Rangers celebrate yet another trophy.

Sunday’s CIS Cup Final between Celtic and Rangers was never going to decide the destination of the SPL title, but it has told us that we are in for one hell of a battle between now and the end of May.

Before the match most commentators had already wrote Rangers off. Injury ravaged and finished was a common theme amongst the red tops. Weir is too slow, Edu is like a man down and Smith’s negative approach has sapped out any confidence his troops once had.

How wrong they were.

Rangers looked quicker, fitter and more determined than their great rivals, which surprised even the most optimistic of the Ibrox club’s manic support base.

Thursday’s exit in the Europa League to PSV Eindhoven may be, to descend into cliché mode, the blessing in disguise they needed. Not only does it allow the champions to wholly concentrate on domestic matters, but the second half performance, despite failing to score, gave everyone at the club the belief that exciting, positive football is their best chance of success this season.

This new wave of optimism was brought onto the field at Hampden Park on Sunday, giving The Gers a 2-1 despite playing with a makeshift defence.

Steven Davis probably played his best game all season. In actual fact, the only performance which could come close was the second half on Thursday. Maurice Edu was anonymous as usual, but Davis still managed to win the midfield battle with his guile and pace, despite being up against Kayal and Ledley. If the Ulsterman can perform to such high standards for the rest of the season, then he could well play the protagonist role in the title chase.

Nikica Jelavic is another one who will surely have a massive say on this year’s finale. He bullied and bossed Celtic’s centre back paring of Thomas Rogne and Charlie Mulgrew, and was rewarded with his somewhat fortuitous winning goal. The Croat clearly has the touch and ability to add to his 11 goals already this season. A fully fit Jelavic will do some damage to SPL defences.

Although the two aforementioned drew most of the headlines, the likes of Steven Whittaker, Davie Weir and Gregg Wylde all played important parts in securing Walter Smith’s 20^th trophy in his two spells as Rangers manager.

Momentum and confidence are everything in sport when the difference in quality is miniscule. Rangers now have it after losing their way in recent months. It is, however, too early to say the pendulum has swung back to the southside of the city, just as it was naïve to declare Celtic treble winners a few weeks ago before they had even won a trophy.

There is obviously a lot of tough matches and many nervy moments on the horizon, but in Smith Rangers have the experience and the nohow when it comes to winning championships. Most of his players know what is expected of them, having proven it over the last two or three years, and which is something Neil Lennon must try to transmit to his young but ambitious squad.

Another matter of significance is they now have as many games to play as Celtic, excluding a potential Scottish Cup Final for the latter. And because of the International break, with injuries to many in the squad (Ness, Bougherra, Weiss, Davis and Naismith to name a few), it allows them time to recover in what will surely be a punishing but intriguing April.

The final Old Firm fixture at Ibrox, whenever it is played, will be vital. A win for either side and they are massive favourites to secure the title. However, if Rangers play the same positive approach they adopted on Sunday, their once seen diminishing chances will increase tenfold.

When the sunset over Mount Florida on Sunday night, the big prize was still up for grabs, but what it has done is make us all think twice.

Never write off The Rangers.

Kenny Miller looks set to leave Rangers this month.

When hearing the news that Rangers had accepted a bid of around £700,000 from Birmingham City for striker Kenny Miller, my initial reaction was not of surprise but of acceptance and apathy.

I would, however, be shocked to see Miller move to Birmingham, especially with the likes of Fiorentina and Marseilles reportedly linked with the SPL’s top goalscorer. If it were me, an offer abroad to France or Italy would seem far more attractive than moving down south in what will most probably be a relegation battle.

Miller has been to England twice, with mixed success, and it would be good at this stage of his career, in what is probably his last contract, to try something new. Also the prospect of European football would remain, with Championship football being a distinct possibility next year at Birmingham.

