Into the sunset?
Rangers have accepted a bid of £750,000 from Birmigham for Kenny Miller.
Following on from Walter Smith’s outburst against Lloyds Bank it has to be assumed that the decision was made by Lloyds rather than Rangers.
The proposed transfer is a replica of Alex McLeish’s attempt two years ago to sign Kris Boyd which was rejected by the player. Whether Miller will ‘do a Boyd’ and dig his heels in to stay at Ibrox remains to be seen.
With less than six months to go on his current contract the ball is in the strikers court as to what happens next.
Rangers dire financial position has been highlighted repeatedly by Smith recently with the Ibrox boss unable to move into the transfer market to make a loan signing without the approval of the bank.
Boyd quit Rangers in the summer on a Bosman deal with the offer of cash for Miller allowing the club to avoid a repeat of that scenario.
Miller joined Rangers for £3m from Derby County in 2008 and has scored 21 of their 39 SPL goals this season.
The return of Nikita Jelavic from injury and presence of former England striker James Beattie should cushion the blow of Miller’s expected departure.
Miller could reject the Birmingham bid but already questions are being asked about his commitment to the club after his performance in the 2-0 defeat from Celtic on Sunday.
Analysis of the match showed that the hitman only had FOUR touches of the ball during the entire second half.
Rangers ambassador Mark Hateley stated bluntly: “Miller wasn’t at the races on Sunday against Celtic and although everyone is entitled to an off day, his performance in that match convinced me even more that the time has come for something new.
“To put it plainly, I’m not too sure he wants to be there any longer. What’s more, I think he’s felt that way since the summer when he wasn’t rewarded with a new and improved contract.”
Moving to the midlands won’t be a step into the unknown for the 31-year-old who also had a spell at Wolves before joining Celtic in 2006.
Signing for McLeish however would be something of a surprise after the former Scotland manager sold Miller from both Hibs and Rangers earlier in his career.
Meanwhile state broadcaster BBC Scotland have claimed that ‘billionaire’ Craig Whyte ‘remains hopeful of concluding his proposed takeover of Rangers before the end of January.’
Predictably there are no quotes to the state funded spin.
Coming to Video Celts over the weekend, a revealing insight to Artur Boruc’s life and times at Celtic.
Kenny Dalglish takes over at Liverpool
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Hately is nothing more than Martin Bain’s ‘red top monkey’ comments about Miller, and also Andy Webster, show Bain’s ventriliquestic abilities, through the baldy ex-player, always toes the party line, must get him freebees at “castle greyscull”
Mornin’ Joe…
Some sources, this morning, are claiming that Kenny Miller doesn’t want a move to Birmingham….
And for the record….I like KM….I liked him when he was with us…he tried his best….and you can’t ask for more than that.
He’s also never been you typical West of Scotland type.
Ranger’s player…with a hatred of Celtic.I think he’s a decent guy ….and wish him all the best.
“you can’t ask for more than that.”
Some goals would have been nice Mick!!
Miller won’t be pushed into any move.
He does what suits him as he has shown throughout his career- rightly so.
I don’t think a relegation battle at Birmingham under a manager that has twice sold him has any appeal.
With Rangers again showing their hand Miller holds the aces.
I’d be surprised if he didn’t ask for a pay off if he moves on this month.
With Rangers interest in David Goodwillie now public Miller is in an even stronger position.
He’s a different creature to Kris Boyd, he knows how transfers work and if it doesn’t work out to his satisfaction he might suffer a hamstring injury or a Marco Negri type injury playing squash.
Max: We’ve had a lot of players …who gave us precious little goals…and never tried their best either….
agreed ??
I promise if you give me a game no-one on that pitch will be trying harder than me….but then I’m 50….trying your best doesn’t make you a Celtic player.
Why, Mike?
Because some peoples best just isn’t good enough.
agreed??