Over the last couple of weeks it’s been impossible to avoid the constant pleading for money and players of Ally McCoist.
As Rangers form has plunged and the transfer window approached the Ibrox boss hasn’t let any opportunity slip by to voice his need to sign players, especially strikers.
Equally obvious is the need to retain Nikica Jelavic who appears to be wanted by a number of clubs yet Rangers have still to receive a single offer with the transfer window a week old.
The wise cracking style of the former assistant manager has virtually disappeared as the necessity to spend money to bring in new players has intensified against a backdrop of financial uncertainty.
Splashing out millions on Kyle Lafferty, Jelavic, Maurice Edu, Steve Davis and Steven Whittaker has kept Rangers on top in recent seasons but those days are over as the past returns to haunt the club.
Giving an update on the transfer situation on Friday McCoist said: “I’ve had a couple of meetings with Craig and he did not say to me that we needed to get players out to get players in.
“Like any business, that would probably be his perfect solution but he didn’t say that to me and he is as aware as I am that we need to be strengthened.”
McCoist’s hopeful message in public was in stark contrast to the news from the Rangers Supporters Assembly who had met with Whyte earlier in the week.
Using their facebook page the Assembly bluntly summed up the position that Whyte had spelled out to them.
Their bullet point summary of the meeting stated: “There will be comings and goings in the January transfer window – however, players need to go to ensure any new arrivals don’t increase the number of players and the salary costs.
“It is unlikely that all income will be used to buy new players. He emphasised we need creative players and strikers. There is a list of targets but no names were mentioned.
“There are no concerns about current cash flow and the day to day running of the Club although he acknowledges that the running costs must be reduced – again that was said at our last meeting.”
Suggestions that Rangers have struck a deal to sign St Johnstone striker Fran Sandaza in the summer confirm that there is no money for McCoist to spend with the striker currently valued at £300,000.
Responding to Rangers interest in his striker St Johnstone chairman: “It’s my understanding Rangers have spoken to Fran but there’s no agreement at present. They are well within their rights [to speak to him] and I have no problem with that.
“We don’t want to lose him before May. We have targeted a top six place. There are no guarantees in football but his goals could be the difference between the top and bottom six. That would be the starting point for any bid.”
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Seems to be , Joe, that none of the mainstream press wish to report on what was said at that meeting! Still linking rangers with players and still saying a deal might be struck with hmrc when whyte has clearly stated at that meeting that both are highly unlikely to happen!
Whatever Rangers do or Don’t do should be of no concern to Celtic whatsoever….we should be making moves to strengthen the side no matter what happens in Govan.
We have sufficient players on the fringes who are not worthy of a regular place and should be seeking to move them on. Plenty of clubs desperate and the success of Hooiveld at Southampton hopefully will help persuade others that we have players who could do a good job for them.
Absolutely no need to sell any of our top players unless crazy money is being thrown our way…but £ 6-7m wouldn’t tempt me for any of those mentioned in the press to date. These guys will be worth more the longer they play with us. £ 6-7m would only get you an EPL reserve player down south….if they want to throw about claims of having the richest league in the world…put up or shut up.
Meanwhile we should continue to look elsewhere for players with great potential at reasonable prices.
These articles pi$$ me off. Past 3 seasons we delight at how skint Rangers are & they are Champions 3 years running. Concentrate on our own lack of spending & continual lies from our own Chairman. These articles are an embarrassment.
If you don’t care about what rangers do why are you looking at this? You make a good point mate. Keep up the good work
I’ll still laugh at Rearangers being skint because I can’t influence what the board spend on transfers, although I tend to agree past three seasons we should have spent money to bury Rearangers.