mike rankine

Stephen Grindlay has definitely been offered a one year deal but only as 2nd/3rd choice keeper. With a potential testimonial he has a decision to make.

Absolutely delighted. Going to sleep last night I'd convinced myself he was off to St. Mirren. Well done to Gilbert Lawrie and the Board of Directors. Murray's eye for a player has been excellent so far. Excited about who he may re-sign plus the fresh talent he has identified. The two year deal may even convince the likes of McGinn & Megginson to sign on again, knowing that we won't stand in their way should a decent offer come in. It may also persuade Celtic & St. Johnstone to trust us with the further development of Mikey Miller and Chris Kane.

I think he probably has some inside information. He has made a few specific claims and was definitely ahead of the press pack in 2012 as Rangers imploded. I don't see his miscall on the Ahmed case as an indication PMG was wrong. Most sensible people expected the ring-fencing to be granted. It is possible that the Ibrox board also saw the case going against them. Given the Rangers press release immediately prior to the verdict it seems they aren't as financially secure as their QC advocated in court. Perhaps a rushed board meeting DID take place the night before. Perhaps that's where assurances were given that the current investors would put further equity in to make up any shortfall from season tickets. That appeared critical in the judge being persuaded that the club would remain solvent for the next 9-12 months.

I'd rather watch an open, attack minded Dumbarton team which regularly wins 4-3 (with the occasional heavy defeat) than one which grinds out boring 1-0 victories. I'm sure you agree by the tone and content of your post.

I think you've hit the nail on the head here. My understanding is Ian Murray gets frustrated with the fact that Garry is frequently unavailable for selection, partly due to being injury prone and, more pressing, his lack of discipline leading to suspensions (pot and kettle, I know!) If Garry can keep fit and channel his robust, enthusiastic style of play better then there's no doubt he could become a regular first pick.

Fans understandably become emotionally attached to the players who serve their club - both the flair players and the workhorses. Like many here I'll always have a soft spot for the likes of Stephen Grindlay, Bryan Prunty, Gary Fleming etc. However, we all recognise that Ian Murray has worked miracles with this squad of part-time players; that we are currently punching above our weight. If Murray thinks he can bring in better players - guys who will improve our chances next year - then inevitably some fan favourites may need to make way...especially if they are no longer 'first picks' and wish more regular football. Murray's judgement has been spot on so far. The clinical way he identified players who were surplus to requirements in his first 3-6 months allowed him to free up costs to sign Mitch Megginson, Paul McGinn, Scott Linton, Chris Kane etc. Let's trust Murrino's judgment here. Personally, I see the way ahead is building the team around players like Chris Turner, i.e. quality players who could easily secure a full-time role at a bigger club but whose circumstances makes part-time football attractive. That combined with inspired loan signings of youngsters like Chris Kane and Mikey Miller.

It's true that some of the old farts are negative but the younger supporters aren't squeaky clean. At the recent Morton away game there were young guys (in their 20s) sitting behind me who vocally criticised the team from the kick-off. A lot of it was extremely negative and personal, aimed at specific players. Admittedly, that 3-0 defeat was one of the poorest performances I'd witnessed for several years, but sometimes that's the moment the squad needs our 'support'. Given our relative success in recent years...going back to the Jim Chapman promotion from the old 3rd Division...it's possible that some supporters in their late teens / 20s take things for granted and get on the team's back too quickly. These young guys are serving their apprenticeship well and will no doubt become the negative old farts of the future.

Oh feck...now we're jinxed!

P.S. He has been outstanding for us this season. Definitely in the running for one of the Player of the Year awards.

He wanted first team football. Lennon offered him a new contract (apparently) but told him he would be a squad player, not a first team regular.

Surely his only get out now is to blame his agent and plead ignorance. He would need to part company with his agent and pay him off to buy his silence. Players of his generation always said McCoist was ruthless on the park and nothing like his cheeky chappy image. Prone to leave his foot or elbow in, especially off the ball. It seems he is just as ruthless when it comes to his personal financial gain. Clearly he was knowingly being paid handsomely to back the Spivs, to the detriment of the club and supporters.

Never mind the Bears Den, will any self respecting journalist have the balls to ask him about it at the next press conference? Come on Chick Young...your moment to shine has arrived! No chance. Tom English or Graeme Speirs, possibly?