Miller can pick and choose his clubs. He has earned the right to do so after two and a half excellent years at Ibrox. This season, in particular, has been fruitful for the ex Celtic man. 22 goals at the half way stage of the season has seen him in strong contention for the golden boot, with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo his main challengers.

Whatever Miller does, though, it is not good news for Rangers fans. They cannot afford to give Miller a new contract. It simply is impossible for a club in Scotland to offer the £30,000 a week Miller is reportedly looking for. However, would it not be sensible to keep Miller on for the rest of the season and let him do what Kris Boyd did last year and leave on a Bosman?

£700,000 is not a lot of money and Rangers are going to struggle to get someone near Miller’s quality for even double that amount. The financial problems have been well documented at Ibrox, but surely keeping Miller could bring in more than his potential transfer fee?

Firstly, Rangers are still in Europe. Progression into the last 16 of the Europa League will mean more games, and the TV money and gate receipts alone would amount to more than £1 million.

Without Miller, Rangers do not have any suitable forwards to lead the line domestically and in Europe. Nikica Jelavic is cup tied which means the much maligned Kyle Lafferty is the likely candidate to replace him.

Steven Naismith can also play there but the squad is already too small at Rangers to contemplate losing its best player this season. If they could bring in David Goodwillie for around £1 million it would soften the blow, but he is potential and not someone to rely upon to fire the goals towards a third consecutive domestic title.

Secondly, another title gives Rangers a chance at Champions League qualification and a possibility of £10 million. The SPL winners would be pitched in with champions from other small nations, like Romania and the Czech Republic, but they will be seeded, giving them a favourable draw.

Is the gamble that much to take? £700,000 is not a lot of money in today’s mad football world, even with Rangers debt.

The problem, of course, is it’s not football people running the club but bankers. You do wonder what kind of influence absentee owner Sir David Murray has over transfer policy. He still owns the club and should be taking far greater responsibility than he currently is over the financial mess that was allowed to engulf on Scotland most successful sporting institution.

It was him, after all, who ran up debts of £80 million chasing an unrealistic dream. Then, after a share rights issue of over £50 million, he ran up more debts. This is mismanagement at best. Murray may have been a good thing for Rangers initially, and he has overseen some fantastic moments with the club, but his legacy is fast becoming known for financial ruin and embarrassment.

The decade of downsizing continues for Rangers with Miller’s expected departure. How long for and to what extent is now the real worry for everyone connected with the club.

While everything had appeared to be going all so smoothly for the champions, with Celtic anything but consistent in the month of December, most observers had already made their minds up that 3 in a row was already in the bag.

It’s amazing that one result can swiftly change public opinion, with Celtic now right back in the race. Not only them, but it is hard to ignore the possible threat of Hearts, who are now only three points behind Rangers, albeit having played two more games. Jim Jefferies’ squad is also big enough to cope with the inevitable injuries and suspensions a demanding 38 game season will bring.

However, Walter Smith’s side should not be discounted after one abject performance. They have been through the course of a full season before and know what it takes to push through the finishing line. There are, of course, reservations whether his thin bread squad can cope with the forthcoming fixture pile up in the next few months. An extended European run in this year’s Europa League will dent their SPL chances. It did in 2008 and it should again. This is the sad truth success brings.

It is important Walter Smith adds to his squad in this January transfer and if he can’t then prioritising is of great importance. The league, obviously, is number one on the list, and Europe is always a great adventure and challenge for one of the Old Firm. However, can the same be said of the two domestic cups? It is difficult to imagine any Rangers side not taking a competition seriously, but a chance of qualifying for the lucrative Champions League again next season is a slightly more exciting prospect. The financial ramifications are far too damning to ignore.

Everyone connected with Celtic will naturally be delighted with only their second victory at Ibrox in five years. There has been much criticism coming Neil Lennon’s way recently, most of it justified especially after drawing three consecutive home matches.

