JUNE 1999

Tuesday 29th June 1999

Rangers are preparing themselves for a difficult tie when the draw for the first two rounds of the Champions' League is made on Wednesday. The Scottish champions come in at the second qualifying round and could be paired with last season's semi-finalists Dynamo Kiev or Brondby of Denmark. The danger for Rangers is that if they lose they would not qualify for the UEFA Cup. That consolation prize is only on offer to teams who are eliminated at the third qualifying stage which will be played in August. Marco Negri was rushed to a meeting with Dick Advocaat and David Murray last night. And the outcome seems to be a positive one in the fiery Italian's favour. Accompanied by his agent Vincenzo Rispoli, it seems Advocaat was very positive about his return to Glasgow, telling the player he was very much needed and all he had to do was to prove his fitness. He was injured towards the end of his loan period with Vincenza. Chairman Murray was a little more forthcoming about the meeting, telling the player the rules had changed and he had to buckle down and train before getting a game or possible transfer. David Murray has threatened to withdraw from this season's League Cup - despite being holders. The Ibrox chairman said as far as he was concerned, his club's preparations for Europe were far more important than playing in a devalued tournament where only the small clubs benefit - not that there is anything wrong with that he added. But as there was no sponsor and no chance of qualification for Europe next season from winning, then better to give a smaller club the chance of winning it. Murray has said this all along, however, and the club will play - at the moment! Aberdeen are delaying making a move for at least two Rangers international stars. Finnish keeper Anti Niemmi and midfielder Charlie Miller seem to be the players in question, but as of this morning, no contact had been made with either the Ibrox club or the players themselves.

Monday 28th June 1999

Michael Mols finally touched down in Glasgow yesterday afternoon and this morning his Rangers career will begin in earnest as he attempts to establish himself in the champions' starting line-up. Mols said: "There will be a lot of competition but that is always the same at the top clubs. Ultimately, the best players will play so I have to be the best man for the job. I haven't set myself any personal targets for this season - it's difficult to do that when you don't know anything about Scottish football! I haven't watched any videotapes of Rangers. All I've seen was some highlights of the Scottish Cup Final win against Celtic, which I saw on ESPN in the Caribbean."

Sunday 27th June 1999

Gabriel Amato has revealed his desire to stay with Rangers in a bid to resurrect his flagging career with the treble-winners. Gers coach Dick Advocaat revealed this week that he expected Amato, a £4.2m signing from Real Mallorca last summer, to leave the club following the recent capture of Michael Mols from Utrecht.But 28-year old Amato is determined to stay and fight for a first-team place and does not intend to be cast into the shadows at Ibrox. Speaking from his home town of Mar del Plata, the Argentine said: "I am not a troublemaker and I will be back in training on Monday. I'm not giving up my Rangers career so easily. Some people might not want to see me at Ibrox but if they cannot sell me they will have no alternative but to see my face at the club next week. I'm devoted to the blue shirt and I will do anything to stay at Rangers." Chairman David Murray has confirmed Rangers' interest in Sheffield United's highly-rated midfielder Curtis Woodhouse. But the Ibrox supremo has also stressed that the Scottish champions will not pay "silly money" to land the England Under-21 international. Murray's blast comes in the wake of speculation that Sheffield United have increased their valuation of the midfielder from £2m to £3.5m in the past fortnight. And now Blades boss Adrian Heath has also demanded Derek McInnes moves to Bramall Lane as part of the deal.The cash-strapped Nationwide club acknowledge that Woodhouse is their most saleable asset and would welcome a bid for the youngster to help reduce their huge debts.But Murray warned: "There appears to be a problem internally at Sheffield United and they are trying to promote their players to balance the books. There has been a lot of speculation but so far it has been total fabrication."

25th June1999

Rangers have completed the signing of Polish international Dariusz Adamczuk from Dundee. The midfielder made the move to Glasgow on a free under the Bosman ruling and has signed a four-year contract with the Gers. Adamczuk had earlier held talks with Rangers' rivals Celtic but a proposed move to Parkhead broke down over personal terms. Adamczuk said: "It was easy for me to decide to join Rangers as they gave me the best option of playing for a really big club with the potential for competing in the Champions' League as well as winning domestic medals." Gabriel Amato and Charlie Miller have been told they'll leave Ibrox as soon as an offer is received. And that's not the message Miller in particular wanted to hear as he started pre-season training early in a bid to reclaim his place. As for the Argentinean Amato, he will be delighted to get back to Spain where he has proved his worth in the past. Coach Advocaat said the player knows Mols was bought to replace him and despite no offers being on the table so far, that's because the Spanish League has just finished and the transfer market is slow. Lionel Charbonnier has been accused of lying over his transfer to Italy. The player claimed in L'Equipe magazine he had lng talks with Perugia, but their owner Ennando Pieroni today said he had never at any time spoken to the player and anyway, they have two very good keepers of their own. Of course, the suggestion that any task could be seen as tapping may have to be taken into consideration, but the bottom line is coach Dick Advocaat said the player has told him he'll give it a couple of months before making any decision regarding his future and that's good enough for him.

23rd June1999

Scott Wilson has pledged himself to Rangers by signing a new three-year contract and pitting an end to speculation about the defender's future at the club. Dundee and Hibs had bids turned down and several Premiership clubs expressed interest. He said: "I've just enjoyed the best season of my career and the last thing on my mind is a move. Competition for places can never be a bad thing and it's up to me to prove that I'm worthy of a regular spot in the side." Theo Snelders, Luigi Riccio, Jonas Thern, Kevin Robison and John Brown have all been released by the club.