Why We Shouldn't Let Deities Decide How To Run Football

God's wife Morag sat at the dining table pondering the Way Things Are. Her pal Aggie had just made a nice wee cup of tea and there was a delightful plate of Abernethy biscuits with strawberry jam waiting to be eaten. The lace tablecloth lay perfectly symmetrically atop the perfectly circular table, but something was missing.

Just then Mary and Betty showed up.

It wasn't long before talk got to the Way Things Are:

It's not like the old days said Aggie, adeptly adding a sleeve to the jumper she had been knitting for the last six years, when I was a lass you wouldn't see this sort of ragamuffin behaviour.

Morag found it hard to disagree: I can't disagree she said, agreeably.

It had been 173 years since the women last disagreed with one another. The time before that was in the late 1300s.

Eventually the talk came around to Scottish football. Being immortal, the ladies had plenty of topics to get around, and this was the first time they had talked about Scottish football since Renton were the nation's premier side.

It's dreadful said Mary. Admittedly this added little to the conversation as Mary rarely said anything other than "It's dreadful". I'm scandalised. said Betty. This was a turnup for the books. As the wife of Buddha, Betty generally took such things in her laid-back stride. I can hardly believe things have reached this stage. Aggie and Morag stared at Mary, open mouthed. Then they realised it was still Betty who was talking and turned away.

God's wife Morag sat at the dining table pondering the Way Things Are. Her pal Aggie had just made a nice wee cup of tea and there was a delightful plate of Abernethy biscuits with strawberry jam waiting to be eaten. The lace tablecloth lay perfectly symmetrically atop the perfectly circular table, but something was missing.

Just then Mary and Betty showed up.

It wasn't long before talk got to the Way Things Are:

It's not like the old days said Aggie, adeptly adding a sleeve to the jumper she had been knitting for the last six years, when I was a lass you wouldn't see this sort of ragamuffin behaviour.

Morag found it hard to disagree: I can't disagree she said, agreeably.

It had been 173 years since the women last disagreed with one another. The time before that was in the late 1300s.

Eventually the talk came around to Scottish football. Being immortal, the ladies had plenty of topics to get around, and this was the first time they had talked about Scottish football since Renton were the nation's premier side.

It's dreadful said Mary. Admittedly this added little to the conversation as Mary rarely said anything other than "It's dreadful". I'm scandalised. said Betty. This was a turnup for the books. As the wife of Buddha, Betty generally took such things in her laid-back stride. I can hardly believe things have reached this stage. Aggie and Morag stared at Mary, open mouthed. Then they realised it was still Betty who was talking and turned away.

It's up to us to sort it out.

The ladies were agreed. Scottish football was in dire need of divine intervention and they were the gals to provide it.

Their plan was simple. They would each take over the running of a club, provide funds, appoint a manager, offer guidance. This way the upper echelons of Scottish football would ultimately be working for the powers of good, and not evil as was presently the case.

Yes, the plan was to save Scottish football by having it controlled by major religious figures. Or at least their wives.

Morag's plan

Being God's wife, and the most important of all the ladies (in her own mind), Morag opted to change things about a bit. Rather than remodel the fortunes of an existing club she created a new one, planted it on the Isle of Bute, gave it a big wad of cash and found it a way in to the Third Division.

Aggie's plan

Being the wife of God's brother Dave, Aggie was less important, but always keen to back the underdog. She would endeavour to revive the fortunes of Ayr United FC. She wasn't able to produce unlimite wads of cash, but she was crafty and that ought to serve her well.

Mary's plan

Outraged constantly, the natural fit for Mary was Celtic. She had no cash generation ability whatsoever, but she had a plan to restore credibility to Scottish football. Whether she had the wherewithal to execute it was another matter. Her husband, a minor Hindu god, was more of a cricket man and far from noteworthy. In fact he'll probably not be mentioned again in this story.

Betty's plan

It had to be Rangers for Mrs Buddha. Again she was not a material person and wealth was not provided, but she was able to trawl through a few alternate universes and locate a Mr Joél Garçon to manage the side. Which could be confusing, given his presence in a simultaneous tale of adventure, not to be named here.

Rothesay FC

<UL TYPE=SQUARE> <LI>The Manager

Iain Bartholomew. A young Scottish coach with bags of fictional experience. Inherits a staff featuring Abedi Pele as his assistant and himself as a coach, confusingly.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>The Squad

David Marshall GK, 20yo SCO

Signed from Celtic for £1,800,000. Expected to be first choice.

Paul Graham GK, 20yo SCO

Local boy.

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Tomas Hübschman D RC, 23yo CZE

Signed for an extortionate £10,000,000 from Shakhtar Donetsk. Expected to captain the side from right back.

Steven Campbell D L, 19yo SCO

Signed from Rangers for a nominal sum, the youngster looks like a potential candidate to start at left back.

Stephen McManus D LC, 22yo SCO

Former Celtic player added for £180,000 early in Bartholomew's tenure. Looks like a genuine starter at an early stage.

Kevin Hofland D C, 26yo NED

Wolfsburg demanded £5,000,000 for the former Dutch wonderkid, who's career has drifted somewhat. Will have to do well to justify that tag.

David Navarro D C, 25yo, ESP

Signed from Valencia for little under a million pounds, but will have to do well to unseat McManus or Hofland.

Alan Hutton D/WB R, 20yo SCO

Rangers weren't looking to hold on to the young full back and Bartholomew pounced. Suffering from a lingering injury.

Didier Agathe D/WB/AM R, 30yo FRA

The only signing over 30, Didier will lend experience to a young, but gifted squad.

Steven Smith D/WB L, 19yo SCO

Another full back deemed surplus at Ibrox, will compete with Campbell for the left back slot.

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Lucas Bernardi DM, 27yo ARG

£3,900,000 was sufficient to tempt Monaco to part with Bernardi who is a solid passer and great ball-winner.

Simon Ferry DM, 17yo SCO

Will have a lot to learn, but is around some talented defensive midfielders to pick it all up from. Signed from Celtic for a small fee.

Denny Landzaat DM/M RC, 29yo NED

Denny took some convincing, but arrived on Bute to compete with Bernardi for a starting spot. At 29 is not the future, but can shape it with his example.

Paul Weaver DM/M RC, 19yo ENG

The lone Englishman in the squad, Paul signed from Ayr for a shot at learning from the best at his position in Scottish football.

Chris Burke AM R, 21yo SCO

Burke was discarded by Rangers and looks to have found a home in Rothesay.

Charles N'Zogbia AM LC, 19yo FRA

A prodigiously talented young player, Chas has all the right tools to be a star.

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Chaouki Ben Saada AM/F LC, 21yo TUN

Bastia looked for, and got, £6,000,000 in exchange for the Tunisian forward, who can create goals as well as score them.

Shaun Maloney AM/F C, 22yo SCO

Maloney cost a little over £2,000,000 from Celtic, where he was not required. Still just 22, he will be looking to establish himself in Bartholomew's team.

Julius Aghahowa F C, 23yo NIG

Another Shakhtar signing, this time for almost £7,000,000, Julius brings flair and pace to a near-complete side.

Robert Davidson ST, 19yo SCO

Davidson is coming off a long-term injury, but has a chance to thrive away from the bright lights of Ibrox.

Nikola Zigic ST, 24yo SCG

The Serbia & Montenegro international should be the class of the field, but injury is preventing a fast start to the campaign.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>The Idea

Bartholomew's goal is to win the 3rd, 2nd and 1st Divisions in consecutive seasons with ease, at which point the squad should be coming into their prime. Failure any year will not be seen favourably by Her Upstairs.

Fantastic start HD. How Do you manage to come up with such off the wall ideas ? superb.

Ayr United FC

The Manager

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Knut Haraldsson - The Faroese manager has a reputation of making the most out of limited resources. Traditionally keen to recruit players of the same nationality as the side he is in charge of, Ayr fans can expect nothing less than his best efforts.

The Squad

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Otto Konrad - GK, 40yo, AUT - Veteran presence between the stick.

<LI>Roberto Giacomi - GK, 19yo, CAN - Canadian youngster keen to unseat his more illustrous rival.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Peter Weatherson - D RC / ST, 25yo, ENG - Versatile former Morton player brings a lot of options to the table.

<LI>Mark McLaughlin - D LC, 29yo, SCO - Ex-Hamilton and Clyde defender with a renowned mean streak.

<LI>Eamonn Fullerton - D L, 20yo, SCO - Livingston had no intention of retaining this player, but he should be capable of performing in the Second Division.

<LI>Sean Webb - D C, 22yo, NIR - Ross County weren't keen to part with Webb and insisted on a hefty sell-on clause.

<LI>Gary MacKenzie - D C, 19yo, SCO - Rangers reject, but talented enough to start for Ayr.

<LI>Pat Keogh - D C / DM / AM/F C, 29yo, SCO - Another versatile player who adds options to Ayr's bench or team.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Marvyn Wilson - DM, 31yo, SCO - Returns to the team where he had his best years with a mandate to get stuck right in.

<LI>Marc Kalenga - DM, 20yo, FRA - Another player unwanted at Ibrox, Marc can win the ball and pass it, both valuable talents in this league.

<LI>Allan Walker - M RC, 19yo, SCO - Livingston reserve keen to make an impact at Somerset Park.

<LI>Ingi Højsted - M C, 19yo, FRO - Knut's fellow Faroese started at Arsenal, but returned to his native land in failure before earning this move. May be his last shot at the big time.

<LI>Ryan Russell - AM L, 18yo, SCO - Former Partick wide man, pacey and tricky.

<LI>Kevin Byers - AM C, 26yo, SCO - Brechin didn't take kindly to losing Byers, who has a nice scoring touch for a midfielder.

<LI>John Rankin - AM C, 22yo, SCO - Ex-Manchester United player, stolen from Ross County, who again insisted on a large sell-on clause.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Brian Carrigan - AM RLC / F C, 25yo, SCO - Former wonderkid, who never quite made it as he ought to have done. Chance for redemption here.

<LI>David Graham - AM RC / F C, 22yo, SCO - Never quite caught on at Gretna, but talented enough to shine in the Second Division.

<LI>Tom Brighton - AM L / ST, 21yo, SCO - Didn't break through at Rangers and now discarded by Clyde - will have a point to prove.

<LI>Willie McLaren - AM LC / ST, 20yo, SCO - Another major acquisition, Airdrie United's golden boy and a major goal threat.

<LI>Santino Marini - AM / F C, 18yo, SCO - St. Mirren youngster signed for a nominal fee. Feisty and prolific, a good fit for Haraldsson's offence.

<LI>Michael Moore - ST, 24yo, SCO - Stranraer hero, but not the best addition of all.

<LI>John Johnston - ST, 18yo, SCO - Rangers youngster found surplus to requirements. Should score goals here.

Thanks, chesterfan2, if that is in fact your real name...

One last thing...

The Idea

Haraldsson is challenged with ascending to the SPL within two years of Rothesay's progress. He has a division of a head start, but less of a draw to players. By opting for a number of established First Division players it is clear the initial goal is to go up and stay up.

Celtic FC

The Manager

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Ingi Ingimarsson - Another Faroese manager, but a very different character from his compatriot at Ayr. Ingi is very much the kind of guy to give youth a chance, but is always on the look out for additional talent to bolster his ranks.

The Squad

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Artur Boruc - GK, 25yo, POL - An existing squad member, yet talented enough to be retained for now.

<LI>Lee Camp - GK, 21yo, ENG - Englishman addded from Derby. Thankfully not as limp-wristed as his name suggests.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Ãlvaro Mejía - D RC, 23yo, ESP - Real Madrid didn't have room for this player, but Ingimarsson likes the cut of his jib.

<LI>Gary Caldwell - D RC /DM, 23yo, SCO - Hibs were convinced to part with their leading defender, but it looks possible that he will be deplpoyed in a holding midfield role at Celtic Park.

<LI>Martyn Corrigan - D RC / M C, 28yo, SCO - Very much a stopgap/backup signing.

<LI>Anton Ferdinand - D C, 19yo, ENG - West Ham were surprisingly keen to offload the young defender, which raises questions.

<LI>Gary Irvine - D/WB R / DM, 20yo, SCO - Youngster who came in to the team early doors and cemented his place at right back with a string of accomplished performances.

<LI>Tony McParland - D/WB L, 22yo, SCO - Another youngster who's emergence has saved the club millions.

<LI>Lee Wallace - D/WB L, 18yo, SCO - Hearts player prised away to offer competition and depth at left back.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Constantin Gâlcä - DM, 33yo, ROM - Midfield enforcer, picked up for a bargain fee. Bags of experience and ten times better than Neil bloody Lennon.

<LI>Scott Severin - M C, 26yo, SCO - Aberdeen couldn't hang on to the talented midfielder, who has his best years ahead of him.

<LI>Teddy Bjarnason - M C, 18yo, ISL - Like Irvine and McParland, Bjarnason started before the big names came in and made it impossible to drop him by his performances.

<LI>Aiden McGeady - AM RC, 19yo, "IRL" - Fringe member of the first team squad, likely to be moved on at some stage.

<LI>Peter Leven - AM C, 21yo, SCO - Kilmarnock barely put up a fight for their prized asset.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Maciej Zurawski - AM RC / F C, 29yo, POL - Kind of old for a long-term project, but a capable goalscorer in the interim.

<LI>Bosko Balaban - AM R / ST, 26yo, CRO - Former Villa flop is expected to produce the goods domestically and in Europe.

<LI>Craig Beattie - AM R / ST, 21yo, SCO - Like McGeady, Beattie is only on the fringes of first team participation at the present time.

<LI>Dumitru Laurentiu Rosu - AM LC / F C, 28yo, ROM - A pricey buy, but tricky and creative enough to add value to those around him.

<LI>David Clarkson - ST, 20yo, SCO - One for the future, signed after scoring four goals in one game against Ingimarsson's side.

<LI>Eddie Johnson - ST, 21yo, USA - American prodigy, big marketing potential here.

<LI>John Hartson - ST, 30yo, WAL - Would be surplus to requirements if he didn't keep on scoring goals left, right and centre.

<LI>Garry O'Connor - ST, 22yo, SCO - Added from Hibs to bring pace and power to the front line.

The Plan

Domestic success and progress in Europe. But within the plan is a commitment to youth and to style. The phasing out of older, stopgap talent and the phasing in of younger, preferably but not necessarily Scottish, talent will become evident if the plan plays out as intended.

Rangers FC

The Manager

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Joél Garçon - A veteran Luxembourger who has had success in other realms with the club, without spending huge quantitites of cash. Expected to replicate that here.

The Squad

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Craig Gordon - GK, 22yo, SCO - Young Scots goalie with bags of potential. Should be an international regular for years.

<LI>Lenny Pidgeley - GK, 21yo, ENG - Former Chelsea player looking to establish himself as a starting calibre goalie.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Pablo Ruiz - D LC, 23yo, ESP - Youngster added from Seville for £575,000. A key building block.

<LI>Ian Murray - D LC /DM, 24yo, SCO - Versatile defender who Garçon was more than happy to keep around.

<LI>Andy Webster - D C, 23yo, SCO - Former Hearts and Arbroath man, signed for his presence and youth.

<LI>Aldin Peljto - D C / DM, 17yo, BIH - Just £1000 was required to sign this talented player from PSV. Good enough to play either in defence or midfield.

<LI>Julien Cetout - D C / DM, 17yo, FRA - Former St.Etienne player signed to anchor the defence for the future. At just £775,000 could prove a bargain.

<LI>Steven Hammell - D/WB L, 23yo, SCO - Picked up from Motherwell for £230,000, Steven is a prodigiously talented youngster.

<LI>Daniele Semenzato - D/WB/AM R, 18yo, ITA - At just $170,000 from Inter, this young fullback has the world at his feet. If only he knew which way to kick it.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Milan Thomas - DM, 19yo, FRA - £26,000 from Lyon was the story on this kid, but he has a chance to prove his value is far greater.

<LI>Guy Dufour - M LC, 18yo, BEL - Another signing from PSV, this time at £350,000. One for the present and the future.

<LI>Paolo Sammarco - M C, 22yo, ITA - It's hard to imagine that Barry Ferguson could be replaced by a £700,000 signing. Sammarco was co-owned by Chievo and Milan.

<LI>Alex Pederzoli - M C, 21yo, ITA - £850,000 from Lucchese makes Pederzoli one of the bigger additions, and he has the opportunity to play a major role.

<LI>Alberto Baggio - M C, 18yo, ITA - Reggina wanted only £26,000 for this blatantly talented midfielder, a bargain.

<LI>Barry Ferguson - M C, 27yo, SCO - You thought he'd been sold, admit it! Garçon imagines a holding role for the underachieving club captain.

<LI>David Fuster - AM R, 23yo, ESP - At £160,000 from Villarreal, Fuster was not a reject. Yet to hone his skills to perfection, but has real potential.

<LI>Tijani Bel Aïd - AM RC, 18yo, TUN - Young Tunisian midfielder signed for £475,000 from Inter. He has all the skills, but lacks tactical discipline.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Sebastian Giovinco - AM/F C, 18yo, ITA - Another young Italian, this one added for just £70,000 from Juventus.

<LI>Quincy Owusu Abeyie - ST, 19yo, NED - Arsenal prised £1,400,000 for Abeyie, making him the major summer signing. Expected to produce goals.

