Latest news with #Rangers'
Daily Record
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
6 Rangers cult heroes the fans never really got to see enough of as Hamza Igamane sparks flashbacks
The Argentine striker was signed by Dick Advocaat in the summer of 1998 from Real Mallorca for £4.2 million. But he made an immediate impact in Rangers' UEFA Cup tie against Shelbourne in Tranmere - scoring twice as the new-look side had to come back from 3-0 down to win 5-3. It was clear that Amato had bags of ability up front. He loved a drag-back or a chop to bamboozle defenders - but could combine that with raw physical power and a thunderous shot. Who can forget his header against Celtic at Ibrox in a 2-2 Old Firm draw - then his nutmeg on defender Alan Stubbs to set up strike partner Rod Wallace for Gers' second goal? Amato was capable of producing moments of genius but under Advocaat he couldn't quite nail a regular start in the side. In his two years at Ibrox, he won two titles and a Scottish Cup, as well as grabbing another goal against Celtic in a 4-2 victory. But after just 18 months in Glasgow, he was sold on to Brazilian side Gremio.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Absolute Last Words About Matt Rempe As Rangers Savior
Danny Wild-Imagn Images The Maven has said all there is to say about Matt Rempe; simply this: if properly utilized by new coach Mike Sullivan, the Not-So-Gentle Giant could be a meaningful asset. But superscout Jess Rubenstein asked to have the floor for a minute, just to set the Rempe record as straight as can be: Advertisement For transparency purposes, let me add that Rubenstein has had a special link to Rempe but better I should let Jess explain: "I've known Matt since his days with the Seattle (Major Junior) Thunderbirds," says Jess. "We got along in large part because we both lost our fathers as teenagers to a heart attack." As an outspoken Rempe advocate, Rubenstein claims that one of the unfair raps against Matt is that critics check out The Stratospheric One and conclude that his 6-8, 250 pounds means that he'll never improve. "You can't teach size," Jess insists, "but you can work with him to improve his skill set." Advertisement Which explains why GM Chris Drury added two years to Matt's contract with a very modest $155,000 raise. Ergo: The large lad comes cheap. For the Rangers' accountant, like pennies from Heaven. Rubenstein: "If Mike Sullivan is smart – and I hope that he is – then he'll realize that he should park Rempe in the enemy crease and let his eye/hand coordination do the rest." It is a fact of hockey life that over the decades, players have grown taller and taller but when it comes to officiating, critics such as Rubenstein believe that the refs are more apt to penalize Rempe BECAUSE he's the NHL's biggest player. One, Last Kick At The Matt Rempe Myth One, Last Kick At The Matt Rempe Myth Here are five reasons why Matt Rempe might fail to make good on his contract. Advertisement Maybe yes, maybe no, but this much is certain, Matt must assume that he's a marked man and adjust accordingly. I agree with seer Jess that if Rempe plays it smart – and not bull-in-a-China Shop dumb – The Skating Giraffe should be good for at least ten goals next season. And for the relatively little dough Rempe will earn, that's chicken feed for the giraffe!
