Football Digest
JOACHIM Bjorklund last night completed his move from Ibrox to Spanish Primera Liga side Valencia - then tipped new Rangers manager Dick Advocaat to lead the Ibrox club to domestic and European success.
The Swedish defender put the finishing touches to a #2.5m deal, but, curiously, he believes he is quitting a Rangers side on the threshold of greatness. He said: ''I think Dick Advocaat will make sure they win the championship next season and then they can look forward to the European Cup.
''This has always been the major goal for the club and I believe they will be good enough to do very well. Dick Advocaat will be aware of the hopes and expectations people have at Rangers to do well in the European competition, as well as in Scotland.''
''Celtic may have won the title last season and were stronger than ever, but I think Rangers will be better next season. They have a new manager with new ideas and they will build from that.''
Bjorklund, speaking from his summer home in Sweden, was at pains to add that he was not forced out of Ibrox by the new Rangers manager. ''I have never spoken to the new manager,'' he said.
''Mr Murray dealt with the whole situation for me. He was very good to me in all my time at Rangers and let me go when the time was right.''
Meanwhile, Rangers were yesterday warned by Feyenoord that they will have to increase their offer, believed to be about #5m, for Dutch World Cup midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst if they want him to join new coach Advocaat, who began his first full day at Ibrox yesterday.
qAberdeen manager Alex Miller is to receive a considerable transfer fund to transform the Pittodrie club's fortunes after shareholders approved a #6m cash injection yesterday.
The new initiative will bring #4m equity share capital to the club, while a further #2m will be accessible courtesy of new banking arrangements at their disposal. Chairman Stewart Milne, whose own business group raised #1.5m of the total, has promised the capital will be used to strengthen the player pool, along with new training facilities and youth development.
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