JANUARY 2000

Sunday 30th January 2000

Rangers face an away tie to either Greenock Morton or Brechin City in the next round of the Cup after beating St Johnstone 2-0 today. Rangers ensured their passage into the fourth round draw with a patient display against a har working Saints side. With most of the action taking place in the midfield area it took Rangers time to break down a well organised home defence. With Billy Dodds suspended Gordon Durie partnered Rod Wallace up front but the opening goal came from a less likely source. Arthur Numan took 18 months to score his first goal for the club but it took him only a week to notch his second. The rampaging left back cut in on the sdge of the box and curled the ball expertly past Alan Main with his right foot in the 42nd minute. But the first half was not without scares for the Cup holders with Nathan Lowndes cracking the woodwork with a superb curling effort in the 13th minute. With the deadlock broken before the break Rangers emerged for the second half with confidence. And Jorg Albertz nearly extended their lead in the 54th minute when he drove a long range effort with his left foot that was well pushed away by Alan Main. But it took just 10 more minutes for Rangers to put some distance between the teams when another Dutchman, Gio van Bronckhorst produced a fine strike from 20 yards in the 64th minute. Rangers built on that and dominated for the remainder of the second half, forcing Alan Main into a string of fine saves including one wonderful stop from Gordon Durie. The returning striker must have believed he had found the net when he met Neil McCann's expert cross but Main appeared from nowhere to turn the ball away with his left hand. Dick Advocaat then introduced two further substitutes with the game won and his thoughts turned to the draw for the next round. Rangers Team Vs St Johnstone : Klos; Vidmar, Moore, Amoruso(c), Numan; B.Ferguson, van Bronckhorst, Albertz, Kanchelskis; Wallace, Durie Subs : Reyna, McCann, Tugay

Saturday 29th January 2000

Scotland winger Allan Johnston is on his way to Ibrox but not until the end of the season. Rangers manager Dick Advocaat confirmed that his club expect to complete a pre-contract agreement next week. Former Hearts star Johnston is in dispute with Sunderland after falling out with manager Peter Reid and is currently on loan at Nationwide League First Division club Bolton. Rangers will not have to pay a penny by way of a transfer fee because Johnston is out of contract in the summer. Advocaat said: "Hopefully we will bring Johnston to the club at the beginning of the new season. Nothing will happen this season. We still have to make an agreement but we expect to do that some time next week. I have seen Johnston in some games and he has an individual style. He can play on the right, the left and through the middle. He is a Scottish player and is about to become a Rangers player. Of course it is good to bring in another Scottish player, but my priority has to be the quality of the player. We are pleased that he has gone to Bolton because it means he is back playing football again." Dick Advocaat is ready play Tugay Kerimoglu against St Johnstone on Sunday as well as Rod Wallace and Gordon Durie in attack. The 'Gers new signing was outstanding against Sparta in his first full game for the Ibrox giants. And now Dick Advocaat is ready to use him against Sandy Clark's side in the televised match at McDiarmid Park at the weekend. Advocaat is also likely to play Wallace and Durie up front as Saints old boy Billy Dodds is suspended from last season's bookings, although there is much speculation Marco Negri will play from the start. But that's unlikely, with Durie, who's out of contract at the end of the season and now a target for Dunfermline, getting the nod.

Friday 28th January 2000

The Chilean internationalist, Sebastian Rozental, will be handed his work permit within the next few days, thus allowing him to pick up his career with Rangers after a two-year gap through injury. An Independent Appeal Tribunal set up by the Department of Employment met in Glasgow yesterday to give its decision on an appeal by Rangers after an initial plea for a work permit had been refused earlier this month. The three men making up the tribunal were former Celtic captain and manager Billy McNeill, one time Hibs' captain and manager Pat Stanton, and Aberdeen,s ex-captain and manager Willie Miller. All of them were gagged by the DoE after they had heard evidence presented by a delegation from Rangers. The men from Ibrox were not allowed to comment, either.It is understand that the panel were unanimous in recommending that Rozental should be allowed to restart his Ibrox career. The view was, apparently, that the striker is a proven internationalist whose previous time with Rangers was ended only because of injury. At that time, the question of a work permit had not been disputed and had only been done so now because the player had been absent from his country's national team during his recuperation period following a cruciate ligament injury. Since then, Rangers allowed Rozental to return to Santiago and play for his former club, Universidad Catolica. The other week, he joined the Rangers first- team squad in Florida where he had with him documentation from Chilean World Cup coach Nelson Acosta stressing that he was back in his plans for the forthcoming qualifying games. All of that evidence was presented yesterday and while coach Dick Advocaat left saying: "We must await the decision. At this time no-one has been able to tell us anything because they must consider the presentation we made. We can only hope that everything works out well for the player." Rangers have made an official approach to Sunderland for Scotland winger Allan Johnston. The 26-year-old has been in dispute with the Wearside club this season after turning down a lucrative new contract at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland boss Peter Reid accused Rangers of `tapping the player up' shortly after the two clubs met in a pre-season friendly. Johnston - who has just joined Bolton on a month's loan - idolised Rangers as a child and has previously stated his desire to move to Ibrox. And, even though he is available on a free transfer under the Bosman Ruling, Rangers chairman David Murray has made contact with the Premiership club and offered a nominal fee for the Glasgow-born player's services. "We will be starting talks with the player's agent (Blair Morgan) within the next few days," said Murray. "We have written to Sunderland as requested under regulations and we hope to finalise details as soon as possible as long as the player agrees."

