Source: Team_Talk
Gers supremo plans summer sales
His appraisal came as the club announced a pre-tax loss of just over £4.1million for the six months to December 31 - compared to a profit of just under £2.3million for the same period last year.[LNB]Turnover is also down by £12.9million to £20.1million due to the lack of income from European football after Rangers crashed out of the Champions League to Lithuanian side FBK Kaunas at the start of the season.[LNB]Murray was criticised by some fans for revealing last month that he would sanction the sale of at least one key player in January in a bid to balance the books.[LNB]And, despite the transfer window ending with the majority of the squad intact, he remains determined to reduce the squad at the end of the season.[LNB]He told supporters: "The first six months of the financial year excluded income from Champions League football in comparison to last year.[LNB]"The absence of European competition, together with the economic downturn, has confirmed that the size of the squad was neither sustainable from a financial nor football management point of view.[LNB]"It is our aim to rationalise the squad to a more manageable level going forward, and integrate the young talent now emerging from Murray Park."[LNB]Last weekend saw Rangers leapfrog Celtic to the summit of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League on goal difference.[LNB]Murray highlighted the importance of winning their first title in four seasons and securing automatic entry to the Champions League, which is worth at least £10million.[LNB]He added: "We are competing well again in both domestic cups, with participation assured in the final of the Co-operative Insurance Cup and progression into the quarter-finals of the Homecoming Scottish Cup.[LNB]"The importance of Champions League qualification to the club underpins our determination to reclaim the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title and, with it, direct entry into the Champions League group stages.[LNB]"The players and management are committed and relish the challenges that lie ahead, and I have no doubt that with your collective support, we can achieve our objective of securing the league title and Champions League qualification for next year."[LNB][LNB] Rangers 2/5[LNB], Draw 10/3[LNB], Hamilton 8/1[LNB]
