We'll buy big
vows Murray

Eck's the man for crisis

WORLD EXCLUSIVE
By Findlay Donald

The football world was rocked was rocked to its foundations last night as David Murray emerged tight-lipped and ashen-faced from a high powered meeting in the company of chief executive Martin Bain and Alex McLeish to announce that Rangers' new manager is to be exactly the same as the old one.

"I am delighted to announce that Alex McLeish will continue to be the new Rangers manager," said a clearly emotional Murray outside his plush offices in Edinburgh's Charlotte Square... mahogany panels... fine oil paintings... private vineyard etc.

Pausing only to hold a peeled onion to his eyes the Ibrox supremo went on, "It has been a hard few weeks for Alex but he deserves to continue as manager because throughout it all he has behaved with loyalty, dignity, dignified loyalty, loyal dignity and especially dignity."

Asked about McLeish's trial period of November Murray would only reply, "I asked Alex for results during that month and he provided them. Alright, they were all draws and defeats, but at least he got these draws and defeats with great dignity."

One of the big players identified by Alex McLeish meets the fans (Doris and Dolores Bonkers) outside Murray Park

"There was never any question of Alex being resigned, especially as he behaved with such dignity during the last few weeks, and all this talk of new men coming in to take the over was really unfair. Alex deserved the chance to lead his team out in his Rangers blazer to get a right doing in the next round of the Champions League."

Murray concluded his emotional speech by saying, "I would like to thank the Rangers family for their support in recent weeks. I don't know where we'd be without them walking out of Ibrox early, mass choruses of booing and jamming radio phone-ins with messages of support. Their protests outside the front door have enabled myself and the players to discover ways out of the stadium we didn't know existed before."

Andy Cameron is 64.