Thursday 27th January 2000

Dutch master Michael Mols has insisted he will be an even better player when he returns from injury. Mols, who suffered a cruciate ligament injury against Bayern Munich in November, has been back in Holland to recuperate. He is not expected to return until pre-season training in the summer when he believes he will be stronger than ever. "I have no doubts that when I come back I will be better than ever," the £4million striker said. "There were difficulties after I had my operation when I felt I might never be the same player. I was concerned that I might not have the same mobility but now I know I'm going to get stronger." Seb Rozental will find out later today whether he has won his work permit back so he can play against for Rangers. The club have sent a huge dossier to the appeals panel alongside representation from the club including top administration man Campbell Ogilvie. They are fairly confident the player will be awarded the permit and should be back in Scotland in a few weeks time. Apparently, once the appeal panel reach their decision it still has to be ratified by the government minister responsible for such applications, but coach Dick Advocaat could have the player available for the home match against Dundee United in early February.

Wednesday 26th January 2000

The sale of Rangers striker Gabriel Amato to Brazilian outfit Gremio has still not been completed. The 29-year-old Argentinian was due to make his debut against Figueirense on Wednesday night but those plans now look likely to be scrapped. Gremio recently sold defender Rafael to Rangers' arch-rivals Celtic for £4.8million and had agreed to invest £3.5million of that fee to take Amato back to South America. However, the Scottish Football Association have confirmed that the player is still registered with the Ibrox club and Rangers' official club magazine, the Rangers News, claims that the paperwork which would seal the transfer still hasn't arrive. Amato said : "I wasn't aware of this If that's the case, I won't be playing tonight. As far as I knew, everything was OK. I have been training with Gremio as if everything is normal and I can't understand this. I'm sure it will be sorted out but if it isn't, I would like to come back to Glasgow." Rangers midfielder Jorg Albertz admitted he turned down the chance to captain the Scottish champions because of protocol. The German was offered the captain's armband when Lorenzo Amoruso left the field in the second half of the 0-0 draw against Sparta Rotterdam. But Albertz, who recently pledged to see out his contract with the Ibrox outfit, rejected the honour to allow third-choice skipper Craig Moore to take over after deputy captain Arthur Numan had also been replaced. Albertz siad: "Lorenzo is the first-choice captain and Arthur Numan is the second and they were both off so I felt it should go to the third man in line, who was Craig Moore, and that was normal " The German thought that the friendly, which marked the opening of Sparta's new Eneco Stadion, had been a useful preparation for the rest of the Scottish Premier League season and the cup game at St Johnstone on Sunday.But Albertz insisted both sides had remained faithful to the definition of 'friendly' to avoid injuries in a dull match. "It was good for practice early in the season after the winter break so it was a useful exercise. The pitch was a bit hard so nobody was really into tackles but it was good for working out tactics for us. We had a big squad and the manager felt everybody should play at some point in the game. You cannot really go into tackles on a hard pitch and we had to play carefully to keep us injury free. It was okay - nothing special - but it was a good run out for me. They played well and it was hard to play against them, but it was a positive game for all of us." Marco Negri could not reproduce the goal-scoring form which made him such a Rangers favourite two years ago in Tuesday night's goalless draw against Sparta Rotterdam. The Italian striker, who appeared as a second-half substitute, was not aided in his quest by a lack of service from a Gers side content to stroll through the 90 minutes to officially mark the opening of the Eneco Stadion in Holland. The Dutch side were more determined than Dick Advocaat's side and could have snatched the win on several occasions, with Bram Marbus and second-half sub Roy Stroeve both going close. Rangers strolled their way through the first period, even allowing the home side a number of chances to celebrate the opening of their new stadium with the first goal. Only goalkeeper Stefan Klos' quick thinking denied Marbus after nine minutes after he played a swift one-two with Michel Langerak. Arthur Numan, clearly inspired by his first goal for the Gers against Aberdeen on Saturday, tried his luck again when he met Andrei Kanchelskis' cross after a brilliant ball wide by Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Impressive Sparta midfielder Anders Nielsen was looking very lively and Marbus met his excellent 16th-minute cross with a diving header from the edge of the area which Klos saved comfortably. Sparta needed the quick thinking of Dave Van der Meer nine minutes later when he cleared Rod Wallace's low cross from the right under pressure from Kanchelskis. From Van Bronckhorst's resulting corner Lorenzo Amoruso headed just over. But the Rangers captain slipped later with a poor back pass which allowed Marbus to close in on goal, but the striker could not take advantage. The excitable tannoy announcer loudly proclaimed that new Gers signing Tugay Kerimoglou was a huge favourite with the Ibrox fans - a little premature - but the Turkish international worked hard at forming a solid relationship with Van Bronckhorst in the middle. In what was, in reality, an exhibition match, it took a defender to come closest in the first period with Sparta's Marillia de Santana putting his header on to the roof of Klos' net from Nielsen's cross four minutes from the break. Advocaat made a plethora of changes for the second half with Jorg Albertz, Tony Vidmar, Gordon Durie and, most noticeably, Negri all coming on. The Italian took just seconds to almost score his first goal for the Light Blues in two years. Claudio Reyna broke from the right but his shot was miscued. Negri attempted to get down low to head home but just failed. The mass substitution had little bearing on the quality of the game, although Vidmar was caught by surprise when he failed to see Tugay's excellent long ball in the 64th minute, allowing goalkeeper Frank Kooiman to clear. But Sparta were desperate to officially mark the opening of their stadium with a victory and only Klos' legs prevented Erik Tammer from driving home. Nielsen swung over an excellent corner which avoided the attentions of the Rangers defence but Nordin Boukhari on the back post could only drive wide. Craig Moore was fortunate to escape giving away a penalty after 77 minutes when he appeared to pull Boukhari's shirt in the area. Ronald Koeman lookalike Van der Meer proved he lacks the former Dutch captain's direction when he powered a free-kick well wide. And Albertz forced the first real save of the game five minutes from the end when Kooiman tipped over. In the dying seconds Stroeve rounded Klos before striking goalwards but defender Moore cleared from under his own crossbar. Rangers Team: Klos, Adamczuk (Durie 45), Pentilla, Amoruso (Moore 66), Numan (Vidmar 45), Kanchelskis (Ferguson 66), Reyna, Tugay, van Bronckhorst (Albertz 45), Wallace (Negri 45), McCann. Not used: Brown