<LI>Kris Boyd - ST, 22yo, SCO - At £325,000 from Kilmarnock, Boyd fit the requirements - young and talented and cheap. Being Scottish makes him the exception though.

<LI>Federico Piovaccari - ST, 21yo, ITA - £725,000, again from Inter, but a potential sensational player. Can head the ball as well as anyone in world football.

<LI>Matteo Ardemagni - ST, 18yo, ITA - The jewel in the crown. Poached from Milan for £1,500,000 it was anticipated that Matteo would produce, and boy has he.

The Plan

Youth, balanced books, success at home and abroad and if Joél can provide all four then he'll have worked wonders. This team could be world beaters if he keeps them together long enough.

Rothesay's August

Morag had set her stall out. Success was now inevitable. And if it wasn't, well she would have something to say about it. Bartholomew had been charged with his task and time had started ticking.

Nine further players were signed in August:

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Nikola Zigic - £10m, Red Star

<LI>Julius Aghahowa - £6.75m, Shakhtar

<LI>Mark Wilson - £300K, Dundee United

<LI>Roland Rat - £8.5m, Shakhtar

<LI>Barry Robson - £250K, Dundee United

<LI>Andreas Isaksson - £10m, Rennes

<LI>Mark Kerr - £210K, Dundee United

<LI>Kim Källström - £10m, Rennes

<LI>Ugur Yildirim - £10m, Heerenveen

Obviously Zigic, Aghahowa and Yildirim were attacking players with Isaksson a goalie. Rat (real name Räzvan Dinca Rat) and Wilson could play at full back and Robson, Kerr and Källström were midfielders. Injuries were rampant though and nobody was a guaranteed first pick at this club.

The month of August began on the 30th of July with a Challenge Cup game at Peterhead. Not many signings had been made at this stage and a team comprising a number of local kids was put out by Bartholomew. Not that they are untalented and a free kick from Stephen McManus was seconded by a Steven Black goal for a 2-0 win.

After opening the league campaign with a 0-0 draw against Cowdenbeath it was on to League Cup action and the visit of Queen of the South. Black scored again, but Queens soon levelled and it took penalties to separate the sides. Davidson, Maloney, N'Zogbia and Landzaat scored for Rothesay, whilst O'Neill netted and then Gibson and Payne missed for the hapless Doonhamers. Progress had been achieved, but the team wasn't yet at it's peak.

The first signs of development came as Rothesay travelled to Montrose and won 3-0 with goals from Ben Saada, who had missed a second half penalty in the League Cup game, Maloney and Davidson. A subsequent 1-0 home win over Queen's Park was less convincing, but Davidson's first half goal was sufficient to wrap up the points.

League Cup play continued with a 0-0 draw at home to Kilmarnock. This time it was Maloney, N'Zogbia, Landzaat and Weaver who netted from the spot whilst Allan Johnston and Garry Hay missed for the visitors. Another league draw looked inevitable at home to Arbroath until Bartholomew rolled the dice with ten minutes to play, sending on Allan Hutton and new signing Roland Rat to play up front (both are fullbacks) in place of the tiring Davidson and Maloney. His ploy was rewarded as Rat fired home in the third added minute to secure all the points.

The month ended with a Challenge Cup tie at home to Clyde. The game was made a bit easier by the 35th minute sending off of the visitors' Ross Gardiner. Second half goals from Zigic, on his debut, and Davidson eased the home team through.

On the whole it had been a successful month and despite the draw with Cowdenbeath and narrow home wins over Arbroath and Queen's Park the objectives had been achieved - first place in the league and alive in all competitions. With the new signings all coming in on deadline day it seemed the side was all set up for a big push in September.

Stats:

31.07.05 Challenge Cup R1 Peterhead 0-2 Rothesay

D.Marshall 7, G.Scott 7, S.Campbell 8, G.McGowan 7, S.McManus 8, S.Ferry 8, C.Burke 7, P.Weaver 8, B.Ross 7 (S.Clark, 45 7), S.Black 8, K.Marshall 7

Goals: S.McManus 10', S.Black 83'

06.08.05 Third Division Cowdenbeath 0-0 Rothesay

D.Marshall 6, T.Hübschman 7, S.Campbell 8, K.Hofland 7, S.McManus 7, L.Bernardi 7, C.Burke 6, C.N'Zogbia 7, B.Ross 6, S.Black 6, K.Marshall 6

Goals: None

09.08.05 League Cup R1 Rothesay 1-1 Queen of the South Rothesay wins 4-1 on pens

D.Marshall 6, T.Hübschman 7 (D.Agathe, 90 7), S.Campbell 7, K.Hofland 7, S.McManus 7, L.Bernardi 7 (D.Landzaat, 85 7), C.Burke 7, C.N'Zogbia 8, S.Maloney 7, S.Black 7 (R.Davidson, 85 7), C.Ben Saada 7

Goals: S.Black 10'

Penalties: R.Davidson, S.Maloney, C.N'Zogbia, D.Landzaat scored, no misses.

13.08.05 Third Division Montrose 0-3 Rothesay

P.Graham 7, T.Hübschman 9, S.Campbell 8, K.Hofland 8, S.McManus 8, L.Bernardi 7 (D.Landzaat, 60 7), C.Burke 8, C.N'Zogbia 8, S.Maloney 9, S.Black 7 (R.Davidson, 60 7), C.Ben Saada 9 (D.Agathe, 60 7)

Goals: Ben Saada 20', Maloney 67', Davidson 76'

20.08.05 Third Division Rothesay 1-0 Queen's Park

D.Marshall 7, T.Hübschman 7, S.Campbell 7, K.Hofland 7, S.McManus 7, L.Bernardi 9, C.Burke 7 (D.Landzaat, 45 7), C.N'Zogbia 9, S.Maloney 9, R.Davidson 8, C.Ben Saada 7 (J.Aghahowa, 45 7)

Goals: Davidson 29'

23.08.05 League Cup R2 Rothesay 0-0 Kilmarnock Rothesay wins 4-2 on pens

D.Marshall 6, T.Hübschman 7, S.Campbell 7, K.Hofland 6, S.McManus 6 (D.Navarro, 45 6), L.Bernardi 6, D.Landzaat 7, C.N'Zogbia 6, S.Maloney 6, R.Davidson 7 (J.Aghahowa, 45 7) (P.Weaver, 90 7), C.Ben Saada 6 (inj. 105)

Goals: None

Penalties: S.Maloney, C.N'Zogbia, D.Landzaat, P.Weaver scored, no misses.

27.08.05 Third Division Rothesay 1-0 Arbroath

D.Marshall 7, T.Hübschman 9, S.Campbell 7, K.Hofland 8, S.McManus 6, L.Bernardi 7, D.Landzaat 7, C.N'Zogbia 6 (R.Rat, 84 8), S.Maloney 8, R.Davidson 6 (A.Hutton, 84 6), C.Burke 6 (P.Weaver, 45 7)

Goals: Rat 90'+3

30.08.05 Challenge Cup R2 Rothesay 2-0 Clyde

A.Isaksson 7, M.Wilson 8, S.Campbell 7, K.Hofland 8, T.Hübschman 7, L.Bernardi 8, D.Landzaat 9, C.N'Zogbia 8, S.Maloney 8, R.Davidson 7, N.Zigic 8 (D.Agathe, 54 7)

Goals: Zigic 52', Davidson 86'

Ayr United's August

There were no further additions to the United squad and after a bizarre run of friendly games spanning a 2-0 win at Annan to a 2-1 loss at home to Bayern Munich, competitive action got underway late in July with a trip to England on Challenge Cup duty. In truth Berwick ought to have won. They were better. They even scored with nine minutes to play, but Santino Marini levelled with five to go and scoreless extra time led to penalties. Vareille netted, as did Murie for Berwick, then Santini fired wide. Swanson reciprocated by blazing over before Reid and Coyle made it 2-2. Maisano scored for Ayr, but McLeish failed for Berwick, shooting wide. All that remained was for Marc Kalenga to slot home and the Honest Men were through.

The opening league game was calmer as first half goals from Marini and McLaren steered United past Dumbarton. Drama was back on the menu in the League Cup tie at Ross County. The First Division side led 2-0 after 27 minutes and seemed to be cruising. Not so. Two minutes later Kevin Byers curled home a free kick and three minutes before the break it was 2-2 as Kalenga smacked home a penalty kick. In the second half the revival continued as John Johnston scored and the match was won. It was the first test of United's character and the boys had stood up to be counted, Haraldsson was ecstatic.

Forfar were dismissed 3-1 in a game of three red cards, and Stirling were no match for Ayr in a 2-1 loss at Somerset. Sadly the League Cup run ended at the Second Round as First Division Airdrie United poached a lucky 1-0 win in extra time with a freak goal. Steven McKeown's cross looked destined for the stands until the wind caught it and took it past Konrad in the Ayr goal.

The month ended with two barnstorming games, firstly in the league at Firhill where Ayr led 1-0 after 61 minutes through Weatherson before losing two goals in the next seven mintues to trail. David Graham though found the net with fifteen minutes to play for 2-2 and Gary MacKenzie opened his account after 85 with the winning goal. The red cards were flying like confetti once again at Gretna as, for the second time this season, Ayr saw an opponent have two men dismissed as well as losing one of their own. Santino Marini's goal early in the second half was the only strike when Kenny Deuchar was dismissed in 71 minutes. Two minutes later Gary Tierney joined him before a bizarre decision after 75 saw Eamonn Fullerton become the third dismissal in a four minute period. The game though ended 1-0 and United looked amongst the best in the division.

Stats:

30.07.05 Challenge Cup R1 Berwick 1-1 Ayr Ayr wins 4-2 on pens

M.McGeown 6, M.Casey 6, D.Ramsay 7, B.McLaughlin 8, M.Kalenga 6, R.Logan 5, A.Walker 7 (C.Strain, 81 7), J.Maisano 7, A.Reid 7, J.Vareille 7, S.Marini 7

Goals: S.Marini 85'

Penalties: J.Vareille, A.Reid, J.Maisano, M.Kalenga scored, S.Marini missed.

06.08.05 Second Division Ayr 2-0 Dumbarton

O.Konrad 7, M.Casey 7, D.Ramsay 6, B.McLaughlin 8 (M.Wilson, 90 6), S.Webb 7, M.Kalenga 7, J.Rankin 8 (I.Højsted, 90 6), K.Byers 8, W.McLaren 8, J.Johnston 7 (M.Moore, 45 6), S.Marini 8

Goals: S.Marini 22', W.McLaren 42'

09.08.05 League Cup R1 Ross County 2-3 Ayr

O.Konrad 7, M.Casey 6, M.McLaughlin 7, g.McKenzie 8, S.Webb 7, M.Kalenga 8, J.Rankin 7, K.Byers 8, W.McLaren 9, J.Johnston 8, S.Marini 6 (D.Graham, 45 7)

Goals: K.Byers 29', M.Kalenga pen 42', J.Johnston 69'

13.08.05 Second Division Forfar 1-3 Ayr

O.Konrad 7, P.Weatherson 8, M.McLaughlin 8, G.MacKenzie 8, S.Webb 7, M.Kalenga 8 (M.Wilson, 60 7), J.Rankin 6 (sent off 60), K.Byers 7 (I.Højsted, 60 7), S.Marini 7 (D.Graham, 60 7), J.Johnson 8, W.McLaren 9

Goals: S.Marini 40', P.Weatherson pen 54', J.Johnston 77'

20.08.05 Second Division Ayr 2-1 Stirling

O.Konrad 6, P.Weatherson 6, M.McLaughlin 7, G.MacKenzie 7, S.Webb 7, M.Kalenga 7, I.Højsted 7 (A.Walker, 45 6) (M.Wilson, 79 6), K.Byers 8, S.Marini 7, J.Johnson 7, W.McLaren 6 (D.Graham, 8 7)

Goals: K.Byers 10', J.Johnston 25'

23.08.05 League Cup R2 Ayr 0-1 Airdrie United After extra time.

O.Konrad 6, P.Weatherson 7, M.McLaughlin 6, G.MacKenzie 6, S.Webb 6 (E.Fullerton, 45 6), M.Kalenga 8, J.Rankin 8, K.Byers 6 (I.Højsted, 106 6), D.Graham 6 (T.Brighton, 45 6), J.Johnson 7, S.Marini 6

Goals: None

27.08.05 Second Division Partick 2-3 Ayr

O.Konrad 6, P.Weatherson 8, M.McLaughlin 8, G.MacKenzie 9, S.Webb 7, M.Kalenga 8, J.Rankin 7, K.Byers 6 (I.Højsted, 69 7), B.Carrigan 7 (D.Graham, 27 8), J.Johnson 6 (E.Fullerton, 45 7), S.Marini 7

Goals: P.Weatherson 61', D.Graham 74', G.MacKenzie 85'

30.08.05 Challenge Cup R2 Gretna 0-1 Ayr

R.Giacomi 8, P.Weatherson 9, M.McLaughlin 8, S.Webb 8, G.MacKenzie 7, M.Kalenga 9, I.Højsted 8, K.Byers 7, D.Graham 6 (P.Keogh, 45 7) (M.Wilson, 76 6), J.Johnson 6 (E.Fullerton, 45 5, sent off 75), S.Marini 8

Goals: S.Marini 47'

It's a bit weird, but I signed Weatherson for Sheffield Wednesday on my game!

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by chesterfan2:

Fantastic start HD. How Do you manage to come up with such off the wall ideas ? superb. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Cos he's a loony.

I have to say, this is quite utterly brilliant

Cheers. It's fun to play and write.

Celtic's August

Much like at Somerset, there were no further additions to a Celtic squad filled out from that which opened the season. The first game, in Luxembourg against Dudelange saw a collection of kids and want-aways combine to achieve a 2-0 win in the Second Qualifying Round of the Champions League.

The domestic campaign opened with a similar side disposing of Hearts 3-1 before Dudelange visited. If the fans expected a simple progression to the Third Qualifying round they were not in for a surprise as three goals were scored with no reply. After another 3-0 win, at Kilmarnock, Everton visited for a massive qualifying game. Despite the visitors having a lot of the ball, the likes of McParland and Gary Irvine played out of their skins and the game ended in a pleasing 0-0 draw.

The next game though brought all and sundry down to earth as David Clarkson scored four times in a 5-1 win for Motherwell at Fir Park. The press were having a field day and only a simultaneous loss by Rangers to Dundee United prevented matters from getting out of hand. Still, the side bounced back with a fine 5-0 win over Aberdeen which set things up nicely for the trip to Merseyside.

In truth the game was completely one-sided. Celtic were way out of their depth and only a valiant rearguard action prevented their hosts from romping away with the game. Remarkably two goals from John Hartson on the counter attack saw Everton eliminated in the most bizarre circumstances and Ingimarsson's side marched on.

The month ended with a comfortable 3-1 win over Inverness, aided by a late red card for the home side's Tom Parratt, which allowed Maciej Zurawski to claim the clinching goal a minute later. It had been a good month with one notable slip. The ship seemed righted, but with tough games against Rangers and Basel to follow it wasn't getting any easier.

Stats:

27.07.05 Champions League Qual. R2 Leg 1 Dudelange 0-2 Celtic

A.Boruc 7, G.Irvine 7, T.McParland 8, S.Varga 8, C.Mulgrew 7, N.Lennon 7 (D.Agathe, 54 7), A.McGeady 7, T.Bjarnason 8, M.Zurawski 8 (R.Harris, 45 7), J.Hartson 7, C.Beattie 7

Goals: M.Zurawski 20', R.Harris pen 61'

30.07.05 SPL Celtic 3-1 Hearts

A.Boruc 7, G.Irvine 7, T.McParland 8, S.Varga 9, C.Mulgrew 7, N.Lennon 7, A.McGeady 7, T.Bjarnason 8, R.Harris 8, J.Hartson 9, C.Beattie 7

Goals: J.Hartson 25', pen 80', 89'

03.08.05 Champions League Qual. R2 Leg 2 Celtic 3-0 Dudelange Celtic win 5-0 on aggregate

A.Boruc 8, G.Irvine 9, T.McParland 8, S.Varga 8, C.Mulgrew 7, N.Lennon 7, A.McGeady 7, T.Bjarnason 8 (N.Riley, 90 6), R.Harris 7 (M.Zurawski, 90 7), J.Hartson 9, C.Beattie 9

Goals: J.Hartson 35', 79', M.Zurawski pen 90'

06.08.05 SPL Kilmarnock 0-3 Celtic

A.Boruc 9, G.Irvine 8, T.McParland 9, S.Varga 8, Du Wei 9, C.Mulgrew 7, S.Severin 7, T.Bjarnason 7 (N.Riley, 45 8), M.Zurawski 9, J.Hartson 9, C.Beattie 7 (R.Harris, 45 7)

Goals: C.Beattie 45', J.Hartson 74', 89'

10.08.05 Champions League Qul R3 Leg 1 Celtic 0-0 Everton

A.Boruc 7, G.Irvine 7, T.McParland 7, S.Varga 7, C.Mulgrew 7, N.Lennon 7, S.Severin 7, T.Bjarnason 7, M.Zurawski 6, J.Hartson 7, C.Beattie 7

Goals: None

13.08.05 SPL Motherwell 5-1 Celtic

A.Boruc 6, G.Irvine 6, T.McParland 6, S.Varga 6, C.Mulgrew 5 (L.Wallace, 45 6), N.Lennon 6, S.Severin 6, T.Bjarnason 6 (N.Riley, 45 6), M.Zurawski 7, J.Hartson 6, C.Beattie 7

Goals: C.Beattie 50'

20.08.05 SPL Celtic 5-0 Aberdeen

A.Boruc 9, G.Irvine 8, T.McParland 8, Du Wei 9, L.Wallace 8, N.Lennon 8, S.Severin 8, T.Bjarnason 9, M.Zurawski 10, J.Hartson 9, B.Balaban 7 (M.Esposito, 45 7)

Goals: J.Hartson 5', 23', M.Zurawski 7', 35', pen 54'

24.08.05 Champions League Qul R3 Leg 2 Everton 0-2 Celtic Celtic win 2-0 on aggregate

A.Boruc 8, G.Irvine 9, T.McParland 9, C.Mulgrew 8, L.Wallace 8, N.Lennon 9, S.Severin 8, T.Bjarnason 8, M.Zurawski 7, J.Hartson 9, C.Beattie 7

Goals: J.Hartson 37', 39'

27.08.05 SPL Inverness 1-3 Celtic

A.Boruc 7, G.Irvine 8, T.McParland 8, Ã.Mejía 8, A.Ferdinand 8, G.Caldwell 8, S.Severin 8, T.Bjarnason 7 (P.Leven, 70 7), M.Zurawski 9, J.Hartson 9 (M.Esposito, 70 7), B.Balaban 8

Goals: J.Hartson 24', B.Balaban 69', M.Zurawski 83'

Fantastic idea, HD. I'm looking forward to a long life for this story.

