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Thursday, 30 January, 2003

Eggen joins Rangers Dan Eggen has signed for Rangers until the end of the season after passing a medical at Murray Park. The Norwegian is manager Alex McLeish's third signing of the month after the capture of Jerome Bonnissel from Bordeaux and Steven Thompson from Dundee United. Eggen told rangers.co.uk: "I'm very glad to have everything sorted out because it's been difficult not knowing what was going to happen. I have a lot of confidence in my own ability and at the moment I'm stronger, better and more motivated than I've ever been so hopefully that will be a benefit to Rangers. I hope to get my opportunity in the first team soon but I realise that there are some very good players here already and I must work hard to get a starting place. I'm prepared to fight hard and I'm fitter than ever so I'm ready to go into action as soon as possible."

Eggen flies into Glasgow Rangers were today close to adding defender Dan Eggen to their squad following a breakthrough in his protracted wrangle with Spanish club Alaves. The Norway international had impressed during a winter break trial in Dubai and manager Alex McLeish was keen to recruit him as defensive cover. But as Rangers were not prepared to pay a fee, his release became tangled up in a contract buy-out dispute back in Spain. However, Rangers today confirmed the 33-year-old had flown into Glasgow to take a medical at the Murray Park training complex. If that was passed then the centre-back would sign a deal until the end of the season and join fellow winter break trialist Jerome Bonnissel, the ex-Bordeaux left-back, as an Ibrox new boy. Bonnissel made his Rangers debut last night in the reserves' 3-0 win at Dunfermline.

Monday, 27 January, 2003

Bonnissel signs up Rangers completed the signing of French defender Jerome Bonnissel on Monday afternoon - subject to international clearance. The Scottish Premier League leaders have taken over the defender's contract from Bordeaux until the end of the season and then have an option for a two-year deal with no transfer fee involved. The 29-year-old is manager Alex McLeish's second transfer window signing after the arrival of Steven Thompson from Dundee United. Director of football business Martin Bain confirmed: "Rangers Football Club is delighted to secure Jerome Bonnissel from Girondins Bordeaux. The deal is complete subject to international clearance which we hope to receive imminently. No transfer fee was involved and we have signed the player until the end of the season with an option for the club to extend his contract for a further two years." The 29-year-old revealed the prospect of playing in the Champions League lured him to Rangers. It is a major coup for McLeish after Bonnissel reportedly snubbed several clubs in the Barclaycard Premiership to come to Glasgow. He said: "There have been offers in the pipeline, but I believe Rangers are one of the biggest clubs in Europe and I'd love to be with them in the Champions League. When you look at the quality of player within this squad there is no reason why we shouldn't have a real go at making a mark in Europe. I have had the chance to look at Murray Park and it is a fantastic training facility, but I knew I had arrived at the right place when I visited Ibrox before going to Dubai with the squad during the break. I know I have to prove myself all over again here at Rangers, but that's a challenge I am ready for. I was grateful for the opportunity to go to Dubai and I was very impressed with Alex McLeish.

Sunday, 26 January, 2003

Bonnissel flies in Rangers have moved closer to signing Bordeaux left-back Jerome Bonnissel. The former Deportivo de la Coruna man had impressed during a trial spell with the Scottish league leaders during a winter break trip to Dubai. But Rangers were unwilling to meet the French club's £300,000 valuation of a player who will be a free agent in the summer. The two clubs have yet to reach an agreement but the chances of the 29-year-old moving to Scotland have now increased. The player is due in Glasgow on Sunday for further negotiations - and a medical. Director of football business Martin Bain told the club's official website, rangers.co.uk: "Jerome and his agent are flying in on Sunday and the player will undergo a medical."

Amo out after eye injury Alex McLeish admitted he was already resigned to losing defender Lorenzo Amoruso for vital league games after the defender was hospitalised following a clash of heads in his side's 3-0 Scottish Cup win at Arbroath. McLeish fears the Italian, who was taken to Dundee's Ninewells Hospital for treatment on a cut above an eye, would miss at least one match - and probably two. Amoruso, who immediately left the pitch in search of medical attention, had collided with team-mate Fernando Ricksen, who needed stitches in a facial wound but is not expected to have to miss Wednesday's trip to Hibernian. McLeish said: "It was a horrible, sickening clash and he has got a gaping wound which a surgeon will have to look at. He knew straight away that it was a bad one. He did not pass go or collect £200 - he went straight to the dressing room. Fernando's was not so bad and seemed quite straightforward. It was one of those that I used to get when I was playing and I was back for the next match."

