Blog on the official rangers site

[albeartz 4]

Blog: Sign Of The Times

His signing from Hearts was undoubtedly the most significant piece of business conducted between Scottish clubs before the transfer window shut and also indicated the strength of Ally McCoist’s desire to field the strongest team he possibly can.

The manager not only wants to win the Third Division, he has aspirations of success in the major cup competitions and he has a duty to entertain the Rangers supporters by producing the best team he possibly can.

Equally, he has to be ready if predicted changes are made to the structure of the Scottish game which may expedite Rangers’ return to the top level of the game.

So there are many compelling reasons for paying decent money for Templeton to follow the astute acquisitions of Ian Black, Dean Shiels and Fran Sandaza.

However, it seems that the signing of Templeton has not gone down well with some pundits, pressmen and supporters of other clubs.

They carp that the 23-year-old has only gone to Rangers for the money and it’s a sad day for the game that he has chosen to go to the Third Division.

How dare he join Rangers? What on earth does he think he is doing?

The same type of mud was slung at Black and Shiels and you really have to wonder why.

There was one caller on Radio Scotland’s football phone-in show yesterday who was trying to explain to the host, Jim Traynor, and his guest, the former Motherwell centre back Stephen Craigan, why Templeton had chosen Ibrox to ply his trade.

However, neither man seemed to like what he was hearing and shouted him down.

There have been equally condemnatory articles in some newspapers over the weekend and McCoist must just laugh.

Indeed, at one newspaper in particular, The Scotsman, the columnists are at odds with each other over McCoist’s signing policy, yet critical at the same time.

On the one hand, Glenn Gibbons describes Ally McCoist’s transfer dealings as “shopping in football’s equivalent of a charity shop”.

On the other, Tom English berates Templeton for daring to sign for Rangers and says it’s a sad state of affairs while also casting aspersions about the manager’s abilities.

So Ally McCoist is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t but either way he’s getting it in the neck.

It’s the type of scenario Rangers fans have become used to in the last six months.

[bluedart1952 1,391]

I think the time has come for us to only talk to tv reporters and any newspaper reporters that are not trying to rip the shit out of us,the rest should be banned from the hallowed ground that is IBROX.

[Bertent 2,081]

If I were a Hearts supporter Id be upset at being classed the "Mencap" of Scottish football. But its no shock that bigots with columns cant even agree on the reason for their bigotry.

[bigmunsen 64]

I read this and was enraged by these bastards who will not leave our club alone or our players and fans. The first time i have seen anything like this on the gers website and its about time. Were is the headlines about temp getting all sorts of abuse and his girlfriend to not a peep, if it was one of them it would be front page. Sick of it.

[californiadreamin52 339]

Good to see the club has found it`s voice at last for to long the fans have being left to defend our club

[ZeonBlue 378]

With so many other things they could write about they just cant leave Rangers alone, its warming to know that we upset them so much by just buying players.

What they need to understand is if Rangers didn't exist then most of them wouldn't earn a living.

[corkinator 611]

I love the fact that we get their hairy,deformed backs"up" when we do ANYTHING. I have changed tactic with my nappy rippers pals, instead of reasoning with them and fighting our corner when they say "yous ain't even been punished" I AGREE and state "yeah, your right, we got away with it, haha" and laugh, it fucking boils their piss. Try it it's liberating.

[JM1872 3,818]

In the van at work yesterday BBC Sportsound was on and Jim and whoever else was there, Mark Guidi? Were having a huge debate on it all and us being kicked out etc.

I have to say - what a load of shite. These clowns claiming Templeton moved for the money. If he did, then that is what is part and parcel of playing for Rangers. It is an honour, a privilage and one that obviously has financial benefits.

To move to a Club like Rangers, no matter where we play, is not a step down. It is a move simply based on ambition. Templeton has talent, and he will flourish at Ibrox. Big crowds, cup finals, league titles - more of a draw at Ibrox than Tynecastle.

It really baffles me how some journalists keep their job.