Rangers owner calls for unity

04 August 2011 17:41
Craig Whyte has urged Rangers fans to "come together" in the wake of the Ibrox club's Champions League exit on Wednesday night.[LNB] The Light Blues' owner has surveyed the damage from the 2-1 aggregate defeat against Swedish side Malmo in the third-qualifying round, which could cost the Scottish champions between £10million and £15million.[LNB]Rangers ended the game with nine men following the dismissal of Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra and the 1-1 draw was not enough to prevent them dropping down to the Europa League play-offs.[LNB]Whyte, who bought the club from Sir David Murray in May, is well aware of the fans' ire over the club's performance in the transfer market this summer.[LNB]But he said: "We all have to come together.[LNB]"The result last night was absolutely disappointing but we are still in Europe, we are still in the Europa League and we want to win the SPL again.[LNB]"Malmo were well in to their season and their fitness showed but we threw it away by getting two players sent off. We were a far better team."[LNB]Whyte added: "We will be bringing more players in, of that we are very confident.[LNB]"Last season we didn't get players in until the end of August.[LNB]"We have been working very hard in terms of transfers and we have recruited three new players and secured others on long-term contracts.[LNB]"We have at least half a dozen offers out there and hopefully we will get a couple this week."[LNB]Rangers have signed three players this summer - Juan Manuel Ortiz, Lee Wallace and Dorin Goian, who missed both Malmo games after being signed too late for the home leg and suffering a hamstring injury before the return.[LNB]Manager Ally McCoist has seen the squad reduced in numbers from last season and Whyte has been criticised over the club's very public failure to land David Goodwillie from Dundee United.[LNB]Rangers put in up to seven bids for the striker, none of which were acceptable to Tannadice chairman Stephen Thompson, who this week banked a reported £2million plus potential add-ons of £800,000 from Blackburn for the Scotland cap.[LNB]Whyte was adamant that it was United's reluctance to sell to Rangers which saw Goodwillie move south.[LNB]He said: "We were up against a Premier League club for Goodwillie and we matched their bid but Dundee United didn't want to sell to us, which is their prerogative."[LNB]Whyte was keen to stress that he is unwilling to plunge the club back into debt and pointed to the £1.5million purchase of 24-year-old Scotland left-back Wallace from Hearts as the way forward.[LNB]"There has to be commercial business sense," he said.[LNB]"We have got to run the club sensibly, we can't go down the same road again and I think the fans know that."[LNB]"Some people misuse the word investment.[LNB]"Look at Lee Wallace, he is a very good investment, his value will increase.[LNB]"That is the type of deal that we want to do."[LNB]In a further statement on the club's official website, Whyte insisted he and McCoist were singing off the same hymn sheet.[LNB]"Ally and I sat together on the plane home and had a positive discussion about our signing plans," he said.[LNB]"I fully understand the fans' frustration at the transfer speculation we have seen in recent weeks but the reason we lost in the Champions League is not due to a lack of signings.[LNB]"Had 11 players remained on the pitch last night I have no doubt we would have won the match.[LNB]"Ally himself has said publicly that we are a good side that only recently won the league championship.[LNB]"However, we will look forward and not back and we must pick ourselves up and get on with the job of ensuring that Rangers fans enjoy a successful season."

Source: Team_Talk