HE was not awarded the #500,000 he had asked for, but Rangers' manager

Walter Smith was reasonably happy yesterday with a transfer tribunal's

#400,000 valuation of Gary McSwegan, who moved to Notts County during

the close season.

The English side had offered Rangers #300,000 and as often happens in

these disputes the tribunal, which sat in Glasgow, found the middle

ground after having heard from both clubs.

However, while he will abide by the ruling Smith couldn't help but

feel his club had been stung slightly. ''It was a fair hearing, but it

is a bit disappointing from our point of view that we went to a tribunal

when we thought we had an agreement at chairman level,'' he said.

Apparently the chairmen of both clubs had agreed an initial fee for

McSwegan with two further payments of #50,000 each after the player had

made 50 and then 100 appearances for his new club. In all, the deal

would then have been worth #500,000. Smith said: ''I feel they have

taken advantage of the tribunal system.''

Smith returned from the tribunal yesterday afternoon to address yet

another injury problem on top of the many he had before the season

started on Saturday. Plans are being made to have Stuart McCall see a

specialist about the groin injury which has been lingering for several

months and the likelihood is the midfield player could be on the

sidelines for a few weeks.

Although panic has not set in yet Rangers do have serious problems and

may have to play Dumbarton in a League Cup tie tomorrow night with only

four first-team regulars, Richard Gough, John Brown, Mark Hateley, and

Ian Ferguson.

It seems this state of affairs may continue for a spell yet and that

makes matters simple for the others. If any of those who believe they

can win the premier division championship want to do so they must

declare their intentions now while the defending champions are hobbling

to their work.

Hearts were unable to take advantage of Rangers' difficulties in the

opening game of the season, but with McCall now also injured Smith's

side looks decidedly fragile. Of course, a strong desire to keep winning

continues to burn within the ranks, but it can only be a matter of time

before Rangers are made to suffer.

The others must realise by now that if they can take advantage and

open up a gap before the Ibrox walking wounded have been repaired then

the league campaign could remain interesting till the end, unlike last

season. On the other hand, if Rangers are still with the top sides when

players like McCoist, Ferguson, Stevens, McPherson, Robertson, and Goram

return there might be no stopping them.

Another long-term casualty, Trevor Steven, could decide to return to

the first team tomorrow night now that he is fit again, but if he feels

the Dumbarton game might be too much of a risk he will delay his return

until Saturday's match against St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

Steven's return will make the loss of McCall easier to bear, but

Rangers must already be anxious about the possibility of having to face

Celtic at Parkhead a week on Saturday without McCall and the others,

especially McCoist and their new striker, Ferguson. He is recovering

well from his hamstring injury, but Rangers will not want to push him

into making his debut amid the bedlam of an Old Firm match.

Yesterday's transfer tribunal also dealt with Ian Baird's close-season

move from Hearts to Bristol City. The Tynecastle club asked for #475,000

and while Bristol said they felt they should pay only #100,000 and their

people left the tribunal having been told to come across with #295,000.

Immediately Hearts' manager Sandy Clark said he would be trying to

re-invest some of this money in a new player as soon as possible. His

interest in Aberdeen's Paul Kane has ended and it is his intention now

to look elsewhere with the hope of making a move before the UEFA

deadline on August 15.

Airdrie will receive #250,000 for Owen Coyle, who moved out of

contract to Bolton. The Broomfield club had asked for #385,000 while

Bolton offered only #160,000.

Scott Howie, Clyde's under-21 Scottish internationalist, will sign for

Norwich today and could be thrown straight in at the deep end. Norwich

play English champions Manchester United at Carrow Road in Sunday's

televised match and first-choice keeper Bryan Gunn is injured.

Clyde will receive #350,000 for the keeper, who will have to drive

back immediately after Sunday's game to sit business study exams in

Glasgow. ''He has the temperament to handle it,'' said Clyde's manager

Alex Smith, who last night signed Les Fridge as a replacement.