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Saturday, 30 August, 2003

Egil pens 1 year deal Rangers have completed the signing of striker Egil Ostenstad from Blackburn Rovers on a one-year deal. Alex McLeish was desperate for more firepower ahead of the Champions League group stages. But, after missing out on a possible loan deal for John Carew, he succeeded in bringing his Norwegian international team-mate to Ibrox. Ostenstad trained with the team ahead of Sunday's trip to Dundee United. Ostenstad says the opportunity to play his part for Rangers in the Champions League against Manchester United, Stuttgart and Panathinaikos was too tempting to resist. The former Southampton forward told rangers.co.uk: "It's a great chance for me and I'm determined to take it. I was in the reserves at Blackburn and now I have the chance of playing in the Champions League so it's great for me." And Ostenstad is looking forward to being reunited with Henning Berg at Ibrox. He added: "I know all about Rangers because they are a big club and Henning Berg is here. There are a lot of very good players in the squad. Guys like Ronald de Boer and Michael Mols are well known in England and I would like to think that I can work well with them."

Friday, 29 August, 2003

Fergie completes transfer Blackburn have completed their £7.5million move for Scotland midfielder Barry Ferguson. Ferguson has signed a four-year contract at Ewood Park after requesting a move away from Scottish champions Rangers. Ferguson joins Lorenzo Amoruso, Brett Emerton, Steven Reid and Markus Blackburn have completed their £7.5million move for Scotland midfielder Barry Ferguson. Ferguson has signed a four-year contract at Ewood Park after requesting a move away from Scottish champions Rangers. Rovers manager Graeme Souness firmly believes Ferguson will prove he is one of the best midfielders in the game. He said: "I see him being an outstanding player for this club. I think over the next five, six to seven years, he will be regarded as one of the best central midfield players around in the Premier League. But he is a young fella who will come here with a lot to prove. There's a feeling in England that the Scottish league is not that competitive. But I can tell you that I've been there and played for Glasgow Rangers and they never have an easy game of football. It's like playing for Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea today. If you are playing for them a particular game might not be the biggest in your mind, but whoever you are playing, it's their cup final. That's what it's like all the time for Rangers and Celtic."

Emerson joins up Rangers have completed the signing of Brazilian midfielder Emerson after he completed a medical. The 31-year-old had held talks with both Wolves and Celtic but has now joined the Bank of Scotland Premier League champions. The former Middlesbrough, Deportivo La Coruna and Atletico Madrid star will fill the gap left by captain Barry Ferguson, who is talking terms with Blackburn Rovers after undergoing a medical at Ewood Park. Rangers manager Alex McLeish told the club's website, rangers.co.uk: "I'm delighted to have completed the deal to bring Emerson to the club. I went to watch him playing for Atletico about three weeks ago and we have had some very good reports on him - especially from Bryan Robson." Robson was the boss at Boro when Emerson arrived at the Riverside for a brief spell alongside fellow countrymen Juninho and Branco. Emerson has signed in time to play in the Champions League and may even make a debut at Dundee United on Sunday. McLeish added: "I think his match fitness is okay but we will make a decision nearer the time in terms of including him. Emerson is very experienced and has played with some great clubs. I don't expect him to be the same player as Barry Ferguson but he will bring us marvellous experience." McLeish is also hoping to sign Norway international striker John Carew on loan from Valencia. But the Scottish champions face competition from Roma and Everton for the huge hitman and McLeish is still unsure whether he will get his man. But the trump card Rangers have is their place in the group stage of the Champions League and the prospect of games against Manchester United, Panathinaikos and Stuttgart. He said: "It's got to be an attraction for them and they will be two good experienced guys to have. We don't want to lose key players and we didn't want Barry Ferguson to go - it was not a Rangers decision. It was important for us to strengthen the squad, especially after qualifying for the Champions League." Emerson's departure from Middlesbrough came amid reports that, among other things, he was unhappy with the climate in the north-east. But, despite the weather being similar in Glasgow, McLeish does not believe the Brazilian will have any problems settling in. He said: "I don't know if that was the case at all. I spoke to Bryan Robson and he said he enjoyed it there and there was talk of him returning to the Riverside. We have had good reports about him and I don't think the weather is going to be a problem." McLeish has already been on the phone to his former manager and mentor Sir Alex Ferguson after Rangers and Manchester United were paired together in the Champions League. It is the first time the two will go head-to-head in the dugout and McLeish joked that the Old Trafford boss has already started the mind games. He said: "He is quaking in his boots! I think the mind games have started already. This is a learning curve for me as a manager and I'm hoping to learn - I just hope it's not the hard way." Rangers' Australia international defender Kevin Muscat has moved to Millwall on a free transfer.

