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Friday 29th December 2000

Kilmarnock match postponed Rangers clash with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park has fallen victim to the weather, as the Ayrshire club were forced to concede defeat due to the sheer volume of snow that has fallen in the arae in the last 24 hours. As the overnight forecast offered little respite from the elements, postponement was the only option.

Thursday 28th December 2000

Pay-Per-View details unveiled Four games involving the Old Firm of Celtic and Rangers will be on pay-per-view on Sky Box Office, it was announced on Thursday. Fans will be able to see two Celtic and two Rangers games between January and April at a cost of £7.95 per game. The matches chosen are additions to the 30 live SPL games Sky Sports is already showing. Celtic's visit to St Johnstone on January 31 kicks off the quartet of games. Next up on February 3 is the Rangers v Dunfermline clash at Ibrox. Rangers feature again in the third game when they travel to Dundee on February 24. Finally Celtic host St Mirren on April 7. Each match will be available to domestic Sky digital subscribers for a one-off fee of £7.95. They will also be available to cable customers, via their local cable operator, and to commercial subscribers. Roger Mitchell, chief executive of the Scottish Premier League, said: "Everyone accepts that pay-per-view forms part of the evolving broadcasting environment for football. The SPL and our clubs believe the responsible way forward is to see for ourselves what kind of effect pay-per-view will have on revenues, viewers and fans before we enter into any long-term agreement. The matches will give fans who either cannot get a ticket or get to the game a chance to see specific live matches and will bring in extra revenue for the SPL and the clubs. It's important we get the right balance in what is a complex area and all our club chairmen want to have a good look at this product before committing themselves. We'll be sitting down with Sky in March to discuss future matches." Vic Wakeling, managing director of Sky Sports, said; "There's a widespread acknowledgement that the standard of football in the SPL is higher than it's been for years, with internationally respected players such as Larsson, De Boer, Caniggia and Sauzee. The competitive nature of the league is helping to make this a fascinating season in the SPL, so it is a good time for this type of experiment. We believe it will provide valuable information and research for the long-term benefit of football in Scotland. Sky is still committed for this season, and next, to showing 30 quality games to all Sky Sports subscribers. That figure includes the three Old Firm games we are entitled to under the terms of our current contract. We have shown two so far - the next will be in April. These four games are genuine extras. They have been chosen after we have made our live match selections for Sky Sports, and they would not otherwise have been available to a live television audience. All existing contractual agreements are being honoured and highlights of all four fixtures will still be available on free-to-air channels in Scotland, and indeed on Sky Sports. Nothing has been taken away from any television fan. Matches On Pay-Per-View St Johnstone v Celtic on Wednesday, January 31 (KO 8pm) Rangers v Dunfermline on Saturday, February 3 (KO 12.55pm) Dundee vs Rangers on Saturday, February 24 (KO 12.55pm) Celtic v St Mirren on Saturday, April 7 (KO 12.55pm) Flo: "The best is yet to come" Rangers striker Tore Andre Flo has promised Ibrox fans they will see the best of him after the winter break. The £12million signing from Chelsea returned to action on Boxing Day following a spell on the sidelines due to a niggling hamstring injury. The striker showed why manager Dick Advocaat was prepared to shatter the Scottish transfer record with a goal in the 3-0 victory over St Johnstone. The Norwegian international has bad news for the Scottish Premier League by declaring his best is yet to come when normal business resumes. Flo told Rangers' official website: "I am going to be trying my best to help Rangers close the gap and put as much pressure as possible on Celtic both before the break and after. But if I can have a rest, go over to Florida and get a good training stint there, then I feel I will come back from that a much better player." Flo insists he is still adapting to life at Ibrox and admitted he will not score many easier goals than his one against the Perth men. But the striker will take anything and that goal took his tally to two in three games since arriving in Glasgow. Flo said: "I was happy with my goal against St Johnstone - I'm happy with any goal I score - and although I couldn't really have missed it, every one is welcome. Allan Johnston did well with the cross and the ball went through the goalie's hands before it came to me, but I was glad that it did. I've managed to get a couple of goals in three starts and one appearance as a sub which is not too bad. Of course, I'm still settling in to the team and getting used to the style of play which needs time. After the winter break will be better, but if I can score a few goals along the way while I'm finding my feet then I'll be very happy. There is always pressure on strikers to score goals and as I said the day I signed for Rangers, I am not going to think about the price thing. My main aim now is to try and train hard over the next few days, play against Kilmarnock and St Mirren and then we go into the break."

Wednesday 27th December 2000

West Ham approach for Amo David Murray has confirmed that talks have taken place with West Ham over the sale of defender Lorenzo Amoruso - but the Ibrox chairman has warned that nothing will happen in the short-term. The former Rangers skipper is thought to be ready to move from Ibrox after three-and-a-half years of success. But this year he has been criticised heavily for defensive errors, such as that which handed Dundee United a point in the 1-1 draw at Tannadice recently. That mistake, added to a famous blunder in the draw in the Champions League with Monaco that put the Scottish champions out of that competition, has tested the patience of the Rangers board and fans. But Murray insisted: "We have been approached by West Ham United but the bottom line is we can't do anything about players coming in or going out of Ibrox until the winter break next week. We've had initial discussions with West Ham but only at a very early stage and who can say whether they will come to anything or not? What we can say, though, is that we won't be doing anything in the short term because we have a lot of injuries and suspensions." Harry Redknapp sees the Italian defender as another player that he can rescue from an unhappy situation. Paolo di Canio is the Hammers' boss's best example of unwanted goods that have flourished at Upton Park, and Redknapp is delighted that he has been error-prone in recent weeks. Redknapp said: "I do like Amoruso and I would like to have him here if I could. He has made a mistake or two so he should be a bit cheaper now. If he hadn't made any mistakes he would cost about £7million, but I am glad to see him make a mistake because his value comes down, and I think he is a good player." Dick Advocaat reserved nothing but praise for the commanding centre-back following his side's 3-0 home victory over St Johnstone, in which Amoruso was voted man-of-the-match for the second successive game. Advocaat said: "Every player has his price - the manager as well - but he still has two years to go."