STV News
a day ago
- Business
- STV News
Murray: 'I have apologised to Rangers fans for selling club to Craig Whyte'
Former Rangers owner David Murray says he has apologised to fans for selling the club before it collapsed into financial ruin. Sir David sold the Ibrox side for £1 to businessman Craig Whyte, and was at the helm when Rangers gave £47m in tax-free loans to players and staff between 2001 and 2010. The HMRC brought a case against Rangers centring on the club's use of Employee Benefit Trusts (EBTs), which were also used by other clubs. The EBTs enabled the club to pay players, managers and directors through the tax-free loans, but HMRC argued the payments were earnings and should be taxable. Getty Images Craig Whyte leaves court surrounded by police on September 2, 2015 in Glasgow, Scotland. Two tribunals – in 2012 and 2014 – ruled in Rangers' favour. But the Supreme Court found in favour of HMRC after an appeal in 2015. The club had been bought in May 2011 by Craig Whyte after Sir David initially struggled to find a buyer willing to take on a potential 'big tax case' bill. Mr Whyte was later cleared of fraud in relation to the takeover. Under Whyte's ownership, Rangers went into liquidation in February 2012 less than a year after the sale. Ewen Cameron/Up Next Studios Former Rangers owner David Murray says he has apologised to fans for selling the club before it collapsed into financial ruin. The tipping point for administration was a £9m tax bill due to HMRC, and total debts reached more than £100m. The club was admitted to the third division of Scottish football. Murray, speaking to broadcaster Ewen Cameron and Up Next Studios, said he has apologised to Rangers fans and staff for his part in the collapse. 'I have apologised, but I did a lot of good things for the club. If you want to remember the negative, that's their choice,' he said. When asked if the EBT scandal led to Rangers' downfall, he answered: 'That plus Craig Whyte. 'The interpretation of the EBT by HMRC and Craig Whyte… I think they could have survived the first one but not the two put together.' He added: 'Craig Whyte was a mistake – I'm prepared to admit that. But on the evidence of the money, what he was going to do, it seemed the only course of action.' Sir David continued: 'I was disappointed for the fans first of all and I was also so disappointed for the people that worked there – people who had been so loyal to me – and all of a sudden their jobs were in jeopardy. 'How many plates can you spin? The average Rangers fan doesn't care about my other businesses – but so many in Scotland – a joiner in Fife a haulage firm in Melrose – were affected by the banking crises.' Sir David's autobiography Mettle is out on Monday, and all proceeds will go to the Erskine Charity. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rangers must take their time to meet Lille at transfer table over Hamza Igamane for one major reason
The striker is in demand this summer but Russell Martin will hope the club are in no rush to seal an exit Paraag Marathe insists not every decision he and Andrew Cavenagh make at Ibrox in the weeks and months to come will be 'done with a calculator'. But as far as any potential sale of Hamza Igamane is concerned, the new Rangers owners would certainly be well advised to consider consulting a calendar. Gers' new season schedule has been locked in and ringed in bright red ink is the date of July 22 and the club's opening Champions League qualifier with Panathinaikos. And yet with that multi-million-pound eliminator only 25 days away, new boss Russell Martin is bracing himself for an offer he could do without. The timing of French giants Lille's interest in Moroccan frontman Igamane frankly couldn't be much worse. The former Southampton gaffer only got to make his introductions to his squad on Monday and now, not even a week later, he's faced with the nightmare prospect of having to wave goodbye to one of his key men before he's even finished memorising all his players' names. Reports in France claim Igamane has already shaken hands on a deal with Bruno Genesio's Ligue 1 giants and all that remains to be settled by the clubs is the fee. And you have to imagine that Martin will be hoping that his new American employers take their time pulling up a chair at the negotiating table. Look, there's every chance Rangers' 22-year-old striker WILL end up packing his bags this summer. But the frontman's short Ibrox story is an example in itself of why Martin will want to drag out any talks over his departure as long as possible - and certainly until he's dealt with the Greek outfit in his all important dugout debut. It's coming up 12 months since Record Sport sat down with former gaffer Philippe Clement during last summer's pre-season training camp to ask when we could expect to see his new £1.7million recruit from FAR Rabat. 'He will not be ready to start,' was the Belgian's honest admission. 'He's never trained or played physically at this level. 