The Old Firm win will give his squad some much needed self belief that they can go all the way and challenge Rangers to the end. A four point lead this stage, albeit having played two games more, is a great position to be in and they can really strengthen their grip on top spot by going on a run of victories in the remaining winter months. This is what the Parkhead faithful will be hoping for, and if a win at the home of your rivals can’t push you on to some good form, then nothing can.

Perhaps only bringing on a couple of players in he transfer window, instead of repeating the last few windows and signing masses of unknowns, will help bring stability, not insecurity?

Lennon needs to get it right this window. Either way, it’s going to be an exciting end to the season with not only two but three teams all vying it out to be Scotland champions for 2011.

Sunday’s Old Firm victory should finally wrap up the championship for Rangers, in what has been a fairly dominant season for the Ibrox club.

League number 53, and a world record at that, is a remarkable achievement considering the last time Walter Smith was able to pay a transfer fee for a player, who ironically, was Sunday’s match winner Maurice Edu.

Nobody expected the Gers to win the league with such a lightweight squad, let alone run away with it. They have suffered only one defeat all campaign, which has propelled them into a healthy ten point advantage over Celtic with a game in hand.

Spirit, courage, resolve and fight are looked upon as factors why Rangers are on the cusp of winning back to back titles for the first time in a decade.

Here, I take a look back at six days or nights the fans could proudly sing, ‘that’s why we’re champions.’

Hearts 1 Rangers 2 (23-08-09).

It was only the second week of the season, but the clash in Edinburgh proved crucial in the long run. A man down after twelve minutes when Kevin Thomson was harshly sent off, Rangers then fell behind just before half time. With the game seemingly lost, a battling performance allowed Lee McCulloch to equalise, before a Kris Boyd penalty in injury time was enough to complete a remarkable comeback.

Steven Davis and McCulloch were immense that day, and have carried on their good form since. Rangers put down a marker that day, telling Celtic they would fight for their title.

St Johnstone 1 Rangers 2 (17-10-09).

In similar circumstances to Tynecastle two months earlier, Rangers looked shaky at the back, and Colin Samuel put the Saints ahead early on. Despite being on the back foot for the majority of the game, Kris Boyd, predictably, equalised before half time, and then Sasa Papac struck from twenty yards with seven minutes remaining.

In what was a poor display, Rangers were able to go home with all three points. Again, the fighting spirit was on show, and having drawn the last two matches away from home, it was imperative Rangers got their campaign on full flow.

Hibernian 1 Rangers 4 (27-12-09).

Miller scores his second and Rangers fourth against Hibs.

At this point Hibs were seen as genuine title challengers, but Rangers were in the midst of their best form for years. December was a productive and exciting month that put them well clear at the top before the New Year.

Hibs took the lead after only twelve seconds, an SPL record, but, thanks to a calamity goalkeeping performance from Yves MaKalambay, goals from Boyd, Miller (2) and Novo helped complete the rout.

The result was important as it showed Rangers had the ability and bottle to see of the most challenging of matches, and with it, killed of any realistic championship hopes the men from Leith had.

Celtic 1 Rangers 1 (03-01-10).

Despite the derby resulting in only a draw, it was evident to everyone who the happier team was. Injuries and suspensions robbed the Gers of their best players, and were forced to camp inside their own half for the majority of the game.

Celtic were wasteful in front of goal, but were finally rewarded when substitute Scott McDonald headed home with ten minutes to go. Game over it would seem. However, straight up the park Rangers went, and Lee McCulloch’s bullet, Lyonesque header gave Rangers an underserved, but priceless point. Cue bedlam from the away support as they realised the significance of the outcome. This, for many, was Celtic’s final chance to claw the gap back, However, it remained seven points, and, in truth, they have never fully recovered from that demoralising blow.

Tony Mowbray took it on the chin and moved on, or so he said.

St Mirren 0 Rangers 2 & Celtic 1 Hibernian 2 (27-01-10).