Tuesday 26th December 2000

Match Reaction Rangers manager Dick Advocaat has told striker Michael Mols that he must work harder after taking him off after just half an hour of the win over St Johnstone. Mols has been feeling his way back from serious injury in the last few weeks, but Advocaat was not having that as an excuse. For the second game running Mols was subbed early and Advocaat decided that the ebullient Kenny Miller would offer him a better option with which to win the game against hard-working St Johnstone. Advocaat said: "He was not injured. I told him yesterday that I expect more from strikers so he knows that. If I have some good players on the bench then he has got to show me he wants to be in the team. I have other players. If I have Kenny Miller and Tore Andre Flo on the bench and the possibility is there to change then I will do it. He knows that if he's fit then he can be an excellent player. He needs more sharpness and confidence to play. It's a matter of time." The winter break begins next week, and Mols will then have the opportunity to build on his fitness. Advocaat has another striker chomping at the bit to be involved, and he explianed his policy regarding record signing Tore Andre Flo. Flo had missed the previous three games with a hamstring injury and Advocaat said: "It was important because it's always dangerous with hamstrings, but the pressure was off at 2-0 so he could get 25 minutes."

Sunday 24th December 2000

Match Reaction Rangers boss Dick Advocaat claimed he had not seen the incident in which Albertz was dismissed. But he too mentioned video evidence, perhaps in reference to the SFA's decision to punish Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen for a kick on Aberdeen's Darren Young that was missed by the referee but caught by the cameras. Ricksen played against Hibs because Rangers' appeal against a two-match ban meant his case remains unresolved. Advocaat said of the Albertz incident: "I couldn't see it. But these days you can use the video. We will give Mr Taylor (SFA chief executive David Taylor) a bit more time to watch. But I haven't seen it, honestly." Advocaat praised much-maligned central defensive pairing Bert Konterman and Lorenzo Amoruso, key men in the clean sheet that closes the gap on Hibernian in second. He said: "I was pleased with their performances. Both played an excellent game. I said last week the team played quite well. Amoruso made a mistake and he knows that for himself as well. Today they didn't give chances away. They played man-to-man the whole game and I think it was good quality. It was a very tough game. The two teams worked very hard to get a result. I think we deserved to win because we created more chances than Hibernian. They showed that it's not a surprise that they are in that position (in the league). It was more a hard-working performance and I'm quite pleased with that. We showed today that if you work hard you can get a result and that's the most important thing."

Friday 22nd December 2000

Team News Dick Advocaat will be without Aussie defender Tony Vidmar for the match against Hibs, and Arthur Numan missing due to suspension. That leaves the Ibrox side in a difficult position down the left side, with options such as recalling Sergio Porrini or dropping Jorg Albertz looking the likeliest solution. There's no word yet as to the fitness of £12 million striker Tore Andre Flo as he appears to be having a slow recovery form his hamstring problem, but former Hibs starlet Kenny Miller is standing by to replace him against his old side.

Wednesday 20th December 2000

Tugay dismisses Blackburn move Tugay has closed the door on a possible move to Blackburn. Rovers boss Graeme Souness has admitted his interest in the Turkish international, with only work permit problems having prevented the First Division club from making an official bid. But the 29-year-old, who played under Souness at Galatasaray in his home country, has ruled out a switch to Ewood Park. Tugay said: "There will be no transfer to Blackburn because I am very happy with life in Glasgow. My wife and children have settled well to Scotland and there is no reason to move to another country. There is only one small problem with life - and I think most people know about it. I would say I am 95 per cent settled, but if I was playing all the time then I would say I was 100 per cent satisfied." Tugay admitted that he would be happy to team up with Souness again, but considers Blackburn a big step down from the Scottish champions. He added: "Obviously I know Graeme Souness very well, just as he knows me. We have a good understanding together and I know he would treat me very well. But I am playing at a famous international club in a Premier League. There is no reason for me to go to a smaller club in the English First Division. That is no disrespect to Blackburn - but Rangers are the bigger club and Mr Souness will know that." Rangers appeal Ricksen ban Rangers will appeal against the suspension imposed on Fernando Ricksen so that they can have him available for the crunch Scottish Premier League game against Hibernian. The Dutchman was given a two-game ban by the Scottish Football Association on Monday after being found guilty of kicking Aberdeen midfielder Darren Young. The investigation made history in Scottish football because video evidence was used for the first time. Ricksen was given an automatic ban for the home game with Hibs and an additional 12 penalty points which will come into force in the new year. But Rangers director-secretary Campbell Ogilvie says the club will appeal against the ban which will mean Ricksen can continue playing until the appeal committee meets on January 30. Ogilvie siad: ''Within the SFA articles there is a right to appeal, and it is up to the player if he wants to do so. Rest assured that the player is considering such an eventuality, and the matter will be discussed further this week. But I can't say too much about it. I was personally at the hearing and can assure you that our views have been made clear to the SFA and others.'' Reyna is US player of the year Claudio Reyna, the playmaking midfielder who has been a key member of the U.S. national soccer team, was chosen Honda Player of the Year on Tuesday. Reyna said: "I beat out some good guys. There were a lot of very good players considered, not just the three finalists. I strive for consistency, and I'm fortunate I have received good coaching and have been surrounded by good players."