Rangers' August

It wasn't just the fact that Rangers played so well in the early part of the season that amazed onlookers, it was the fact they did it with (a) a squad where only Ian Murray (24) and Barry Ferguson (28) were aged over 23; and (b) they did it with players mostly earning less than £1,000 per week.

Though Joél Garçon had achieved success in the alternate world by playing Bosko Balaban and Vyacheslav Hleb up front, he was far from dismayed to see the pair join and agree to join Celtic respectively. Bringing in the young players that other sides didn't have the patience to develop was the basic premise and the initial results were, if not spectacular, certainly impressive.

SPL wins at Falkirk and at home to Hibs were achieved, each by two goals to one and already it was clear that Matteo Ardemagni was a match winner. After a 1-1 home draw with Udinese in Champions League Qualification, Kilmarnock were dismissed 3-1. Then it started to go a little sour. An own goal from Steven Hammell gave Dundee United a 2-1 win at Tannadice before Udinese came from behind to win 2-1 in Italy and eliminate Garçon's side from the premier European competition at the Third Qualifying Round.

Some solidity returned with a 1-0 win over Dunfermline, but with Vitoría Setúbal and Celtic coming up in September it wasn't the best form to be in. The hangover from Udine hadn't quite cleared, but in one thing the Rangers fans were certain, they had a new hero and his name was Ardemagni. (Which they pronounced Arr-deh-mah-nyee, because I told them to.)

Stats:

30.07.05 SPL Falkirk 1-2 Rangers

Goals:

06.08.05 SPL Rangers 2-1 Hibernian

C.Gordon 7, D.Semenzato 7, S.Hammell 8, A.Webster 8, A.Peljto 8, M.Thomas 7, A.Baggio 7 (T. Bel Aïd, 73 6), B.Ferguson 7, K.Boyd 7 (S.Giovinvo, 73 6), F.Piovaccari 7 (Q.Abeyie, 73 6), M.Ardemagni 8

Goals: M.Ardemagni 10', 53'

10.08.05 Champions League Qualifying R3 Leg 1 Rangers 1-1 Udinese

C.Gordon 8, D.Semenzato 6, S.Hammell 7, A.Webster 7, A.Peljto 6, M.Thomas 4 (I.Murray, 45 6), A.Baggio 7, B.Ferguson 7, K.Boyd 7, F.Piovaccari 7 (Q.Abeyie, 79 6), M.Ardemagni 7 (S.Giovinvo, 79 6)

Goals: M.Ardemagni 40'

13.08.05 SPL Rangers 3-1 Kilmarnock

C.Gordon 7, D.Semenzato 6 (I.Murray, 57 7), S.Hammell 8, A.Webster 8, A.Peljto 7, J.Cetout 7, A.Baggio 7, B.Ferguson 7, K.Boyd 7 (Q.Abeyie, 57 7), F.Piovaccari 7 (S.Giovinco, 45 7), M.Ardemagni 8

Goals: K.Boyd 8', F.Piovaccari 37', M.Ardemagni 62'

20.08.05 SPL Dundee United 2-1 Rangers

C.Gordon 7, D.Semenzato 6, S.Hammell 6, A.Webster 7, A.Peljto 7, J.Cetout 6 (I.Murray, 45 7), A.Baggio 7, B.Ferguson 6, K.Boyd 7 (Q.Abeyie, 77 6), F.Piovaccari 6 (S.Giovinco, 45 7), M.Ardemagni 7

Goals: M.Ardemagni 50'

24.08.05 Champions League Qualifying R3 Leg 2 Udinese 2-1 Rangers Udinese win 3-2 on aggregate

C.Gordon 6, I.Murray 6, S.Hammell 6, A.Webster 6, A.Peljto 6 (D.Semenzato, 71 7), J.Cetout 7, B.Ferguson 7, A.Baggio 7, K.Boyd 7, F.Piovaccari 7 (S.Giovinco, 71 6), M.Ardemagni 7

Goals: K.Boyd 63'

27.08.05 SPL Rangers 1-0 Dunfermline

L.Pidgeley 7, I.Murray 7, S.Hammell 7, A.Webster 7, A.Peljto 7, J.Cetout 7, B.Ferguson 7, A.Baggio 7 (P.Sammarco, 45 7), K.Boyd 7 (S.Giovinco, 13 7), F.Piovaccari 7 (Q.Abeyie, 79 6), M.Ardemagni 8

Goals: M.Ardemagni 20'

For whatever reason the game has decided I can't check as far back as the Falkirk game...I'm sure Ardemagni scored at least once, possibly Boyd with the other.

Rangers' September

After a successful August the hopes were high around Ibrox that this campaign could be successful despite the unusual squad composition. Of course nobody else knew anything about alternate realities or any such stuff, so they were yet to be fully convinced by Garçon.

A 1-0 win at Livingston to open the month was greatfully received, but it was the heroic performance in a 2-0 home victory over Vitoría Setúbal that really brought the support on side. Despite this win, however, defeat at Celtic was a blow. An even Old Firm game had flowed back and forth, but it was a Maciej Zurawski strike shortly after half time that ultimately seperated the sides.

Airdrie United were efficiently dispatched 4-0 in the League Cup, but a 1-1 draw at home to Motherwell was not the best of preparations for a trip to Portugal. In the end it was not to be a disaster though as Kris Boyd marked his comeback from an injury absence with the only goal and Rangers progressed to the group stages.

The side had only conceded two goals in the entire month, but sadly those slips had cost Garçon's men five points in the league table and left them sitting in third place, just behind a resurgent Aberdeen and three points off Celtic. With both Hearts and Aberdeen to follow in October it seemed the tenth month of the year would prove make or break for Rangers.

Stats:

10.09.05 SPL Livingston 0-1 Rangers

L.Pidgeley 7, I.Murray 8, S.Hammell 8, A.Webster 8, P.Ruíz 7, A.Peljto 8 (B.Ferguson, 80 6), A.Pederzoli 6 (T. Bel Aïd, 45 7), A.Baggio 7, Q.Abeyie 7 (S.Giovinvo, 80 6), F.Piovaccari 7, M.Ardemagni 7

Goals: Piovaccari 40'

15.09.05 UEFA Cup R1 Leg 1 Rangers 2-0 Vit. Setúbal

L.Pidgeley 8, I.Murray 8, S.Hammell 8, A.Webster 8, P.Ruíz 8 (B.Ferguson, 82 6) A.Peljto 6, A.Pederzoli 7, A.Baggio 7, Q.Abeyie 7 (S.Giovinvo, 82 7), F.Piovaccari 7, M.Ardemagni 8

Goals: M.Ardemagni 32', 45'

18.09.05 SPL Celtic 1-0 Rangers

C.Gordon 7 (L.Pidgeley, 72 7), I.Murray 6, S.Hammell 8, A.Webster 8, P.Ruíz 7, B.Ferguson, 7, A.Pederzoli 7 (P.Sammarco, 45 7), A.Baggio 7, Q.Abeyie 7, F.Piovaccari 7 (D.Semenzato, 72 6), M.Ardemagni 6

Goals: None

21.09.05 League Cup R3 Rangers 4-0 Airdrie United

L.Pidgeley 8, D.Semenzato 9, S.Hammell 10, A.Webster 8, P.Ruíz 7, B.Ferguson 7, A.Pederzoli 8, A.Baggio 8, F.Piovaccari 9, Q.Abeyie 9 (S.Giovinco, 45 7), M.Ardemagni 9

Goals: M.Ardemagni 5', 16', Q.Abeyie 21', F.Piovaccari 32'

24.09.05 SPL Rangers 1-1 Motherwell

L.Pidgeley 6, D.Semenzato 7, S.Hammell 9, A.Webster 7, P.Ruíz 6 (A.Peljto, 84 6), B.Ferguson 7, A.Pederzoli 7 (P.Sammarco, 84 6), A.Baggio 7, F.Piovaccari 7, Q.Abeyie 6, M.Ardemagni 7 (S.Giovinco, 45 7)

Goals: B.Ferguson pen 74'

29.09.05 UEFA Cup R1 Leg 2 Vit. Setúbal 0-1 Rangers Rangers win 3-0 on aggregate

C.Gordon 7, D.Semenzato 8, S.Hammell 8, A.Webster 8, P.Ruíz 6 (A.Peljto, 45 7), B.Ferguson 8, A.Pederzoli 8, A.Baggio 7, Q.Abeyie 7, F.Piovaccari 6 (K.Boyd, 45 7), M.Ardemagni 7

Goals: K.Boyd 63'

Celtic's September

The arrival of the Champions League made September a bit more exciting for Celtic than it had been for their cross-city rivals. A remarkable run of four consecutive 1-0 wins opened the month, with Falkirk, Basel, Rangers and Dunfermline submitting, but after a disappointing 2-2 draw at Dundee United it was back to a high as a wholly undeserved point was obtained from Sporting Lisbon in a 1-1 draw.

The game in Switzerland was the most unlikely of the results. A late John Hartson goal gave Celtic perhaps their first ever away win in the Champions League group stages and though Lisbon were the better side at Celtic Park, Anton Ferdinand's header late in the first half secured a valuable point.

Domestically three wins out of three were enough to ease away from Rangers and Aberdeen at the top of the league and make progress in the League Cup. Maciej Zurawski's Old Firm winner was dramatic, but it was the supposedl routine wins over Falkirk and Dunfermline, each with goals from Bosko Balaban, that made the difference. Sadly Balaban was hurt against the Pars and would require surgery on his hip.

With the Croat facing more than two months on the sidelines it was a chance for the likes of Garry O'Connor and Eddie Johnson to stake a claim. October would witness four league games, three away from home, and the visit of Lille in a crunch European tie. Time would tell how Ingimarrsson's side hold up.

Stats:

10.09.05 SPL Celtic 1-0 Falkirk

A.Boruc 6, G.Irvine 8, T.McParland 8, A.Mejía 7, A.Ferdinand 6, G.Caldwell 7, S.Severin 7, T.Bjarnason 7, M.Zurawski 7 (B.Balaban, 70 7), J.Hartson 6 (E.Johnson, 45 7), D.Rosu 7 (G.O'Connor, 70 7)

Goals: B.Balaban 79'

14.09.05 Champions League Group F Basel 0-1 Celtic

A.Boruc 7, G.Irvine 7, T.McParland 8, A.Mejía 6 (M.Corrigan, 71 7), A.Ferdinand 8, G.Caldwell 8, S.Severin 7, T.Bjarnason 8 (B.Balaban, 71 7), M.Zurawski 7, J.Hartson 9, D.Rosu 7 (G.O'Connor, 71 7)

Goals: J.Hartson 81'

18.09.05 SPL Celtic 1-0 Rangers

A.Boruc 7, G.Irvine 7, T.McParland 8, A.Mejía 7, A.Ferdinand 7, G.Caldwell 8, S.Severin 8 (C.Gâlcã, 72 7), T.Bjarnason 7 (M.Esposito, 72 7), M.Zurawski 8, J.Hartson 7, D.Rosu 7 (B.Balaban, 45 7)

Goals: M.Zurawski 50'

21.09.05 League Cup R3 Dunfermline 0-1 Celtic

A.Boruc 7, G.Irvine 7, T.McParland 7, A.Mejía 7, A.Ferdinand 7, G.Caldwell 7, S.Severin 8, A.McGeady 7, E.Johnson 7 (G.O'Connor, 13 7), B.Balaban 7 (K.Andersson, 13 6), M.Esposito 8

Goals: B.Balaban 8'

24.09.05 SPL Dundee United 2-2 Celtic

A.Boruc 7, G.Irvine 7 (M.Corrigan, 65 6), T.McParland 7, A.Mejía 7, A.Ferdinand 7, G.Caldwell 7, S.Severin 7 (P.Leven, 65 6), T.Bjarnason 7, D.Rosu 9, J.Hartson 7 (G.O'Connor, 65 6), M.Zurawski 8

Goals: D.Rosu 22', 64'

27.09.05 Champions League Group F Celtic 1-1 Sporting

A.Boruc 6, G.Irvine 6, T.McParland 8, A.Mejía 6 (M.Corrigan, 45 7), A.Ferdinand 7, G.Caldwell 7, S.Severin 7, T.Bjarnason 7, D.Rosu 7, J.Hartson 7 (G.O'Connor, 45 6), M.Zurawski 7

Goals: A.Ferdinand 44'

Rothesay's September

If August was a procession for Morag's chosen ones, September was just as productive, bar a slip up at Tynecastle where Hearts came from behing to eliminate Bartholomew's side in the Third Round of the League Cup.

East Stirling put up a little resistence in the first game of the month, but Zigic, Yildirim and Maloney put paid to their challenge before Andy Brand was sent off in injury time to compound a bad day. First Division St Mirren hosted Rothesay in a Challenge Cup tie and were thrashed 5-0 thanks to a Davidson hat-trick and goals from Rat and Yildirim before East Fife took four at The Park on league duty, Robert Davidson (2), Yildirim and Julius Aghahowa netting.

After the Hearts defeat, which opened sensationally with a brilliant Davidson goal early on, it was business as usual with Berwick travelling home on the end of a 5-0 beating.

The last game of the month saw Bartholomew's side travel to Ayr for the Challenge Cup semi final. An early Ben Saada goal was sufficient to eliminate Knut Haraldsson's team and secure a place in the club's first ever cup final.

Stats:

10.09.05 Third Division East Stirling 0-3 Rothesay

A.Isaksson 7, M.Wilson 9, S.Campbell 8, K.Hofland 8, T.Hübschman 8, L.Bernardi 8, D.Landzaat 8, C.N'Zogbia 8, S.Maloney 9, R.Davidson 7 (U.Yildirim, 45 8), N.Zigic 8 (C.Ben Saada, 45 8)

Goals: Zigic 28', Yildirim 62', Maloney 83'

13.09.05 Challenge Cup R3 St. Mirren 0-5 Rothesay

A.Isaksson 8, M.Wilson 9, S.Campbell 8, K.Hofland 7 (Rat, 23 7), T.Hübschman 10, L.Bernardi 8, D.Landzaat 9, C.N'Zogbia 9, S.Maloney 8 (C.Ben Saada, 59 7), R.Davidson 10, N.Zigic 8 (U.Yildirim, 59 7)

Goals: Davidson 2', 9', 33', Rat 60', Yildirim 76'

17.09.05 Third Division Rothesay 4-0 East Fife

A.Isaksson 7, M.Wilson 10, S.Campbell 10, K.Hofland 8, T.Hübschman 8, L.Bernardi 8, D.Landzaat 7, C.N'Zogbia 8 (P.Weaver, 73 7), S.Maloney 7 (J.Aghahowa, 73 8), R.Davidson 10, U.Yildirim 10 (C.Ben Saada, 73 7)

Goals: Davidson 12', 23', Yildirim 59', Aghahowa 90'

21.09.05 League Cup R3 Hearts 2-1 Rothesay

A.Isaksson 6, M.Wilson 6 (R.Rat, 45 6), S.Campbell 8, K.Hofland 8, T.Hübschman 8, L.Bernardi 7, D.Landzaat 6, C.N'Zogbia 7, S.Maloney 6 (J.Aghahowa, 45 6), R.Davidson 8, U.Yildirim 6 (C.Ben Saada, 74 7)

Goals: Davidson 1'

24.09.05 Third Division Rothesay 5-0 Berwick

A.Isaksson 7, M.Wilson 10, R.Rat 10, K.Hofland 8, T.Hübschman 9, L.Bernardi 9, D.Landzaat 8, C.N'Zogbia 10, S.Maloney 10, R.Davidson 9, N.Zigic 10

Goals: Zigic 22', 87, Davidson 56', C.N'Zogbia 60', L.Bernardi 76'

27.09.05 Challenge Cup SF Ayr 0-1 Rothesay

D.Marshall 8, A.Hutton 7, S.Campbell 6 (S.Ferry, 29 6), S.McManus 7, D.Navarro 7 (K.Hofland, 29 7), P.Weaver 7, C.Burke 6, K.Källström 7, S.Maloney 7, R.Davidson 6, C.Ben Saada 8

Goals: Ben Saada 5'

I'm pondering accelerating this tale slightly. I'm concerned at the inability to check lineups for the Rangers v Falkirk game. Hmm. I'll let you know what I decide.