That sounds like a decent plan, actually. Maybe for every £5 your nearest rival pays you could pay £10 to ensure you "dominate domestically". Maybe you could even come up with some creative "tax efficient" ways of paying your players, meaning you (er..."don't") obtain a competitive advantage by being able to attract better footballers by offering higher net wages than the other clubs who pay their fair share of social tax. What could possibly go wrong with such a stellar plan? Oh....wait a minute...

I worked briefly with Hughie before he retired. An absolute gentleman and so modest. RIP.

Grindlay has been offered terms but he's holding out for a two-year deal.

This....He reminds me very much of Kenny Ashwood from our successful promotion to the Scottish Premier League in the 1980s. Ashwood had a journeyman career with East Stirlinghire and Falkirk before signing for the Sons in 1983. He immediately transformed our team and couldn't stop scoring that entire season. However, it was a 'flash in the pan'. Although still a Sons legend he had a mediocre season in the Premier League with us before moving on to relatively unsuccessful periods with Ayr, Falkirk and Queen of the South. He even had a loan spell at Aidrie I can honestly see Jim Lister going the same way. He had an outstanding season with us but I'm not convinced he could have repeated it. Sad to see him go (and really surprised at his choice of club) but if we sign a decent, young striker to replace him I'll be delighted.

If Dermott Desmond is cute enough he could repeat the act of solidarity demonstrated by the old Kelly regime, who famously loaned money to Rangers to tide them over a cashflow problem. Perhaps he could make a loan to Charles Green to help him through this conspiracy, with a floating charge over Ibrox, Murray Park and the Albion car park, of course!

McColl doesn't really care about Scottish industry, he only cares about making money and enhancing his own reputation. Ask any employee of the original Clyde Blowers company what they think of him. Moved the business away from Clydebank and gradually moved the main production to Estonia and China. He's to Scottish industry what Sean Connery is to Scottish film-making. Living abroad avoiding UK tax but wanting to interfere in Scottish life. It will be interesting if Leggo. / Traynor etc do a thorough investigation of McColl's background. They'll find several dissolved companies and at least one liquidation. Won't hold my breath. .

Call me old fashioned, but if Jim McColl has made his fortune owning and managing UK businesses, and was happy to accept an award from the Queen's honours list, then yes...he should be prepared to pay the full tax on his earnings. If your team had tried that approach they may still exist.

Jim McColl is a tax exile living in Monaco...sound familiar? A guy who avoids paying UK tax is one of the main financial backers of the Smith consortium to resurrect tax-avoiding Rangers...a match made in heaven.

But it's not thick skin he needs...it's very deep pockets. Let's face it, the Walter Smith bid combined with the planted story of McCoist potentially being forced to resign was a masterstroke. The Orcs are in uproar and will not give Chales Green a penny until he sells up to Smith's consortium. If Green can somehow find the funds to get to the start of the season (unlikely given how hard he struggled to gather the 5.5m) then he has a chance...assuming that is, if the SFA don't suspend/expel them first. Of course, we can still hope that the SPL chairmen grow a pair and refuse them entry to the SPHELL.

Agree with that. However, Tom English was excellent on STV, especially making it crystal clear that this was a planned pincer movement today, i.e. Traynor running an exclusive on Ally McCoist being forced out by Charles Green, followed by the formal liquidation, followed by Walter Smith announcing his bid once the dirty work had been done. On the BBC programme, Spency played a blinder. Well done sir!

Just in from work and haven't had a chance to catch up on the past 20-30 pages, so this may have been covered: 1) Typical of Walter Smith and his consortium to let someone else do the dirty work (i.e. administration / liquidation) and then ride in after the event as heroes, ready to pick up a debt free club for a song. Where were these charlatans over the past 4 months when bids were being sought? 2) With Walter Smith's involvement we can guarantee added pressure to vote the newco straight back into the SPL. I hope the various chairmen remember that Walter Smith benefited hugely from the illegal use of EBTs to win countless trophies against said SPL clubs. 3) I've encountered Jim McColl through my line of work. He's a very smart, ruthless guy but his ego/PR is precious to him. He'll love been seen as a white knight here but he will be happy to make a quick buck and disappear again (just like he did when he bought Weir Pumps for "emotional reasons" and sold it on very quickly at a healthy profit). Here's hoping either Charles Green refuses to sell and f@cks the club up big style OR there really are some "nuclear" revelations still to emerge which will finish the blue bigots off irrespective of Smith's involvement.

Get a room, you two (three? - OMG, that'll set them off again)

East of Scotland League, Amateur or Junior.