Latest Transfer Update at 15-02-2012

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Rangers' administrators 'have made very good progress'

RANGERS WILL SURVIVE - ADMINISTRATORS

Rangers' administrators have told fans they can be reassured that the Scottish champions will continue as a football club.
They also says they hope to reach a stage "as soon as possible" where the club can emerge from administration.
Duff and Phelps were appointed on Tuesday after Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs forced the issue in the Court of Session in a bid to secure payment of £9million in PAYE and VAT, accrued since Craig Whyte took control of Rangers in May last year.
Joint administrators Paul Clark and David Whitehouse said: "We can report we have made very good progress within the first 24 hours of being appointed administrators over Rangers Football Club."
Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against Kilmarnock at Ibrox will go ahead as planned, while the administrators expect to hold meetings with the club's staff at least on a weekly basis throughout the process.
The statement continued: "Our first priority has been to ensure that the football club continues to function and this is being achieved with the help of staff, players and management at the club.
"In particular, we would like to thank the club's business partners who are going the extra mile to ensure that Saturday's home match against Kilmarnock goes ahead as scheduled.
"We had extremely constructive discussions with Strathclyde Police and we can confirm the match will take place.
"We fully recognise this is a difficult time for players and staff at the club and are extremely appreciative of their reaction to the situation.
"We will be holding meetings with the staff on a weekly basis at least to inform them of developments.
"We are also in the process of speaking to representatives of supporters' groups and that will be an ongoing process.
"In broad terms, supporters can be reassured that Rangers will continue as a football club and we hope to reach a stage as soon as possible where the club can emerge from administration.
"We have had expressions of support across the political spectrum in Scotland within the last 24 hours and there is clearly a desire to see Rangers come through this situation successfully."
The statement concluded: "There had been widespread publicity and speculation regarding the financial affairs of the football club.
"For clarity, the cost structure of the club and ongoing losses were such that the club had outstanding liabilities to HMRC.
"These were the subject of discussion and clearly HMRC wished to see them resolved as a matter of urgency.
"We are involved in dialogue with HMRC and will work with them constructively, as is the case with all other key stakeholders."
Meanwhile, a Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards Ceremony scheduled for this Sunday at the Glasgow Hilton has been postponed as holding the event at this time was not considered "appropriate".

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Alan Curbishley: Set to be interviewed

WOLVES TO INTERVIEW CURBISHLEY

The managerial vacancy at Wolves is a role that finally whetted the appetite of Alan Curbishley, according to his agent.
Despite being out of work for nearly three-and-a-half years, Curbishley faces an "imminent" interview as he pitches for a position he feels is the right one for him to return.
The former Charlton and West Ham boss is understood to primarily be up against Steve Bruce and Neil Warnock as owner Steve Morgan begins the process of finding a successor to Mick McCarthy who was sacked on Monday.
Curbishley's agent Phil Smith said: "They (Wolves) have said themselves they have invited him to see them.
"That is what he will do and then we'll see because I believe there is Alan, Steve Bruce, Neil Warnock and whoever else in the frame.
"I'm not going to go into when it (the interview) is going to happen, other than to say it's imminent."
Despite not being at the sharp end of the managerial game since resigning from the Hammers in September 2008 - instead working as a television pundit - Smith does not believe that will prove any obstacle to a potential appointment.
"It's of no concern to Alan. His record is second to none," added Smith.
"He wasn't going to come back to something that didn't whet his appetite.
"He doesn't need to go back, but there does come a time when you want to go back, and Wolves is a big, traditional football club going places.
"But like every other club in the bottom half of the table, a few bad results land you right in it.
"The ramifications aren't even worth thinking about given what progress they're making off the field.
"So I can understand them wanting him, and I can understand him being interested in them."
Smith, however, has ruled Curbishley out of the two npower Football League vacancies in Yorkshire.
Leeds and League One promotion chasers Huddersfield, who surprisingly sacked Lee Clark, are both looking for new managers. Asked if Curbishley would be interested in either position, Smith said: "No, not at all.
"He's had plenty of opportunities to go in at Championship level, and they weren't for him. With anything below that, no chance."
One man definitely not interested in the job at Molineux is Birmingham boss Chris Hughton.
Hughton had been mentioned as an outsider for the role as he has done a stirring job since taking over at St Andrews.
The Blues are unbeaten at home in the Championship this season as they push for promotion back to the Barclays Premier League.
But as far as Hughton is concerned, he believes he has a job to finish with Birmingham, rather than any thoughts of taking on a new one at Wolves.
Asked about the speculation linking him with Wolves, Hughton said: "Anything like that is always very flattering.
"On the television I saw three names mentioned, so I presume that's where it's going and I just hope they pick the right person.
"I have a very challenging job to do here and I've got a group of lads who are desperate to do well this season and I'm desperate to guide them through."
Pressed on whether he was ruling himself out, Hughton replied: "I'm desperate to guide this group of players out to the end, yes."
Former Manchester United and Aston Villa manager Ron Atkinson, meanwhile, feels Wolves should go for Warnock or Gordon Strachan.
On Warnock, axed last month by QPR, Atkinson said: "I wonder if he might be just what they need.
"I know he's not everyone's favourite and his record isn't great, but he's always been swimming upstream and he is used to these situations."
Atkinson feels Strachan also possesses the character required at this time to haul Wolves out of the relegation mire.
Speaking to the Express & Star, he added: "Strach' must be considered. He comes into the Warnock category. He would be capable of getting players fired up.
"Push me into a corner and I would go for either Strachan or Warnock because of their potential to bring an immediate impact, and that's what Wolves need right now."

