Money is still doing the talking

Last updated : 08 June 2004 By Mark O' Haire

Rangers are set to pocket £2m+ after securing promotion back to the first division.

After 3 seasons in the second division, administration, severe cost cutting, players leaving and fans having to pay transfer fees the Superhoops can finally breath a little easier after promotion.

The club are receiving record numbers for season ticket applicants, said to be on there way to 11,300+ (that exceeds numbers from when we were in the Premiership) as the rebuilding and revitalising of the club continues.

Various consortiums and investors are locked in talks with Rangers directors daily trying to sort out financial packages which will boost the bank further.

Gianni Paladini is the only one of numerous applicants to have been successful which is promising news.

The figure of £2million is still an estimate as the club would not say how much money they will make from promotion but following league champions Plymouth Argyle’s revelations it is a good indicator.

Ian Holloway has a new improved contract to coincide with promotion after finally steering us up a league but one thing remains...there is still no spending money for new players. Ollie will have to make do with loan signings and free transfers as he looks to strengthen and build for next year.

This is wholly down to the revenue earned from tenants Fulham and Wasps in recent years. Rangers will be £900k less off than this time last year when Fulham agreed to pay close to a million pounds to rent Loftus Road out for the season.

Clarke Carlisle, Steve Palmer and Terrell Forbes have already left and with Matthew Rose, Richard Johnson, Richard Edghill and Paul Furlong still out of contract he better be ready to fear the worst if it comes to it.

How we are going to afford the money to pay Watford the compensation money owed from Lee Cook’s signing I really don’t know.

Ian Holloway has got an incredibly difficult job on his hands, trying to persuade players to join the hooped army on a wage budget that has a maximum of £3k.

One thing is for sure we can rule out signing any player who is not out of contract this summer and not available for loan, the club simply cannot afford to buy them.

Saying that there are plenty of quality players looking for new clubs and new fans so who knows whom we will be cheering on next year.

For all the latest developments at Rangers about contract talks, transfer rumours and pre-season preparations log onto QPR MAD.

Also, catch up with England’s preparations ahead of Euro 2004 with all the news at ENGLAND MAD. Log on at www.england-mad.co.uk

It promises to be a busy summer.