Tuesday 19th December 2000

Advocaat's 11 Scots dream Rangers manager Dick Advocaat today told fans he would love to field a team of 11 Scottish players. The Dutchman currently has just six Scots featuring regularly in his first-team pool - Barry Ferguson, Neil McCann, Allan Johnston, Kenny Miller, Billy Dodds and Scott Wilson. The rest of the positions are filled with imports from Holland, Germany, Australia, Italy, Ukraine, Turkey, United States, Denmark, Finland, Poland and England. Advocaat told shareholders at the club's annual meeting at the Braehead Arena he regarded a strong youth policy as the sign of a strong club. But he added he thought it simply unrealistic to expect an entire team to be brought through the ranks. He said: "My ideal would be to have a team of Scottish players who came through the youth system but that is not possible. If you get one player coming through from the youth academy a year then you are doing very well. You have got to be realistic about these things." Advocaat and chairman David Murray might have expected a rough ride from the shareholders considering the team are once more out of Europe and languishing in third place in the league, 12 points behind Glasgow rivals Celtic. But it was a far more relaxed atmosphere than at many previous annual meetings, although there was no shortage of pointed questions. One shareholder demanded to know whether £4.5million signing Ronald de Boer had been given a thorough medical as almost all of his short Ibrox career has seen him struggling with the knee problem he brought with him from Barcelona. Murray replied: "Yes. The fact that it was a Dutch doctor who had already failed John Hartson meant it was probably more thorough." The club's track record in the transfer market as a whole was also questioned when it was suggested that Andrei Kanchelskis, Marco Negri and Sebastian Rozental had been poor value for money. But Murray countered by explaining that all transfers were gambles and that the worth of players like Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Barry Ferguson had greatly increased since they joined the club, with Ferguson coming through the ranks. Murray was also quizzed on plans to float the club on the stock market but replied that with the future of the transfer market so uncertain it was not currently being considered. Rangers, along with their cross-city rivals, are involved in a campaign to be allowed to leave the Scottish Premier League and join a 16-team Euroleague of big teams from smaller countries. Last week UEFA made it clear they did not support the idea, much to the annoyance of the breakaway wannabes. Murray predicted that change in the way European football is set up was on its way and that in three years' time there would be a greatly different picture. Souness in for Tugay Blackburn's proposed deal to bring Tugay Kerimoglu to Ewood Park from Rangers has been hit by work permit problems. The Turkish international is the target of Rovers manager Graeme Souness after he originally recommended the player to Rangers. But any move for the Ibrox midfielder has been held up by red tape, although Blackburn chief executive John Williams is confident the deal will eventually go through. Williams told the club website: "Technical reasons involving work permits seems to have brought the deal to a halt. It is beyond our control. We are still hopeful of progressing in the future." Tugay was recommended to Rangers by Souness before the Scottish champions signed him at the start of this year for £1.3million. But the Turk has failed to make any significant impact in the first team despite earning rave reviews for his role as sweeper in the Champions League win in Monaco. However, Souness insists the 29-year-old is just one of a number of targets as he seeks to bolster his First Division promotion challenge. Souness said: "I have had a conversation with David Murray about Tugay but there is no bid at this stage. I have still to speak to my own people at Blackburn before anything can be done. He is one of a few names we have spoken about but it is fair to say that there is a Blackburn interest."

Monday 18th December 2000

Ricksen done by 'video' Fernando Ricksen has become the first player in Scottish football to be punished by an enquiry using video evidence. The Dutchman was found guilty by the Scottish Football Association's disciplinary committee of kicking Aberdeen's Darren Young in a match at Pittodrie on November 12. He was immediately banned for Rangers' next game - at home to Hibernian on Saturday - and was also given 12 penalty points, which come into force in the New Year and will see him suspended from the January 2 trip to St Mirren. The player made a personal appearance at his Hampden Park hearing and was accompanied by Rangers secretary-director Campbell Ogilvie. However, it is understood the player remained silent throughout and the club refused to comment afterwards. Ricksen now has seven days to lodge an appeal. SFA disciplinary committee chairman Jim Oliver said the matter had been dealt with because of the publicity the incident - missed by referee Mike McCurry - attracted following Rangers' 2-1 victory. He said: "It was an incident of importance in Scottish football. When such a blatant foul is committed then the committee feels it must take action." Another factor in the furore following Ricksen's kick at Young were the comments the Rangers player made on his personal website. Ricksen claimed he had decided to "straighten out" Young but later said he had been misquoted. However, the issue of whether those words had brought the game into disrepute was not considered today. Instead, that will be dealt with by the SFA's general purposes committee which does not meet until February. The disciplinary committee, which watched footage of the incident both in real time and slow motion, offered no criticism of the referee for missing the incident. Match Reaction Dick Advocaat insisted he was pleased by his side's performance at bottom club Dundee United, where a 1-1 draw was good enough only to cut Celtic's lead on their bitter rivals to 12 points. The Dutchman passed up an opportunity to slate wayward ex-captain Lorenzo Amoruso, whose error gifted United an equaliser when they had looked there for the beating. Instead, Advocaat stated he was merely disappointed with the result, the manner of the goal conceded plus a succession of missed chances. He said: "Today we played excellent football. I am very disappointed with the result because I think we played one of our best games, especially in the first half. We had a lot of runs and chances, and when we went 1-0 up I was waiting for the second and the third. But instead of that we gave a goal away." Amoruso was at fault when he allowed striker Beto Naveda to block an attempted clearance, and the ball fell perfectly for Derek Lilley to mark his United debut with a goal. Lilley's strike cancelled out Claudio Reyna's opener which arrived in a period when Rangers were dominating, forcing corner after corner. But in the end it was to be their only goal as United grew in confidence as the match progressed. But the chances were still there for the fading champions - with Tony Vidmar, Ronald de Boer and Barry Ferguson all hitting the bar. Ferguson's chance was the best of the trio, coming with four minutes to go, although Neil McCann missed arguably a better one in the second half when he put a header wide. Advocaat lamented: "I was unhappy with the way we gave the goal away but I was also unhappy with the chances we created but didn't take. We made it difficult for ourselves. No disrespect to Dundee United - but this was a win game. We were much the better side but we had to score a goal and we didn't."