Tuesday 25th January 2000

Marco Negri could not reproduce the goalscoring form which made him such a Rangers favourite two years ago in the friendly against Sparta Rotterdam. The Italian appeared as a second-half substitute but was not aided by a lack of service as Rangers strolled through 90 minutes to mark the opening of the Eneco Stadion in Holland. Jorg Albertz almost won it for Rangers late on but his effort was tipped over. Rangers boss Dick Advocaat says Marco Negri must be given time to recapture the form that saw him bag 36 goals in the first half of the 1997-98 season. The striker enjoyed his first piece of action since his row with former Ibrox manager Walter Smith two years ago as Rangers drew 0-0 with Sparta Rotterdam. Advocaat said: "We have to give him the benefit of the doubt. Everybody can see that he needs a little bit more time." Rangers have taken 18 year old Renzo Nunez on trial. The Reggina striker, rated a good prospect in Italy, was due to move to Bari, but when that deal fell through Rangers offered the youngster a trial at Ibrox. Rangers have taken a 18 man squad to Rotterdam for tonight's friendly with Sparta. The match wil open Sparta's new 11,000 capacity Eneco Stadium. Marco Negri is expected to part in the game after missing out lastnight when the Under 21 clash with Aberdeen was called off.

Monday 24th January 2000

Rangers manager Advocaat, assistant Bert van Lingen and public relations chief John Greig were severely censured by the SFA following a dispute during the first Old Firm match of the season at Ibrox on November 7. Dutchman Advocaat had been incensed by the same referee when he failed to dismiss Celtic midfielder Paul Lambert for a challenge on Jorg Albertz. But Lambert, who had earlier been booked, sustained severe facial injuries and lost his front teeth when the German landed on top of him. Rowbotham awarded the penalty, from which Albertz levelled the scores, and Lambert was stretchered from the field. Advocaat burst into the referee's room at half-time to demand why the Scotland midfield man had not been dismissed, closely followed by van Lingen and Greig. However, all three escaped with a warning and no financial penalty. Marco Negri has told Rangers he is not looking for a fast track out of Ibrox as he prepares for his first top-team match in nearly two years. The Italian striker hopes to relaunch his career in Rotterdam on Tuesday against Dutch side Sparta, assuming he comes through a second string run-out against Aberdeen at Love Street on Monday night. Coach Dick Advocaat has agreed to wipe the slate clean with Negri, who has not kicked a ball for Rangers since April 1, 1998, when he he had a bust-up with then boss Walter Smith. But now Negri, who netted 36 goals in just half of his debut season, has insisted he's ready to throw himself into rebuilding his Rangers career. And his adviser, Genoa-based lawyer Vincenzo Rispoli, said: "Marco has spoken with Dick Advocaat and he knows he can work with this man. Things have changed and now Marco wants to be happy again in Glasgow. This is not about getting back into the team only to earn a move. Marco is excited at the way Rangers are performing under Advocaat and he wants to play his part."

Sunday 23rd January 2000

Rangers manager Dick Advocaat has denied reports that he has signed former Hearts winger Allan Johnston from Sunderland. Reports yesterday suggested that Johnston was set for a move to Scotland after being shaded out of the first team plans of Peter Reid at the Stadium of Light. Advocaat has poured cold water on any rumours the 26 year-old has signed a pre-contract agreement and after Saturday's licking of Aberdeen he said simply: "No, he hasn't signed for us." Rangers new boy Tugay Kerimoglu is under no illusions as to how tough it will be establish himself as a regular in Dick Advocaat's side. Fellow midfielders Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Barry Ferguson both scored during Rangers' 5-0 annihilation of hapless Aberdeen at Ibrox. Tugay said: "I am going to have to fight for my place and I will try to show my skills in the next game. I really wanted to score in my first game but it wasn't to be. But hopefully in my next game, I will. Everyone has been friendly to me here and that makes me feel at home with my colleagues. So there has been no problem settling in. I am going to have to fight for my place in the first team and I will try to show my skills in the next game and do my best for Rangers. Before I played, I really liked the players' character and friendship. Obviously they are good players - you can see that on the pitch."