Thursday, 28 August, 2003

Champions League Draw Alex McLeish has been handed the chance to pit his wits against his former mentor, Sir Alex Ferguson. McLeish was a star player under Ferguson at Aberdeen and now his side has been drawn in the same Champions League group as Manchester United. The Scottish champions have also been drawn with Panathinaikos of Greece and German outfit Stuttgart. It will be the first time McLeish has attempted to get the better of his former boss at Aberdeen, where he was part of a team which won every domestic trophy and the Cup Winners' Cup. He told the club's official website, rangers.co.uk: "It is a fantastic draw. It is remarkable that we have been paired with Manchester United and I know the two games against them will capture the imagination of the public. I have no doubts I will get a call from Sir Alex in the next couple of days once the dust has settled and we will have a chat about it. But it is certainly a situation I relish. United, of course, will be favourites to win the group but I think each of the other teams will feel that they can progress. This is what it is all about. You want to go in with the best and we are certainly doing that. They are all going to be massive matches and I relish each of them. It will be the first time that I will be going in against Sir Alex as a manager and I'm sure it is going to be something special for everyone." McLeish had mused about the possibility of going head to head with Ferguson just minutes after the win in Copenhagen. And the Rangers boss could not help joking that he would prefer to meet them in the final. Celtic's run to the UEFA Cup final last season featured two Battle of Britain clashes as Martin O'Neill's side disposed of Blackburn and then Liverpool. But the Rangers fans will no doubt insist that this season's version is of a higher pedigree as both sides are champions of their respective nations. And as a result it evokes memories of the clash with Leeds United in the 1992-93 European Cup. That was the first time group stages were introduced and the Battle of Britain clash was for a place in that. Rangers beat Howard Wilkinson's English champions both home and away and Walter Smith's side almost made it to the final itself. Rangers have never played any of their three opponents in European competitions before. Stuttgart were also knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Celtic last season and finished second in the Bundesliga last season, albeit as distant runners-up to Bayern Munich. Stuttgart almost played Rangers during that 1992-93 campaign as they had initially knocked out Leeds. But it was discovered that the Germans had broken competition rules by fielding one foreign player too many and a replay at a neutral venue - Barcelona - saw Leeds triumph to set up that memorable Battle of Britain clash. Panathinaikos finished runners-up to Olympiakos in the Greek league last season in a finish that mirrored the Scottish Premier League's exciting finale. Both sides finished with 70 points but Panathinaikos missed out on goal difference as a result of a crucial end-of-season loss to their arch rivals.

Wednesday, 27 August, 2003

Rangers reach Champions League Rangers reached the group stage of the Champions League with a historic victory in the Danish capital. Never before had they progressed after a 1-1 Euro home draw but Mikel Arteta broke the deadlock from the spot (52) after Michael Mols had been fouled. Alvaro Santos levelled after some slack defending (83) but Shota Arveladze struck the winner just three minutes later to send the Ibrox men through.

Friday, 22 August, 2003

McLeish: "Fergie wants away" Alex McLeish has confirmed captain Barry Ferguson wants to leave the club as soon as possible. The Scotland international held a meeting with McLeish, Rangers chairman John McClelland and the club's director of football business Martin Bain at the club's Murray Park training complex on Thursday. And McLeish confirmed that the player had made it clear he wanted to quit Ibrox. He said: "We had a meeting and Rangers do not want Barry to leave the club. I don't want him to leave but Barry wants to try a stronger league and play his football elsewhere. That is the crux of the meeting that we had. It is not about money, he has emphasised that and we have accepted that explanation because he has got a very good contract at Rangers." Rangers have a crucial Champions League qualifier in Copenhagen on Wednesday, a match which could prove to be Ferguson's last for Rangers as the transfer window closes on Sunday at midnight. But McLeish insisted Rangers' European fate had nothing to do with the request. He said: "I don't think it has got a bearing."

Italian forward on trial Rangers have handed Italian striker Arturo Di Napoli the chance to claim a permanent deal at the club by offering him a trial. The 29-year-old, who has previously played with Vicenza and Napoli, has trained with the first team squad on Thursday after being released by Palermo this summer. Light Blues manager Alex McLeish will give the Italian a run-out with the under-21 side at Hibernian on Monday before deciding on whether to make any further move. McLeish told the club's website rangers.co.uk: "It's a case of having a look at him right now and see how he gets on. Arturo has good experience from Serie A in Italy but we will wait and see whether we take things further."

