IT MAKES for a juicy headline to speculate that Rangers could shed up to 10 players in the transfer window. Never mind that in these credit crunched, recession-riven times there isn't the remotest chance of such wholesale change within a top-heavy 28-man squad.
Even allowing for the fact that the Ibrox club probably wouldn't be too difficult to deal with when it came to offers for Brahim Hemdani, Christian Dailly, Lee McCulloch, Steven Smith, Jean-Claude Darcheville, Charlie Adam, Dean Furman and, possibly,
Chris Burke, DeMarcus Beasley and Nacho Novo.
"When we are saying we want to cut down the squad – not for the financial aspect but because we have too many in it – then you have to wait for someone to come in and take players," Rangers manager Walter Smith explains. "I don't see there being a lot of movement. It will be harder to sell because there is less money about. That won't prove restricting right across the board but whether anyone will come in for players we've got could be another factor.
"In this window we will see the number of transfers cut down and the number of loans increased dramatically. I basically need to cut my staff down, it is not a matter that we have to specifically sell. The paring down will happen in a more natural manner at the end of the season. In the transfer window, I think the fear of what might happen the following season will impact on everyone financially, considering most of the income that football clubs will bring in this season (through season ticket sales] is already in. It will be the next season that you will have a little kick-back on that one."
The fear for Rangers followers is that such a scenario will result in an almighty kick-back for their club across the next year. Smith was able to make £17m-worth of acquisitions in the close season, owing to the club's £8.3m profits from their Champions League and subsequent UEFA Cup involvement, and the £7.8m sale of Carlos Cuellar to Aston Villa.
The Champions League qualifying catastrophe against Kaunas in August will see them post losses around the £7m mark and push club debt towards £30m. Smith has no wriggle room.
Rangers' plight is in stark contrast to Celtic's position. The Scottish champions will enjoy a £15m advantage over their rivals courtesy of their Champions League participation, and are moving towards a zero-debt position. They therefore have the funds to strengthen their squad next month, while Smith surely must oversee significant sales before he can consider modest purchases. Essentially, Rangers must wrest the title from Celtic with their current personnel.
It is encouragingly young and boasts potential in a number of areas. But what must alarm is that there have been notable instances in recent years when deals done in the winter transfer window have helped decide tight title races. It is inconceivable that Celtic would have pipped Rangers for the championship in May were it not for the £4m spent on January arrivals Georgios Samaras, Barry Robson and Andreas Hinkel. Thomas Buffel's £2.3m move to Rangers four years ago, meanwhile, was a significant factor in the Ibrox club's 2005 last-day title success.
Smith concedes that the loans route is the most likely means by which he will bring new faces to the club for the second half of this campaign. Dipping into the European market has been made an even more unattractive proposition by the weakening pound against the euro, though on this point Smith offers cryptically: "You can still get a wee bargain in America, even if that has been affected a wee bit."
Rangers need major bargains. The reported interested in Hibs attacker Dean Shiels could illustrate precisely the sort of market they may have to delve into to find them.
UNWANTED AT IBROX
BRAHIM HEMDANILast year's European specialist has found opportunities limited this campaign following Rangers' early exit from Champions League.
CHRISTIAN DAILLYThe veteran won cup winners' medals last season but has barely featured recently and was sent off in the Old Firm reserve game.
LEE McCULLOCHExperienced and versatile but yet to win over the Rangers support. Has been deployed as an emergency centre-half this season.
STEVEN SMITH Injury-jinxed left-back has failed to build on promising first season in the top team.
JEAN-CLAUDE DARCHEVILLE Barrel-chested striker is behind Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd in the pecking order.
CHARLIE ADAM Midfielder has been told he can leave. Nottingham Forest are said to be interested.
DEAN FURMAN Signed from Chelsea but has never troubled the first team.
CHRIS BURKE Orthodox right winger has struggled with injury in recent seasons.
DAMARCUS BEASLEY American winger made scoring comeback in Scottish Cup final but remains on fringes.
NACHO NOVO Popular frontman is used mainly as an impact sub by Walter Smith.