I've decided.

Aggie cursed her goldfish-like memory. How was it that she could remember the scoreline of every Ayr game this year, but had no idea who played or scored in any game prior to the 15th of October?

After the 1-0 win at Gretna to end August she could recall a crazy 1-1 home draw with Morton in the league, where both sides scored bizarre own goals, a 3-0 win over the same opposition at the same venue in the Challenge Cup, a disappointing 1-1 draw at Alloa in the league courtesy of a late Jamie Stevenson free kick for an overmatched home side, a 0-0 draw at home to Gretna, again ni the league, a nice 3-1 win at Peterhead, a crushing 0-1 loss at home to Rothesay in the Challenge Cup semi and a 0-0 draw at Stirling to open October. Beyond that she was stumped.

It was clear that Santino Marini had scored a few goals and that John Johnston was struggling, but little else was evident.

Distressingly total recall began with a 2-0 loss at home to Raith, a 1-1 draw at home to Forfar and a 1-0 defeat at Dumbarton, completing a season-worst 4 game winless run. Form barely improved, but somehow the side heroically achieved 2-1 wins over Partick and Morton against the run of play before Peter Weatherson, Kevin Byers and Willie McLaren, who had suffered a couple of nagging injuries, provided a 3-0 win over East Stirling in the Scottish Cup.

A 2-0 win at Gretna courtesy of Marini and McLaren was a major boost, though it took an early own goal to see Haraldsson's side edge past 10-man Alloa. Back-to-back wins over Raith, 4-0 at Somerset in the Scottish Cup and 1-0 at Stark's Park in the league, were achieved before Forfar were mauled 3-0 on Boxing Day.

By this time it seemed that Ayr were on course for a place in the promotion play-offs and despite a shaky league run encompassing a 1-0 loss at home to Stirling, a 0-0 draw at home to Dumbarton and a 1-0 loss at Partick, wins over Elgin in the cup and Morton in the league provided respite.

A 6-0 mauling at the hands of Dunfermline brought the cup run to an end in the Fourth Round before the league was brought back into play with a 1-1 draw against Gretna, achieved with a last-second free kick from Weatherson, and wins at Alloa (3-1) and Peterhead (2-0). With ten games to go United sat six points adrift of joint leaders Partick and Gretna, with Raith in third.

The January transfer window saw huge amounts of movement. Thirty-two players were added, mostly prospects, whilst seven departed. The most notable additions were Slovenian forward Uros Veselic, Stephen McKenna of Clyde, Portuguese Hugo Carolo from Mafra, Simon Lynch from Dundee, Ali Mohammadian from FC Trollhättan (don't we all, forum posters, don't we all) and top prospect Marco Baroni from Mendrisio.

Others contributed, but Haraldsson was taking his time seperating the wheat from the chaff, and all assessments would have to wait until the end of the season.

Aggie was fairly chuffed. She was probably the least advantaged of the four women playing with fate, yet even she had moulded a winning organisation. The selection of Haraldsson - who was preferred to Ingi Ingimarsson at the time - seems inspired, if progress so far is a sign of things to come.

January Sales

Rothesay, Celtic and Rangers were not quite as active as Ayr in the January Transfer Window. Still, some additions were made and the shape of the squads varied.

Rothesay are not the type of side to allow a chance to make a splash pass quietly and spent almost £50,000,000 on ten players. The most expensive was £8.75m defender Vincent Kompany from Anderlecht who, at just 19, comfortably fits the club's plans for the future. Bordeaux's Florian Marange also arrived, at £8.5m, but is not likely to feature this season.

Gianni Zuiverloon (£6m), Charles-André Doudin (£1m) and Emrah Ekin (£325,000) came in for later years, whilst Iven Austbø (£190,000, Viking Stavanger), Zvjezdan Misimovic (£5m, Bochum), Jacques Faty (£4.5m, Rennes), James McFadden (£6m, Everton) and Charlie Adam (£350,000, Rangers) were expected to boost the first team squad.

Didier Agathe moved to Kaiserslautern, whilst the likes of Julius Aghahowa, David Navarro, Ugur Yildirim and Chakri Ben Saada were transfer listed, having failed to settle.

Over at Celtic Park there were seven additions, but of those only Vyacheslav Hleb and possibly Nicklas Bendtner affecting the first team squad. Five left, including recent signings Mauro Espositio, Eddie Johnson and Martyn Corrigan. Other than those moves it's pretty much as you were for Ingi.

There were eight additions at Ibrox. Priciest were Rawez Lawan, a Swedish striker who cost £2m from Malmö and Milan's left winger Roberto Massaro, who may or may not be the son of legend Daniele Massaro, and who came at the price of £1.6m. Juventus' defender Andrea Masiello, Monaco's Malaury Martin, Cor Gillis of Anderlecht, Lynel Kitambala - a Congolese international - from Auxerre, young goalkeeper Mathieu Dreyer from Sochaux and Club Brugge full back Jelle De Bock completed the additions.

Football continued, regardless, and patterns were beginning to appear. By the end of February Rothesay were the Champions of the Third Division, Ayr looked certain to make the playoffs and Rangers were on course for a treble. Celtic, out of the League Cup to Hearts and defeated 5-3 in extra time by Aberdeen in a Scottish Cup thriller, had little to play for except a Champions League place, and the little matter of the Champions League itself.

In the Group stages home wins over Basel and Lille, two draws with Sporting and a win in Switzerland made the 5-0 capitulation in France a sidenote as the group was won. The failure of Rangers to progress from a UEFA Cup group featuring Osasuna, Palermo, Dinamo Bucharest and CSKA Moscow was concerning, but for Celtic the opportunity to face Inter in the knockout stages was set to be the season's highlight, unless you prefer the 11-0 Scottish Cup win at Hamilton.

Rothesay's work was done with the Third Division and Challenge Cup in the bag and cup defeats agaisnt Hearts and Aberdeen to learn from. Incidentally both sides went on to eliminate Celtic in the same competition. Hearts later lost to Rangers in the semi final of the League Cup, with Aberdeen set to face the Ibrox side in the same stage of the Scottish Cup if they negotiate a replay at Tannadice.

It's a funny old game.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Iven Austbø (£190,000, Viking Stavanger), </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ahh one of my favourite players. I often buy this guy.

BTW, still a top draw story HD.

Thanks, bit annoyed that the game isn't remembering matches properly, must be settings. It's kind of kyboshed my plans to do this season month-by-month. Ah well, best laid plans, etc...

In memorium...

The season past had brought mixed fortunes for the ladies at the top. Morag's Rothesay had been all-conquering at their level, strolling to the Third Division title, winning the Challenge Cup and scoring a bunch of goals, but they had flopped when faced with SPL opposition, losing to Hearts in the League Cup and Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup without making much of a dent in the tournaments. A season-ending injury to Nikola Zigic was shrugged off as an all-Scots front line of McFadden-Davidson-Maloney tore through defences and with the likes of Charlie Adam, Steven Campbell and Mark Wilson also regular starters there was a distinct Scottish flavour to the title celebrations.

Mary's Celtic side started out OK, put in some inconsistent performances in the middle of the year, before rallying to take the SPL title with an Old Firm victory in the first game after the split and frighten the life out of Inter Milan in the Champions' League last 16, losing 1-0 in Italy before winning 2-1 at Celtic Park and crashing out only on away goals thanks to a late Sinisa Miailjovic header. That Inter had a man sent off relatively early in each match was felt to be beside the point.

Betty had cajoled Joél Garçon's Rangers to a strong position at the three-quarters mark, but defeat in the League Cup final to Aberdeen on penalties and a slump in SPL form left the Scottish Cup the only achievable goal. A resurgent Gers side swept to a tremendous 7-1 revenge victory over Aberdeen in the semi final with four from Kris Boyd, two from Lynel Kitambala and a nice strike from Barry Ferguson. Dunfermline were the oppositiong for the Final as Rangers set out to avoid finishing second in every domestic competition in a single season.

Aggie led Ayr to the promotion playoffs despite her choice of manager, Knut Haraldsson, deciding to be more frugal than anticipated. Adding players of generally First Division quality allowed the side to be successful in the Second Division environment and their run to the Challenge Cup semi finals was noted.

Just in case you're wondering, I've uninstalled FM from my work computer and haven't transferred this save file home. It's one of my favourite saves ever though, so expect a return for this at some stage, if I can get it uploaded for transfer...

Success!

The Postseason

With Rangers preparing for the Cup Final, Knut Haraldsson's Ayr were gearing up for a crunch playoff semi final with Stranraer. Ayr's southern neighbours had just edged out relegated Clyde for the chance to save themselves, but with Ayr on a decent run of form most pundits had the Somerset side favourites.

Peter Weatherson fired home the only goal of the first leg as Ayr took the tie to Stranraer at Somerset. With key defender Marco Baroni and star forward Willie McLaren unavailable it was far from ideal conditions, and with man of the match Mark McLaughlin carried off in the second half with a broken arm it was not a full strength team that finished the game by any stretch of the imaginaton.

The single goal lead ought to have sufficed, but with an away game to go nothing was certain. Haraldsson was keen to get as many players back playing as possible, but McLaughlin was out for the year. Giacomi continued in goal, but it was with great trepidation that Robert Harris was handed a start at left back. Stephen McKenna, Gary MacKenzie and Marco Baroni completed a more familiar back line. Marc Kalenga, Kevin Byers and Ingi Højsted had been good all year in the middle and it was an almost full strength strike force with Santino Marini and Willie McLaren flanking Peter Weatherson, Uros Veselic only fit enough for a place on the bench.

Goals from Kalenga (pen) and Weatherson in the first 13 minutes put the tie beyond doubt, but the big striekr was hurting and Hugo Carolo came on in his place at the break. The Portuguese won a second penalty just after the hour, converted by Kalenga, and Ayr had a final to look forward to. Scott McLean pulled one back at the death, but it would be Ayr United and Partick Thistle going toe-to-toe for a place in the First Division.

Hampden Park was to be the venue for the season's remaining fixtures. First was the Cup Final, with Dunfermline keen to steal the trophy from under Rangers' noses. A red card for Ian Murray after less than half an hour was the break they needed and the Pars led moments later through Derek Young.

Garçon sacrificed Lynel Kitambala, but it did bugger all good and Dunfermline lifted the trophy. Second in the League Cup, Second in the Scottish Cup and Second in the SPL. This season for Rangers had "Losers" stamped all over it in big fat black marker pen.

All that was left was the playoff final...

The Winner Takes It All

And so Ayr lined up for the biggest game in their recent history with only a Partick side, from whom United had taken nine points dueing the season, standing between Knut Haraldsson and relative immortality. No man could ever live up to Ally MacLeod in Ayr United annals, but the spot of "second best manager ever" was certainly up for grabs.

Giacomi, McKenna, Harris, MacKenzie (McGowan, 68), Baroni, Kalenga, Byers, Højsted (Mohammadian, 68), Weatherson, Marini, McLaren. Those were the names that stood to go down in history or ignominy.

Marini opened the scoring, playing in an unfamiliar central role, Weatherson having been moved wide, but Andy Gibson levelled two minutes into the second half and it seemed a tight encounter was in store. It was not to prove so. Sadly for Thistly, it came down to fitness and as the Jags' players tired, United launced wave after wave of flowing counter attacks, culminating in Weatherson scoring the vital go-ahead goal, and Marini cashing in to the tune of a dramatic hat-trick.

Ayr were up, and only the most cold-hearted and cynical amongst their support would care to point out they'd finished fourth in the league and barely exceeded mid-table expectations before the playoff lottery kicked in.

And now for the science bit...

Power to the people.

More stats than you can shake a stick at, club-by-club. If you don't want to read them, look away...now.

Rothesay's Season in Numbers

League Table:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Scottish Third Division

| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 1st | C | Rothesay | | 36 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 130 | 6 | +124 | 104 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 2nd | P | Arbroath | | 36 | 18 | 10 | 8 | 39 | 23 | +16 | 64 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 3rd | | Stenhousemuir | | 36 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 57 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 4th | | Albion Rovers | | 36 | 15 | 9 | 12 | 44 | 49 | -5 | 54 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 5th | | Berwick | | 36 | 13 | 8 | 15 | 40 | 51 | -11 | 47 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 6th | | Cowdenbeath | | 36 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 50 | 59 | -9 | 44 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 7th | | East Fife | | 36 | 11 | 5 | 20 | 40 | 65 | -25 | 38 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 8th | | East Stirling | | 36 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 41 | 72 | -31 | 38 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 9th | | Queen's Park | | 36 | 8 | 13 | 15 | 44 | 59 | -15 | 37 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 10th | | Montrose | | 36 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 29 | 73 | -44 | 16 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

</pre>

Squad Playing Statistics:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

| Pkd | Inf | Name | Position | Morale | Form | Con | Apps | Gls | Av Rat |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| GK | | Andreas Isaksson | GK | Superb | 8-6-7-7-7 | 100% | 33 | - | 7.15 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DR | | Mark Wilson | D/WB/M R | Superb | 10-7-8-8-8 | 100% | 33 (1) | 6 | 8.44 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DL | | Steven Campbell | D L | Superb | 10-7-7-7-9 | 100% | 42 (2) | - | 7.95 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | | Kevin Hofland | D C | Superb | 10-9-7-8-8 | 100% | 41 (1) | 3 | 7.86 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | | Tomas Hübschman | D RC | Superb | 10-8-7-7-9 | 100% | 42 | 2 | 7.95 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DMC | Unh | Rãzvan Dinca Rat | D/WB L | Superb | 10-6-6-6-7 | 100% | 18 (7) | 3 | 7.32 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | | Paul Weaver | DM, M RC | Superb | 10-7-8-8-8 | 100% | 15 (5) | - | 7.75 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | Bid | Charles N'Zogbia | AM LC | Superb | 8-10-7-8-9 | 99% | 29 (1) | 4 | 8.17 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | Inj | Shaun Maloney | AM/F C | Superb | 10-8-9-8-10 | 50% | 42 (1) | 32 | 8.35 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | Unh | Robert Davidson | ST | Superb | 10-7-7-8-9 | 100% | 39 (2) | 44 | 7.95 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | | James McFadden | AM L, F C | Superb | 10-7-8-8-10 | 100% | 16 (3) | 6 | 8.37 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S1 | | Nikola Zigic | ST | Good | 9-9-9-8-6 | 95% | 22 (1) | 22 | 8.57 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S2 | | Iven Austbø | GK | Very Good | 7-7-7-7-7 | 95% | 2 (1) | - | 7.00 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S3 | | Charlie Adam | AM LC | Superb | 10-7-9-7-6 | 96% | 14 (3) | 1 | 7.94 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S4 | | Denny Landzaat | DM, M RC | Superb | 7-6-6-7-7 | 96% | 18 (11)| 8 | 7.76 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S5 | | Vincent Kompany | D C | Superb | 7-7-10-7-7 | 96% | 2 (5) | 2 | 7.29 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Lst | Mark Kerr | M C | Superb | 10-6-8-7-7 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Jacques Faty | D C, DM | Superb | 8-7-8-7-8 | 95% | 4 | - | 7.50 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Ugur Yildirim | AM R, ST | Poor | 9-8-7-10-6 | 39% | 4 (5) | 4 | 7.67 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gianni Zuiverloon | D RC | Superb | 6-8-8 | 95% | 3 | - | 7.33 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Zvjezdan Misimovic | AM/F C | Superb | 7-7-7-6-7 | 95% | 1 (5) | 1 | 6.83 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Loa | Florian Marange | D/WB L | Superb | 6-7 | 95% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Lst | Chaouki Ben Saada | AM LC, F C | Poor | 8-6-7-6-7 | 94% | 5 (6) | 3 | 7.36 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Lst | Barry Robson | WB L, AM L | Very Poor | 7-6-7-6 | 95% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Lucas Bernardi | DM | Superb | 7-9-8-7-7 | 95% | 28 | 1 | 7.68 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Lst | David Navarro | D C | Very Poor | 6-7 | 95% | 1 (1) | - | 6.50 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Wnt | Kim Källström | AM C | Superb | 6-7-7-10-8 | 94% | 13 (8) | 6 | 7.52 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Stephen McManus | D LC | Very Good | 7-6-6-7-7 | 94% | 8 | 1 | 7.00 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Trn | David Marshall | GK | Superb | 6-6-6-7-7 | 100% | 11 | - | 6.82 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Chris Burke | AM R | Superb | 8-7-6-6-7 | 94% | 7 (2) | - | 6.67 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Wnt | Alan Hutton | D/WB R | Superb | 8-8-8-9-7 | 94% | 7 (1) | - | 8.25 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Unh | Steven Smith | D/WB L | Poor | 9-7-7-8-9 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Simon Ferry | DM | Superb | 9-6-8-9-8 | 100% | 3 (1) | - | 7.50 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Unh | Julius Aghahowa | F C | Okay | 7-7-8-7-9 | 99% | 3 (5) | 3 | 7.63 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Emrah Ekin | ST | Superb | 5-6-7-7-7 | 98% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Charles-André Doudin | AM RC | Good | 7-8-9-7-7 | 100% | 16 | - | 7.19 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Paul Graham | GK | Very Good | 7-6-7 | 95% | 1 | - | 7.00 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Kerr | GK | Superb | 7-7-7-7-7 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Unh | John Baxter | D L | Superb | 6-7-6-6-6 | 95% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Paul Graham | D R | Superb | 6-6-6-6-6 | 95% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gary McGowan | D C | Superb | 8-6-7-7-8 | 100% | 1 | - | 7.00 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Graham Scott | D RC | Superb | 8-7-8-9-8 | 100% | 1 | - | 7.00 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Paterson | D C | Superb | 8-6-7-7-8 | 99% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Kevin Marshall | AM RL, F C | Superb | 8-6-6-7-7 | 100% | 2 | - | 6.50 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Ian Bryson | M R | Superb | 6-6-6-6-6 | 95% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Brian Ross | ST | Superb | 6-8-6-7-7 | 97% | 2 | - | 6.50 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Clark | ST | Superb | 7-9-9-8-7 | 94% | 0 (1) | - | 7.00 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Steven Black | ST | Superb | 10-6-8-9-8 | 100% | 4 | 2 | 7.00 |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Andy Wilson | GK | Okay | - | 65% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Kevin Kelly | GK | Okay | - | 65% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Craig Grant | D L | Okay | - | 65% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Graeme Ferguson | D R, DM | Okay | - | 65% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Stephen Walker | D C | Okay | - | 65% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Alan McDonald | D C | Okay | - | 65% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Stephen Fraser | D RC | Okay | - | 65% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gary McLeod | AM RL | Okay | - | 65% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Martin Murray | M R | Okay | - | 65% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gary Martin | M C | Okay | - | 65% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | David Young | M RC | Okay | - | 65% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Alan Young | AM/F C | Okay | - | 65% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Kevin Young | ST | Okay | - | 65% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Andy Paterson | ST | Okay | - | 65% | - | - | - |

| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Contracts:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