Friday, 15 August, 2003

Moore and Mols doubtful Rangers have doubts over striker Michael Mols and defender Craig Moore for tomorrow's Bank of Scotland Premier League match at Aberdeen. Moore suffered a hamstring injury during the midweek Champions League qualifier with FC Copenhagen and is unlikely to play. Mols suffered a leg injury in the same game and may miss out. Team (from): Klos, Ross, Moore, Khizanishvili, Ball, Vanoli, Ricksen, Thompson, Ferguson, Arteta, Malcolm, de Boer, Mols, Lovenkrands, McGregor, Burke, Berg, Nerlinger.

Wednesday, 13 August, 2003

Euro Team News Manager Alex McLeish is set to stick with the same starting 11 that beat Kilmarnock 4-0 on Saturday. That will mean new signings Nuno Capucho and Henning Berg will have to wait for debuts, although both will be on the bench for the first time. McLeish admits that Wednesday's qualifying tie against FC Copenhagen is the most important game of his Ibrox reign to date. McLeish has yet to steer the club through a European tie and knows the stakes for the club are high. The debt-laden club shed more players than they bought pre-season and need a financial lift from European action. McLeish said: "This is the biggest game because this is now. I might be asked the same question for the second game and say yes again."

Saturday, 09 August, 2003

Team news Rangers could hand debuts to new signings Paolo Vanoli and Zura Khizanishvili in the Bank of Scotland Premier League at home to Kilmarnock. But fellow new recruits Henning Berg, because of a lack of match fitness, and Nuno Capucho (hamstring) will not be considered. Fernando Ricksen is also back in contention after missing pre-season games with an ankle injury. Team (from): Klos, Ricksen, Moore, Ferguson, Nerlinger, Mols, de Boer, Muscat, Ross, McGregor, Arteta, Arveladze, Lovenkrands, Hughes, Malcolm, Thompson, Vanoli, Khizanishvili.

Tuesday, 05 August, 2003

McCann completes move Neil McCann completed his £1.5million transfer from Rangers to Southampton and then admitted the chance to play for Gordon Strachan was a key reason for his long haul south. McCann revealed that Saints manager Strachan was a boyhood hero and had been flattered by his fellow Scot's determined efforts to bring him to St Mary's. The 28-year-old said: "It was a big part of me coming here, I wanted to play for Gordon. I knew all about him as a player and have followed his career in management with interest. Southampton seem to me to be a club going places and the chance to play in the Premiership is tremendously exciting. James Beattie got all the headlines last season for his goals but the thing that struck me about Southampton is that they are not a one-man team. I hope I can play my part in pushing the club even further up the table and I am really looking forward to the challenge. I don't expect to get into the team straight away. But once I do get in I would like to think I can make a proper contribution." Strachan said he had been chasing left-winger McCann ever since he was manager at Coventry and McCann was at Hearts before his move to Rangers.

1 Year deal for Berg Henning Berg has signed a one-year deal with Rangers. The 33-year-old Norwegian joins ex-Parma and Bologna left-back Paolo Vanoli as the newcomers in the Ibrox ranks. Ibrox manager Alex McLeish and director of football business Martin Bain are both delighted to have secured the services of Berg ahead of the Champions League qualifying deadline. Bain told the club's official website, rangers.co.uk: "We are delighted to have reached agreement with Henning Berg and I know Alex is looking forward to working with him. The medical went smoothly and all the paperwork was completed and now Henning is just desperate to get going in his new surroundings."

Monday, 04 August, 2003

Defender duo set to sign Alex McLeish is set to snap up former Manchester United defender Henning Berg and former Bologna defender Paolo Vanoli. McLeish is confident of tying up a deal for the Norwegian soon while Vanoli has undergone a medical ahead of signing a two-year deal later today. McLeish said: "Henning Berg has been training with us and we hope we can do a deal." Martin Bain believes the deal for former Bologna defender Paolo Vanoli will soon be completed. 30-year-old Paolo Vanoli, who was released by Bologna this summer, has undergone a medical at Murray Park ahead of signing a two-year deal. Bain said: "We hope to have that finalised this afternoon, there are various details to be wrapped up."

Ricksen bid rejected Rangers have rejected a "substantial" offer from an English Premiership side for Dutch international defender Fernando Ricksen. Ibrox director of football business Martin Bain insists Ricksen will be going nowhere despite a major bid. Bain said: "We have had a substantial offer for Fernando last week, but the decision has been made — the manager has to have Fernando in the squad."

McCann set for Saints Southampton are set to make Rangers midfielder Neil McCann their biggest signing of the summer after the two clubs agreed a £1.5million deal. The 28-year-old is due to have a medical at St Mary's later on Monday before signing a four-year deal with Gordon Strachan's side. Chairman Rupert Lowe told the club's official website, www.saintsfc.co.uk: "Gordon Strachan has wanted him for a long time so I'm delighted to have got him. The terms fit our salary scale so we think he will be a good acquisition. I am working on a couple of other things and I am hopeful of doing another deal before the start of the season."