Friday 15th December 2000

Flo and de Boer miss Sunday Rangers stars Tore Andre Flo and Ronald de Boer will likely miss the game against Dundee United as both are suffering with leg strains. £12 million signing Flo has failed to recover from a hamstring pull sustained in training recently, and de Boer was hauled off at half-time against Aberdeen as United manager Alex Smith looked on. The reason given today for de Boer's absence in the second half was he was suffering with a recurrence of a knee strain, but most Rangers supporters would concede his form of late has been very poor and coach Dick Advocaat just wanted him off the field. Michael Mols will likely play up front alongside Billy Dodds, who came on and scored as a second half sub the other night, as did German midfielder Jorg Albertz who will also start. UEFA block Euro league plan UEFA have blocked Celtic and Rangers' bid to join a lucrative EuroLeague because they say the Old Firm are too obsessed with their bank balances and have forgotten the fans' wishes. Instead, the governing body of European football has decided to revamp both the Champions League and the UEFA Cup for the start of the 2003-04 season. Earlier in the week, representatives from 11 clubs from smaller countries travelled to UEFA headquarters in Switzerland to plead their case. But UEFA general secretary Gerhard Aigner insisted on Friday: "The officials from these clubs have nothing against UEFA, but they wanted more receipts and a more attractive competition. But they have forgotten an essential point, that the sole judge of football is the supporter. How are the supporters going to react if we take away the tradition of derbies?" Rangers and Celtic joined forces with Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord, Brondby, Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, Anderlecht, Bruges and FC Copenhagen, to ask to be able to leave their respective domestic leagues. They perceived themselves as big clubs in small countries and as a result were convinced they were missing out on the type of lucrative television deal enjoyed by English Premiership clubs. Instead, UEFA announced it had decided to begin work immediately on reforming the format of the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The work to reduce the size of the Champions League, which UEFA accepts includes too many matches in its current format, should be finished by the end of 2001, UEFA said. The new form of the competitions will not begin until July 2003. Aigner said: "The Champions League in its current format has reached the end of its life. We must find a new formula in which there will be fewer matches." The EuroLeague hopefuls have now been invited to have a re-think and submit alternative proposals.

Wednesday 13th December 2000

Team News Rangers will be without Lorenzo Amoruso through suspension and Tore Andre Flo and Tony Vidmar both are sidelined with hamstring injuries. Arthur Numan and Claudio Reyna are both back from suspension and Kenny Miller and Ronald de Boer are available, with de Boer's knee injury not as serious as once feared. Prodan wants Ibrox return Rangers defender Daniel Prodan claimed last night he's set to return to Ibrox to win his place in the first team after playing for Rocar on-loan. The bizarre situation between Rangers and the tough Romanian star heightened last week as he skippered his country in an international game, and as the Bulgarian season starts it's winter break, he's looking for advice from Dick Advocaat as to what he has to do now. Rangers have been in contact with their man, who has yet to feature in a first team game since his £2.5 million signing from Athletico Madrid in 1998, and he said that as far as he's concerned, he's now fully fit and doesn't even think about his injury that kept him out for so long. McCann just wants to play Rangers winger Neil McCann has insisted he does not mind where he plays, so long as he gets a regular game. McCann made his first start since the end of October in Sunday's 2-0 home win over Motherwell and is hoping to keep his place for Wednesday's re-arranged visit of Aberdeen. Manager Dick Advocaat's switch to three central defenders and wing-backs has been the primary reason for keeping the former Hearts player on the bench. But he insisted: "I'm not just an out-and-out winger, although I consider that my best position. It's not for me to decide where I play. It's down to the manager - he picks the players he thinks can do a job. I've just been pushing myself hard and waiting for my chance." McCann has been in and out of the side all season and came on as a second-half substitute last week in the UEFA Cup tie at Kaiserslautern before being given the nod against Motherwell. He said: "It was nice to get a start. When you play 20 minutes or half-an-hour now and then you lose quite a lot of your sharpness. When you come on for 15 minutes or whatever it's hard to get into the game. On Sunday I thought I was coming into it near the end, but I was getting a bit tired."

Monday 11th December 2000

Gio out for 3 months Rangers have been rocked by the news that midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst will be sidelined for a further three months. The Dutch international has played just once in the last 10 weeks after picking up a groin injury on World Cup duty against Cyprus. The news will come as a huge blow for manager Dick Advocaat, who has come increasingly under-fire following the UEFA Cup defeat by Kaiserslautern last week. Advocaat told the club's official website: "Giovanni is getting a second opinion but it is highly probable that he will require an operation which means he will be out for a couple of months, probably until the end of February. It's a big blow for us because we have already been missing him for a long time now but it something we will have to handle and this is the reason why have a big squad. First of all it was said he needed rest, then it was said that he needed treatment but it now looks like it will be an operation and that is not just unlucky for us but unlucky for Giovanni. Of course, he is an important player and I think any club would find it hard to lose a player of his calibre from their team but the frustrating thing from our point of view is that we have suffered so many injuries this season to key players."