Ayr next in Cup Rangers face another Scottish Cup trip to a First Division seaside club after landing a potentially-tricky fourth-round tie against Ayr United. Campbell Money was delighted that his side's victory over Peterhead was rewarded by a home tie against Rangers. The Ayr United manager said: "It's a fantastic tie to be involved in though we couldn't have got it any harder, other than the game being played at Ibrox. The main thing for us is to be as professional as we can and make things as hard as possible for them." The game is due to be played on the weekend of 22nd/23rd February.

Saturday, 25 January, 2003

Rangers ease past Arbroath Rangers eased into the Fourth Round of the Scottish Cup with minimum fuss in front of the Sky Sports cameras. Skipper Barry Ferguson set them on their way before Craig Moore settled the nerves and left part-timers Arbroath facing a daunting second half. Shota Arveladze fired a third soon after the restart, but the home side refused to buckle and escaped with their pride in tact, but their Scottish Cup hopes over for another year. Alex McLeish's side were never really put under pressure and despite the presence of the cameras and the predictions of a possible cup upset, assumed control early on. That they had to wait 27 minutes to open the scoring was somewhat of a surprise that owed much to Ferguson's thumping drive coming back off the bar and Michael Mol's inability to turn in the rebound. That Rangers needed a little luck in doing was equally strange and will have had Arbroath boss John Brownlie fuming at his side's defending. A corner on the right was played to Ferguson on the edge of the box and with no-one closing him down, he whipped a low diagonal ball into the box, Arveladze dummied it, keeper Craig Hinchliffe was duped and Rangers were 1-0 to the good. It was the midfielder's 15th goal of the season. Rangers' second came just five minutes later from another right-wing corner. This one was sent straight in by Fernando Ricksen to the edge of the box, where Moore rose highest of all to power a header high to the keeper's left. That all but dispelled the prospect of a giant killing and Arveladze put the tie beyond doubt as he picked up a through ball, span round his man and curled a low effort inside Hinchcliffe's left-hand post with just six minutes of the second half gone. Arbroath's only chance had been a tame header from McGlashan and even the loss of Lorenzo Amoruso with a head injury could not threaten Rangers' grip on the game - even if Arbroath left the competition with heads - and presumably back balances - held high. After he match Alex McLeish said: "It was a professional job. We could have been more ruthless but I was happy with the performance."

5 back for Arbroath Alex McLeish could have as many as five players returning from injury for their Scottish Cup tie at Arbroath. Arthur Numan (knee), Mikel Arteta (hamstring), Bert Konterman (knee), Shota Arveladze (thigh) and Neil McCann (thigh) have battled back to fitness. But McLeish will wait until shortly before the third-round tie to decide who will be included in the squad for the trip to Gayfield Park.

Monday, 20 January, 2003

No deal for Eggen Alex McLeish has dropped his interest in Dan Eggen but is hoping a loan deal can be arranged for full-back Jerome Bonnissel. Both players impressed in the friendly draw with Energie Cottbus in Dubai on Saturday after spending the week training with the Ibrox side. However, McLeish revealed that any possible deal for 33-year-old Eggen had been scuppered by the Spanish side looking for a transfer fee. McLeish told rangers.co.uk: "Alaves said they were looking for some money and a game if we should go ahead. So, despite Dan being up to standard and being a certain pedigree in the game and good experience, we are not going to pursue it any further. Don't get me wrong, he did well in the game and there was nothing glaringly wrong with him but we have decided not to go with him." But McLeish is more confident a loan deal can be thrashed out with French club Bordeaux for the 29-year-old Bonnissel. McLeish said: "As far as Bonnissel is concerned, there are reports coming back that Bordeaux want money as well. But, if we can do a deal, then we can talk. Maybe we can do a loan deal to bring him here. We have been speaking to the agents to see what the best course of action is and, hopefully, we will know more in the week."

