Rangers have still to blow the bloody doors off the bank.. meanwhile the Bank of Parkhead keeps getting topped up

Fans’ perceptions of A-list signings hit buffers of reality

- HUGH KEEVINS

THE only person I know who has been in the same room at Ibrox as Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe summed up the men in just three words.

Humility with confidence.

Testimonials don't need to be lengthy and flowery.

They just need to be an accurate assessment of the people you have met, bearing in mind they then have to live up to your assessment after that first positive impression.

And the first thing the representatives of Rangers' new owners 49ers Enterprises have to do is win the battle between perception and reality.

The perception was that Rangers' takeover and the injection of £20million in fresh investment via a share issue would see dramatic movement on the transfer front..

Mobile telephones were poised at Glasgow Airport for the arrival of European football's A-listers at the baggage carousel.

The reality is the players who have come in so far could not be described as having come from the exotic end of the market place.

Loanees. Undisclosed fees for the permanent buys. And a distinct absence of what might be called marquee signings have made up the nature of what has taken place so far.

The perception is the sale of Hamza Igamane to Lille is the start of a proper player trading model to replace the haphazard, and costly, business plan that was carried out under previous regimes at Ibrox.