Sunday 10th December 2000

Flo injury blow Tore Andre Flo is the latest big-name to join the Ibrox casualty list. Flo had been doubtful before the game with a hamstring injury, manager Dick Advocaat has admitted. The former Chelsea man lasted just 26 seconds of his side's 2-0 Ibrox victory over Motherwell and is now likely to be out while his team are trying to bounce back from a soul-destroying European exit. Injuries reached epidemic proportions earlier in the season but the likes of Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Ronald de Boer are still out. Advocaat said of Flo: "On Friday he felt something. Yesterday it was good and when he started it was good. But during the game, when he made his first sprint, he felt it." It was never a convincing performance by the home side, who laboured to victory thanks to goals from Bert Konterman and Barry Ferguson. But after Thursday's UEFA Cup exit in Kaiserslautern the points were more than welcome. Advocaat, who insisted he knew nothing of newspaper speculation linking Lorenzo Amoruso with a £3million move to West Ham, said: "After a game like Thursday it was important to win. It was not our best performance but I'm quite pleased with the result." The home crowd were also in subdued mood but the Dutchman said he understood that. He said: "The players have to understand that the crowd are also disappointed. We can only get the atmosphere back if we show our commitment and I think we showed that. But quality-wise we struggled today.'' Vidmar doesn't plan contract extension Tony Vidmar plans to leave Rangers when his contract expires in 18 months. Vidmar, signed under the Bosman ruling ion 1997, has spent most of his Rangers career as back up to the defence and struggled to hold down a regular place in the side. Vidmar said: "It's a concern that the progression has stopped. I am 30 and it's important that I keep playing. I don't want to be just hanging around. I have one year after this one and I'd love to see out my contract. But after Rangers I'd like to have another contract in Europe. I don't think it would be Scotland because I'll have done that for five years and I'd like another challenge. I can see the move coming at the end of my contract."

Saturday 9th December 2000

Advocaat admits transfer mistakes Dick Advocaat has admitted he has made mistakes with his decisions in the transfer market. Advocaat has spent £70million since the summer of 1998, bringing in, amongst others, Bert Konterman, Fernando Ricksen and Ronald de Boer. Advocaat said: "I agree I have made mistakes, but that's normal if you buy and sell. We first tried to get other players from other countries but we couldn't get them. Then we tried to get players who we knew, Dutch internationals." Advocaat also admitted he was disappointed to be knocked out of Europe: "We are all disappointed at this club that we failed to come through. I take the blame, the players take the blame - everyone who is involved in football here takes the blame. Winning and losing we do together, not as individuals, but I am responsible for that." Chairman David Murray said: "For a variety of reasons our big players haven't performed. The other night (against Kaiserslautern) some didn't perform and some weren't even there. That's the reality of it." de Boer injury layoff Rangers are awaiting medical reports which will reveal whether Ronald de Boer has played his last game this year. A persistent knee problem has dogged the Dutchman for most of his time at Ibrox so far and meant he could only watch his side's midweek UEFA Cup exit at Kaiserslautern from the substitutes' bench. With only league points to play for now, Rangers manager Dick Advocaat is weighing up whether to take de Boer out of the equation until after the winter break. Advocaat said: "One of the players who wants to prove himself here is de Boer but his knee still bothers him. I have discussed with the doctor what we have to do for him." Advocaat added it was also a matter of "wait and see" with Giovanni van Bronckhorst, whose collection of injuries has kept him out of action since a premature return in the Champions League at Sturm Graz on October 25. The Dutchman has missed all but one of his side's last 14 fixtures. Advocaat denied that centre-back Craig Moore was out for the rest of the season following another operation on his damaged knee. He said: "He had the operation three weeks ago and I'm hoping he can come back and play in January in America." Sunday Team News Rangers will face Motherwell tomorrow without suspended trio Lorenzo Amoruso, Artur Numan and Claudio Reyna. John Spencer and Derek Adams are both doubtful for Motherwell although Andy Goram is set to return in goal. For Rangers, the game comes as an opportunity to get three points closer to Celtic, even if only for a matter of hours with the hoops kicking off against Dundee at 6:05 the same evening. After Thursday's ignominious exit from the UEFA cup 'Gers boss Dick Advocaat knows that nothing less than a win will be tolerated by the support.

