ANYONE who thought Rangers would spend any time licking their wounds or nursing bruised pride following the barren season they have just experienced - their first in 12 years - would have had their eyes opened if they had been inside Ibrox yesterday.
Dutch international left back and PSV Eindhoven captain Arthur Numan arrived to confirm that he was joining his old coach and new Rangers manager Dick Advocaat in a four-year deal worth #5 million. Indeed, Numan, who sported a couple of butterfly stitches on his right eyebrow - the result of an attack by an angry Eindhoven fan after the Dutch Cup final last weekend - promised that Rangers would ''win prizes'' over the next few seasons.
Murray himself revealed that:
qThe arrivals of Advocaat and Numan was the start of a mini-revolution throughout the club.
qHe hoped he would be in the position this weekend to announce the signing of another top quality player.
qThat German goalkeeper Stefan Klos would be leaving Borussia Dortmund to join the new-look Rangers - whether it took one month or six months.
Said Murray: ''As we come to the end of a very rewarding era, I'm delighted that Arthur Numan is joining us. The new manager felt very strongly about him coming here, and there will be more top-quality signings as we build a new team.
''We are all very disappointed at what happened last season, but I must congratulate Celtic and Hearts on winning the trophies. However, they will be playing under a different kind of pressure next season, something we have had to deal with for years.
''As for Rangers, well, Walter Smith told me that's as bad as it gets. Rangers will be back next season, better and stronger than ever. I have very high expectations and so does the new manager.
''Dick Advocaat has been over here three times now and we have identified the players we want to sign. He hasn't been used to spending a lot of money - I think his highest transfer has been #1m - but we are pressing ahead to bring other top-quality players here and I hope to announce another signing at the weekend.
''In about 10 days time, I want to sit down and explain every change at the club, from the playing staff to the backroom staff and even in the commercial department. It's a mini-revolution.''
Numan is looking forward to it all. After undergoing the second part of a stringent medical in a Glasgow hospital, he said: ''When I discovered that Dick Advocaat wanted me to go with him to Rangers, it didn't take me long to make up my mind.
''I also spoke with Pierre van Hooydonk, who had played for Celtic, and Mitchell van der Gaag, who had a spell with Motherwell. They were very positive about me coming to Scotland. This is a great club.''
The man who could well be the next captain of Rangers added: ''Dick Advocaat is the top trainer. He built up a new team at Eindhoven and he faces the same situation at Ibrox. The fans will see new players, a new team and a new system. It will be 4-4-2, the football will be attractive and there will be goals. I want to be a part of that.
''Over the next few years I am sure we will win prizes, not only here, and, hopefully, we will do well in the Champions' League when we win the title next year.''
Murray believes that Advocaat will be the catalyst in bringing better quality players to Ibrox than ever before, and he insists that one of those signings will be goalkeeper Klos, who wants to leave Dortmund, although the German club is taking legal action.
Yesterday, a local Dortmund court confirmed a ruling it had reached in March that Klos was free to leave Borussia when his cntract expires at the end of next month. However, the club, which plans to use a clause in Klos's contract to force him to stay on for another season, said it would appeal against the ruling.
Responding to threats from Borussia officials to prove they are right even if it takes several years of court action, Murray said: ''He has even bought a house here and, whether it takes one month or six months, he will live in that house. Maybe Borussia think we are short of a goalkeeper, but we are not and we can outwait them when it comes down to the Klos situation.''
Within the next couple of weeks, the Rangers chairman will issue a definitive list of who is staying at Ibrox and who is leaving and one of the big questions is whether Italian striker Marco Negri will be staying. Negri scored 36 goals, but has been out of the side for weeks and there have been tales about a fall out with fellow Italian Lorenzo Amorouso.
All the chairman would say was: ''I know he is not coming back to the flat he has rented. Other than that I can't comment.
''I know he is disappointed at not getting into the team, but he has not asked for a transfer, nor has there been an approach from any other club. We will just have to wait and see.''
Meanwhile, full back Alex Cleland yesterday travelled to Merseyside for a medical that he hopes will seal his move to Premiership side Everton now that his contract with Rangers is drawing to a close.
qEuropean Cup final
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