This was a fairly comfortable game for Rangers, with goals from Steven Davis and Nacho Novo securing the points in Paisley, but it was at Celtic Park where the drama fully unfolded. Despite taking the lead, Anthony Stokes equalised for Hibs. Then in injury time, Danny Galbraith fired past Artur Boruc to steal the points. In Paisley, the Rangers support went wild, the Hibs support went loopy and there was despondency among the Parkhead faithful.

Another lead was flittered away, while Rangers were dogged enough to win their game. This was seen as a significant moment in the title chase, as Rangers moved ten clear.

Tony Mowbray took it on the chin and moved on.

Kilmarnock 1 Celtic 0 (02-02-10).

Robbie Keane tries his best, but Celtic lost to Kilmarnock.

Although Rangers were not directly involved, the media and fans alike realised the SPL trophy would be staying at Ibrox for another year.

The previous day’s headlines were dominated by the capture of Robbie Keane. It was, as some Celtic fans boasted, the signing that would win them the league. Their optimism dramatically fell when Chris Maguire took advantage of some shoddy marking to give Killie a famous win. Keane had his chances, but missed. Celtic failed to take advantage of their game in hand, and they remained ten points behind.

Tony Mowbray, yes, you guessed it, took it on the chin and moved on. Where exactly he moves on to is the next big question for the Celtic boardroom.

The departure of Pedro Mendes and Jerome Rothen gave the fans some hope that new faces would arrive before last night’s deadline. Sadly, this was not the case, and it will now be two years this summer since we bought a player – Maurice Edu for £2 million in August 2008.

Pedro Mendes will be missed at Ibrox.

This is a depressing statistic, but is hardly surprising considering the financial hardship created by owner Sir David Murray. He has stripped the club bare, and it is left to the heartless bankers of Lloyds Group to get their £31 million back from the club.

The way they are doing this seems to be by downsizing every transfer window. Last January they tried to sell one top player, which looked to be Kris Boyd, but thankfully he rejected the move. Despite a remarkable SPL title in May, and with it the jackpot from Champions League revenue, Rangers lost around 10 players, mainly fringe one’s I may add.

Now the most recent transfer window has seen further cut backs, as mentioned above. The only player to arrive in all this time is Jerome Rothen on loan, but he has since moved to Turkey after an uninspiring stay.

 For the moment, it is frustrating being a Rangers fan, especially when you look across the city and see that Robbie Keane has signed for Celtic for the rest of the season. He will be on wages of around £65 thousand a week, and they have spent numerous amounts of money on other players. Although not at his peak, Keane is still a  good player and will not find it too difficult to score in the SPL.

The saving grace right now is they are still 10 points behind, with a game in hand, and they have the problem of trying to get nearly a full team settled and playing together straight away. If they can’t, then Rangers should be consistent enough to capture 2 in a row.

Another plus is Tony Mowbray appears to be out of his depth. His ramblings to the media show a man failing to deal with the pressure.

However, even with all these new signings, it does not make the likes of Motherwell and St Johnstone any stronger. These are the teams Rangers will be playing, and we only face Celtic twice. Celtic may now be stronger and might not drop as many cheap points, but they have to put a long winning run together to stay in touch. If Rangers can win the Old Firm game at Ibrox at the end of the month, it will go a long way to determine the outcome of the title.

One thing we do seem to have is a great team spirit, which helps to win points when seemingly impossible. Celtic, on the other hand, will not have this yet, and are unlikely to until their players gel and form relationships.

I still think Rangers will win the league, but it will be far tougher than I imagined. While, before, only a fool could say we had already won it, I was as confident as I could have possibly been at this time of the season. Now it is going to be a huge battle, and the old saying of taking each game at a time is more appropriate than ever.

Even if we do secure title number 53 in May, the close season is a worry for the bears. A takeover is vital before then, or we may see further asset stripping from the bank. If Lloyds are still in full control, you can bet your mortgage on Bougherra and McGregor leaving with no adequate replacements found. Boyd, Beasley, Novo and Broadfoot are all out of contract in the summer as well, and they are likely to leave because of the refusal of Donald Muir to sanction new deals.