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Ken Bates: No approach for Mick McCarthy

BATES COOLS McCARTHY TALK

Leeds chairman Ken Bates has distanced the club from reports they have offered Mick McCarthy the chance to succeed Simon Grayson as manager.
The former Republic of Ireland boss is out of work after being dismissed by Wolves on Monday and it was reported the Championship side had moved for the 53-year-old's services.
It had been suggested McCarthy had been offered the Elland Road post, but Bates insists he does not even have the Barnsley-born manager's number.
"The world and his wife has applied for this job because it's a good one," Bates told Yorkshire Radio.
"(On Tuesday) a national newspaper said we had already approached McCarthy and offered him the job.
"I don't know where McCarthy lives or what his telephone number is. It's just speculation gone mad."
Meanwhile, Bates has criticised fans who protested against the running of the club last Saturday ahead of their Championship game with Brighton.
Bates has defended the level of finance invested this season on the squad and that the fans' actions will only deter potential investors from coming in.
"Leeds United will be making serious changes to their approach to their playing staff next season as I have said repeatedly," Bates continued.
"Our budget this year was £9.5m and our wage bill was actually £12m because we backed Simon Grayson in his judgment which frankly has proved not to be the best.
"When fans chant 'where's all the money gone' then obviously £2.5m has gone on wages for a start. Where do they think the money has come from? Do they think it grows on trees?
"These people prancing up and down waving their banners have got no positive solution to what they perceive as a problem. If anything they add to it by deterring potential investors.
"But even then they're not going to just come in to subsidise wages. We're trying to raise £15m to buy the ground; at Chelsea it took 10 years to raise £1.5m."

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Paul Scholes: Had been mooted for England return

SCHOLES MAY PLAY ON, NOT FOR ENGLAND

Sir Alex Ferguson has hinted he is ready to offer Paul Scholes another year at Manchester United but claimed there is "no chance" of him starring for England again.
Prior to Thursday night's Europa League last-32 encounter with Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena, Scholes has made seven appearances since his stunning retirement U-turn last month.
Already the 37-year-old has made such an impression that he is being talked of as a candidate for England's Euro 2012 squad.
Fabio Capello made a failed bid to lure Scholes back to the international stage prior to the last World Cup and at the weekend, the Italian's likely replacement Harry Redknapp claimed he would love to have Scholes in his squad.
But Ferguson does not feel there is any way the veteran midfielder will abandon an England exile that dates back to the immediate aftermath of Euro 2004.
"Do you really honestly believe that? I don't think there's any chance," said Ferguson.
"His reason for refusing last time was that it was late in the day and he felt the it was fair for the players who had got them there to be involved.
"To play for England after eight years would be a big step. I think Paul will be concentrating [on United] if he decides to go on of course.
"That is not settled yet. But with the form he is showing at the moment, there is no reason for me to think he couldn't do another season."
When Wayne Rooney was subsequently asked whether he would like Scholes alongside him in Poland and Ukraine this summer, the striker wisely steered a diplomatic course, stating it was the player's decision.
However, there is no disputing the impact he has had on United.
Ferguson revealed he had, prior to the season starting, tried to reassure Scholes that he could contribute as much in 25 to 30 appearances as many of his team-mates could in an entire season.
Scholes was unconvinced, hence his retirement, only to have second thoughts when coaching United's reserves did not prove to be quite as fulfilling as he imagined.
"I said to Paul he could play 25 to 30 games for me this season but he felt it was not enough and decided to retire," said Ferguson.
"Although there are a few players, who by looking after themselves can get into their 30s really easily, I felt I was being sensible and honest with Paul because that was the future.
"When he decided to come back I was delighted.
"He started training very hard in the couple of months before he came to see me because he had obviously realised he had made a mistake.
"He has come back refreshed and enthusiastic.
"He brings order and class to the team. Barcelona talk about Xavi the way we talk about Scholes."