Thursday 7th December 2000

Gers crash out Rangers' German bogey continued as Kaiserslautern made Dick Advocaat's side pay for missed chances in both legs to reach the Fourth Round of the UEFA Cup. Once again the Scottish champions have been found wanting on the European stage, being eliminated from their second competition this season before Andy Stewart has even planned his Hogmanay sing-song. After Bayern and Dortmund last season, add Andreas Brehme's impressive Kaiserslautern to the list of German conquerors. They showed the difference in finishing ability in the second half after both sides were guilty of spurning good openings. Rangers will look towards a controversial decision made in the home side's favour after 75 minutes, when Rod Wallace looked to have been held back by Jeff Strasser as he tried to reach Neil McCann's best cross of the afternoon. But the Danish referee waived away any penalty appeals and within four minutes Rangers were out when the impressive Greek-born Dimitri Grammozis turned Claudio Reyna inside out before crossing for Vratislav Lokvenc to score the third. It took Kaiserslautern just eight minutes to level Jorg Albertz's late first-leg strike. Miroslav Klose showed superb skill to beat Scott Wilson. Klose took advantage of a lucky bounce to volley an unstoppable drive past near-namesake Stefan Klos from close range. Rangers were missing the suspended Barry Ferguson in midfield as Youri Djorkaeff controlled the game. However, both sides were making chances and fluffing them. Jorg Albertz had time to pick his spot but only found Georg Koch's legs after 16 minutes. Then Tugay made a mess of finding the unmarked Kenny Miller, who could only fire over but would surely have tested Koch if the ball had been played in front of rather than behind him. There were misses at both end - Vladimir Lokvenc at 6'7" was criminally left alone twice in the first half to head left-wing crosses wide from within 10 yards. The half-time introduction of Michael Mols and Neil McCann helped Rangers look a perkier side at the start of the second half they changed to a 4-3-3 formation. Bert Konterman was pushed forward to counter the threat of French World Cup and Euro 2000 winner Djorkaeff, and for 20 minutes Rangers looked confident and this tie was so evenly poised. Kaiserslautern were not happy to defend, but had to as Advocaat's changes meant that the Germans could only counter-attack. Lorenzo Amoruso did very well to deny Djorkaeff in the 58th minute but the attack continued for Grammozis to fire a low shot just wide. From one such quick break the second goal came. Andreas Buck had time to slot the ball past Klos after a Rangers corner had been instantly despatched forward by goalkeeper Koch. Advocaat threw on Billy Dodds, leaving Ronald De Boer as a frustrated bench spectator, but too often the final ball was wanting as Hami Ramzy policed the Kaiserslautern defence. The home crowd started their Christmas celebrations early after Lokvenc finally found the target with his head with 11 minutes left. There will be no festive feeling in Glasgow for Light Blues' fans with only domestic fare to look forward to after the winter break - again. Old Firm still in Euro League pursuit Rangers and Celtic will continue their pursuit of a possible European League when they meet with UEFA's executive committee in Geneva next week. The Old Firm duo will join clubs such as AIK Athens, Brondby, Bruges, Feyenoord, PSV, Anderlecht and Benfica in urging the European governing body to sanction a new competition. Ibrox secretary and director Campbell Ogilvie will represent Rangers at the meeting next Wednesday as the clubs attempt to thrash out a new structure for the game. Ogilvie told the Glasgow Evening Times: "There is no doubt whatsoever that there will be radical changes, although I cannot - like everyone else involved in these negotiations - put a specific time scale on them. But change will come, let there be no doubt about that. This may mean that the Scottish game as we know it will have to change. But I also must emphasise that Rangers and, I believe, Celtic will continue to play a role back home." Major forces are at work on the continent, Ogilvie believes, who will ultimately dictate what happens in Europe and therefore in Scotland. He said: "There are many major clubs within the European structure who have great demands to meet. There are huge expectations from supporters and from sponsors and we are being handicapped. We cannot together form a breakaway league without the consent and approval of the national associations of UEFA, so the discussions are on-going. Next week, however, I expect that most of us will be represented in Geneva when we meet with UEFA's executive committee. It is impossible to say when an accommodation will be reached with UEFA. But their president Lennart Johansson is listening to our proposals and I can see the opportunities for changes in the entire set-up of European football." But Ogilvie insists the restructuring is not a mere get-rich-quick scheme for the clubs involved. He said: "This is not simply about a quick fix in terms of revenue. If Scottish football is to progress we need the finance from European competition. We require the money television and multi-national sponsors can provide. At the moment what are regarded as the leading five nations within Europe take the cream - and the rest of us have to scuffle for a share. We are not looking for a big slice of the cake, just a decent share of it. It will take time and a lot of persuasion before we get there. But I hope that within the next five years Rangers, Celtic and another two or three Scottish clubs can enjoy the goods on offer. We need a guaranteed income and not simply to pay footballers the wages they now command. The development of kids at home requires finance and everyone would benefit if proper facilities were to be established throughout Europe."

Tuesday 5th December 2000

3 game ban for Numan The Scottish Football Association have confirmed that Rangers defender Arthur Numan will only serve a three-match suspension. There were fears that the Dutchman could actually miss four games after he and Claudio Reyna were given their marching orders in the victory at Hearts. But after receiving the report from referee Stuart Dougal the SFA revealed that Numan had received three yellow cards. He will miss the games against Motherwell, Dundee United and Hibernian during this vital month for the club. An SFA spokesman said: "Arthur Numan will serve one match immediately and will serve it this Sunday against Motherwell. Numan will also get two fixed suspensions and they will be from the 17th of December. Numan's sequence was a yellow card, followed by a red card and then a yellow card again." Gio misses Euro game Rangers headed for Germany without their two most influential midfield players. Dutch ace Giovanni van Bronckhorst has failed to recover from injury. He has joined suspended skipper Barry Ferguson on the sidelines for the UEFA Cup third round second leg against Kaiserslautern on Thursday. Van Bronckhorst´s absence is a major blow to Dick Advocaat, who had hoped his fellow-Dutchman´s return would offset the loss of Ferguson and help Rangers survive in Europe beyond Christmas for the first time in eight years. The in-form Ibrox captain was booked last week in the first leg at Ibrox, which gave Rangers a slender 1-0 advantage, and was banned because two cautions in the Champions League were carried forward. Van Bronckhorst had trained for a week after having extensive treatment in Holland, but his niggling groin injury has failed to respond sufficiently. He has managed just an hour of football in seven weeks, and won´t be back until he´s ready. Advocaat has options. He could play Tugay, Claudio Reyna or Ronald de Boer in midfield, while Tony Vidmar and Fernando Ricksen are available as defensive cover.

