Rangers made £30m last season....

[disgruntled_bear 157]

Jul 18 2008 Mark Hateley

THE season hasn't even started but already Walter Smith has his work cut out as he attempts to piece together a title bid from the bottom of the bargain bucket.

And, like many worried Ibrox fans, I can't get my head around exactly why he's being forced to do his window shopping with nothing much more than loose change.

Don't get me wrong. I know things are tight. There's a credit crunch on and Sir David Murray is feeling the pinch like the rest of us.

But, even so, the budget Walter is working with or, to be more precise, the lack of it, just doesn't add up.

He urgently needs Steve Davis. He can't afford him. He tried to sign a centre-half from Watford. The money wasn't there.

Now there's talk the only way he'll be able to land Glenn Loovens from Cardiff is if he trades in his top scorer to sweeten the deal.

And I'm afraid when it gets to that stage you have to ask: What the hell is going on?

It's not as if Walter didn't earn his keep last season. By plotting a course to the UEFA Cup Final and agreeing to the sales of Alan Hutton and Filip Sebo, the manager was responsible for raking in more than £30million.

That was money over and above the usual profits from season tickets, strip deals, sponsorship and Setanta TV.

So surely he's entitled to spend a little more freely than this?

I must admit I'm surprised. This time last year Rangers spent something in the region of £12m and I fully expected Walter to get the same again, at least. And yet here he is, having spent only around £5.5m and struggling to make crucial signings.

If it was a gamble to spend so heavily last summer surely it was a gamble that paid off.

But I look at what's going on now and can't understand why he's not being allowed to do the same again.

If Walter is going to take this team forward he needs to be given the funds to do the job properly. If not he'll be fighting a battle against Celtic with one hand tied behind his back.

This is a vitally important year for Rangers and for a manager who has done so much to turn the club around since returning to the helm. He deserves more help than he's getting.

It's very simple. If Walter wants to spend £4m on getting Davis from Fulham Rangers should go and do the business.

If he believes Loovens has the potential to be a long-term partner for Carlos Cuellar the club should just go out and get him. It strikes me as unfair that just three weeks before the start of the season the manager has been left in such an uncertain situation. The truth is with Barry Ferguson on the sick list he needs Davis in now. And he could probably do with another experienced central midfield player into the bargain before the campaign starts.

It's also obvious he needs a central defender as, even though Davie Weir is a walking miracle, the man cannot go on holding back the years forever.

Walter gave Andy Webster a run out the other night to see if he is finally ready to emerge as a contender. But Webster's fragility was again highlighted when he was at fault at the opening goal against a German pub team.

No wonder Walter is keen to find someone else and I can't help but think there's something a little too convenient about the fact his top target just happens to play for the very club who have been trying to poach his most prolific predator all summer.

Don't get me wrong. I'm sure Loovens would be a very decent signing. I have heard nothing but good things about the lad. But if Rangers want him they should just go and take him. Walter shouldn't have to sacrifice his biggest goal threat just to get a deal done.

It sounds strange but in the end I fear Kris Boyd's goals are about to cost him his Ibrox career. You don't unearth goalscorers like him too easily and it's even more of a rarity to find one who can't get a game for his own team.

Boyd's record is nothing short of phenomenal and yet the truth is he'll most probably be a bit-part player this season if he decides to stick it out at Ibrox. Even so, his goals make his a hugely valuable asset and, as aresult, he is a fantastic bargaining tool.

There is no doubt Walter can get by without him. He's signed three strikers this summer in Kenny Miller, Andrius Velicka and Kyle Lafferty - which means he now has eight or nine players fighting for two places up front.

It doesn't look like Daniel Cousin is going anywhere and Jean-Claude Darcheville is currently flying through his first full pre-season in two years. Darcheville was only half fit last season but still got more action than Kris. So yes, Walter can do without Boyd. But he shouldn't have to.

You simply cannot put a price on the goals Boyd provides and it would be better for the manager to have this option available to him - even if it's only as an impact player.

Of course, that might not be good enough for Boyd but if I was him I wouldn't be looking to throw in the towel just yet.

He has never won a league title and you don't want to look back at the end of your career and regret the one that got away. That's why I'd stay and have another go at it.

The trouble is, sometimes these decisions are not yours to make. And things appear to be so tight at Ibrox this summer even the manager can't get what he wants.

As told to Keith Jackson

http://www.<No links to this website>/comment/colum...86908-20653291/

[port_bear 86]

Great article, although I don't think Davis is really the player we need, not for £4m price tag that is.

Don't get me wrong I think he is a great player but far too many times last season he was posted missing in top games and in games without Ferguson in the midfield he looked shocking. Our priority must be to bring in a talented, creative, cenrtal midfielder, someone to pull the strings and do that little something special, I don't think Davis fits this criteria.

However like the article asks, "Where is the money"?

[papaguy51 912]

Mark won't be getting his payslip this month then!

[KingOfTheWing 0]

Someones been struck off Mintys Christmas list

Well said Hateley, although Walter is as much to blame with his needless signings and poor team selections.