Where would this leave Rangers?

Well, Celtic would easily run away with the league because we would be full of journey man players added by even more youngsters. The likes of Fleck, Wilson and co appear to have massive futures ahead of them in the game, but it is asking way too much of them to step up to the plate and challenge for the title.

This is a worry for all connected with the club, and it makes a buyer so important before then. Right now, I cannot see one. I keep on hearing stories from the media and those supposedly ‘in the know’ that we are close to a consortium buyout, but I have been hearing this for months and nothing appears on the agenda.

I really hope I am wrong, as it is worrying times for Rangers in the long term. I really don’t know what we will have left at the start of the next season. If we fail to take advantage of our position this year, and lose the Champions League money, it could get a lot worse.

Still, as bad as it gets, I would much rather have this than waking up for a day wearing the green and white.

Rangers should still win the league.

The way he outplayed the Spaniard for much of the match was a joy to behold, and there can be no excuses of an injured Nadal, as the defending champion was never dominant in this sluggish affair.

Nadal’s injury problems are a blow to not only himself, but to the tennis world. He has the knees of a 40 year old and it is a reasonable assertion to make that he may never reach the giddy heights of 2008.

That, though, is for another day. Murray, on this evidence alone, looks a far more complete player and perhaps most importantly, fitter and stronger.

The Scot’s strengths have always been his movement around the court, the ability to mix up his game and he has arguably the greatest return of serve on the tour. Criticism has been labelled at his poor second serve and his lack of aggression on court. It is clear the amount of gym work during the off season has been intense as Murray looks far more destructive with the ball and he was able to match Nadal’s strength like he never has done before.

Murray was impressive against Nadal.

It was suggested to me by a friend during the match that Nadal looks around 10% less powerful than he used to. In reality, however, Murray appears to be 10% more commanding, and he has caught up with the giants of the game.

The second serve looks be a bit deeper and does not allow his opponent free swing at the ball. It will take time for it to finally be of what is required at this level, but it is making steady progress.

The most impressive aspect of Murray’s game in the quarter final match-up was to play the big points brilliantly. During key points, whether a break point down, or in the second set tie break, he was able to hammer down that ace or punch that forehand down the line. This is what he needs to keep up if he is to win his maiden slam this year.

Now, onto Cilic, and Murray has a fantastic opportunity to reach the final in Melbourne.  The Croat has just faced three, five set matches in a row, including an epic win over Andy Roddick. Or a better statistic, Cilic has played 22 sets compared to Murray’s mere 14 and a bit. The fitness will surely be with Murray and Cilic could justifiably be fatigued.

Cilic also has the ability to go in spells where nothing is going to plan. His game is inconsistent, which explains his underachieving world ranking of number 14. He has though, the potential to be unstoppable, which Murray will be fully aware of after their clash in the U.S Open last year, where Cilic won in straight sets. Murray may have had a wrist injury, but, in truth, he was outplayed in every department, and if he is to emerge victorious, considerable improvement is required.

Murray is the favourite to do so and on his showing versus Nadal, he now looks like a Grand Slam champion. All that is missing is a trophy to accompany his new found game and belief.

Boyd only has six months left on his contract, and despite an offer originally being placed by the club’s Chief Executive Martin Bain, that deal is said to have been vetoed by Lloyds bank, who appear to be running the club.

This is the most important contract of Kris Boyd’s career and it is one he must give serious consideration too. He has a young family and they must be his priority when weighing up his options. If Rangers are not in a financial position to offer him a new deal, then he has to look at other options available to him.

The offer from the Premiership clubs will surely be worth more than he will ever receive from the Scottish champions, but you get the feeling with Boyd that money is not his focus point.

