After giving Celtic fans the best laugh they have had since the last time he opened his mouth, David Murray has again supplied the goods not once, but twice on the same day! Not content with his "Scott Brown wanted too much money" lament which was peppered with phrases like "parity for the other Scottish lads" (It would appear that you have to have a wage structure based on ethnicity now - I suppose it's a step forward from having a signing policy based on it though) Sir Minty has spoken out regarding the recent raid.
Murray: police probe is 'slur' on club
Sir David Murray last night revealed that he feels his personal reputation for probity has been tarnished by the ongoing police investigation into the transfer of Jean-Alain Boumsong to Newcastle
SIR DAVID Murray last night revealed that he feels his personal reputation for probity has been tarnished by the ongoing police investigation into the transfer of Jean-Alain Boumsong to Newcastle.
Ibrox was raided by fraud squad officers from the City of London force 12 days ago, along with St James' Park in Newcastle, as the authorities followed up the recommendations of Lord Stevens' Quest inquiry into corruption in football.
Speaking ahead of next week's general meeting, where it is likely he will announce the club's debt has doubled from £6 million to approximately £12m, Murray admitted that he was confident Rangers would be cleared, even if the allegations were placing a "slur" on the club's reputation.
"It probably is a slur, to be totally honest," Murray said last night. "But it is a slur that when it is all sorted out I'm sure you guys will all write lovely things about us again, and retract all the other things. I have never had a hint of corruption put at my business career, and I don't think that, when this is all sorted out, it will be repeated.
"We have made a statement, and all I can say to you on that is that we are assisting the police in all their inquiries. I am satisfied with the response the club has made and we will assist the police until they come up with their final result."
Despite the expected announcement to the stock exchange on Tuesday - which is likely to conclude that Rangers' non-qualification for the Champions League last season will see the club record a loss of around £5m in the last six months - Murray was in bullish mood yesterday, insisting that the club would add two - or maybe three - new faces by the closure of the transfer window to take their total transfer spending in the past year beyond the £10m mark.
Judging by his comments yesterday, that would not include a new bid for Kilmarnock striker Steven Naismith, with the Rangers chairman challenging Kilmarnock to accept an offer from one of the other clubs they claim are interested.
"We don't discuss our business normally but you are asking the question, so I think they should go and accept one of those other offers," he said.
Murray would, however, confirm that they remained in the hunt for a striker, and confirmed French reports that they had been offered £1m-rated Frenchman Daniel Cousin from Lens. "He Cousin is one who has been offered to us from France," Murray said.
"We just think we need a bit more strength up front. Wait until you see the squad the last day of the window.
"We are not finished yet. We will have at least two more quality players if not three in by the time the season starts."
Is that the same as the three world class players you promised before the end of the transfer window last season, just before the AGM and the closing date for season ticket applications David?
The highlighted areas above show that not only is Dave coming out with the usual spin but it would also appear that he is beginning to show the strain of no longer being the darling of the media that he once was. The comments of "when it is all sorted out I'm sure you guys will all write lovely things about us again, and retract all the other things." and "We don't discuss our business normally but you are asking the question, so I think they should go and accept one of those other offers" show that Sir Dave may be a little peeved with all the negative press he is getting, and also a bit upset that Killie refused to assume the position when he came calling! So what if their was no other offer for Naismith!
All in all Dave will still be able to call upon his legions of press men such as King and Johnston et al who will preach the party line to the hordes ,but it does appear to some that maybe the emperors new clothes are not all that they are cracked up to be. Which Hack will be the little boy who exposes the truth?
Yours in Celtic
Clydebuilt