OCTOBER 1998

Friday 30th October 1998

Dynamo Kiev have apparently turned down a bid of just over £10million from Rangers for striker Andrei Schevchenko. The Glasgow club thought they had agreed a fee, which would have smashed the Scottish record, for Schevchenko but the Russian side are now demanding £20million for the highly-rated star. And David Murray has declared they will not be taking the matter further after being put off by Kiev's valuation. Italian giants AC Milan are now thought to be favourites to land his signature with Juventus also keeping an eye on the player who was outstanding against Arsenal in Kiev's recent Champions' League draw with the Gunners. Comeback duo Gordon Durie and Arthur Numan could both start the game against Dundee United at Ibrox tomorrow as both impressed as half-time substitutes at Fir Park. Jonaton Johansson and Tony Vidmar coud be the players dropped. Meanwhile Scott Wilson will be pressing to displace the out of form Lorenzo Amoruso in defence.

Thursday 29th October 1998

Two players from the American MLS will be training with Rangers until early December. Striker Eric Quill of the Tampa Bay Mutiny and midfielder Esmundo Rodriguez of the San Jose Clash are coming to Ibrox as a part of a MLS programme to improve the experience of the young players in the league. Lorenzo Amoruso has incurred another suspension after being booked last night. The Italian will miss the game with Aberdeen and Celtic next month.

Tuesday 27th October 1998

Rangers chairman David Murray confirmed he has given head coach Dick Advocaat an astonishing £10 million to find the right striker to partner Rod Wallace up front. Brazilian striker Christian was watched again by chief scout Ewan Chester at the weekend, and the cash from the sale of Marco Negri, expected this weekend, to add to the Rino Gattuso cash, will be spent immediately. Murray told shareholders at the club's AGM that winning was more of a priority than making money for the club, which was loudly approved by the 1200 shareholders in attendance. Dick Advocaat is set to be offered an extension of his short contract by the club, and chairman David Murray is confident he will sign. "I would like to think I have the same relationship with Dick as I had with Walter Smith and Graeme Souness," said Murray last night. "And I would hope he would stay beyond his designated contract." Rangers will face St Johnstone in the League Cup Final on Sunday 29th November. The Perth side beat Hearts 3-0 in tonight's semi. Lorenzo Amoruso will return to the side, in place of Scott Wilson, for tomorrow's league match at Motherwell.

Saturday 24th October 1998

Marco Negri returns to the first team squad on Monday after spending the last 10 weeks out in the cold. Chairman David Murray promised he will sell the Italian if he receives a bid of £3.5 million. He said: "We have reached an agreement that we hope suits both parties. We have been assured that he will give us 100 per cent effort." Scott Wilson will retain his place in tomorrow's League Cup semi, with Amoruso still suspended. Colin Hendry will again captain the side unless vice-captain Arthur Numan returns from injury. Rangers and Airdrie have announced that only 18,000 tickets - less than a third of Celtic Park's 60,00 capacity - have been sold for the semi-final on Sunday. Aidrie have sold just under 3,000 of their 5,000 allocation whilst Gers fans have bought only 15,000. High ticket prices and live television coverage are blamed for the effect on sales.

Thursday 21st October 1998

Gordon Durie was included in the 18 man squad that flew out to Germany before Thursday's game with Leverkusen. Durie has been out injured since the game with PAOK at Ibrox in August when he suffered ankle ligament damage.

Tuesday 20th October 1998

Lorenzo Amoruso will be suspended for Sunday's League Cup Semi-Final with Airdrie. The referee's report confirmed that he was red carded for violent conduct on Saturday.