Monday 4th December 2000

Trouble on the cards for Gers Rangers are facing a suspension crisis after yesterday´s explosive 1-0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle. Referee Stuart Dougal sent off Claudio Reyna and Arthur Numan and also booked Barry Ferguson, Jorg Albertz, Bert Konterman and Tugay Kerimoglu. But Numan will be in more serious trouble than first thought. BBC pictures showed the Dutch defender was given a straight red card, not a second yellow, for what appeared to be swearing at the official. Both Numan and Reyna were then called to Dougal´s room after the game and each given a further caution for not leaving the field when told to do so. Numan has effectively been sent off twice, which will lead to an automatic two-game ban, and see 14 points added to his disciplinary record. Reyna will have 9 points added to his record, and both players could be in line for further suspensions if they have gone through the threshold of 16 points. Numan will miss the home SPL games against Motherwell this Sunday and Aberdeen on December 13, while Reyna will sit out the ´Well clash. But Gers gaffer Dick Advocaat is already without Lorenzo Amoruso for the games against Aberdeen and Dundee United four days later. And Dutch defender Fernando Ricksen appears before the SFA beaks this week to explain his wild kick at Aberdeen´s Darren Young in a game at Pittodrie three weeks ago. Ricksen is sure to be handed a suspension after being caught on TV, which means Advocaat is going to be hit hard on the personnel front. Flo the 'defender' Tore Andre Flo made it through the second lesson in his Scottish football education with flying colours after adding a new element to his game – defending! He said of the match against Hearts at Tynecastle: "I was in defence as much as in attack. I was always coming back to mark Steven Pressley." Flo became the most expensive player in Scottish football when he moved to Rangers from Chelsea for £12million. The Norwegian was detailed lead the champions' attack for the next five seasons and bring much-needed Champions League experience to a Gers team still struggling to mount a challenge in Europe's premier club competition. However, the Tynecastle clash was a rude awakening for him about the problems of playing north of the Border: "For me the tempo of the game was far too high - that's why it wasn't a good football game." The atmosphere of the Old Firm game plus the physicality of the Tynecastle clash have certainly opened the Norseman's eyes to the nature of football north of the border. Claudio Reyna and Arthur Numan were both sent off for two bookable offences, and four other Rangers and three Hearts players were also cautioned. Flo said: "In this type of game it wasn't a matter of playing well; it was a matter of fighting." The Norwegian international, who had come in for Michael Mols up front after being ineligible for the midweek UEFA Cup tie against Kaiserslautern, was taken off directly after the Numan dismissal which had closely followed Reyna's. That left Rangers almost 20 minutes to try to protect the lead given to them by Jorg Albertz's 12th-minute penalty and, mainly thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Stefan Klos, they managed it. But if Flo has yet to attune himself to Scottish football he has already declared his approval of both club and country. In February the Flo family intend to move into the East Renfrewshire town of Newton Mearns, just over the border from Glasgow. That is because plenty of Ibrox stars already live there, and Flo is keen to be near his team-mates. He said: "It was different at Chelsea because everyone lived in different parts of London, and the only time you saw them was for training or matches." Finnish youngster heading for Ibrox Rangers look poised to sign the Finnish youngster Jani Kauppila on a two-year deal. The 20-year-old midfielder currently plays for the Finnish second division side Tervarit, but is expected to move to Ibrox in January. Kauppila had been on trial with Rangers earlier this season and would be delighted to make the move to Glasgow permanent. He said: "This transfer is something I had barely dared to dream about. I should be starting my military service next year, but now I have this fantastic opportunity." The player hopes to join up with the Rangers squad during their trip to Florida in the winter break. Advocaat has already landed one young Finn - former FC Haka defender Tero Pentilla. He is out of action with a knee injury, however, and will not be fit again until February.