Rangers are likely to be his first choice and if he can get the reported £18,000 a week deal that was reported, then he could extend his stay in Glasgow. But the Ayrshire man has to consider what is best for his career as well. Rangers haven’t bought anyone in 18 months and their financial restraints are well known. Does he hold out until, or if, a new owner comes in and waits to see what their future plans are for the club? If he does this, he runs the risk of losing the contract offers from the Birmingham clubs. Rangers may not have been bought over by the summer and could still be in exactly the same position.

Boyd will always score goals, so he will be playing for a more than decent club next season. But now, he has to weigh up the possibility of developing himself as a player at a higher standard and earning more money, to playing for his boyhood team and living dream. It is probably the most important decision in his entire career and one that will not be easy to make.

That was the exact words of Walter Smith in his post match interview on Saturday and the press reports since then have confirmed this. Lloyds have even placed their man Donald Muir on the board and he is effectively in control.

Make no doubts about it, Rangers find themselves in a very serious position. Administration is now a genuine possibility if no new owner is found within the next few months. The bank have even loosely threatened such a scenario will happen if the remaining members of the board do not lie down to their demands.

Murray has owned Rangers for twenty years

So the question has to be asked, how has a massive institution like Rangers, who have fifty thousand paying customers every week, been left in such a dire financial mess? Look no further than to point the finger at their owner for the last twenty years - Sir David Murray. The evidence against him is damming and there has to be very few people left who believe he has been good for Rangers.

When Rangers won nine in a row everything was going well, they were one of the biggest clubs in the world and could match the spending of anyone. Murray liked to boast about his and Rangers wealth which culminated in allowing Dick Advocaat to outlay over £50 million in transfers and a new £14 million training ground. It was only in 2003, when debts soared to around £80 million, did Murray find his first doubters. £80 million in the red is a huge sum and the gross mismanagement on his behalf and was the first sign of negligence that we would witness many more times in the next six years.

So what was Murray’s response to the financial failure he created? He stepped down as chairman and let John McClelland take the flak. Nothing better than jumping ship when it’s all going wrong eh? Since then and the treble winning team of 2003, Rangers fortunes on the pitch began to reflect what was happening of it. One title in the next five years allowed Celtic to dominate which was only halted last May when Walter Smith finally wrestled the championship back. That was so important as it meant guaranteed Champions League football and with it excess of £10 million income. Without that, who knows where Rangers would be now.

Today Rangers find themselves £30 million overdrawn and the bank has finally pulled the plug, demanding the majority of it back. Murray does not have that kind of money anymore and has again taken a step back from the club, although this time it appears he was forced to do so by Lloyds. His company Murray International holdings has huge debts and rumours are surrounding Edinburgh’s financial district that some of the companies within MIH may be forced into administration soon. Financially Murray has made a lot of costly mistakes and it appears they are finally catching up with him.

Rangers won the SPL title last year.

There is more to his bad ownership of Rangers than just financial. We have heard so many promises from Murray, what he is going to do and how he will do it. Remember the ‘moonbeams’ comments after he had secured Paul Le Guen as manager in 2006? This along with massive stadium redevelopment and a super casino at Ibrox proved just to be smoke and mirrors. We heard nothing about it after his revelations to the media. It is not unreasonable for Rangers fans to think they have been lied to by Murray.

Hugh Adam worked for Rangers for more than two decades and was able to see first hand what Murray was like as a business man and as a person. He wrote back in 2003:

“David tends to only appoint toadies and didn’t like the fact I was not prepared to be one. This is one of his weaknesses as an executive. Another is the fact that he is simply not an astute businessman. Rather, he is an impresario, a showman, what might be termed a buyer and seller, this extending even as far as the manner in which he has sold himself and his club through a willing media”.

That is a good summary of Murray and one that has been largely ignored by the popular press and many Rangers fans, who dared not to see the actions and possible consequences of their Chairman. He is quick to defend any negative publicity about himself but largely ignores it when it relates to Rangers, or their fans. True, sometimes the supporters do not help themselves but there are occasions when the club should come out and back them. This is what Celtic and their Chief Executive Peter Lawwell do consistently.