Monday 19th October 1998

Rangers chairman David Murray today dismissed as "absolute garbage" reports that German star Jorg Albertz could quit Ibrox over an alleged feud with fellow midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst. The Ibrox supremo was angered by suggestions that the pair have been at loggerheads since van Bronckhorst's £4.5 million summer arrival from Feyenoord. Albertz, the joint leading scorer in Scottish football with nine goals to date, was dropped earlier this season as coach Dick Advocaat opted for van Bronckhorst on the left side of midfield. But Murray insisted there was no truth in the rumour that a perceived personality clash between the two players could see fans' favourite Albertz forced to leave the club. "This is absolute garbage," he said. "I don't know where this idea has come from because the two players actually socialise together. There is not truth in it at all." Italian midfielder Rino Gattuso's projected £3million return home to Serie A strugglers Salernitana should go through within the next 48 hours. The Under 21 international has failed to win a place in Advocaat's favoured line-up this term and is keen to stake his claim for further representative honours back home on a more regular basis.

Sunday 18th October 1998

Belgian giants Anderlecht have revealed they're ready to spend £3Million to end Marco Negri's hell at Rangers. Coach Rene van der Eycken wants to beat Spaniards Atletico Madrid in the race for the hitman who cracked 36 goals for Gers last season. Assistant general manager Robert Depot told Mailsport: "I can confirm our interest in Negri. "We are considering a list of 10 strikers and he is on it because we need a goalscorer of his calibre." Marco has been training hard to get back to peak fitness and Advocaat said: "I still hope he will stay but his mind is clear. He wants to get fit and leave" Rangers Skipper Lorenzo Amoruso, who already misses Thursdays' UEFA Cup game through suspension, WILL be available for Sunday's League Cup semi-final with Airdrie following yesterdays red card against Hearts but is set to miss the Premier League games with Motherwell and Dundee United that follow. Colin Hendry will captain the side while Amoruso is missing.

Saturday 17th October 1998

Rangers' flying winger Andrei Kanchelskis is back despite a light plaster cast on his damaged wrist for the eagerly-awaited match with Hearts. Seb Rozental wins a place on the bench ahead of £4.2m Argentine Gabriel Amato, who misses out entirely. Dick Advocaat is also likely to bring back Dutch defender Arthur Numan in place of Australian Tony Vidmar. Former Rangers defender Gary Stevens has quit football after being beaten by injury. He now plans to turn his hand to physiotherapy by enrolling on a degree course at Salford University, run by the Professional Footballers' Association.

Monday 12th October 1998

Scott Wilson has signed a new contract to stay with the club. Wilson had been linked with a move to Dundee and was reported to be frustrated with the lack of first team football at Ibrox. The league match away to Mothwell has been moved to Wednesday 28th October withe 7.45pm kickoff due to Rangers League Cup Semi-Final with Airdie on Sunday 25th October.

Thursday 8th October 1998

UEFA has dispelled fears that Lionel Charbonnier will face a two match ban from the French Football Federation. A spokesman for UEFA said, "It is ridiculous, though to suggest that the French can make him miss club games - they have no power over what happens at that level."

Wednesday 7th October 1998

Lionel Charbonnier could be suspended for 2 games after walking out of the French squad. Under French Football Federation regulations any player leaving the national squad without due reason is punished with a 2 match ban for his club. Charbonnier left the squad after Bernard Lama was called up to replace the injured Fabien Barthez for Saturday's Euro 2000 qualifier with Russia. Rangers UEFA cup ties with Bayer 04 Leverkusen will be switched to Thursday nights to allow for live coverage by German TV. The game will now take place on Thursday 22nd October and the return on Thursday 5th November at Ibrox.

Tuesday 6th October 1998

Lionel Charbonnier has withdrawn from the French squad for the game with Russia after being named only as substitute. Craig Moore has agrred to join Crystal Palace and will complete his £800,000 move to London tomorrow pending a medical. During his 6 year career with Rangers he made appearances 99 for the first team with another 8 off the bench and scored 4 goals.

Friday 2nd October 1998

Rangers have drawn Germany's Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the 2nd round of the UEFA Cup. The first leg in in Germany on October 20th with the return at Ibrox on November 3rd.

Thursday 1st October 1998

Lionel Charbonnier has been named in the 19 man French squad for the Euro 2000 qualifiers against Russia and Andorra. Andrei Kanchelskis will miss Russia's qualifier with France match on October 10 due to his wrist injury. Dick Advocaat has handed Charlie Miller a new 2 year contract and his urged the 22 year old midfielder to stake a claim for a first team place.