Gers fight off financial crisis

Crisis club Rangers suffered a fresh blow when the administrators stated last month that there was no realistic prospect for the ailing Scottish club to be allowed to play in European competititions next season.

Mervan Celik and Gregg Wylde were the first two players to be released from their contracts after the Gers entered administration.

The other players and their union representatives met with joint administrators Paul Clark and David Whitehouse at Murray Park. Following discussions, most of the players decided to continue as the high earners in the team accepted to cut their wages by as much as 75 per cent for the club to continue functioning.

More news for March:

• The Football Association state that Fabio Capello’s successor will not be named until around the end of the campaign.

• Arsene Wenger, of Arsenal, and Peter Odemwingie, of West Brom, are voted Manager and Player of the Month, respectively.

• Chelsea sack manager Andre Villas-Boas as his assistant Roberto di Matteo takes over on a caretaker basis until the end of the season.

• Arsenal come close to forcing extra-time in the Champions League second-round, second-leg against Milan as they win 3-0 to bow out 3-4 on aggregate.

• Ricky Lambert, of Southampton, is named the Championship Player of the Year.

• At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea stage a bold comeback, beating Napoli 4-1 to win 5-4 on aggregate and book a place the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

• Both Manchester clubs are eliminated from the Europa League. In the third-round, second-leg ties Man. City win at home 2-1 (3-3 on both legs, out on away goals rule) while Man. United lose 3-2 to Atletico Bilbao (3-5 on aggregate).

• Bolton’s Fabrice Muamba collapses during the FA Cup quarter-final against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. The tie is abandoned.

• Kilmarnock shock Celtic 1-0 at Hampden Park to lift the League Cup for the first time in their history.

• Jim Jefferies is appointed Dunfermline manager, replacing the sacked Jim McIntyre.

• Chesterfield topple Swindon 2-0 in the final of the Johnstone’s Paint competition for lower clubs in the Football League.

• At the Stadium of Light, Chelsea beat Portuguese side Benfica in the first leg of the the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

• Scottish giants Celtic are fined a hefty £21,000 by UEFA’s Disciplinary Commisioner over their fans’ behaviour in the Europa League game against Udinese.

• Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is banned three matches and fined €40,000 by UEFA for his conduct in his side’s Champions League match upset against Milan.

Leading scorers

Premier League
26 − Van Persie (Arsenal)
21 − Rooney (Man. United)
17 − Aguero (Man. City)
16 – Ba (Newcastle)

The Championship
24 − Lambert (Southampton)
16 − McCormack (Leeds), Phillips (Blackpool)
15 − Rodriguez (Burnley), Henderson (Milllwall)

Scottish Premier
17 − Daly (Dundee United)
16 − Hooper (Celtic)
14 − Sandaza (St Johnstone)

Average attendances
1. Man. United - 75,380
2. Arsenal - 59,976
3. Newcastle - 49,307
4. Man. City - 46,989
5. Liverpool - 44,800
6. Chelsea - 41,564
7. Sunderland - 38,585
8. Tottenham - 36,010
9. Aston Villa - 34,137
10. Everton - 33,042
11. Stoke City - 27,233
12. Norwich City - 26,495
13. Wolves - 25,779
14. Fulham - 25,187
15. West Bromwich - 24,649
16. Bolton - 23,625
17. Blackburn Rovers - 21,934
18. Swansea City - 20,007
19. Wigan Athletic - 18,131
20. QPR - 17,179