1st in Scottish Third Division

| Pkd | Inf | Name | No. | Squad Status | Cnt | Weekly wage | Expires | Value |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S5 | | Vincent Kompany | - | Key Player | F/T | £70,000 | 30.6.2007 | £240K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Ugur Yildirim | - | Key Player | F/T | £65,000 | 30.6.2009 | £275K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DMC | Unh | Rãzvan Dinca Rat | - | First Team | F/T | £60,000 | 30.6.2009 | £200K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S1 | | Nikola Zigic | - | First Team | F/T | £60,000 | 30.6.2009 | £325K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S4 | | Denny Landzaat | - | First Team | F/T | £55,000 | 30.6.2007 | £230K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Lucas Bernardi | - | First Team | F/T | £55,000 | 30.6.2009 | £180K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Wnt | Kim Källström | - | Key Player | F/T | £42,000 | 30.6.2009 | £250K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | | James McFadden | - | Key Player | F/T | £37,000 | 30.6.2009 | £220K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| GK | | Andreas Isaksson | - | Backup | F/T | £30,000 | 30.6.2009 | £190K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | Bid | Charles N'Zogbia | - | Youngster | F/T | £26,500 | 30.6.2008 | £230K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Unh | Julius Aghahowa | - | Backup | F/T | £24,000 | 30.6.2008 | £275K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | | Tomas Hübschman | - | Backup | F/T | £22,500 | 30.6.2009 | £220K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | | Kevin Hofland | - | First Team | F/T | £20,000 | 30.6.2009 | £200K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Zvjezdan Misimovic | - | Backup | F/T | £12,500 | 30.6.2008 | £240K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DR | | Mark Wilson | - | Youngster | F/T | £10,250 | 30.6.2009 | £200K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Lst | Barry Robson | - | Not Needed | F/T | £9,250 | 30.6.2009 | £180K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Lst | David Navarro | - | Backup | F/T | £9,000 | 30.6.2008 | £50K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Lst | Chaouki Ben Saada | - | Youngster | F/T | £8,250 | 30.6.2009 | £190K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Lst | Mark Kerr | - | Not Needed | F/T | £7,250 | 30.6.2009 | £140K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Loa | Florian Marange | - | Hot Prospect | F/T | £7,000 | 30.6.2009 | £170K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | Inj | Shaun Maloney | - | Backup | F/T | £6,750 | 30.6.2009 | £220K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Chris Burke | - | Youngster | F/T | £6,750 | 30.6.2009 | £130K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Wnt | Alan Hutton | - | Youngster | F/T | £6,500 | 30.6.2008 | £150K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Trn | David Marshall | - | Youngster | Yth | £6,500 | 30.6.2006 | £45K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Stephen McManus | - | Backup | F/T | £6,000 | 30.6.2009 | £45K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S3 | | Charlie Adam | - | Youngster | F/T | £5,500 | 30.6.2008 | £60K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Unh | Steven Smith | - | Not Needed | F/T | £5,250 | 30.6.2008 | £35K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | | Paul Weaver | - | Youngster | F/T | £3,100 | 30.6.2008 | £7K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Jacques Faty | - | Youngster | F/T | £3,100 | 30.6.2009 | £180K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gianni Zuiverloon | - | Youngster | F/T | £1,500 | 30.6.2008 | £150K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | Unh | Robert Davidson | - | Youngster | F/T | £875 | 30.6.2008 | £80K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Emrah Ekin | - | Youngster | Yth | £475 | 30.6.2007 | £35K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S2 | | Iven Austbø | - | Youngster | F/T | £425 | 30.6.2010 | £45K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Charles-André Doudin | - | Youngster | F/T | £400 | 30.6.2009 | £140K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Simon Ferry | - | Youngster | F/T | £275 | 30.6.2008 | £20K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Clark | - | Youngster | F/T | £210 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Brian Ross | - | Youngster | F/T | £210 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Paterson | - | Youngster | F/T | £210 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gary McGowan | - | Youngster | F/T | £210 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Unh | John Baxter | - | Youngster | F/T | £210 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Kerr | - | Youngster | F/T | £210 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Paul Graham | - | Youngster | F/T | £210 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Steven Black | - | Youngster | F/T | £210 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Ian Bryson | - | Youngster | F/T | £210 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Kevin Marshall | - | Youngster | F/T | £210 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Graham Scott | - | Youngster | F/T | £210 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Paul Graham | - | Youngster | F/T | £210 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DL | | Steven Campbell | - | Youngster | P/T | £120 | 30.6.2006 | £14K |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Andy Paterson | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Kevin Young | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Alan Young | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | David Young | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gary Martin | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Martin Murray | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gary McLeod | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Stephen Fraser | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Alan McDonald | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Stephen Walker | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Graeme Ferguson | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Craig Grant | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Kevin Kelly | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Andy Wilson | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

Obviously guys with no wage are greys.

Ayr United's Season in Numbers

League Table:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

Scottish Second Division

| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 1st | C | Gretna | | 36 | 24 | 7 | 5 | 79 | 30 | +49 | 79 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 2nd | | Partick | | 36 | 24 | 5 | 7 | 73 | 34 | +39 | 77 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 3rd | | Raith | | 36 | 20 | 5 | 11 | 61 | 41 | +20 | 65 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 4th | P | Ayr | | 36 | 18 | 11 | 7 | 47 | 27 | +20 | 65 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 5th | | Morton | | 36 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 54 | 41 | +13 | 53 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 6th | | Stirling | | 36 | 13 | 7 | 16 | 46 | 54 | -8 | 46 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 7th | | Forfar | | 36 | 10 | 9 | 17 | 46 | 68 | -22 | 39 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 8th | | Peterhead | | 36 | 7 | 8 | 21 | 37 | 71 | -34 | 29 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 9th | R | Dumbarton | | 36 | 5 | 8 | 23 | 26 | 69 | -43 | 23 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 10th | R | Alloa | | 36 | 3 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 67 | -34 | 22 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Squad Playing Statistics:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

| Pkd | Inf | Name | Position | Morale | Form | Con | Apps | Gls | Av Rat |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| GK | Hol | Roberto Giacomi | GK | Superb | 6-8-7-7-7 | 93% | 30 | - | 7.00 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DR | Hol | Stephen McKenna | D RC, DM | Superb | 7-8-7-9-8 | 93% | 18 | - | 7.28 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DL | Hol | Robert Harris | D LC | Superb | 6-7-9-9 | 87% | 3 (1) | - | 7.75 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | Hol | Gary MacKenzie | D C | Superb | 7-8-7-7-7 | 92% | 43 | 2 | 7.16 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | Hol | Marco Baroni | D C | Superb | 6-6-8-7-8 | 92% | 17 | 1 | 6.88 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DMC | Hol | Marc Kalenga | DM | Okay | 6-8-7-9-8 | 93% | 27 (4) | 5 | 7.19 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | Hol | Kevin Byers | AM C | Superb | 7-8-7-8-9 | 90% | 33 (1) | 4 | 7.09 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | Hol | Ingi Højsted | M C | Okay | 6-9-7-7-7 | 95% | 32 (10)| 1 | 6.95 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | Hol | Peter Weatherson | D RC, ST | Superb | 7-8-8-8-9 | 92% | 40 (1) | 18 | 7.39 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | Hol | Santino Marini | AM/F C | Superb | 6-7-7-8-10 | 91% | 36 (5) | 17 | 6.98 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | Hol | Willie McLaren | AM LC, ST | Superb | 8-7-5-8-9 | 83% | 36 | 7 | 7.36 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S1 | Hol | Ali Mohammadian | AM C | Superb | 8-7-6-7-7 | 95% | 9 (3) | - | 6.83 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S2 | Hol | Peter Alexiou | GK | Superb | 8-6-6-6-6 | 99% | 7 | - | 6.71 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S3 | Hol | Hjalmar Öhagen | AM RC | Superb | 6 | 95% | 1 | - | 6.00 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S4 | Hol | Simon Lynch | ST | Superb | 6-7-6-7-8 | 97% | 7 (7) | 3 | 6.86 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S5 | Hol | Uros Veselic | AM/F C | Superb | 7-8-6-7-7 | 91% | 6 (3) | 1 | 7.00 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S6 | Hol | Hugo Carolo | ST | Superb | 6-7-7-6-7 | 93% | 3 (5) | 1 | 6.50 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S7 | Hol | Michael McGowan | D/WB R | Superb | 7-7-7-7-7 | 96% | 3 (7) | - | 6.80 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Chris Templeman | ST | Superb | 7-8-7-9-8 | 82% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Chris Strain | AM LC | Superb | 7-7-9-7-6 | 94% | 0 (1) | - | 7.00 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Jörgen Hellqvist | ST | Superb | 7-6 | 97% | 2 | - | 6.50 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Johannes Grahn | AM R, ST | Very Good | 7-6-6-6-7 | 100% | 15 | 4 | 6.73 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | John Petter Kleppen | AM C | Superb | 9-6-7-7-7 | 100% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Mark Birch | D R | Superb | 6 | 94% | 1 | - | 6.00 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Raymond Logan | DM | Superb | 7-8-7-7-7 | 96% | 1 | - | 5.00 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Kieran McAnespie | D/WB L, AM LC | Superb | 6 | 94% | 1 | - | 6.00 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | James McKinstry | D/WB R | Superb | 7-9-7-9-5 | 94% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Marvyn Wilson | DM | Superb | 7-7-6-7-7 | 95% | 19 (8) | - | 6.81 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Stephen McConalogue | ST | Superb | 6-5 | 93% | 1 (1) | - | 5.50 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Otto Konrad | GK | Superb | 7-7-7-8-7 | 100% | 6 | - | 6.50 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Dougie Ramsay | DM | Superb | 7-8-7-7-7 | 57% | 2 | - | 6.50 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Andy Reid | AM L, ST | Superb | 7-6-7-7-7 | 95% | 1 | - | 7.00 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Slt | John Rankin | AM C | Very Good | 8-6-8-7-7 | 100% | 16 | 2 | 7.19 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Mark Casey | WB R, DM | Superb | 6-5-8-7-8 | 94% | 3 | - | 6.33 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Michael Moore | ST | Very Good | 7-10-7-8-9 | 96% | 2 (2) | 1 | 7.00 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Mark McLaughlin | D LC | Superb | 8-7-6-8-8 | 74% | 44 | - | 7.32 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | David Graham | AM RC, F C | Superb | 7-8-7-7-7 | 98% | 2 (7) | 1 | 6.67 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Sean Webb | D C | Superb | 7-9-7-9-5 | 100% | 24 (1) | - | 6.76 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Slt | Tom Brighton | AM L, ST | Very Good | 6-6-7-7-7 | 100% | 16 | 3 | 7.00 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Craig Conway | AM RLC | Superb | 6-6-6-8-7 | 94% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Darren Johnson | GK | Superb | 7-7-7-5-7 | 99% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Rst | Gerry Joyce | SW, D C | Superb | 6-8-7-8-7 | 100% | 30 | 3 | 7.00 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Paul Hyslop | AM R | Superb | 6-7-7-6-8 | 94% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Stuart Boyd | ST | Good | 7-6-6-6-7 | 92% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Mark Gilhaney | AM RL, ST | Superb | 6 | 95% | 1 | - | 6.00 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Gareth Wardlaw | F C | Good | 7-7-6-7-7 | 28% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Martyn Campbell | D C | Superb | 6-6-7-6-7 | 95% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Eamonn Fullerton | D L | Superb | 6-9-7-9-7 | 95% | 2 (6) | - | 5.88 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Paul Templeton | AM RC | Superb | 6-7-7-6-6 | 96% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Darren Quigley | M C | Superb | 6-8-7-6-6 | 93% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Wnt | John Johnston | ST | Good | 7-6-6-6-7 | 100% | 13 | - | 6.46 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Adam Strachan | AM L | Superb | 9-6-7-7-8 | 100% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Ian Cameron | M LC | Superb | 8-7-7-8-7 | 99% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Ryan Russell | AM L | Superb | 7-8-8-9-7 | 92% | 2 | - | 6.50 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Kenny Connolly | M C | Superb | 7-6-7-7-6 | 96% | 3 (2) | - | 6.60 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Ian Cashmore | ST | Superb | 6-6-7-7-6 | 95% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Mark Docherty | D C | Very Good | 7-6-6-7-6 | 96% | 6 (5) | 3 | 6.82 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Steven Learmonth | D C | Superb | 7-8-7-5-6 | 98% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gordon Lennon | SW, D C | Very Good | 7-6-7-7-7 | 100% | 12 (2) | - | 6.57 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Brian McKay | M R | Very Good | 7-6-7-8-7 | 41% | 13 | 3 | 6.69 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Alan Martin | GK | Very Good | 7-7-7-7-6 | 100% | 12 | - | 6.67 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Craig Brownlie | D C | Very Good | 7-5-8-8-7 | 96% | 14 (2) | - | 6.88 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Andreas Ingel | M C | Superb | 6 | 95% | 1 | - | 6.00 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Dan Ingvarsson | AM RC | Superb | 7-6 | 95% | 0 (2) | - | 6.50 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Hesam Rajabieh-Fard | ST | Superb | 7-7-6-7-6 | 95% | 2 (3) | - | 6.60 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Johan Olofsson | GK | Very Good | 6-6-7-7-7 | 100% | 3 | - | 6.33 |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Andy Essler | D/WB L | Superb | 7-6-6-7-7 | 80% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Jim Hamilton | D/WB L | Okay | - | 60% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | David Reid | WB/AM RL | Okay | - | 60% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Chris McMillan | D C, DM | Okay | - | 60% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Low | AM RC, F C | Okay | - | 60% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | John Grant | GK | Okay | - | 60% | - | - | - |

| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Contracts:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