[disgruntled_bear 157]

Mark won't be getting his payslip this month then!

Thats what i was most shocked about!

If Hateley is getting Disgruntled and asking questions, then WTF is happening at Rangers?

[minstral 5,375]

davie boy will have it stashed away.

[disgruntled_bear 157]

Great article, although I don't think Davis is really the player we need, not for £4m price tag that is.

Don't get me wrong I think he is a great player but far too many times last season he was posted missing in top games and in games without Ferguson in the midfield he looked shocking. Our priority must be to bring in a talented, creative, cenrtal midfielder, someone to pull the strings and do that little something special, I don't think Davis fits this criteria.

However like the article asks, "Where is the money"?

Davis IMO is a good player and would be a good Signing,

As Hateley said we do need 2 midfielders Davis+1

[papaguy51 912]

I keep being told (on this board) that money is there and we just don't feel the players are worth it, yet someone as close to the club as Mark Hateley says;

He urgently needs Steve Davis. He can't afford him. He tried to sign a centre-half from Watford. The money wasn't there.

That is concerning.

[mannan 0]

SMITH MUST take the blame, after all, he has wasted the £5.5m on the three strikers

he bought cousin, darchville, now after just one season he thinks they arent good enough

the guys not got a clue, murray is a fuckin cheatin robbin lyin bassa!

[MosesMcNeil 1,664]

Fair play to big Hateley - I'm amazed he's come out with this in print. Amazed.

And I probably shouldn't, but I did enjoy a wee chuckle at the expense of those who slaughter him regularly for being a media poodle who would never say anything contrary to his Rangers fees.

[disgruntled_bear 157]

I keep being told (on this board) that money is there and we just don't feel the players are worth it, yet someone as close to the club as Mark Hateley says;

He urgently needs Steve Davis. He can't afford him. He tried to sign a centre-half from Watford. The money wasn't there.

That is concerning.

Papa the warning signs are there

[Davey_RFC 122]

Where's the money gone Mr Murray?

[papaguy51 912]

If we've got less than £4mil to spend for the rest of this window, we'd be as well giving Celtic the league.

I'm shocked at the ambition of my club :angry2:

[Gaffbear 4,104]

If big Mark is showing his concerns then we're in deep soapy bubble .

We won't be getting the 4 or 5 quality signings we need then unless we sell Carlos and McGregor so don't be surprised if that happens .

[disgruntled_bear 157]

If big Mark is showing his concerns then we're in deep soapy bubble .

We won't be getting the 4 or 5 quality signings we need then unless we sell Carlos and McGregor so don't be surprised if that happens .

I still think Cuellar will Go

[MosesMcNeil 1,664]

We won't be getting the 4 or 5 quality signings we need then unless we sell Carlos and McGregor so don't be surprised if that happens .

If he sells either, then Murray should speak up as to why and openly invite tenders for buyers to replace him with almost immediate effect.

I accept the current economic reality - but only with a view to proper planning being in place to change that for the betterment of The Rangers.

[Danny 9]

Rangers made at least 34M from the season we qualified for the last 16 of the CL and went with JJB.

We didn't see any blue chip signings the following season either.

[minstral 5,375]

all our absent friends must be turning in their graves at the direction our great club is heading.

[Wienblue 26]

When this happens in a commercial industry...it's called asset stripping ! Work it out, run the place down and divest, not invest !

[CF5LOYAL 0]

It's about time the press turned on Murray.

Hopefully this starts the ball rolling to get Murray out. Good article and poins by Hateley.

If Cuellar or Boyd is sold I would like to think there would be a substantial protest to get this bullshitter removed.

[Boab 73]

Thanks, a great read.

[Danny 9]

When this happens in a commercial industry...it's called asset stripping ! Work it out, run the place down and divest, not invest !

Football can't ever compared to any 'other' industry or business.

[BritishBear 34]

Since Advocaat went, no manager has been backed financially.

We needed to get the debt down and it has come down substantially, fair play to Murray for rectifying his mistake.

We made mega money last season, but still Murray has the biscuit tin mentality and wants a buyer. Let's face it the man cannot be trusted no more, we were promised quality and stadium news, no sign of either.

All of the money should have went to the squad on quality signings, the debt can come down in future years. If we buy quality it helps us on the pitch, quality signings have a sell on value and you don't have to pay quality signings off to gtf out of the club. In future years 1 or 2 players will be all thats required to top the squad up.

As in the title of another thread, MEDIOCRITY BREEDS MEDIOCRITY.

[McBoyd 355]

SMITH MUST take the blame, after all, he has wasted the £5.5m on the three strikers

he bought cousin, darchville, now after just one season he thinks they arent good enough

the guys not got a clue, murray is a fuckin cheatin robbin lyin bassa!

HOW? if he was given the proper funds by SDM, then im sure he'd have signed more better players.

[nvager 498]

I blame Walter as much as Murray. If JCD and Cousin were good enough why the need to bring in three more strikers. That is five strikers bought by WS in two off seasons.