King is said to be interested in buying Rangers

Even ignoring what is written above, Rangers have never had a long-term plan while Murray has been at the helm. They have gone from season to season of downsizing with no real business structure or cohesion about the decisions they make. Any profitable business should have a structure and  long-term ambitions because how else do you attract shareholders to invest?

Reports suggest South African businessman Dave King is looking to buy the club either on his own or as part of a consortium. That has to be good news for Rangers but there are many stumbling blocks before it can happen, like the asking price and due diligence. King can be the saviour of Rangers like Fergus McCann was to Celtic all these years ago. 

Murray’s time and influence looks to be over as the bank have taken full control over his investment. His legacy will not be of nine in a row, a UEFA Cup final or a first class training ground, but off financial ruin and possibly administration. Quite simply Rangers FC are in a worse position now than they were when he bought them twenty years ago.

The encounter at Ibrox tomorrow will tell us a lot about how the league will shape up this season. The Rangers payers simply must give their manager and fans a big performance after the humiliation they endured to Unirea on Tuesday evening. Another defeat and the natives will become even more restless and anything bar three points will be seen as catastrophic to the champions. While their immediate Champions League future looks bleak, Walter Smith’s men must simply win the league again this year, not only to appease their critical fans but also to consolidate their financial position.

For Hibs, they have the opportunity to push the Old Firm this season. Since the signings of Anthony Stokes and Liam Miller, they have been favourites  to win third spot this term, but with the startling decline of Celtic and Rangers, can they go one better and split the Old Firm or even win the SPL? Such statements are often seen as fantasy and usually reserved for the fiction section of the library, but if they are ever going to do something of significance then this is their chance. This is what makes Saturdays game all the more appealing.

The Hibees only sit two points of the top in third place and have won the same number of matches as the Glasgow giants – five in eight games played. They have genuine quality in their squad which includes a raft of talent in the forward area. Stokes should get at least fifteen this year and with the promising early form shown by Riordan, Zemmama and Benjelloun suggests they do have the firepower to challenge the Old Firm. This is aided by new manager John Hughes who has rejuvenated a side fledging towards mid table mediocrity in recent years.

The match at Ibrox will tell us whether the players at Hibs genuinely believe they have what it takes to not only defeat the Old Firm in a one off match, but also throughout a whole season. If they can then we may be in for one hell of a year.

First Rangers were hammered by some tin pot Romanian side who had more skill, imagination and fight than the Ibrox side. The 4-1 drubbing is arguably the worst result for the Gers in their Champions League history. Before even discussing whether they can qualify or not, they need to address some serious issues like performances and effort, or lack of as the case may be.

Rangers players look on as they suffer embarrassment

Then it was Celtics night to be turned over by one of Germany’s finest. The problem with that description is this Hamburg team had most of the first eleven missing and still looked more comfortable than a confidence stricken Celtic. The result confirms their fortress Parkhead status is well and truly gone. One win in eight European matches at home would confirm this, and that was a meaningless match against Villareal.

The speed of the downturn both Glasgow giants have suffered in the last couple of years has ben startling. Two seasons ago Rangers made it all the way to the UEFA Cup final and Celtic reached the last 16 of the Champions League. This high Scottish football was on then has now been replaced with a realisation that the SPL is financially bankrupt. Both clubs rake in little over a million pounds in TV revenue which is not enough to compete at this level.

Tony Mowbrays European record has been poor

Andy Townsend after the Celtic game was left perplexed as to why they could not spend some good money on two or three players. Andy they have tried this with the likes of Hesselink, Donati and Gravesen, but it did not work and all it did was merely put them into financial difficulty.

All the Old Firm can hope for in the next season or two is to win the league and receive subsequent Champions League money. Even that is no longer guaranteed after next season unless more coefficient points are accumulated. The only hope they have is for some European League or the Premiership to accept their desperate begging, but this is unlikely to happen in the short-term and both have to accept it.