McLeish warns fans to adjust to prudent new world at Ibrox

Ewan Murray
Saturday February 4, 2006
The Guardian

Alex McLeish is facing a fans' backlash over Rangers' minimal activity during the transfer window and, in particular, the failure to land Derek Riordan. Rangers appeared poised to secure the Hibernian striker early in the week but could not agree a fee with Hibs for the 23-year-old.

Riordan, to McLeish's regret, thus remains in Tony Mowbray's squad for today's Scottish Cup fourth-round tie at Ibrox. The Rangers manager said: "I was frustrated, the same as the chairman, the chief executive and the fans. But Tony was doing his job as a manager, the same as I did with some of our players who were linked with moves. I didn't want to let anyone go either so I understand Tony's point of view.

"Derek has to be flattered that there is so much attention on him and that people want to use his services. He can't be unhappy with things; he's at a good club and I'm sure he'll prove his potential."

McLeish's confidence is likely to be endorsed by a renewed attempt to sign Riordan at the end of the season, whether or not he lives up to his growing reputation today.

All Rangers have to show from the window is the acquisition of the striker Kris Boyd from Kilmarnock. An attempt to sign Nigel Quashie on loan from West Bromwich fell through. McLeish said: "There is only so much that we can spend. Everybody knows that our budgets are not what they used to be. We wanted to add to the squad and we wanted to create more competition but we weren't able to do it. It wasn't for the want of trying but I still believe the guys who are here can do a job. We have a strong enough squad for the challenges ahead."

A large squad is essential, however, according to the Hearts defender Takis Fyssas, for any club launching a double assault at home and abroad.

Tynecastle's majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov and his head coach Graham Rix brought in 11 players during the transfer window, taking the squad total to 35. Fyssas, the Greek international who joined Hearts after spells in Greece and Portugal, said: "It is good that we have signed new players. It is very important to have competition for places if we want to be a big team. If we mange to reach the Champions League next season we will need a lot of players because there are a lot of games.

"It was like that at Panathinaikos and Benfica. There was something like 35 players at both clubs. I know it is difficult for the coach to decide who plays but it is also good because he has options."

Fyssas added: "When I first came here I didn't think we had that many good players and I didn't think we would have a very successful year. We now have a really good chance of winning the championship and I will keep believing that until the very last game of the season."

Rix, who expects to have "three or four" of his newcomers in the squad for the visit of Aberdeen, said: "The boys were already buzzing from the win over Hibs last week when they came into training on Monday and then they got another lift when they saw all the signings. The bar has been risen and that can only be good for us."

Taken from the Guardian/Observer