| Pkd | Inf | Name | No. | Squad Status | Cnt | Weekly wage | Expires | Value |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Otto Konrad | - | Key Player | F/T | £4,700 | 30.6.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | Hol | Willie McLaren | - | Key Player | F/T | £1,100 | 30.6.2008 | £85K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Marvyn Wilson | - | First Team | F/T | £1,000 | 30.6.2007 | £2K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Slt | John Rankin | - | Not Needed | P/T | £925 | 30.6.2007 | £5K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Stephen McConalogue | - | First Team | P/T | £900 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Slt | Tom Brighton | - | Not Needed | P/T | £850 | 30.6.2007 | £4K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Ryan Russell | - | Hot Prospect | Yth | £775 | 30.6.2007 | £6K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Adam Strachan | - | Hot Prospect | Yth | £775 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | Hol | Peter Weatherson | - | Key Player | P/T | £750 | 30.6.2008 | £35K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Mark McLaughlin | - | Key Player | P/T | £750 | 30.6.2007 | £2K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Mark Gilhaney | - | Key Player | P/T | £750 | 30.6.2007 | £4K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Kieran McAnespie | - | First Team | P/T | £725 | 30.6.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Ian Cameron | - | Hot Prospect | Yth | £625 | 30.6.2007 | £3K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S6 | Hol | Hugo Carolo | - | Key Player | P/T | £625 | 30.6.2008 | £26K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | David Graham | - | Hot Prospect | P/T | £600 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Sean Webb | - | Hot Prospect | P/T | £575 | 30.6.2007 | £3K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Craig Brownlie | - | Hot Prospect | P/T | £500 | 30.6.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Mark Birch | - | First Team | P/T | £450 | 30.6.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Chris Templeman | - | Backup | P/T | £425 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Kenny Connolly | - | First Team | P/T | £425 | 30.6.2007 | £3K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Michael Moore | - | Not Needed | P/T | £375 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S7 | Hol | Michael McGowan | - | Key Player | P/T | £375 | 30.6.2007 | £2K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DR | Hol | Stephen McKenna | - | First Team | P/T | £350 | 30.6.2007 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S4 | Hol | Simon Lynch | - | Key Player | P/T | £325 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S5 | Hol | Uros Veselic | - | Key Player | P/T | £325 | 30.6.2009 | £14K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Alan Martin | - | Hot Prospect | F/T | £300 | 30.6.2007 | £2K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | Hol | Santino Marini | - | First Team | P/T | £275 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DMC | Hol | Marc Kalenga | - | Key Player | P/T | £275 | 30.6.2008 | £9K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Andreas Ingel | - | Key Player | P/T | £275 | 30.6.2008 | £3K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Jörgen Hellqvist | - | First Team | P/T | £250 | 30.6.2008 | £5K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| GK | Hol | Roberto Giacomi | - | Key Player | P/T | £250 | 30.6.2007 | £6K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Hesam Rajabieh-Fard | - | First Team | P/T | £250 | 30.6.2008 | £6K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Dan Ingvarsson | - | Key Player | P/T | £250 | 30.6.2008 | £5K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | Hol | Ingi Højsted | - | Key Player | P/T | £250 | 30.6.2007 | £8K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Johannes Grahn | - | Hot Prospect | P/T | £240 | 30.6.2008 | £8K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S2 | Hol | Peter Alexiou | - | First Team | P/T | £240 | 30.6.2007 | £2K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | Hol | Marco Baroni | - | Key Player | P/T | £200 | 30.6.2008 | £14K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S1 | Hol | Ali Mohammadian | - | Key Player | P/T | £200 | 30.6.2008 | £14K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | John Petter Kleppen | - | Hot Prospect | Yth | £190 | 30.6.2008 | £6K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S3 | Hol | Hjalmar Öhagen | - | Key Player | P/T | £190 | 30.6.2008 | £14K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | Hol | Gary MacKenzie | - | Key Player | P/T | £180 | 30.6.2007 | £7K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DL | Hol | Robert Harris | - | First Team | P/T | £140 | 30.6.2007 | £2K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Wnt | John Johnston | - | Not Needed | P/T | £120 | 30.6.2007 | £8K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | Hol | Kevin Byers | - | First Team | P/T | £120 | 30.6.2007 | £3K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Eamonn Fullerton | - | Hot Prospect | P/T | £90 | 30.6.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | James McKinstry | - | Backup | P/T | £65 | 30.6.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Dougie Ramsay | - | Backup | P/T | £60 | 1.7.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Andy Reid | - | Hot Prospect | P/T | £50 | 1.7.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Mark Casey | - | Backup | P/T | £45 | 30.6.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gordon Lennon | - | Hot Prospect | P/T | £45 | 30.6.2007 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Andy Essler | - | Not Needed | P/T | £40 | 1.7.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Stuart Boyd | - | Backup | P/T | £40 | 1.7.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Paul Hyslop | - | Not Needed | P/T | £40 | 30.6.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Raymond Logan | - | Backup | P/T | £40 | 30.6.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Gareth Wardlaw | - | Backup | P/T | £35 | 1.7.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Steven Learmonth | - | Hot Prospect | P/T | £35 | 30.6.2008 | £2K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Ian Cashmore | - | Backup | P/T | £35 | 30.6.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Craig Conway | - | Not Needed | P/T | £35 | 1.7.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Johan Olofsson | - | Hot Prospect | P/T | £30 | 30.6.2009 | £3K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Brian McKay | - | Hot Prospect | P/T | £30 | 30.6.2008 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Martyn Campbell | - | Backup | P/T | £30 | 1.7.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Rst | Gerry Joyce | - | Not Needed | P/T | £20 | 1.7.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Chris Strain | - | Backup | P/T | £20 | 30.6.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Paul Templeton | - | Youngster | Yth | £15 | 1.7.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Darren Johnson | - | Youngster | Yth | £15 | 1.7.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Mark Docherty | - | Hot Prospect | P/T | £10 | 30.6.2010 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Hol | Darren Quigley | - | Youngster | Yth | £10 | 30.6.2006 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | John Grant | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Low | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Chris McMillan | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | David Reid | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Jim Hamilton | - | - | - | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Rangers' Season in Numbers

League Table:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

SPL

| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 1st | C | Celtic | | 38 | 27 | 4 | 7 | 87 | 33 | +54 | 85 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 2nd | | Rangers | | 38 | 24 | 3 | 11 | 60 | 36 | +24 | 75 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 3rd | | Hearts | | 38 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 58 | 31 | +27 | 74 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 4th | | Motherwell | | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 64 | 55 | +9 | 60 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 5th | | Aberdeen | | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 66 | 56 | +10 | 59 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 6th | | Dundee Utd | | 38 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 45 | 49 | -4 | 56 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 7th | | Kilmarnock | | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 51 | 62 | -11 | 48 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 8th | | Dunfermline Ath | | 38 | 12 | 6 | 20 | 43 | 67 | -24 | 42 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 9th | | Livingston | | 38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 48 | 57 | -9 | 39 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 10th | | Falkirk | | 38 | 11 | 6 | 21 | 46 | 65 | -19 | 39 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 11th | | Inverness CT | | 38 | 10 | 6 | 22 | 43 | 68 | -25 | 36 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 12th | R | Hibernian | | 38 | 7 | 8 | 23 | 40 | 72 | -32 | 29 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Squad Playing Statistics:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

| Pkd | Inf | Name | Position | Morale | Form | Con | Apps | Gls | Av Rat |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| GK | | Craig Gordon | GK | Poor | 7-7-7-6-6 | 100% | 49 | - | 7.00 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DR | | Ian Murray | D LC, DM | Very Poor | 9-7-8-6-5 | 100% | 14 (12)| - | 7.08 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DL | | Steven Hammell | D/WB L | Very Poor | 6-9-9-7-7 | 99% | 51 | 1 | 7.88 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | | Andy Webster | D C | Poor | 7-7-8-7-6 | 99% | 50 | - | 7.26 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | | Aldin Peljto | D C, DM | Poor | 7-7-6-7-6 | 96% | 37 (2) | 3 | 6.87 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DMC | | Barry Ferguson | DM | Poor | 5-7-8-7-7 | 100% | 48 (2) | 4 | 7.28 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | | Alex Pederzoli | M C | Poor | 6-8-8-7-6 | 100% | 35 (3) | - | 7.08 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | | Alberto Baggio | M C | Poor | 7-9-8-7-7 | 97% | 50 | 2 | 7.24 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | | Lynel Kitambala | ST | Okay | 6-6-7-6-7 | 98% | 13 (3) | 7 | 6.75 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | Unh | Kris Boyd | ST | Poor | 6-7-10-7-7 | 96% | 48 (2) | 40 | 7.38 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | | Matteo Ardemagni | ST | Okay | 7-8-9-7-7 | 97% | 52 | 23 | 7.50 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S1 | | Jelle De Bock | D RC | Very Poor | 6-8-8-6-6 | 99% | 17 (3) | - | 6.80 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S2 | | Lenny Pidgeley | GK | Okay | 8-6-7-6-7 | 95% | 5 (3) | - | 7.00 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S3 | | Quincy Owusu Abeyie | ST | Poor | 6-6-8-9-5 | 97% | 24 (9) | 5 | 6.88 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S4 | | Roberto Massaro | AM L | Okay | 8-6-7-6-7 | 91% | 6 (4) | - | 6.90 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S5 | | Julien Cetout | D C, DM | Okay | 6-7-7-6-7 | 96% | 6 (2) | - | 6.75 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Zurab Khizanishvili | D C | Okay | 6-6-8-6-8 | 97% | 39 | - | 7.23 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Brian McLean | D C | Poor | 7-6-7-6-7 | 95% | 4 (13) | - | 6.53 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Pablo Ruiz | D LC | Poor | 8-6-8-6-6 | 100% | 14 | - | 7.07 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Paolo Sammarco | M C | Okay | 6-7-6-7-8 | 68% | 7 (9) | - | 6.88 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Sebastian Giovinco | AM/F C | Okay | 6-7-6-6-7 | 94% | 1 (19) | - | 6.40 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Daniele Semenzato | D/WB/AM R | Okay | 7-6-7-6-7 | 95% | 26 (5) | - | 7.03 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Unh | David Fuster | AM R | Very Poor | 7-7 | 94% | 0 (2) | - | 7.00 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Lst | Gavin Rae | M C | Poor | 7-8-6-8 | 97% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Wnt | Allan McGregor | GK | Poor | 7-8-6-6-8 | 94% | 32 | - | 6.69 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Ross McCormack | ST | Okay | 8-7-6-9-7 | 100% | 15 | 12 | 7.33 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Callum Reidford | GK | Good | 7-7-7-4-6 | 95% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Brian Gilmour | M C | Okay | 7-7-5-9-8 | 100% | 14 | 1 | 7.43 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Agnew | AM L, ST | Very Good | 8-7-8-8-7 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Paul Emslie | M C | Good | 8 | 99% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Alan Lowing | D R | Poor | 7-8-6-7-6 | 98% | 9 (2) | - | 6.82 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Lee Robinson | GK | Okay | 3-7-6-8-7 | 94% | 0 (1) | - | 8.00 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Graeme Watson | D C | Good | 7-7-7-7-7 | 100% | 3 (5) | - | 6.00 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Calum Elliot | F C | Good | 8-5-7-9-7 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Wnt | Jordan McMillan | D RC | Good | 8 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Derek Carcary | ST | Poor | 7-7-6-7-6 | 94% | 10 (4) | 2 | 6.36 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Jason Crooks | ST | Very Good | 7-7-7-7-8 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Craig Frizzel | ST | Good | 7-7-8-7-6 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Steven Lennon | M C | Very Good | 5-6-7-8-8 | 98% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Martin Ure | D C | Very Good | 6-5-7-7-7 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Sam Woods | D R | Very Good | 6-6-6-7-7 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Yth | Scott Gallacher | GK | Good | 4-5-6-7-7 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Hadden | ST | Good | 8-7-6-7-7 | 99% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Ross Harvey | D L | Very Good | 7-6-8-7-7 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Yth | Steven Kinniburgh | AM C | Good | 6-7-7-5-6 | 94% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Trn | William McLachlan | M C | Very Poor | 7-7-6-7-7 | 92% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Lst | Joe Sagar | GK | Very Poor | 5-8-8-7-6 | 94% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Yth | Andrew Shinnie | M L | Good | 7-6-6-6-7 | 95% | - | - | - |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Federico Piovaccari | ST | Poor | 6-7-7-7-7 | 99% | 12 | 7 | 6.67 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Andrea Masiello | D C | Okay | 7-7-8-8-4 | 100% | 14 (6) | - | 6.85 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Rawez Lawan | ST | Okay | 6-6-7-7-6 | 97% | 8 (6) | 4 | 6.93 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Guy Dufour | M LC | Poor | 7-8-7-7-7 | 100% | 17 | 2 | 6.88 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Cor Gillis | D RL | Okay | 6-6-8-6-7 | 96% | 5 (2) | - | 6.71 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Milan Thomas | DM | Good | 7-6-7-7-8 | 95% | 3 | - | 5.67 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Malaury Martin | DM | Okay | 7-6-7-6-7 | 95% | 4 (1) | - | 6.60 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Tijani Bel Aïd | AM RC, F C | Poor | 6-7-5-6-7 | 100% | 12 | 2 | 6.50 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Dany N'Guessan | AM LC, F C | Poor | 7-6-8-6-6 | 94% | 2 (3) | - | 6.60 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Mathieu Dreyer | GK | Okay | 7-6-7 | 94% | 1 | - | 6.00 |

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Contracts (of slave labour):

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

| Pkd | Inf | Name | No. | Squad Status | Cnt | Weekly wage | Expires | Value |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DMC | | Barry Ferguson | 6 | First Team | F/T | £28,000 | 30.6.2010 | £3.8M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| GK | | Craig Gordon | 1 | Key Player | F/T | £16,750 | 30.6.2007 | £1.8M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | | Andy Webster | 4 | Rotation | F/T | £10,500 | 30.6.2009 | £1.6M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DL | | Steven Hammell | 23 | Backup | F/T | £9,250 | 30.6.2009 | £1.5M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DR | | Ian Murray | 24 | Key Player | F/T | £8,000 | 30.6.2008 | £625K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | Unh | Kris Boyd | 13 | Hot Prospect | F/T | £7,250 | 30.6.2008 | £2.6M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S2 | | Lenny Pidgeley | 20 | Youngster | F/T | £6,500 | 30.6.2008 | £100K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Zurab Khizanishvili | 3 | Hot Prospect | F/T | £4,400 | 30.6.2008 | £325K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Lst | Gavin Rae | 26 | Not Needed | F/T | £4,000 | 30.6.2007 | £130K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Mathieu Dreyer | 31 | Youngster | Yth | £2,200 | 30.6.2006 | £14K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Paolo Sammarco | 28 | Hot Prospect | F/T | £1,200 | 30.6.2009 | £120K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S3 | | Quincy Owusu Abeyie | 14 | Youngster | F/T | £1,100 | 30.6.2008 | £2.7M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Ross McCormack | - | Youngster | F/T | £800 | 30.6.2007 | £1.3M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Cor Gillis | 29 | First Team | F/T | £700 | 30.6.2007 | £35K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | | Alex Pederzoli | 18 | Youngster | F/T | £600 | 30.6.2009 | £250K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Brian McLean | - | Hot Prospect | F/T | £575 | 30.6.2006 | £22K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Dany N'Guessan | 50 | Youngster | F/T | £500 | 30.6.2007 | £95K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Rawez Lawan | 10 | Youngster | F/T | £500 | 30.6.2010 | £2.6M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S1 | | Jelle De Bock | 17 | Youngster | F/T | £450 | 30.6.2011 | £325K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Guy Dufour | - | Youngster | F/T | £425 | 30.6.2008 | £800K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S4 | | Roberto Massaro | 25 | Backup | F/T | £425 | 30.6.2010 | £300K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Wnt | Allan McGregor | - | Hot Prospect | F/T | £400 | 1.7.2006 | £20K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Calum Elliot | 15 | Youngster | Yth | £400 | 30.6.2008 | £150K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Pablo Ruiz | - | Backup | F/T | £375 | 30.6.2008 | £95K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Andrea Masiello | 5 | Hot Prospect | F/T | £325 | 30.6.2010 | £400K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S5 | | Julien Cetout | 19 | Youngster | F/T | £325 | 30.6.2008 | £425K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | | Matteo Ardemagni | 22 | Youngster | F/T | £300 | 30.6.2008 | £1.9M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Milan Thomas | 8 | Youngster | F/T | £275 | 30.6.2008 | £26K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Federico Piovaccari | - | Youngster | F/T | £275 | 30.6.2009 | £120K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Unh | David Fuster | 21 | Backup | F/T | £275 | 30.6.2009 | £40K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Daniele Semenzato | 2 | Youngster | F/T | £275 | 30.6.2008 | £210K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Tijani Bel Aïd | - | Youngster | F/T | £275 | 30.6.2008 | £100K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | | Lynel Kitambala | 30 | Youngster | F/T | £275 | 30.6.2010 | £300K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Brian Gilmour | - | Youngster | F/T | £250 | 30.6.2007 | £70K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Lee Robinson | 27 | Youngster | Yth | £250 | 30.6.2006 | £2K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Malaury Martin | 12 | Youngster | F/T | £250 | 30.6.2010 | £75K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Sebastian Giovinco | 16 | Youngster | F/T | £250 | 30.6.2008 | £150K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Alan Lowing | - | Youngster | F/T | £240 | 30.6.2006 | £5K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Jason Crooks | - | Youngster | Yth | £240 | 30.6.2006 | £3K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Paul Emslie | - | Youngster | Yth | £240 | 30.6.2006 | £6K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | | Alberto Baggio | 11 | Youngster | F/T | £220 | 30.6.2008 | £575K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Derek Carcary | - | Youngster | F/T | £200 | 30.6.2007 | £180K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Steven Lennon | - | Youngster | Yth | £200 | 30.6.2007 | £70K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Graeme Watson | - | Youngster | F/T | £200 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Agnew | - | Youngster | Yth | £200 | 30.6.2006 | £7K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Callum Reidford | - | Youngster | Yth | £200 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Wnt | Jordan McMillan | - | Youngster | Yth | £170 | 30.6.2008 | £20K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Sam Woods | - | Youngster | Yth | £150 | 30.6.2006 | £3K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Martin Ure | - | Youngster | Yth | £150 | 30.6.2006 | £4K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Craig Frizzel | - | Youngster | Yth | £150 | 30.6.2006 | £7K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | | Aldin Peljto | 7 | Youngster | F/T | £150 | 30.6.2008 | £130K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Yth | Andrew Shinnie | - | Youngster | Yth | £140 | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Trn | William McLachlan | - | Not Needed | Yth | £140 | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Ross Harvey | - | Youngster | Yth | £130 | 30.6.2009 | £4K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Lst | Joe Sagar | - | Youngster | Yth | £130 | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Yth | Steven Kinniburgh | - | Youngster | Yth | £130 | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Yth | Scott Gallacher | - | Youngster | Yth | £130 | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Hadden | - | Youngster | Yth | £120 | 30.6.2007 | £7K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Celtic's Season in Numbers

