BY IAIN COLLIN – CAPITAL CITY PRESS
Hibernian legend Jackie McNamara senior insists he is not worried by Dave King’s claim that Rangers will spend ‘whatever it takes’ to win promotion next season.
The Ibrox club are the bookmakers’ favourites to land the Championship title following last month’s failure to return to the top-light via the play-offs.
And King is adamant they must be prepared to spend big in an attempt to ‘comfortably’ secure a Premier League place at the second time of asking in 12 months’ time.
However, McNamara is content that Hibs, who are expected to be Rangers’ main challengers for promotion, have already stolen a march on their Glasgow rivals with their early transfer business.
As a consequence, the former defensive stalwart insists he will ignore King’s grand promises, confident that his old club is building nicely for their own tilt at the title.
The 62-year-old said: “Alan Stubbs has already completed some great business by re-signing Fraser Fyvie and Lewis Stevenson, and getting in James Keatings and Danny Carmichael.
“So, I’m not worried about Rangers and what they’re saying. They’ve got their own problems to be getting on with.
“Craig Whyte and Charles Green said the same things as what Dave King’s saying and look at the position they’re in now. I’ll just let Rangers get on with it.
“Hibs have got a manager in place, a very good manager who has the team playing well and enjoying their football, and we are signing players. We’re better off than Rangers.
“Rangers threw money at things when they went down to the Third Division. But when you’re paying footballers £10,000 to play against part-timers it stinks.
“It meant the young players didn’t come through like they could have and that cost them in the Championship, unlike Hearts who ran away with it because of the experience their young boys had.
“It’s not all about how much money you throw at it.
“I’m happy with Hibs and with the Hibs fans for backing Hibernian Supporters Limited because that’s give Alan the money to re-sign Fraser Fyvie and bring in new players early.
“I’m sure there will be more signings on the way soon and I’m not going to start worry about what Rangers are or are not going to do – I’m happy with what Hibs are doing.”
