15 years.

But Johnston has urged fans to hold their nerve ahead of a colossal few days.

He added: "We must take a longer term view than just catching up four points on Celtic.

"I've come in at a time when depending on the view you take, the club is in crisis.

"But I absolutely don't share that view.

"We are sitting here with Rangers as SPL champions, Cup holders, having qualified for the Champions League and having a reasonable start to the Champions League.

"While sitting four points behind Celtic is not desirable, it is hardly a crisis."

Johnston will leave the day-to-day running of Gers to chief executive Martin Bain and manager Walter Smith.

But he can envision a day when the club's next owners are running Gers in a league outwith Scotland.

He added: "I can see changes coming in European football. There will be a shake-up.

"When the next big party comes in football, I want Rangers to be there."

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/ho...lland-road.html

i think alistiar johnstone is right going down this road i dont want another murray story like in 2003 when we where in debt by around 80 million

There are A LOT of Rangers fans that need to take a lesson from this man. A quick glance at the "which game would you rather get 3 points from" thread illustrates that point.

The highlighted parts are great. Makesme hope all the more, that, any new owner keeps him on in this role, or at least, some influencial role within the club, because the man can see past the goldfish bowl shite of "just beating celtic is a success", which it isnt!

In regard to the article, its obvious what kind of person wrote it, especially on the transfer front, conveniently missing out the part where he said, somethingh along the lines of, " the last window closed 4 weeks ago, its hardly the time, we will see closer to the time what is needed, and, move accordingly"

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