Saturday 22nd January 2000

Craig Moore, Giovanni Van Bronkhurst, Arthur Numan, Rod Wallace and Barry Fergusson all contributed goals to the 5-0 drubbing of Aberdeen. Rangers showed little respect for the negative 5-man midfield of visiting Aberdeen this afternoon. Struggling Dons managed to restrain the home attack until Craig Moore's fierce header opened the scoring, and became the first in a trio of 'Gers goals all within the last 10 minutes of the first half. Giovanni Van Bronkhurst controled a Barry Fergusson pass 18-yards from goal, before driving Rangers second into the bottom left corner of Jim Leighton's goal. Moments later another Dutchman, Arthur Numan, stabbed home his first goal for the Glasweigen giants. After already conceeding 15 goals to the league leaders before kick-off today, victory for Rangers seemed inevitable, the question was how many? And Rod wallace added to Ebbe Skovdahl's woes, hitting number four 15 minutes after the break. Ferguson soon snuck the 'Gers fifth in off the post, concluding a display which couldn't fail to delight the exstatic 50,000 strong Ibrox crowd. David Murray has indicated he will study proposals from broadcasters eager to test the next Old Firm game's pay-per-view potential after Bayern Munich hailed Germany's new TV deal. The twice-postponed Celtic v Rangers game to be held on Wednesday, March 8, is not covered by the current Sky contract and the SPL must ratify any agreement. But Murray is not ruling out the timescale and said: "That Old Firm match would be a good one to open up to pay-per-view - it is a Wednesday night when many fans can't go. Celtic against Rangers is Sky's second biggest TV gate of the season at 1.2million and there will have to be pay-per-view in Scotland soon if we are to challenge in Europe. Maybe only 200,000 people come to Ibrox in a season, whereas there are probably 1.5million of a Rangers persuasion in Scotland. It can't happen on a wider basis unless Sky bring it in a year earlier but talks are ongoing in the SPL about the shape of the deal to replace the current one in 2002." Bayern commercial manager Uli Hoeness had said: "It's high time we had pay-per-view in Germany. If we had blocked this, other countries would have overtaken us." Rangers midfielder Jorg Albertz insists he has no desire to leave the Scottish champions. The Ibrox star was reportedly at odds with his manager Dick Advocaat over his future with the Light Blues. But the German claims that if his situation does not change in the two-and-a-half years left on his contract he will have to look elsewhere. ``I never said I wanted to leave the club. The question was if Rangers came to me now and offered to extend my contract, what would I do. I said that was two-and-a-half years away, which is a long time, and I would have to see the situation then. I said if it is the same situation as it is now after that time, then there would no future for me at Ibrox. There has been no bust up with the manager and we didn't speak about it until a few days later. If another club steps in and offers money and the player is interested in that club, then you have to talk about these things. But there has never been any intention for me to look for another club to join. It is true for every player that they want to play. Nobody wants to sit on the bench. But everybody knows what Dick Advocaat wants to do and that is to bring good players into the squad. That is the way football is. Not even Manchester United can have the same starting 11 every game. I don't like it but I have to accept it. I try to convince the gaffer every training session that I should be in the starting 11, but the other players are trying as well and we have got good players here. It depends on what opponents you are playing and the tactics as well. You just have to accept it." Rangers boss Advocaat insisted the Albertz situation was mirrored by several other players who all desperately want to play. Advocaat said, "The situation is the same for every player. It is not an individual sport, it is a team sport and everyone brings his qualities. But the players do not complain, it is more a request to be fair to the players.Manchester United have four or five top players sitting on the bench and that is a strength of ours at the moment. We can have Albertz, Hendry, Amoruso or Craig Moore sitting on the bench and, for that amount of money I would be happy to sit on the bench as well."

Friday 21st January 2000

Skipper Lorenzo Amoruso claimed last night Rangers are just five wins away from clinching this season's Premier League title. His astonishing remarks came on the eve of the first of those five matches against Aberdeen at Ibrox tomorrow, and no doubt the Dons boss Ebbe Skovdahl will have his comments pinned up on his dressing room wall. Rangers play The Dons, then Dundee United twice, as well as meetings with Hibs and Dundee, with the Italian claiming: "After last season's winter break we started very well and won six or seven games in a row. That was the key to the rest of the season as we went something like 15 points clear of Celtic and that made it very difficult for them to come back. For me, this season can be the same, especially as we are already four points clear with a game in hand. If we win maybe four or five games and Celtic slip up it will be very hard for them to catch up."

Thursday 20th January 2000

Arthur Numan has confirmed he's looking for a meeting with David Murray to secure his long-term future. And that has come as a surprise to many as he still has two and a half years of his current deal to run. But the player claimed last night as far as he's concerned, he just loves Glasgow and the club, saying: "Where else would, you get to play in front of 50,000 supporters like ours every week. I had offers to go to Spain and Italy but I have never regretted joining Rangers and they are steadily growing and becoming a much bigger club as I was promised when I signed originally." Numan has had his injury problems in the past, something he never encountered in Holland, but he has said he's now fully fit and looking forward to the challenge of keeping Rangers at the top and playing in the Champions League next season. Rangers have announced a scheme to get £5 million towards the new soccer academy and training centre in Milngavie. The club have already paid out £1.2 million for the land which is just behind the West of Scotland Rugby club, and former Rangers commercial manager Bob Reilly has been appointed Managing director of a Rangers company set up to finance the building work. Rangers have a cash shortage at the moment, and part of Reilly's plans include a draw to be made at Ibrox every half-time with tickets costing £1 each and one lucky supporters getting to walk onto the pitch and collect a cheque for £1,000. Reilly insisted it was a great opportunity to get the supporters helping towards the development which will help bring through younger talent, and claimed as the lottery was doing so well, that affected the Rangers Pools cash that would have gone towards such a project.

