Latest Transfer Update at 16-02-2012

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Ally McCoist: Not looking to leave Rangers

ALLY McCOIST WON'T WALK AWAY

Rangers manager Ally McCoist claims he has not even contemplated the prospect of quitting the Scottish champions, insisting: "We don't do walking away."
The Light Blues' record goalscorer and former assistant boss took over the helm from Walter Smith last summer and now faces one of the most difficult periods in the club's history after Rangers went into administration on Tuesday.
However, McCoist says he has not been tempted to walk away from the job during a turbulent period.
"Not at all," he told Sky Sports News. "Absolutely not at all.
"This is my club, the same as it is for thousands and thousands of Rangers supporters. We don't do walking away."
Administrators were appointed after Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) forced the issue in the Court of Session in a bid to secure payment of £9million in PAYE and VAT, a debt accrued since Craig Whyte's takeover in May.
Asked if he trusts owner Whyte, McCoist replied: "Absolutely. We have to keep going.
"We are in a position at this moment in time where the club is maybe as low as it has been - possibly ever.
"We have to put our trust and our faith in getting the club to a better place and the future will hopefully provide that.
"There is no doubt about it, it's a low time, the club is at a low ebb. Everybody sees that, it's very, very apparent.
"So we all have to believe and have faith and hopefully we will all do that and the club will come out of this at the other end. Of that I have no doubt and it's the most important thing."
McCoist and his players had a meeting with administrator Paul Clark earlier on Thursday and were told there would be no immediate job losses but that there would be a review of all staff.
McCoist said: "It actually went very well. I had a very constructive and positive meeting with Paul Clark from Duff and Phelps this morning.
"He then spoke to the playing staff, medical staff and coaching staff and he did his level best to answer questions put to him by the players and some of the staff.
"I would have to say it's been a very constructive day today."
On redundancies, McCoist added: "To be fair to Paul, he didn't say it was inevitable. He said it was a possibility.
"So, at this moment in time, I would have to say that I'm still a little bit in the dark."
McCoist indicated he was not asked to identify criteria whereby players would be axed but Clark said in a press conference on Thursday afternoon that the manager would be consulted on the exit of players.
Clark said: "We had a good, productive meeting with Ally this morning and it was apparent we are able to work together to find the right solution.
"He and I agreed that we will speak on a regular basis and meet as regularly as we need to.
"So from that you can assume that Ally will be involved and will be discussing any changes on the playing side."
Mystery still surrounds Daniel Cousin's return to Rangers.
The striker's signing - subject to international clearance - was announced by the club on Monday but he has not yet been registered with the Scottish Premier League.
Clark said: "Daniel was at the training ground this morning and he was one of the people that was in the audience when I addressed the players.
"We are working to see whether that is still a possibility. But at the moment, we can't say for sure."
The administrators are hoping to have the club's finances in order in time to meet requirements for a UEFA licence to play in Europe next season.
On the subject of the club's accounts, joint administrator David Whitehouse said: "That is something that we are addressing at the moment because it is one of the requirements to retain European footballing status, that we complete those accounts.
"We will be doing everything we can to meet that [UEFA] deadline.
"At this moment, I can't give you a confirmation for certain but we will do everything we can, everything humanly possible. We understand the importance of that date."

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Arshavin: Should be on the way out says Petit

TOP GUNNERS MUST GO - EMMANUEL PETIT

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has warned the club need to get rid of a host of their big names and sign six established players if they are to return to their former glories.
The French World Cup winner admitted he fears for the future of the Gunners following last night's Champions League debacle.
Petit, who formed a formidable partnership with Patrick Vieira in his three years in north London from 1997 to 2000, claimed the likes of Andrey Arshavin, Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott were simply not good enough.
"I asked myself what has become of the team that I knew. It's worse than I thought, they haven't recovered from the departures of (Cesc) Fabregas (to Barcelona) and (Samir) Nasri (to Manchester City)," Petit told sofoot.com.
"It's a gulf which is confirmed weekend after weekend.
"And what is perhaps the most worrying thing is the club won't do anything this summer to reverse the trend.
"They don't want to go back to overspending in the transfer market, and I think they're right. But for two seasons, the level of the team has only gone down."
The Gunners went down 4-0 at the San Siro in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in a performance branded "shocking" by manager Arsene Wenger.
Petit added: "The problem is that previously the club compensated for its lack of physical strength with Fabregas. With him, Arsenal were the most attractive team to watch in Europe behind Barcelona.
"There, in midfield, there isn't anything now, the defence is constantly under construction. It's fortunate that (Robin) van Persie is up front.
"Certain young players haven't done enough to justify the confidence that Arsene has in them. Walcott - somehow he's going to have to reach the next stage. It's been years that he's been at the same level.
"(Aaron) Ramsey, against Milan, I got the impression it was his (twin) brother on the pitch. In the way they behave, in their body language, we see they're not there anymore.
"We shouldn't hesitate to talk about the end of the cycle. Regardless of age, we have to look seriously at certain players. Right now.
"You have to send out a strong signal. You have to say to Arshavin, and to Rosicky: 'Gentlemen, thank you, but goodbye'. And soon."
Petit also cast doubt on whether Lille's Eden Hazard would be a suitable signing, claiming the club need more experienced players.
"I like him a lot but what has he done at a high level?" Petit said. "Has he been good in the Champions League? We haven't seen him. Has he been good for Belgium? He's sometimes even a substitute.
"What's needed is five or six players of real stature, great experience. Players who are 27 - 30 years old at most.
"Players with technical qualities, obviously, but also strong character. A group of guys who refuse to accept defeat, who inspire confidence in the rest of the team."
Meanwhile, former Arsenal full-back Lee Dixon has slammed Wednesday night's display and questioned Wenger's decision to start with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench.
"Everything that could go wrong in the game did and it was a really, really poor performance," Dixon told betting exchange Betfair.
"There are not a lot of positives, to be honest with you. It'll be difficult for Arsene to pick the players up before a massive FA Cup tie at Sunderland this weekend. He's got his work cut out."
Dixon added: "I was surprised Oxlade-Chamberlain wasn't starting the game. He's been the man in form.
"Yes, he's a young lad but he's shown he can handle the big occasions. We saw after 60-odd minutes what he can do, and he certainly asked questions of the Milan defence."
Looking ahead to the return leg at Emirates Stadium, Dixon said: "I don't think [Arsenal] will keep a clean sheet.
"Milan have got enough about them to score at the Emirates which will make the task impossible. I think it's beyond them now."

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Barry Robson: Will make MLS switch

ROBSON SET FOR BORO EXIT

Barry Robson is to leave Middlesbrough in the summer having lined up a move to join Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Scotland international midfielder, 33, has penned a pre-contract agreement and will move to Canada in July, bringing an end to a two-and-a-half year spell at the Riverside having signed from Celtic in January 2010.
Robson's Boro contract was due to expire at the end of this season and he has now set his sights on going out on a high - by helping the club clinch promotion to the top flight.
"I've enjoyed my time with Middlesbrough enormously and the move to England has been good for me and for my career," he told Boro's official website.
"My immediate priority is to help Boro win promotion to the Premier League, where the club and their supporters deserve to be."
He added: "I'd like to wish Tony Mowbray, the club and the fans, who have welcomed me so warmly since I came here, the very best for the future.
"I'm very excited to be joining Whitecaps and to continue my career in Major League Soccer. My family and I are also looking forward to our move to the beautiful city of Vancouver. But I'll be keeping a very close eye on Boro's fortunes from Canada and they will always have a special place in my heart."