League Table:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

SPL

| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 1st | C | Celtic | | 38 | 27 | 4 | 7 | 87 | 33 | +54 | 85 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 2nd | | Rangers | | 38 | 24 | 3 | 11 | 60 | 36 | +24 | 75 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 3rd | | Hearts | | 38 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 58 | 31 | +27 | 74 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 4th | | Motherwell | | 38 | 17 | 9 | 12 | 64 | 55 | +9 | 60 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 5th | | Aberdeen | | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 66 | 56 | +10 | 59 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 6th | | Dundee Utd | | 38 | 16 | 8 | 14 | 45 | 49 | -4 | 56 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 7th | | Kilmarnock | | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 51 | 62 | -11 | 48 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 8th | | Dunfermline Ath | | 38 | 12 | 6 | 20 | 43 | 67 | -24 | 42 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 9th | | Livingston | | 38 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 48 | 57 | -9 | 39 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 10th | | Falkirk | | 38 | 11 | 6 | 21 | 46 | 65 | -19 | 39 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 11th | | Inverness CT | | 38 | 10 | 6 | 22 | 43 | 68 | -25 | 36 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| 12th | R | Hibernian | | 38 | 7 | 8 | 23 | 40 | 72 | -32 | 29 |

| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Squad Playing Statistics:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

| Pkd | Inf | Name | Position | Morale | Form | Con | Apps | Gls | Av Rat |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| GK | | Lee Camp | GK | Okay | 7-7-6-6-6 | 100% | 33 | - | 6.97 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DR | | Gary Irvine | D/WB R, DM | Good | 8-8-8-6-7 | 100% | 47 | - | 7.53 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DL | | Tony McParland | D/WB L | Okay | 8-8-6-7-7 | 100% | 47 | 1 | 7.53 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | Inj | John Kennedy | D C | Very Good | 8-7-7-6-7 | 77% | 24 (1) | - | 7.40 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | | Ãlvaro Mejía | D RC | Good | 7-6-7-7-6 | 100% | 29 (5) | 1 | 6.91 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DMC | | Gary Caldwell | D RC, DM | Okay | 7-7-7-7-7 | 100% | 33 (5) | - | 7.21 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | | Scott Severin | M C | Very Good | 8-8-7-7-7 | 100% | 51 | 4 | 7.51 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | | Craig Beattie | AM R, ST | Very Good | 7-6-6-6-7 | 100% | 19 (2) | 6 | 6.90 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | | Maciej Zurawski | AM RC, F C | Very Good | 8-7-8-7-7 | 100% | 33 (4) | 14 | 7.54 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | | Bosko Balaban | AM R, ST | Okay | 7-7-6-7-6 | 100% | 29 (7) | 27 | 7.39 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | | Dumitru Laurentiu Rosu | AM LC, F C | Good | 7-8-9-7-7 | 99% | 39 (1) | 22 | 7.65 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S1 | | Nicklas Bendtner | ST | Good | 7-7-6-6-7 | 94% | 0 (4) | 1 | 6.50 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S2 | | Artur Boruc | GK | Very Good | 8-6-6-7-6 | 95% | 22 (3) | - | 6.96 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S3 | | Kennet Andersson | ST | Very Good | 6-7-7 | 94% | 1 (2) | 1 | 6.67 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S4 | | Teddy Bjarnason | M C | Very Good | 9-7-7-6-7 | 99% | 47 (3) | 4 | 7.30 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S5 | | Lee Wallace | D/WB L | Good | 8-6-6-8-6 | 96% | 2 (7) | - | 6.78 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S6 | | John Hartson | ST | Very Good | 7-8-7-6-7 | 94% | 24 (15)| 27 | 7.33 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Unh | Paul Reid | D/M C | Very Good | 6-9-8-7 | 95% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | David Clarkson | ST | Okay | 8-9-7-7-8 | 100% | 15 | 10 | 7.33 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Vyacheslav Hleb | AM RC, F C | Very Good | 6-6-8-8-6 | 98% | 15 (3) | 4 | 7.33 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Chris Snow | GK | Good | - | 94% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Trn | Angelos Basinas | DM | Good | 7-7-6-7-7 | 98% | 13 (3) | - | 7.25 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Lst | Paul Telfer | D/WB/M R | Very Poor | 7-7-6-7-6 | 95% | 9 (5) | 1 | 6.50 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Anton Ferdinand | D C | Okay | 8-8-8-7-6 | 99% | 40 (1) | 2 | 7.24 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Shane Paul | AM R, ST | Very Good | 6-9-7-6-6 | 95% | 0 (2) | - | 7.50 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Golbourne | D/WB/M L | Okay | 5-8-7-6-7 | 100% | 15 | 1 | 6.60 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Al Bangura | DM | Okay | 6-9-7-7-6 | 100% | 17 | - | 6.76 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Wnt | Garry O'Connor | ST | Poor | 7-8-6-9-6 | 95% | 3 (13) | 2 | 6.81 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Stephen Pearson | AM RLC | Very Good | 6-6 | 95% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Ross Harris | AM RC, F C | Poor | 8-9-6-6-6 | 100% | 13 (1) | 2 | 6.93 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Aiden McGeady | AM RC | Very Good | 7-7-7-6-6 | 95% | 5 | - | 7.00 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Mike McGlinchey | AM LC, F C | Okay | 7-7-7-7-6 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Michael McGovern | GK | Okay | 7-7-7-6-7 | 100% | 6 | - | 6.83 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Charlie Mulgrew | D LC, DM | Very Good | 7-5-5-7-8 | 71% | 7 | - | 6.86 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Ross Wallace | AM L | Okay | 8-10-7-6-7 | 100% | 12 (1) | 3 | 7.38 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Unh | Peter Leven | AM C | Very Poor | 7-6-7 | 95% | 0 (3) | - | 6.67 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Nicky Riley | AM C | Good | 7-7-5-8-7 | 95% | 0 (4) | - | 6.75 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Sandy Wood | GK | Very Good | 7-8-6-7-7 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Loa | Craig Reid | D RC | Very Good | 7-7-6-7-6 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | James Elliott | M C | Very Good | 8-7-6-7-6 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Michael Gardyne | AM/F C | Good | 7-7-7-8-6 | 97% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Cuthbert | D RC | Okay | 7-7-6-8-6 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Ctr | Jacob Lensky | AM RC | Very Good | 5-7-7-7-7 | 95% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Ryan Conroy | WB/AM L | Good | 6-7-7-7-6 | 100% | 15 | - | 6.80 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gary Dunphy | AM LC | Very Good | 7-7-6-6-7 | 94% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Loa | Charlie Grant | DM | Very Good | 7-6-6-7-6 | 94% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Ross Hepburn | AM/F C | Very Poor | 7-6-6-7-7 | 75% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Hillman | D C | Poor | 5-7-6-8-6 | 96% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Paul Hutchison | D C | Very Good | 8-6-6-6-7 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Paul McGowan | AM RC, F C | Very Good | 5-8-6-7-7 | 98% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Mark Millar | M C | Very Good | 6-7-6-7-7 | 94% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Colin Nicholson | GK | Very Good | 8 | 94% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Jim O'Brien | WB R, AM RC, ST | Good | 7-7-6-8-7 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Diarmuid O'Carroll | ST | Okay | 7-7-6-8-6 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Dean Richardson | D LC | Good | 5-7-7-7-7 | 94% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Mark Staunton | D C | Very Good | 7-7-6-5-6 | 64% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gary Walsh | D L | Good | 6-7-7-7-7 | 97% | 8 | - | 7.00 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Paul Caddis | D/WB R | Very Good | 6-7-6-6-6 | 94% | 2 | - | 6.50 |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gareth Christie | D C | Good | 8-6-7-6-7 | 95% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Fox | GK | Good | - | 94% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Alan Lindsay | M C | Very Good | 6 | 95% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Ryan McCafferty | D R | Good | 5-7-6-5-6 | 99% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | John McGeough | AM/F C | Very Good | 8-8-6-7-7 | 95% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Darren O'Dea | D LC | Okay | 7-7-5-6-6 | 100% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Yth | Chris Nicholson | GK | Very Good | 4-8-6-6-8 | 92% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Kjartan Henry Finnbogason | ST | Good | 8-9-6-8-7 | 99% | - | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

Contracts:

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">

| Pkd | Inf | Name | No. | Squad Status | Cnt | Weekly wage | Expires | Value |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S6 | | John Hartson | 10 | Rotation | F/T | £30,000 | 1.5.2007 | £1.6M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | | Bosko Balaban | 4 | Key Player | F/T | £29,000 | 30.6.2008 | £2.6M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Wnt | Garry O'Connor | 27 | Not Needed | F/T | £22,000 | 30.6.2008 | £2.5M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S2 | | Artur Boruc | 1 | Key Player | F/T | £17,000 | 30.6.2007 | £775K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | | Dumitru Laurentiu Rosu | 29 | Rotation | F/T | £15,500 | 30.6.2008 | £2.1M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| FC | | Maciej Zurawski | 7 | Key Player | F/T | £15,000 | 7.7.2007 | £3.3M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Vyacheslav Hleb | 5 | First Team | F/T | £13,750 | 30.6.2009 | £2.4M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | | Ãlvaro Mejía | 21 | Backup | F/T | £12,500 | 30.6.2009 | £1.1M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DMC | | Gary Caldwell | 24 | Backup | F/T | £11,750 | 30.6.2009 | £1.5M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | | Scott Severin | 11 | Rotation | F/T | £11,500 | 30.6.2009 | £2M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Anton Ferdinand | 26 | Rotation | F/T | £10,500 | 30.6.2008 | £1.6M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | David Clarkson | - | Youngster | F/T | £9,000 | 30.6.2009 | £650K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| GK | | Lee Camp | 25 | Hot Prospect | F/T | £8,750 | 30.6.2008 | £850K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Unh | Peter Leven | 28 | Youngster | F/T | £8,000 | 30.6.2009 | £325K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Stephen Pearson | 13 | Hot Prospect | F/T | £8,000 | 9.7.2008 | £2.2M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DL | | Tony McParland | 12 | First Team | F/T | £5,000 | 30.6.2008 | £525K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DC | Inj | John Kennedy | 41 | Backup | F/T | £2,500 | 30.6.2009 | £1.4M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Unh | Paul Reid | - | Backup | F/T | £2,400 | 30.6.2008 | £160K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Ross Wallace | - | Hot Prospect | F/T | £2,000 | 30.6.2007 | £1.8M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Aiden McGeady | 46 | Rotation | F/T | £2,000 | 14.6.2008 | £3.1M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| MC | | Craig Beattie | 37 | Rotation | F/T | £2,000 | 31.7.2008 | £2.9M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Lst | Paul Telfer | - | Not Needed | F/T | £2,000 | 30.6.2007 | £10K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Trn | Angelos Basinas | 32 | Not Needed | F/T | £1,200 | 30.6.2006 | £250K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S3 | | Kennet Andersson | 34 | Backup | F/T | £575 | 30.6.2007 | £4K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S5 | | Lee Wallace | 2 | Youngster | F/T | £475 | 30.6.2009 | £575K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Golbourne | - | Youngster | F/T | £450 | 30.6.2008 | £275K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Shane Paul | 3 | Youngster | F/T | £400 | 30.6.2009 | £1.3M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Kjartan Henry Finnbogason | 9 | Hot Prospect | Yth | £375 | 30.6.2007 | £1.2M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Ryan Conroy | - | Hot Prospect | F/T | £375 | 30.6.2008 | £65K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S1 | | Nicklas Bendtner | 19 | Youngster | F/T | £350 | 30.6.2009 | £300K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| S4 | | Teddy Bjarnason | 22 | Youngster | F/T | £325 | 30.6.2010 | £2.3M |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Michael McGovern | - | Hot Prospect | F/T | £325 | 30.6.2007 | £28K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Al Bangura | - | Youngster | F/T | £325 | 30.6.2009 | £275K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Loa | Charlie Grant | 8 | Youngster | Yth | £325 | 30.6.2007 | £150K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| DR | | Gary Irvine | 14 | Youngster | F/T | £325 | 30.6.2010 | £140K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Michael Gardyne | - | Hot Prospect | Yth | £300 | 30.6.2008 | £90K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Paul Hutchison | - | Youngster | Yth | £300 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Nicky Riley | 20 | Youngster | F/T | £275 | 30.6.2006 | £12K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Cuthbert | 49 | Hot Prospect | Yth | £275 | 30.6.2008 | £24K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Jim O'Brien | - | Youngster | Yth | £275 | 30.6.2008 | £16K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Ross Harris | - | Not Needed | F/T | £275 | 30.6.2006 | £12K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Charlie Mulgrew | 16 | Youngster | F/T | £275 | 30.6.2008 | £40K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Loa | Craig Reid | - | Youngster | Yth | £250 | 30.6.2008 | £4K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Mike McGlinchey | 42 | Youngster | Yth | £250 | 30.6.2007 | £110K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Darren O'Dea | - | Youngster | Yth | £250 | 30.6.2006 | £2K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Ryan McCafferty | - | Youngster | Yth | £250 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Fox | 17 | Youngster | Yth | £250 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gareth Christie | - | Youngster | Yth | £250 | 30.6.2006 | £2K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gary Walsh | 35 | Youngster | F/T | £250 | 30.6.2006 | £7K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Dean Richardson | - | Youngster | Yth | £250 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Diarmuid O'Carroll | - | Youngster | Yth | £250 | 1.6.2006 | £3K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | James Elliott | - | Youngster | Yth | £250 | 30.6.2007 | £35K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Sandy Wood | 23 | Youngster | Yth | £250 | 2.4.2008 | £14K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Gary Dunphy | - | Youngster | Yth | £240 | 30.6.2006 | £2K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Paul Caddis | 36 | Youngster | Yth | £240 | 30.6.2007 | £16K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | John McGeough | - | Youngster | Yth | £240 | 30.6.2006 | £2K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Alan Lindsay | - | Youngster | Yth | £240 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Colin Nicholson | - | Youngster | Yth | £240 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Mark Millar | - | Youngster | Yth | £240 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Paul McGowan | - | Youngster | Yth | £240 | 1.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Scott Hillman | - | Youngster | Yth | £240 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Ctr | Jacob Lensky | 6 | Hot Prospect | F/T | £180 | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Yth | Chris Nicholson | - | Youngster | Yth | £150 | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Ross Hepburn | - | Youngster | Yth | £130 | - | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | Inj | Mark Staunton | - | Youngster | Yth | £120 | 30.6.2007 | - |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

| - | | Chris Snow | - | Youngster | Yth | £120 | 30.6.2006 | £1K |

| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|</pre>

It wasn't so much that Morag felt disappointed in a 100 point, 130 goal league campaign, but the lack of any tangible progress in the national cup competitions and the place in Europe that went with that was missed. Bartholomew had strict instructions to make whatever changes he felt necessary to ensure such failure was never repeated.

Recouping the entire £10m spent on Charles N'Zogbia was remarkable given the club's league status, but Villarreal were willing to pay and the young Frenchman moved on. Alan Hutton also left, this time at a £1m profit to the club, with Everton swooping for the right back. Julius Aghahowa finally made a £3.5m move away from the reserve side, but there was little interest in Chaouki Ben Saada.

Over at Rangers there were bound to be repercussions for a season of second best. Quincy Owusu Abeyie moved on for £2.5m, double the purchase price, to Vitesse, whilst Zurab Khizanishvili left for Levski Sofia following his loan spell at Blackburn. Allan McGregor decided to move to Aberdeen in the face of his pending release, but there were additions in the pipeline.

Celtic's initial focus was on the goalkeeping, where Artur Boruc (£775,000 move to Lierse imminent) and Lee Camp had disappointed. Sweeping in to poach Hearts' #1 Arason for £575K was inspired, adding Gianluca Pagliuca to back him up seemed bizarre. With a move for a South Korean international right back in the works, things were heating up.

Ayr took advantage of shrewd planning and tight-fistedness to release 17 players whose contracts were expiring. A number of others were relegated to the reserves and two of the top three earners were paid off. The club made the move to full professionalism, requiring new contracts all round, though two recent Scandinavian signings were keen to remain part time, having secured jobs at the local Odeon cinema. A £100K offer from Falkirk for Mark McLaughlin wasn't backed with sufficient funds to complete, but he, Peter Weatherson and Gary MacKenzie were subject to a number of derisory bids from the likes of Gretna and Hamilton.

It was proving to be a key summer, and it had to be for all four men, with greater expectations mounting by the hour, day, week. Morag, Betty, Aggie and Mary had certain ideas, perhaps outdated, but they were old fashioned girls and they preferred a team that wins. Nothing less would be acceptable.

For Knut Haraldsson it was a vital season, with Rothesay likely to rise to the First in twelve months time and only one promotion slot available, failure to produce a dramatic improvement in results and a championship would see a year of nothingness just around the corner.

With Scotland making a dramatic run to the brink of the World Cup semis before being eliminated by a 121st minute Xavi goal for Spain it would have been easy for the media to overlook Henrik Larsson's return to Celtic. Somewhat surprisingly then, it featured as the back page story on the Daily Record the same day as Scotland celebrated a 2-0 win over Italy in the last 16 of the World Cup (see page 78).