Wednesday 19th January 2000

Inter Milan chief Massimo Moratti slammed the Old Firm for considering a move to a North Atlantic League, saying it's embarrassing. The Italian reckons that the lesser nations like Scotland are clutching at straws over the proposals and claimed it's a definite non-starter. He said: "I only hope Celtic and Rangers will not consider this idea as a serious one because it is not going to be successful. In fact, it is going to be an embarrassment for them to be part of it. The competition is nonsense. It is not the correct way to make progress in Europe. How can you start another league in Europe to be played at the same time as The Champions League?" He went on to add it looked like an act of desperation from the clubs involved - and he has a point, although he completely misses the real reasons behind such a move. Television money is the key to financial success and both sides in Scotland have already found out just how huge sums are already available in Germany and Italy where many stadiums are almost empty match day as fans prefer to stay at home and watch the game. The Old Firm game scheduled for February 23 has been moved to March 8. The fixture was originally scheduled to take place in September but provisionally moved to February to accommodate Rangers' involvement in the Champions League. Now the new midweek date has been agreed following further discussions between the SPL and both halves of the Old Firm. The SPL's director of administration, Ian Blair, said: "Our clubs have the right to request the postponement of a fixture if they have at least three players called up on international duty. Since the February date was set, additional international games have been arranged which, in all likelihood, will see that threshold being reached by at least one, if not both, of the Old Firm. In order to ensure that supporters have as much time as possible to make their travelling arrangements we decided we would not wait until the international squads were announced before making the new date public."

Monday 17th January 2000

FIFA vice-president David Will has stated that FIFA can't stop Rangers and Celtic from joining a European League. The two Glasgow clubs have been talking about a possible split for some time now and David Will's statement may give them the go ahead to begin the formation of a new European League. However, Will has also confirmed that if the Old Firm did break away from the Scottish Premier League, they would no longer be members of UEFA. Rangers Chairman David Murray has revealed that he wishes Jorg Albertz to stay at Ibrox. The German midfielder has been the centre of attention at Rangers' Florida training camp after admitting he is ready to leave the club in search of regular first team football. But Murray believes that Albertz attitude is a good one. "What Jorg said was actually quite positive. He wants to play for the first team and that's a good thing. I find it odd that a discussion between Dick and Jorg which took place in Norway six months ago should suddenly come to light now. I like Jorg and I want him to stay with us but, like everyone else at the club, if an offer comes in for him which we considered suitable we would discuss it. His agent told me a few weeks ago that a German club wanted to sign Jorg and I told him that they should make an offer. So far there has not been one note of interest."

Sunday 16th January 2000

Jorg Albertz has spoken of his disappointment after being told that he is no longer guaranteed a first-team place at Rangers. The 'Hammer' signed an extension to his contract in the summer, but has now been informed that he is no longer part of Dick Advocaat's first-team plans. Albertz said: "There is no future for me at Ibrox after my contract is up. I couldn't possibly sign another extension under these circumstances. And I wouldn't have signed on for as long as I have done if the manager had told me sooner rather how he really felt about me. I joined Rangers because Walter Smith wanted me. But then the manager changed and so did the team's style of play. Advocaat has made it clear to me he wants a different player from me to start matches for him. It is very disappointing to sign a long-term contract and then suddenly informed that if everybody else is fit you won't be getting a game. The manager could have told me what was on his mind much earlier than he did. As far as I knew he wanted me in the team when he came to Rangers from PSV Eindhoven."

Saturday 15th January 2000

Rangers have put Daniel Prodan up for hire at £15,000 per week, with Dick Advocaat unwilling to consider the injury -plagued Romanian for first-team duty until he has been on loan elsewhere. The £2 .2 million defender, signed from Atletico Madrid in July 1998, has come through double training sessions in Florida after his long spells in solitary but now faces another exile from Ibrox just as Sebastian Rozental was returned to Universidad Catolica. Two Spanish clubs are understood to be interested in taking Prodan until the end of the season and would be invited to pay his wages. Prodan, who will be 28 in March, has never yet made his first-team bow with Rangers still in legal argument with Atletico over the fee after paying no instalments after an initial £1m. 'He looks fit running wise but they must decide what to do next, ' said Advocaat. 'He really has to play some games and the Under-21 games we have in Scotland are not enough for him. I think the best thing for his reputation would be if he was to go away somewhere else and play every week and then we can see what physical condition he is in. The way Craig Moore and Lorenzo Amoruso are playing it will be very difficult for him to get in our team. It is better for him to go and get some games. It would be in his interests and we will discuss that.' New Rangers signing Tugay is set for his Ibrox debut against Aberdeen according to boss Dick Advocaat. The £1.3million signing from Turkish side Galatasaray has impressed the boss while in Florida and is set to line up for 'Gers when the Scottish Premiership kicks off again next weekend. Dick Advocaat said: "He is a good player, there should be no doubt about that. He is very skillful, uses both feet and to my mind is a real midfield player. Will be play in our first game back? Yes, I think so."

