Chairman John Bennett presided over Rangers’ annual general meeting on Tuesday morning.
The Ibrox side are sitting second to Old Firm rivals Celtic in the cinch Premiership and have recently swapped boss Michael Beale for Philippe Clement.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the main topics which emerged from the meeting at New Edmiston House.
Summer spending will not affect Clement’s ability to strengthen squad
Former boss Beale bought Sam Lammers, Cyriel Dessers, Jose Cifuentes and Danilo, while Abdallah Sima arrived on loan from Brighton with Jack Butland, Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling and Leon Balogun signed as free agents. Rangers accounts noted a total spend of £21million in the summer.
However, chairman Bennett said: “It will have no effect on the manager’s plans.
“The manager has been very clear about the challenges of the January window, everyone knows about that, but I wouldn’t worry at all about the summer spend and that impinging upon what Philippe wants to do.
“The board will be ready for January or next summer. We have to keep aspiring to strengthen.
“Do also bear in mind that there will be contract expiries, it depends what we do about that so it is not just about transfer fees, it is about recycling wages that roll off which are fairly significant. It is about being clever and more clever than we have been frankly, in the recycling of wages.”
Clement appeals for fan backing
The Belgian boss is unbeaten in his first 10 games but already has heard the sound of boos from disgruntled fans, especially at half-time in the 1-1 Europa League draw against Cypriot side Aris Limassol at Ibrox and when he substituted Todd Cantwell before the break.
He spoke about the “synergy” needed between players and supporters, saying: “When I first came I saw that the synergy between the team and fans was a bit gone.
“We are building this and we have had some great moments when it was totally back but I feel it is unstable.
“It is a two-way street. I see so much potential here with the energy the fans can bring.
“It is a major force. It was lost at the beginning of the season and it is a major thing for me to rebuild and I ask for the support of everybody.”
New performance director will make a difference
Tom Taylor will soon join Rangers from Brighton as the club’s new head of performance and Clement promised results.
Midfielders Ryan Jack and Nico Raskin are currently out injured, while Kemar Roofe, Ridvan Yilmaz, Rabbi Matondo and John Souttar are among others who have also missed games in the recent past.
Clement said: “There can be several causes, the human body or not enough training but also it was really important to get a good director of performance into the building.
“We have a lot of good staff also working really hard with the players and in the six weeks I have been here I have seen the players working really hard, even the injured players.
“So we have found someone who is really good and really good at making players who have had problems before better.”
Disabled Rangers fans will see changes at Ibrox soon
Bennett confirmed plans for a new area for disabled fans, with the work commencing next year.
Chief executive James Bisgrove said: “In the Copland stand in the summer initially, there will be a brand new disabled platform installed at the back of the Copland creating between 37 and 40 new bays for disabled supporters.”
'Super simple' – Lille president rules out January exit for Jonathan David
Lille president Olivier Letang has categorically ruled out a January exit for forward Jonathan David amid links with a number of European clubs.
David is out of contract at the end of the season and has been touted as a target for the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus and Barcelona.
Speaking this week, the Canada international named Barcelona as his "dream" club but suggested he would prefer not to leave Lille mid-season.
And in an interview with After Foot RMC, Letang confirmed no bids have yet been tabled ahead of the January window.
"We are not going to sell him in January, and we have not received any offer for him," he said.
"Jonathan's situation is super simple. We are very happy to have him with us.
"Last season he had one more year left on his contract. We were trying to qualify for the Champions League.
"You have a guy who scores 20 to 25 goals a season. We had no obligation to sell him."
David is into his fifth season with Lille and has scored 97 goals in 202 games for the Ligue 1 side in all competitions while assisting a further 18.
Seven of those goals have arrived in 11 appearances this term, including in Champions League games against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
The 24-year-old's best league season with Lille saw him score 24 goals in 2022-23, while he has netted 19, 15 and 13 in the other full campaigns.
Lille chief Letang reiterated that David has been offered a new deal to stay on at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, but selling him has never been an option.
"He is a player who scores between 20 and 25 goals and helps us qualify for the Champions League," he said.
"Plus, Jonathan loves Lille, which is his club. Our position was very clear from the beginning – we think of the athlete.
"Obviously, he already has an offer that is in his hands, the ball is in his court."
Guardiola suggests Man City's recent form played part in signing new contract
Pep Guardiola suggested Manchester City's run of four successive defeats was part of the reason for his contract extension.
The 53-year-old recently signed a two-year deal, which will run out in 2027, ending months of speculation about his future after his contract had been due to run out at the end of the campaign.
Following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton before the international break, Guardiola's side have lost each of their last four matches in all competitions for the first time in his managerial career.
"I felt I could not leave now. Maybe the four defeats was why," he told the club's website.
"I think we deserve, after four defeats in a row, to bounce back and try to turn the situation. I think we deserve to be here. I am not arrogant to say, but it's the truth."
Guardiola has led Manchester City to 18 major trophies during his nine-year stint at the club and posted a 72% win ratio.
He added that he was determined to help the club get back to a state where they are "more stable and more consistent".
"We have to recover that because right now we don't have it and that's the target we have to do," he said.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak added: "Like every City fan, I am delighted that Pep's journey with Manchester City will continue, allowing his dedication, passion and innovative thinking to continue to shape the landscape of the game.
"His hunger for improvement and success remains insatiable and the direct beneficiaries of that will continue to be our players and coaching staff, the culture of our club, and the English game at large."
Leicester's Fatawu ruled out for rest of season with ACL injury
Leicester City manager Steve Cooper confirmed Abdul Fatawu will miss the rest of the season.
The 20-year-old sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) while playing for Ghana against Angola during the international break.
Fatawu has featured in all 11 of Leicester's Premier League matches so far this season and has registered two assists.
No Leicester player has attempted (61) or completed (29) more dribbles than him, while his 30 crosses is also a team-high in the top-flight this season.
"It's not good, it's a serious injury," said Cooper ahead of their match against Chelsea on Saturday.
"It's a real blow, first and foremost for him, being a young player and having an injury as serious as what an ACL is.
"Albeit, it can be quite common in sport, and in particular football, but it's still a serious injury.
"For it to happen at a young age is a blow for him and a blow for us as well.
"He's obviously a big talent and a young player, as exciting as he can be at his age, with lots to learn.
"It's only a pause, and we will make sure, as difficult as it is at the moment for him, that he comes back being a stronger player and person, which, with the mentality and character that he has, I think will be the case."
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