Sunday 3rd December 2000

Match reaction Dick Advocaat vented his fury at Scottish officialdom after two of his players were sent off at Tynecastle in his side's 1-0 win over Hearts. But he did so in an unusual way - by complaining that he was prevented from complaining by an oppressive regime. He grumbled: "I am very annoyed because in other countries you can say what you want. But they are waiting for it." They are the Scottish Football Association, whose policy is to hit managers and players who stir up post-match trouble with the charge of bringing the game into disrepute. But still the wily, and often bristling Dutchman, managed to make his point crystal clear following the twin dismissals of first Claudio Reyna and then Arthur Numan in four crazy second-half minutes. Both players managed to get themselves booked and then sent off within seconds of the first offence. Reyna was yellow carded for two reckless touchline challenges; Numan for committing a similar foul and then complaining about it. Advocaat began: "I don't want to talk about the referee. It's not allowed in this country. I wish I could say something." The Tynecastle victory was a remarkable end to a remarkable week for the men from Ibrox, who thrashed Celtic 5-1 seven days ago, beat Kaiserslautern with a late goal in their UEFA Cup first leg in midweek and then defied the odds and the Hearts strikers to pick up three points here. Advocaat admitted the performance of goalkeeper Stefan Klos, who pulled off a string of fine saves, had been the main reason for the win. He said: "We had a little bit of luck, there's no doubt about that. Stefan won it for us." Stefan Klos doesn't want to play behind only eight outfield players again. The German was superb as Hearts were frustrated despite Rangers having Claudio Reyna and Artur Numan sent off. He said: "Two is a bit too much to have sent off but we put a lot of players at the back and did well to defend the one-goal lead. It was a difficult game for us and we were a bit lucky to win the game, but we want to win the Championship again and we have to win these games." 9 man Gers take the points Rangers survived two dismissals at Tynecastle to keep the SPL title race alive with a victory that was made in Germany. Their win at Tynecastle came courtesy of a penalty from The Hammer Jorg Albertz and a string of saves from his compatriot Stefan Klos. But they faced an anxious last 18 minutes with only nine men after Claudio Reyna and Artur Numan were both sent off. The Ibrox side are now back to within 13 points of Celtic with two games in hand. The ambitions of new Hearts manager Craig Levein – in his first game in charge – will be more modest but he will be heartened at how hard his side made Rangers work. In a frantic first half, Klos denied Gordon Durie twice in a minute. He dived full-length to tip the striker's header around the post and from the resulting Stevie Fulton corner, he got down low to stop a powerful Durie shot. The 'keeper's heroics didn't end there – blocking Andy Kirk's drive with his legs after Durie had beaten Scott Wilson in the air. Rangers went ahead after 12 minutes when Lorenzo Amoruso's long ball was chased by Barry Ferguson and he went down under a challenge from ex-Ger Gordan Petric. Albertz converted easily from the spot. The Hearts response panicked their Glasgow rivals. Bert Konterman, Albertz, Barry Ferguson were all cautioned and Claudio Reyna sent off for first fouling Grant Murray and then sticking his arm out to block Kirk. Reyna departed after 65 minutes and seven minutes later Numan followed him for an early bath, booked for a foul on Robbie Neilson and then sent off for complaining. From then on, the Rangers defence was brilliantly resolute – particularly the Germans!

Saturday 2nd December 2000

Hearts game team news £12M Tore Andre Flo is set to replace Kenny Miller as Dick Advocaat's side prepare to face Hearts in tomorrow's SPL clash at Tynecastle Park.The last time the sides met at Ibrox ended in a 1-0 win for Dick Advocaat's side with the winning goal coming in the second half with a rare strike from Ronald de Boer. New Hearts boss Craig Levein has played in a few winning Hearts teams against the SPL Champions, and knows how difficult a task it will be. Rangers are on a high after defeating Kaiserslautern on Thursday night while Hearts were on the receiving end of a bizarre strike from Dunfermline's Jason Dair which settled the match 1-0 in favour of the Pars at East End Park. Both sides expect to make changes with former Rangers players Antii Niemi, Stephen Pressley, Gordan Petric, Gordon Durie and Gary McSwegan all looking forward to facing ex-Jambos Neil McCann and Allan Johnston. Bradford Kanchelskis loan link Bradford City's new boss Jim Jefferies is considering ending the Rangers nightmare of Andrei Kanchelskis. The former Hearts manager is keen to take the unwanted winger on a loan deal until the end of the season. Ibrox manager Dick Advocaat is likely to sanction the move after dumping the temperamental Ukrainian from his first-team squad after he refused to play in an Under-21 match against Aberdeen a fortnight ago. Kanchelskis and Advocaat have gone public about their fall-out and the war of words could see the 31-year-old heading back to the Premiership.

Friday 1st December 2000

Ferguson next misses Euro tie Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson will miss the UEFA Cup third round second leg tie with Kaiserslautern. The Scotland international star was booked on Thursday for a foul on Marian Hristov, his second caution in Europe his season. Ferguson now misses an important clash - with Rangers defending a 1-0 lead - but manager Dick Advocaat feels his side can cope with the loss. Advocaat confirmed: "Barry is out of the next leg and that's disappointing, but most of the players are fit and we can handle it." Late strike gives Gers advantage A late strike from Jorg Albertz gave Rangers a 1-0 win over Kaiserslautern in the first leg of this UEFA Cup third round tie at Ibrox. Albertz received the ball from Neil McCann on the edge of the box and squeezed a right footed shot in at the far post. It was just reward for a fine performance from the home side but Dick Advocaat will feel his side should have taken a healthier advantage into the second leg after a series of missed chances. Rangers were quick out of the blocks and could have been infront through Michael Mols after just three minutes. Kenny Miller made a great run down the right flank and whipped in a low cross which Mols was inches away from converting. A goal-line clearance prevented Barry Ferguson putting Rangers ahead after more good work from Miller on 25 minutes. And Miller himself was guilty of spurning a great chance five minutes later, lashing a close range shot wide of the near post. Rangers' second half performance was lacklustre in comparison to the frantic attacking of the opening 45 minutes. And it was not until Jorgen Pettersson was sent off for a second bookable offence with ten minutes remaining that they looked like getting the win their first half performance had merited. Albertz' strike three minutes from time precipitated a succession of chances which could have given Rangers a more comfortable margin of victory. The German came close with a powerful 40-yard free kick which whistled inches wide of the post. And Neil McCann's goal bound shot was deflected over the bar by Kenny Miller in injury time. Rangers' boss Dick Advocaat said: "It was a good win for us and in the first half we played some excellent football. We created a lot of chances. Kaiserslautern played with a lot of players behind the ball, and that made it difficult for our players to create chances. We showed good quality but we had a lot of chances - and you must score goals from these chances.When you don't score you start to worry that they could score, and I think some of the players were a little scared in the second half. It wasn't as good as the first half. We controlled the game again towards the end, and I was pleased that we got the goal." Kaiserslautern manager Andreas Brehme said: "At our stadium, there is always the chance to win a game like this. The kick-off time is four o'clock, and it will be difficult to fill the stadium when people are at work - but we have still got a chance."