A broken leg for Razvan Rat soured Rothesay's preseason, but Ayr's got a late boost as their appeal to the immigration people was successful and Mexican striker Javier Orozco joined, boasting five caps at just 18 years old.

With all four sides having settled on a first team squad it was time to settle in for the ride. This promised to be, for all four managers, and all four deities, a season to remember, if only to allow each to forget England's World Cup win...

This is the bestest story I've ever read, is there some award for it

Rangers FC - 2006/07

The Manager

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Joél Garçon - The veteran Luxembourger hasn't spent huge quantitites of cash and has kept the wage budget tight. Will be desperate to improve on the trio of second places achieved last term.

The Squad

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Craig Gordon - GK, 23yo, SCO

<LI>Lenny Pidgeley - GK, 22yo, ENG - no changes in this department

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Jelle De Bock - D RC, 18yo, BEL - Youngster signed from Club Brugge during last season.

<LI>Ian Murray - D LC /DM, 25yo, SCO

<LI>Andy Webster - D C, 24yo, SCO

<LI>Mario Eggimann - D LC, 25yo, SUI - Bosman signing from Karlsruhe, solid cover across the back four.

<LI>Julien Cetout - D C / DM, 18yo, FRA

<LI>Steven Hammell - D/WB L, 24yo, SCO

<LI>Daniele Semenzato - D/WB/AM R, 19yo, ITA

<LI>Patrick Baumann - D C, 20yo, SUI - Free transfer after his Basle contract expired.

<LI>Andrea Masiello - D C, 20yo, ITA - Made an £825,000 move from Juventus in the January window.

<LI>Florian Marange - D/WB L, 20yo, FRA - Loan signing from Rothesay, may be asked to feature at right back.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Abdoulay Konko - WB/M R, 22yo, FRA - At £1.5m Konko is yet another to move from Juventus to Rangers.

<LI>Yaya Touré - DM, 23yo, CIV - Olympiakos have agreed to subsidise this £1.2m signing's wages. Must have been trouble during his 12 month stay in Athens.

<LI>Paolo Sammarco - M C, 23yo, ITA

<LI>Alex Pederzoli - M C, 22yo, ITA

<LI>Alberto Baggio - M C, 19yo, ITA

<LI>Barry Ferguson - DM, 28yo, SCO

<LI>Pasquale Foggia - AM LC, 23yo, ITA - It took over £2m to persuade Empoli to part with this prodigiously talented midfielder.

<LI>Loïc Poujol - AM L, 17yo, FRA -£3.3m to Sochaux for a player who has yet to kick a ballin a first class game. Madness.

<LI>Chaouki Ben Saada - AM LC, F C, 22yo, TUN - Another loan from Rothesay.

<LI>Sasha Iakovenko - AM LC, F C, 19yo, UKR - One of the hot commodities this summer, Lierse receiving a seven figure sum for his services.

<LI>Raffaele Palladino - AM L, ST, 22yo, ITA - Yet another player surplus to requirements at Juve.

<LI>Harris Medunjanin - AM/F C, 21yo, BIH - A Bosnian called Harris? Who'd've thunk it?

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Öztürk Ali - ST, 19yo, TUR - Granted a work permit despite having yet to make his international debut.

<LI>Kris Boyd - ST, 23yo, SCO

<LI>Matteo Ardemagni - ST, 19yo, ITA

<LI>Lynel Kitambala - ST, 17yo, FRA - Signed in January and went on to score three goals.

The Plan

Go one step further on all fronts. Reach the Champions League. Make a profit. Nothing too demanding, huh!

Celtic FC - 2006/07

The Manager

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Ingi Ingimarsson - It will be hard work to repeat last season's success, let along build on it, but that is the task facing the Faroese.

The Squad

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Gianlica Pagliuca - GK, 39yo, ITA - Veteran presence should help Lee Camp to build on a shaky opening season.

<LI>Arni Gautur Arason - GK, 31yo, ISL - Icelander signed from Hearts to weaken them, basically.

<LI>Lee Camp - GK, 21yo, ENG

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Gary Caldwell - D RC, DM, 24yo, SCO

<LI>Anton Ferdinand - D C, 20yo, ENG

<LI>John Kennedy - D C, 22yo, SCO

<LI>Nik Besagno - D C, DM, 17yo, USA - Yankee doodle dandy brought in to teach the game of football to in order that he may spread it amongst his countrymen.

<LI>Kevin McNaughton - D/WB RL, 23yo, SCO - Signed from Aberdeen to cover both full back roles.

<LI>Gary Irvine - D/WB R, DM, 21yo, SCO

<LI>Tony McParland - D/WB L, 23yo, SCO

<LI>Lee Wallace - D/WB L, 18yo, SCO

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Song Chong-Goog - WB/M R, 27yo, KOR - International player brings class and experience to the table.

<LI>Tommy Svindal Larsen - DM, 32yo, NOR - A favourite of the manager, apparently.

<LI>John Welsh - DM, M RC, 22yo, ENG - Welsh in name only, the Engliah midfielder was added from Liverpool.

<LI>Scott Severin - M C, 27yo, SCO

<LI>Teddy Bjarnason - M C, 19yo, ISL

<LI>Maciej Zurawski - AM RC, F C, 29yo, POL

<LI>Vyacheslav Hleb - AM RC, F C, 23yo, BLR

<LI>Béla Illés - AM RLC, F C, 38yo, *** - Versatile veteran can cover a range of positions.

<LI>Scott Brown - AM RC, F C, 21yo, SCO - Added from Hibs to provide competition up front.

<LI>Dumitru Laurentiu Rosu - AM LC, F C, 29yo, ROM

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Bosko Balaban - AM R, ST, 27yo, CRO

<LI>Henrik Larsson - ST, 34yo, SWE - What is there to say about this talismanic forward, signed to ignite the support and score goals.

<LI>David Clarkson - ST, 20yo, SCO - Scored 10 in 15 on loan at a poor Hibs side last year, so has earned his chance.

<LI>Nicklas Bendtner - ST, 18yo, DEN

<LI>Tore Andre Flo - ST, 33yo, NOR - Basically a repeat of the same ploy that saw Kennet Andersson arrive last season. It failed then and it'll fail now, probably. Andersson, by the way, is under contract for another year, so the reserves will be looking to learn from him.

The Plan

Keep up the good work, make a splash in Europe, minimise silly mistakes, succeed. Ingimarsson has the challenge of maintaining success in the face of expectation, which is never, ever, easy.

Erm, Illés is Hungarian, but the board obviously doesn't like the abbreviation in a Rangers/Celtic related topic...

Morag and Aggie took off their pinnies and sat down to a nice cup of tea. After three hours of dusting and cleaning it was very much appreciated. Sadly there were no Abernethy biscuits, but just then Mary and Betty showed up, with freshly baked scones and lashings of strawberry jam.

The ladies sat down to enjoy their elevenses and talk about the Way Things Are:

It's dreadful said Mary, apparently unimpressed with the unparalleled success her side had witnessed over the previous year. Aggie wanted to respond caustically, but was beaten to it by a thoroughly unimpressed Betty, No it isn't. Mary was left speechless by this riposte, or at least she seemed to be rendered speechless, but given as she rarely spoke in any event it was hard to tell.

Aggie and Morag were less disheartened, both having seen the sides they chose progeress up the league structure by one division in the first year. Talk soon turned to the new season, just two or three games old. Aggie's Rothesay had opened nicely by eliminating Ross County from both the League Cup and Challenge Cup, sandwiching a league win over Morton by five to nil. Ayr, under Morag's guidance, had lost on 2-0 penalties after a 0-0 draw with Partick in the Challenge Cup and went down 2-0 in the league opener at Ross County, but rebounded with a 9-0 win over Berwick in the League Cup.

For Mary, if she had the grace to notice, things would be great. Henrik Larsson's hat-trick led to an opening day 6-0 win over Dundee United and extended the Swede's club record mark to 181 goals. With a long season to play hopes were high that he would reach 200 before the year's end. Bosko Balaban had notched twice in the opener and Teddy Bjarnason once. These two struck again, twice each, in a 4-0 win over Aberdeen on matchday two and it was a great opening to the campaign.

Betty knew her side had won nothing the year before, but with some trimming and tidying, as well as signing yet more Juventus reserves, she hoped Garçon could produce the goods this time around. Sacha Iakovenko was clearly the pick of the bunch, though his previous club was Lierse, not Juve, and he scored twice in the 3-2 opening day win over Motherwell and again as Dundee were crushed 3-0 in the second game. With two wins from two Rangers, Celtic and Livingston were clear atop the SPL, every other side having failed to exceed 3 points from their opening fixtures.

Dreadful... Mary muttered, but everyone ignored her.

Ayr United FC - 2006/07

The Manager

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Knut Haraldsson - After securing promotion from fourth place in the Second Division via the playoffs, Haraldsson faces a stiffer task this year. With Rothesay set to come up and win the title in 12 months time this is the only season Ayr can hope for promotion to the SPL before 2008/09. With only the champions going up it promises to be a stiff task.

The Squad

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Roberto Giacomi - GK, 20yo, CAN - formerly of Rangers

<LI>Peter Alexiou - GK, 19yo, SCO - signed from Motherwell for £6,000.00

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Stephen McKenna - D RC/DM, 20yo, SCO - Airdrie received £9,000.00 for this player.

<LI>Robert Harris - D LC, 18yo, SCO

<LI>Gary MacKenzie - D C, 20yo, SCO

<LI>Marco Baroni - D C, 20yo, SUI

<LI>Aldin Peljto - D C / DM, 18yo, BIH - recent recruit from Rangers as Haraldsson looks to speculate to accumulate.

<LI>Michael McGowan - D/WB R, 21yo, SCO

<LI>Steven Smith - D/WB L, 20yo, SCO - Ex-Ranger signed from Rothesay after failing to break through there.

<LI>Mathias Gravesen - D/M LC, 20yo, DEN - Versatile player who can cover many positions.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Simon Ferry - DM, 18yo, SCO - Signed from Rothesay after leading Scotland to the final of the European u19 Championships with some fine performances.

<LI>Siebe Blondelle - DM, 20yo, BEL - £300,000 needed to persuade Vitesse to let this talented holding player move.

<LI>Marc Kalenga - DM, 20yo, COD

<LI>Neil Scally - M C, 27yo, SCO - Ex-Ayr man returns from Falkirk to add experience to the squad.

<LI>Jean Franco Ferrari - DM, 31yo, PER - A dramatic capture as the Peruvian legend makes the move to Europe and chooses to join Haraldsson's Ayr revolution.

<LI>Ingi Højsted - M C, 20yo, FRO

<LI>Baskim Ziberi - AM L, 21yo, DEN - Young man who refused to sign a full-time deal when the club went fully professional in the close season.

<LI>Willie McLaren - AM LC/ST, 21yo, SCO

<LI>Craig Bryson - AM C, 19yo, SCO - Promising midfielder signed from Clyde.

<LI>Ali Mohammadian - AM C, 21yo, SWE

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Davor Skerjanc - AM/F C, 20yo, SVN - Joined his countryman Uros Veselic at the club in a £50,000 move from Primorje.

<LI>Uros Veselic - AM/F C, 19yo, SVN

<LI>Tolga Ünal - F C, 20yo, SWE -Young forward who began his career at AIK before moving on to Café Opera and Väsby, where he was spotted by Ayr.

<LI>Simon Lynch - ST, 24yo, SCO

<LI>Hugo Carolo - ST, 21yo, POR

<LI>Christian Clausen - ST, 19yo, DEN - another who opted not to go full time in the summer.

<LI>Willie John Kiely - ST, 18yo, IRL - Loan signing from Celtic.

<LI>Javier Orozco - ST, 19yo, MEX - Record transfer deal saw £750,000 head to Cruz Azul for this striker.

<LI>David Clarkson - ST, 20yo, SCO - Another dramatic deal, this time £650,000 passing to Celtic for the unneeded striker who hit ten goals in fifteen games on loan to Hibs as the Edinburgh side were relegated from the SPL last term.

The Plan

Get to the SPL this year if at all possible, at any cost. Develop the team into a cohesive whole and perhaps make an impact in one of the national cup competitions.

Rothesay FC - 2006/07

The Manager

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Iain Bartholomew - As managerial jobs go, this is one of the cushiest. Keeping his squad happy is fairly easy as there is a small first team bunch and the remainder are largely still too young to moan.

The Squad

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Iven Austbø - GK, 21yo, NOR - now first choice for the Norwegian National Side

<LI>Andreas Isaksson - GK, 25yo, SWE

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Gianni Zuiverloon - D RC, 19yo, NED

<LI>Tomas Hübschman - D RC, 25yo, CZE

<LI>Steven Campbell - D L, 20yo, SCO

<LI>Kevin Hofland - D C, 27yo, NED

<LI>Vincent Kompany - D C, 20yo, BEL

<LI>Jacques Faty - DC / DM, 22yo, FRA - versatile backup.

<LI>Räzvan Dinca Rat - D/WB L, 25yo, ROM - Broken leg has seen Rat miss the first few months of the season, expected to play in the New Year.

<LI>Dennis Cagara - D/WB L, 21yo, DEN - Youngster has broken into the Danish National Side.

<LI>Mark Wilson - D/WB/M R, 22yo, SCO

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Lucas Bernardi - DM, 29yo, ARG

<LI>Denny Landzaat - DM/M RC, 30yo, NED

<LI>Paul Weaver - DM/M RC, 20yo, ENG

<LI>Charlie Adadm - AM LC, 20yo, SCO

<LI>James McFadden - AM L/F C, 23yo, SCO

<LI>Iván González - AM L/ST, 19yo, PAR - Teenage sensation signed from St. Gallen for £2.5m.

<LI>Kim Källström - AM C, 24yo, SWE

<LI>Taianan - AM C, 19yo, BRA - PSV were not keen to let this young midfield dynamo go.

<LI>Zvjezdan Misimovic - AM/F C, 24yo, BIH

<LI>Shaun Maloney - AM/F C, 23yo, SCO

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Robert Davidson - ST, 20yo, SCO

<LI>Nikola Zigic - ST, 26yo, SCG

<LI>Arouna Koné - ST, 22yo, CIV -The biggest summer signing at £5m from Roda, but injury has slowed his start at the club.

The Plan

Win the league and preferably qualify for Europe via the Scottish Cup. Not an easy challenge, even for this most unusual of Second Division sides.

Ingi stared down the corridor, which seemed to stretch on beyond the furthest reaches of his vision. He counted 774 doors on one side and at least as many on the other before his eyes failed him.

Defeat at Inverness was hardly a new experience for the Celtic support, but with Rangers moving six points clear at the top of the league as October came to an end it was clear that there were questions to be answered.

Knee ligament damage meant 11-goal Henrik Larsson was absent from the lineup, and would be until after Christmas, and despite the best efforts of Bosko Balaban it seemed something was lacking. Maciej Zurawski couldn't or wouldn't display the spark that saw him so fêted a year ago, John Hartson was long departed and Tore Andre Flo, well, let's just say he hasn't produced as yet.

He was summoned to face the boss, the mystery party who had so recently taken control of the club and installed him as manager. Ingi was led to a large chair by a larger desk and sat, nervously.

Where the voice came from he couldn't exactly pinpoint, it seemed to come from all around him, within him. When it spoke his body reverberated to the sound. Two words were clear:

It's dreadful.

If you would ask Joél Garçon about the conversation he was about to have many months into the future he would look at you quizzically, perhaps raise an eyebrow, and doubt your sanity. 'What conversation' he would ask, and swiftly move from your presence. Let that be a warning to you - if ever you encounter the venerable Luxembourger do not, I repeat, do not attempt to engage him in talk over this matter. He will not return your enthusiasm.

Betty was positive in her approach, and open in her choice of topic. Her manager was more guarded, but each shared the same positive outlook.

Losing Kris Boyd to such a serious injury so early in the season was a blow, but the emergence of Raffaele Palladino coupled with the explosive form of Sasha Iakovenko and the return to his best of Matteo Ardemagni more than made up for any shortfall.

Scoring twice in the last four minutes at Parkhead to steal a 2-1 Old Firm victory was the undoubted highlight of the season, but just as important was the aggregate win over Partizan to qualify for the Champions League, where wins over Inter and Ajax at Ibrox have been lapped up rapturously by the Rangers support.

Winning in Amsterdam without Ardemagni and Boyd will, however, be a tough proposition, and fourth place is not yet out of the question thanks to the opening day defeat at Betis, but there is hope thanks to some outstanding individual performances so far.

Yes, an improvement on last term, but, Betty would be quick to remind Joél, the team has won nothing yet under his guidance.

Iain's meeting was less demanding. With a League Cup penalty shootout win over Aberdeen under their belts Rothesay finally had an SPL scalp, and despite back-to-back draws with Clyde and Partick, league form was superb, no side coming close to the Brandanes points tally.

Robert Davidson was on some kind of a mission, passing fifty career Rotehsay goals early in the campaign, and moving to nineteen in all competitions by the end of October. Injury to Arouna Koné was the only reason Nikola Zigic was the undisputed #2 striker, but the big Serb had notched twelve goals of his own to trail only Davidson and Källström (15) in terms of goalscoring at the club this year.

Livingston await in the Quarter Final of the League Cup and Airdrie in the Challenge Cup Final, as Rothesay look to retain the latter title. It's shaping up to be another glorious campaign.