Sunday, 19 January, 2003

Gers draw in Dubai A stoppage-time penalty from Kevin Muscat earned Rangers a draw in Dubai with Bundesliga strugglers Cottbus. A goal just before the hour mark from Laurentiu-Aurelian Reghecampf had looked like deciding the encounter. But Aussie Muscat netted from the spot with virtually the last kick of the game after Michael Mols had been sent toppling in the box. The Germans created little of note until taking the lead and should have gone in at the break at least a goal down. That goal should have had Maurice Ross' name on it but, after Ronald de Boer had sent him galloping into space in the box with a sublime flick, he showed a defender's touch by firing wastefully wide with the goal at his mercy. That was by far the best opportunity of the half although new signing Steven Thompson also failed to hit the target after dithering when Fernando Ricksen found him in space in the box. Barry Ferguson was the game's most creative player and one pass gave Neil McCann an opportunity on the left side of the box but, as he tried to get the ball under control, goalkeeper Andre Lenz came out to get the ball off him at the second attempt. Ferguson also provided a potentially controversial moment when Moussa Latoundji fell to the turf after the Rangers captain's arm made contact with his face in a midfield tussle. Latoundji was forced off before the end when a clash with Bob Malcolm saw him needing treatment for an eye injury. Both sides made a flurry of substitutions after the break. The changes gave the Germans more balance and, after Ricksen had given away possession near a corner flag, newcomer Marko Topic flicked the ball to Reghecampf in the box. The midfielder did not make perfect contact with the ball but it still managed to go past interval replacement Allan McGregor and off the inside of his left-hand post. Topic had earlier been booked for laying a hand on the referee following an unsuccessful penalty appeal and Latoundji was to follow him into the book for felling Claudio Caniggia in full flow. The clash also marked a first start for Christian Nerlinger and the German almost netted against his fellow countrymen with a fierce drive from a free-kick move which substitute goalkeeper Tomislav Piplica did well to parry. Mols saw a shot on the turn saved following a knock-on from Muscat and Ricksen was cautioned for a challenge on Zolt Low. The Germans must have thought victory would be theirs but Rangers were not to be denied and when Mols was felled in mid-turn by yet another substitute - Marcel Rozgonyi - Muscat made no mistake from the spot. The match was also relevant for trialist duo Jerome Bonnissel, the Bordeaux left-back, and Norway international centre-back Dan Eggen, who is surplus to requirements at Alaves. Both started and both completed the 90 minutes, with the Frenchman showed a eagerness to be involved down the left flank, pinging in the occasional cross into the box to boot. Eggen was unflustered throughout and started well, rescuing Ross with a well-timed tackle after Marco Gebhardt had made good ground down the left. Neither did anything wrong, but whether they did enough to warrant more permanent deals only manager Alex McLeish can tell.

Monday, 13 January, 2003

Gers have look at Eggen Rangers have offered a trial to veteran Norway defender Dan Eggen. Eggen, who turns 33 on Monday, is to join his prospective new team-mates on a flight to Dubai. He will therefore be competing with fellow trialist Jerome Bonnissel of Bordeaux for a permanent contract, with Gers boss Alex McLeish keen to recruit at least one experienced defender. Eggen, who is currently with Spanish club Alaves, usually operates as a centre-back while Bonnissel, 29, is a left-back. Both players will be keen to impress in Saturday's friendly with German outfit Energie Cottbus at the end of the Glasgow side's training trip to the Middle East. >Rangers have offered a trial to veteran Norway defender Dan Eggen. Eggen, who turns 33 on Monday, is to join his prospective new team-mates on a flight to Dubai. He will therefore be competing with fellow trialist Jerome Bonnissel of Bordeaux for a permanent contract, with Gers boss Alex McLeish keen to recruit at least one experienced defender. Eggen, who is currently with Spanish club Alaves, usually operates as a centre-back while Bonnissel, 29, is a left-back. Both players will be keen to impress in Saturday's friendly with German outfit Energie Cottbus at the end of the Glasgow side's training trip to the Middle East. McLeish told the club's official website, rangers.co.uk: "Dan Eggen has been around and has great experience so we will have a look at him while we are in Dubai. We will study both players in training and hopefully use both of them in next Saturday's friendly game." Rangers must first obtain insurance clearance for both players but neither would cost a fee as they would move to Glasgow on either a loan deal or under a buy-out of an existing contract.