'He comes out of a holiday too so we need to build him up.' That build up process in the end came far too late to save Rangers' title hopes - and ultimately Clement's job too. Readjusting not only to the new levels at Ibrox but also life in Glasgow was slow going for the African ace. It was the last weekend in September before he was ready to make his first start. And another full two months passed from that debut bow at Ibrox before he was able to really burst into life with his rasping double on the Riviera as Clement's side thrashed Europa League rivals Nice at the end of November. In the end, the flashes of talent he displayed - most notably with his sensational Celtic Park winner - saw Igamane finish the season on 16 goals. But Martin needs a goalscorer that can hit the ground running for his new-look side when they welcome Panathinaikos to Ibrox for the first leg of their vital European tie in three-and-a-half week's time. The club's existing players have enough on their hands right now getting their heads around the new boss' extreme possession game without asking a new signing to do that too, all at the same time as he's having to nail together an IKEA living room kit and perhaps get to grips with vagaries of the Glesga patois. Martin may be able to get by without AEK Athens target Cyriel Dessers but there's little chance he'll be able to replace both his starting strikers and then get the new recruits integrated to his bold style in that short period. So that's why he'll be keen to stall on the Igamane talks as long as possible. Patience might be thin on the ground at Ibrox right now but it looks like Gers might be able to persuade Lille to wait a few more weeks to get their hands on Igamane. The Mastiffs are also in talks with French national team record goalscorer Olivier Giroud and certainly don't have the same rush on when it comes to their early-season fixtures. Having qualified directly for the Champions League proper, LOSC can put their Euro ambitions on the back burner until mid-September. And their domestic campaign doesn't get underway until a fortnight after Gers' Premiership opener at Motherwell on August 2. And who knows, holding off might give a few more clubs an opportunity to join the chase should Igamane carry on where he left off last season. And a bidding war certainly wouldn't do any harm when Marathe gets his calculator out.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Record
David Murray accuses Celtic chief Peter Lawwell of trying to 'bury Rangers'
The former Rangers owner has revealed all in his brand new autobiography that pulls no punches Celtic chief Peter Lawwell has been accused of trying to 'bury Rangers' as the Ibrox outfit lurched towards collapse. The former Parkhead chief exec – now chairman – has long been accused of holding huge influence in Scottish football's corridors of power. Now Sir David Murray has accused him of working to make the Light Blues suffer. He writes: 'Peter Lawwell was someone I knew previously. 'One of my companies GM Mining did business with Scottish Coal where Peter worked and I once invited him and his wife to Ibrox for a game. 'He was delighted to accept and back then was good company, but by the time he rose to become chief executive of Celtic he was on a completely different trajectory. 'For nearly two decades he tried to build up a seat of power and I honestly believe that by the end of his time at the club he was wielding far too much influence in Scottish football. At one point, after I sold Rangers, it seemed he was positively revelling in the demise of the club. 'He held sway on committees through friends and always used the strength of his power base when he thought it was necessary. 'Of course he had a job to do for his club – and no one could argue he did it well for much of his tenure – but with very few influential or credible figures working to Rangers' benefit, he became a pivotal figure in trying to grind them down and make them suffer. 'To me, it seemed the mantra was always, 'Let's bury Rangers'.' Sir David Murray has revealed how Sean Connery lost £1million when Rangers went bust. The late James Bond star was a close friend of the Ibrox owner and decided to invest in the club when Murray held a 2004 share issue. Murray writes: 'For years, Sean and I would share a catch-up call every weekend to chat through the football and we would inevitably kick off with Rangers. 'After all, he had put £1million into the club which no one knew about at the time or since. 'I was raising £50million in 2004 and Sean asked if he could invest. I told him that it was football, that there were no guarantees and he should get professional advice but he was adamant. He wanted in. 'Needless to say he never did get the money back but he understood completely. Football always will be a risky business." Sir David Murray reckons Rangers' financial collapse denied Ibrox icon Ally McCoist the chance to become a managerial great. McCoist was manager when Craig Whyte sank the club's operating company into administration and liquidation. He stayed on to lead Gers on their journey through the lower leagues but resigned in 2014 after a fall-out with the Mike Ashley-backed regime in charge at that time. Murray writes: 'Nobody will ever know how good a manager Alistair could have become for Rangers because it was going very well for him at one stage. 'But I have no doubt that when things are going bad off the park, they do affect things on the park. It filters through. He never stood a fighting chance. 'It's very hard to judge him as a manager because of those circumstances but thank God he was there because after the troubles he became the glue that would somehow hold it together under enormous pressure. 'I am so happy that he's gone on to carve out such a hugely successful media career.' Mettle: Tragedy, Courage & Titles by Sir David Murray, published by Reach Sport rrp £22, is on sale Thursday 3rd July from Amazon and all good bookshops.