Friday 14th January 2000

Gabriel Amato has left Rangers and signed for Brazilian side Gremio, in a £3.75 million deal. Much of that cash of course has come from Celtic who paid the Brazilian's over £5 million for their defender Rafael Scheidt, but Rangers have taken a £500,000 drop on the striker. Speaking after agreeing a 3 year deal with the Brazilians Amato said: "My experience in Scotland was unforgettable. I will never forget the Rangers support, who made me feel so welcome right from the start. Sadly, I wasn't there for as long as I expected, but that is football. I now have to concentrate 100 per cent on Gremio's progress. I must also say I am grateful to Dick Advocaat for giving me the opportunity to play for Rangers and also experience games against Celtic. Those were wonderful occasions and rank alongside Boca Juniors and River Plate encounters." Giovanni van Bronckhorst has pledged his future to Rangers. The Dutch midfield man has already been the subject of a £7m bid from Atletico Madrid, but chairman David Murray has told prospective suitors to stay away. Van Bronckhorst has reaffirmed his desire to stay at Ibrox, and said: "I am extremely happy at Rangers and with my life in Glasgow and I have never indicated that I want to leave." Rangers are set to be backed by the majority of Premier League clubs as they demand the Scottish Cup games have no replays. Many clubs could be facing a games backlog if their matches as taken into a replay situation. At the moment, if the initial game is drawn, then the replay could have extra time and penalties if required, which is a lot better than the old system that saw matches played and played until a winner was eventually decided. But Rangers feel even one replay is too much as it doesn't help those clubs who play in Europe, and that could mean as many as five teams next season representing Scotland in various competitions, from the Champions League, the UEFA Cup and the Intertoto Cup. But the SFA reckon the status quo will remain as lower league clubs who play against better supported teams deserve another chance at getting much needed cash into their banks if they do the business and win a replay.

Wednesday 12th January 2000

Dick Advocaat has revealed that he tried to bring former Rangers hero Brian Laudrup back to Ibrox. Speaking in the Rangers News Advocaat said: "I still think he is a great player and I spoke to him at the beginning of the season and asked him to come back to Ibrox. I've spoken to him three times about a return and I thought he would choose us because of the lifestyle here. I would have had to put a player behind him to work for him but I would have had no problem doing that. In the end he joined Ajax, and that is a big challenge. I was surprised because I know the pressures that go with that job too." Laudrup was at Ibrox last month when he joined the celebrations at the 100th birthday party of Ibrox. He was given a rapturous welcome by the home fans as he strolled on to the pitch. That wasn't missed by Advocaat. "I think the way the fans were with him shows what Brian means to Rangers. More importantly, the fact that he chose to come over for the 100th birthday of Ibrox shows what the club means to Brian. I really appreciate that he did that and made the journey." Stefan Klos claimed he's ready to step back into the Rangers side for the match against Aberdeen on his return from Florida. Whether Dick Advocaat selects him is of course another story, but we assume that would be the correct decision as French keeper Lionel Charbonnier is good but erratic at cross balls, with Klos a little more stable, but not much. He's now fully recovered from his broken hand and is back in full training, and he revealed the injury happened when team-mate Jorg Albertz hit a shot at him from close range in training. He said: "I must admit it was a good save - but it left me in a lot of pain. I felt my whole arm crack and when I went to hospital they found I had a fracture. The doctor still wasn't happy and when I went to see a specialist, they told me I actually had two breaks and would need an operation, so there was really nothing I could do except go back to Germany and have it carried out right away. It's happened before but I'm all right now and training again."

Tuesday 11th January 2000

Chairman David Murray has confirmed that he would consider entering the proposed 'Atlantic League'. If it was for the good of Rangers. He said: "Our priority is to be an integral part of the Scottish game and from there to compete in the Champions' League. But if circumstances change our concern has to be what is best for Rangers Football Club. There are a lot of things happening at the moment and we are well abreast of what is going on. Once something concrete has been decided we will be able to comment further." The move to form a league involving clubs from those European nations that cannot attract as large a TV audience as the Italian, German, Spanish, English and French leagues was first suggested by PSV Eindhoven president Harry Van Raay. But S.F.A. Cheif Executive David Taylor insists that he has seen nothing yet that would suggest such a move can occur. Although he admitted he could be persuaded to allow the Old Firm to join the Atlantic League if he thought it would benefit the Scottish game. He admitted, "There couldn't be any change to the current structure under the rules we have at the moment, but rules can be changed. Nothing in life stands still, but any proposals would have to show they are for the good of the game not just in individual clubs' commercial interests. As an organisation, the SFA exists to pursue our objective of protecting and fostering the development of the game. If people can show their plans are the best way of doing that then fine. But on the face of it it doesn't look as if any of these proposals enhance the game in any particular territory." Ian Ferguson will finally sign for Dunfermline after extended personal term talks with the East End Park club last night. Dunfermline have paid Rangers an undisclosed fee - but no doubt Rangers chairman David Murray was just happy the player got the move he wanted and got a highly paid star who wasn't getting a game off his wage bill. Ferguson always said he didn't want to hang around Ibrox if he was not wanted, and that wasn't a reflection of his love for the club. He signed for Rangers from St Mirren in 1988 and was he longest serving player after Ian Durrant and Ally McCoist left for Rugby Park where it was thought he was considering a move to. Ferguson's one problem is he has to face his old side in next seasons' Premier League and he was initially reluctant to do that, but having seen how well Durrant and McCoist have managed, he's decided it's better to remain in Scotland to live rather then upset his family and leave his new house in Hamilton. His drive and mental toughness should lift Dunfermline back to the Premier League - especially after a few shaky games recently that has saw leaders St Mirren take a seven point lead at the top.