Saturday, 11 January, 2003

French full-back on trial French defender Jerome Bonnissel has joined Rangers for their trip to Dubai. The Bordeaux player has been given permission by the French club to jet out to the United Arab Emirates with the rest of the Rangers squad on Monday. Boss Alex McLeish is keen to find cover for the left-back position with Arthur Numan and Michael Ball currently out injured. McLeish said: "We have invited Jerome to come with us to Dubai as left back is an area of the team we are seeking cover for the second half of the season."

Monday, 06 January, 2003

Cup tie stays at Gayfield Arbroath's Scottish Cup third round tie against Rangers will take place at Gayfield Park. The match between the First Division side and Alex McLeish's men will kick-off at 5.35pm on Saturday 25 January and will be screened live on Sky Sports. The Scottish Football Association, Tayside Police and the Angus club had discussed the possibility of switching the clash to a larger venue but have decided the game can be played at Gayfield where the capacity is 4,145. Arbroath's board of directors had been set to meet on Monday night to discuss a change of venue, with St Johnstone's McDiarmid Park in Perth the most likely choice. But manager John Brownlie had expressed a desire to play the game at the tiny Angus ground in the hope that his side would have a better chance of causing a cup upset against the Scottish Premier League leaders. Talks between the SFA and Tayside Police on Monday resulted in the decision to hold the tie at Arbroath's own ground. Each club will receive a payment of £82,500 in return for the live broadcast and Brownlie was pleased with the outcome.

Friday, 03 January, 2003

Carling Blue Lager Rangers and Celtic have unveiled a three-year joint sponsorship deal with lager brand Carling worth up to £12million. The Old Firm will wear the drinks firms logo on their shirts from next season when their current deal, a joint initiative with troubled communications firm ntl, runs out. Carling, which is owned by the American Coors company had previously sponsored the English Premiership and had separate deals with a number of top clubs there. Celtic chief executive Ian McLeod said: "The Old Firm is delighted to welcome Carling as our new shirt sponsor. Carling is the biggest brand in the UK and we are very pleased that they have recognised the value that Celtic and Rangers can provide in assisting them with development plans for Carling in Scotland." Rangers' director of football business Martin Bain added: "Carling is an industry leader and we are delighted to secure a partnership with such a major player in the sports sponsorship environment." Coors spokesman Mark Hunter added: "Both Rangers and Celtic are known the world over so, with Carling's heritage in football and its availability in over 20 countries this is a great chance for three major names to work together to the benefit of Scottish football in general."

Thursday, 02 January, 2003

McLeish's comments Alex McLeish has insisted that he is not expecting new signing Steven Thompson to win the title single-handed.The Scotland striker came off the bench to net the clinching goal in a 3-1 victory over Dundee that ensured Rangers went into the winter break three points ahead of champions Celtic, who had been held to a draw at Aberdeen. Thompson arrived at Ibrox on Tuesday in a deal with Dundee United that saw Billy Dodds go the other way - who also scored on his debut in Thursday's 2-2 draw with Kilmarnock. McLeish was understandably pleased to see his new recruit add to earlier goals from Barry Ferguson and Ronald de Boer, with Steve Lovell netting for Dundee. But he insisted: "He will get his share, I'm sure, of the goals and hopefully he will be on the end of a few chances here. But don't look at Steven as the major signing we are pinning championship hopes on. That's totally unfair. As long as he makes a contribution to Rangers' cause then that would the be-all and end-all. If he does even better than that that's a bonus." The victory had been a laboured one and Dundee had chances to salvage a point - but McLeish was pleased by the way his side had come through to take the points. McLeish praised defender Craig Moore for completing the game despite suffering from an illness than saw him throw up on the pitch at one point. He said: "Craig wasn't well. We have had players in the last two or three games who have put the club before themselves and I appreciate that. Peter Lovenkrands was struggling for the last two or three games but agreed to play. Claudio Caniggia has been toiling a bit and Craig had a stomach upset the whole game. He was nauseous before the game and physically sick during it but he has been an inspiration to us throughout the season and it was great to see him get through it."