Source: Team_Talk
Gers chairman makes player pledge
It was feared that the club's bankers, Lloyds, would lean on the Ibrox board to trade one or more of their better players when the transfer window opens in order to reduce current debts of £31million.[LNB]However, at the club's AGM at Ibrox on Monday, Johnston, while revealing that the search for new owners of the club continues, allayed fears by saying: "As far as the bulk of the Rangers support is concerned, the relevant news is that the plan does not oblige us to sell any players in the January window.[LNB]"If any players do depart, it will be at the volition of the Rangers executive and management team.[LNB]"If the Rangers management team believes that we can beneficially trade players in January, we will have the freedom to do so provided we meet the constraints of the plan that we have agreed to adopt.[LNB]"The bank has agreed that the club's only obligation is to operate within a credit facility that reduces by £1million per year."[LNB]At a relatively amicable AGM, chief executive Martin Bain revealed that Smith, assistant Ally McCoist and first-team coach Kenny McDowall, who are all out of contract in January, would work on without new deals.[LNB]Bain then handed Ibrox fans yet another boost when he revealed that he is in talks with Kris Boyd about extending his contract beyond the end of the season.[LNB]He said: "It has been a difficult time for the club in the last few months and there wasn't the time to sit down with players' representatives and have properly-informed discussions.[LNB]"However, I am now in the position to negotiate and discuss players' contracts.[LNB]"Over the last fortnight, I have spoken to virtually all the representatives of players who are coming out of contract and I have been made aware of their intentions and those discussions have progressed.[LNB]"In particular with Kris Boyd, I spoke to his representative and I am aware of what Kris sees as acceptable as a contract.[LNB]"I have digested that and I'm in the process of continuing with discussions, but it has only happened recently."[LNB]Meanwhile Smith believes a radical change in youth coaching methods may be the only way to get players up to scratch.[LNB]Smith was quizzed by one shareholder on the perceived failure of the club's state-of-the-art training facility Murray Park in providing a steady stream of quality footballers.[LNB]Smith replied by stating that the problem runs deeper than coaching practises at Rangers.[LNB]"In a recent study the conclusion was that anyone who was going to be any good at anything would, between the ages of 12 and 19, have to put in 10,000 hours of practise," he said.[LNB]"We have not been getting that.[LNB]"That is what is missing and trying to replicate that has been very difficult for everyone.[LNB]"There are not the numbers of players available that there used to be 20/30 or 40 year ago.[LNB]"And we are trying to find a way to work harder to bring those who are available, through.[LNB]"We may have to copy French and German ideas where players are taken to hotel-type boarding houses where they are educated and get their football at the same time.[LNB]"It is obviously very expensive but we feel that (may be the way) to get the numbers of hours required.[LNB]"I don't think we will see any club in the world playing half a dozen players in to their first team but we have introduced a few players and will continue to introduce them."[LNB][LNB] Scottish Premier Winner 2009/10 Win Outright: Rangers 11/8