Monday 10th January 2000

Scottish Football Association chief executive David Taylor has admitted he would give the green light for the Old Firm to leave the Premier League - if it was good for the game north of the border. At the weekend, PSV Eindhoven president Harry van Raaij suggested big-name European clubs in less than competitive leagues are prepared to split from their domestic competitions in an attempt to compete with the richest nations on level terms. Van Raaij believes that in two years his club will quit the Dutch League to "take part in a league involving leading clubs from several European nations." This would suggest Glasgow giants Rangers and Celtic could be muted as possible participants with the likes of PSV, Ajax and Feyenoord. Further Scottish clubs could play a part in another initiative suggested by American-based businessman Dave Cormack. He thinks the close proximity of Scotland and Holland should be exploited and recommended a 20-team competition, 10 from both countries, playing 28 matches. Taylor denied this idea had been discussed between the Scottish and Dutch Football Associations and was sceptical that it would be accepted by UEFA. "If these proposals were to come to fruition, they would need a rule change from UEFA and the acceptance of both football associations," he said. "Just a year into the new format of European competition, I think it would be difficult to persuade UEFA that there should be more major changes." But he did offer a glimmer of hope by suggesting rules can be changed but until a viable proposition is suggested by a club, the current league structure will remain. "Nothing in life stands still but any proposals would have to show they are for the good of the game not just individual clubs' commercial interests. As an organisation, the SFA exists to pursue our objective of protecting and fostering the development of the game. If people can show their plans are the best way of doing that then fine but on the face of it, it doesn't look as if any of these proposals enhance the game in any particular territory. From what we have read, Harry van Raaij is speaking on his own and there have been no overall discussions between clubs. But other arguments may be advanced and there have been a whole number of different proposals put forward already." Taylor also expressed doubts that Celtic's decision to float themselves on the Stock exchange will create a conflict of interests that could damage Football. "The individual clubs are now looking to maximise their revenue without any duty to the game of football as a whole," he said. "While we are also trying to bring greater investment and commercial activity into the game, that is not the sole imperative when we are running our own business. It can cause conflict but on other occasions we can also work together. But as a governing body, ultimately we must strike a balance between sporting integrity and commercial activity." Rangers Scottish Cup 3rd round tie at St Johnstone has been moved to Sunday 30th January to suit television coverage. Dunfermline Athletic have agreed a fee with Rangers for veteran midfielder Ian Ferguson. The 32-year-old former Scotland man is no longer part of Dick Advocaat's plans at Ibrox and is finally set to sever his 12-year link with the club he supported as a boy. Ferguson is due at East End Park for a medical on Monday and will also discuss terms with the ambitious First Division outfit. Rangers have so far refused to comment over the possible signing of Chelsea's French defender Bernard Lambourde. The player was watched by Ibrox scouts the other day when he played as a right-back against Sheffield Wednesday, a surprise move by Chelsea coach Gianluca Vialli, and Stamford Bridge insiders claim the reason was clear - Rangers wanted to see him in that position. Sergio Porrini has been linked with a move away from Ibrox as David Murray prepares to sell him to an unnamed Italian club for £1.5 million, and there is no obvious cover for the player in that position. It's unlikely Rangers will make any move for him until a deal is concluded for Porrini.

Saturday 8th January 2000

Rangers striker Sebastian Rozental has had his work permit application turned down. The Chilean front-man has been plagued by knee problems since his £3.8million arrival from Universidad Catolica in 1997. However, after undergoing his fourth operation in 20 months, Rozenthal is due to link up with the Ibrox club on their winter trip to Florida next week when coach Dick Advocaat is eager to run the rule over the 23-year-old. But, it appears the Glasgow outfit could run into problems if they wish to bring Rozental back to Scotland as his injury worries mean he no longer qualifies for a work permit under DofE regulations. Rangers ClubCall confirms that the application for a work permit has been refused but that chairman David Murray will appeal. Rangers' unsettled Argentinian striker Gabriel Amato is on the point of signing for Brazilian club Gremio, it was claimed on Friday night. A £2.5million deal could be agreed by Saturday, according to a Gremio insider. The first contacts between Gremio, the player and Rangers were made two weeks ago, and at first Amato was unimpressed by the terms offered by the Brazilians. But now a deal appears close with Gremio also in the market for another Argentinian Leonardo Astrada, who is one of the star players of Buenos Aires outfit River Plate.

Friday 7th January 2000

Rangers are set to sell Italian defender Sergio Porrini. The 31-year-old star has attracted interest from two un-named Serie A clubs and Rangers coach Dick Advocaat is believed to have given his blessing for Porrini to return home in a £1.5million deal. Ibrox chairman David Murray has been looking to cut the huge wage bill at the Glasgow outfit and, following the collapse of Scott Wilson's proposed transfer to Sheffield Wednesday, is also searching for funds to bolster Advocaat's transfer kitty. Porrini, a former European Cup winner with Juventus, cost £3million when he moved from the Turin giants in 1997, but Murray accepts that, if the transfer does go through following Rangers' return from their winter break in Florida next week, he can only expect to receive half that in return. Murray said, "There has been interest in the player from a couple of Italian clubs. At Rangers we are realistic enough to appreciate that when a player is 31 and approaching 32, he is only going to get one more contract before the end of his career. Maybe Sergio going would be best for the player and for the club at this stage."

Thursday 6th January 2000

Rangers' squad will be strengthened by the early arrival of Tugay and the return of Chilean international Seb Rozental. Turkish international Tugay will join soon after his current club Galatasary agreed to a lower price in order to speed up the sale of the player. Chairman David Murray said: "We have practically completed the arrangements with the player and Galatasaray. The paperwork should be done quickly now which will leave only the matter of a work permit. We believe that Tugay meets the criteria required but while that goes through it might not be appropriate for him to join us in Florida." But one player who will join the team in Florida will be Rozental. Dick Advocaat has requested his return from Chile, where he is recovering from a series of knee injuries, to boost his front line. Murray said: "Seb is coming to America for the training camp for his fitness to be assessed. Universidad Catolica were fine about releasing him for our time there. We have been good to them as we didn't charge them a fee to take Seb on loan. I know the player sees it as a chance to stake a place up front while we are a bit weaker in that area because of injuries."

Wednesday 5th January 2000

Chilean striker Seb Rozental will join Rangers in America next Monday, having been given temporary leave from his loan spell at Universidad Catolica. Rozental could cut short his stay with his former club if he demonstrates to boss Dick Advocaat he has regained his sharpness after injury. Chairman David Murray said: "I know the player sees it as a chance to stake a place up front." Rangers have concluded a deal for Turkish midfielder Tugay Kerimoglu to join them before the end of the season subject to a work permit being granted. Tugay agreed terms last year but Galatasaray were reluctant to release him until the end of the season. Chairman David Murray said, "We have practically completed arrangements with the player and Galatasaray. The paperwork should be done quickly now." Tugay's advisor Claus Runge said, "We have talked again with David Murray and we have a deal. It is now only a matter of working out the details of the payments to Galatasary and that should be finalised in the morning. It is 99 percent certain that he will be in Glasgow on Thursday or Friday. We have told him about the latest development and he is delighted with the news." The Scottish Premier League have decided that the Old Firm clash at Parkhead will go ahead on February 23 despite an international fixture clash. The game was postponed back in September and it was feared that another date would have to be set as several international friendly games are due to take place. This means both clubs will have pressures placed on them to release players, although neither has complained about the SPL's decision.

Tuesday 4th January 2000

Morning reports confirm Turkish star Kerimoglu Tugay could join Rangers later today if David Murray accepts a lower fee offer. His current club Galatasaray have severe financial problems at the moment and the agent brokering the deal has convinced them if they reduce the fee to what Murray agreed to pay in the summer when his contract is up, then the deal could be quickly sorted out. Rangers have so far refused to comment, but the player has said he's ready to fly to America to join up with his new team-mates and his bags are already packed. Meanwhile, Sunderland have said Rangers have not asked permission to speak with Allan Johnson, but his agent knows they now can go through him, but added no deal for the player had been concluded.

Sunday 2nd January 2000

Midfielder Claudio Reyna will put his Rangers career ahead of his country after playing in the Gold Cup tournament for America. Rangers boss Dick Advocaat spoke recently of the need for his players to put the club at the front of their minds and it looks as though Reyna has taken in what the boss had to say. Reyna said: "When I played for Bayer Leverkusen in Germany a few years ago I put America first and I missed out on a lot at club level because of that. I am not about to make that mistake again and once I have played in the Gold Cup I will put Rangers first and not take part in any more meaningless friendlies or mini-tournaments for my country." The player go on to say that he will take part in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers for America when they begin at the end of this year.

Saturday 1st January 2000

Rangers skipper Lorenzo Amoruso is hoping to secure a new long-term deal with the Scottish Premier League champions. The influential Italian defender, who was signed in 1997 from Fiorentina in a £3.95million deal, has been an inspirational figure for Dick Advocaat's side in the past 12 months. His superb form helped Rangers secure a domestic Treble last season and Amoruso has excelled again this term, with reports suggesting Juventus were interested in taking him back to Italy. Amoruso's current deal expires in 2001 and the 28-year-old has set his sights on contract talks with Gers chairman David Murray. He told The Express: "I'm really interested in signing a new contract with Rangers. I love Rangers and love being captain of this great club which has been so good to me since I came to Scotland. If the chairman wanted to open up talks about a new contract which would keep me here for longer then that would be great. It's what I want." Rangers will end Allan Johnston's torment by snapping him up on a pre-contract agreement early in the New Year. The Sunderland and Scotland winger can pledge himself to any club outwith England from today - and Rangers are at the head of the queue. Johnston's season has been written off after Sunderland took the huff at his refusal to sign an extension to his deal. Boss Peter Reid banished the former Hearts and Rennes player to training with the youth team and vowed he would never turn out for his team in the Premiership. Rangers-daft Johnston refused to re-sign in the hope that the Scottish champions would follow up the interest they had shown in him since he hit a hat-trick for Hearts against them in January 1996. But his gamble has cost him a season of his career, with only a short loan spell at Birmingham to break the tedium of training alone or with the Sunderland kids. But Rangers have waited patiently for him to become available for free under Bosman and will open talks with the player and his agent Blair Morgan.