RANGERS keeper Antti Niemi was so upset by his omission for the club's league game against St Johnstone at the weekend that he now appears ready to ask the Ibrox manager, Dick Advocaat, for a transfer.
Niemi was deposed by Stefan Klos against the Perth club, and now sees his position at the club as being ''unacceptable.''
Niemi's representative, Richard Cody, said yesterday that they will be trying to hold talks with Advocaat within the next few days.
Niemi was disappointed at being dropped after an impressive display against Hearts the previous week. ''Antti has been very harshly treated and we need to talk to manager Dick Advocaat,'' said Cody. ''To leave him out on Saturday was ridiculous and the situation at the moment is totally unacceptable.
''Antti is not the sort of person to complain if he had been playing badly. However, it's quite the contrary.
''Jim Jefferies (Hearts manager) said after the game against Rangers that if it hadn't been for Antti, then they would have won the match. He's been playing well for his club and his country and was outstanding in the recent match against Turkey.''
Cody says that Sheffield Wednesday have expressed an interest in Niemi, and Advocaat is unlikely to block any transfer request.
If one man is finding it difficult to gain a place in the Rangers team, former Hearts winger Neil McCann could be set for a hectic finale to his opening spell with the club before the first official winter break of the Premier League next week. So far, the man who cost close to #2m has made two substitute appearances, against his old club a week ago and against St Johnstone on Saturday, but he could be in for two starting places when Rangers meet Dundee United at Tannadice on Wednesday and Celtic at Ibrox next Sunday.
McCann has been impressive in his second-half stints for his new club and might have been in line for a start anyway, but the calf injury suffered by Andrei Kanchelskis against St Johnstone could be crucial in propelling him into the action this week.
The Ukranian limped off in some pain in the second half at Ibrox and must be a doubtful starter for the trip to Dundee. With McCann the only other genuine winger in the squad, it seems certain he will get the call from manager Dick Advocaat at Tannadice.
If he continues to impress there, he would surely be very much a live candidate to make his Old Firm debut next Sunday.
Ironically, McCann was making the point after Saturday's 1-0 win over St Johnstone that he could have done without the winter break coming up so soon. He is just beginning to get his bearings as a Rangers player and feels he could have done with a bit longer in the front line before enjoying a rest.
''For me it would have been great to keep on going because I am only just getting to know my team-mates but I know it will be welcome for the other players here and I am sure it will be a good thing.''
McCann, who came on in the second half and played a major role in the goal scored by Sergio Porrini, was delighted with the reception he received from the Rangers fans.
He was louldy applauded when he replaced Kanchelskis and, not surprisingly, given even greater appreciation when he made the pass that led to Porrini's fine strike.
''It was great to have the Rangers fans on my side, rather than against me, as they were when I played for Hearts. I really appreciated the welcome they gave me.''
He and Jorg Albertz combined well together and look as if they could form a formidable partnership, which is also a bit ironic as the German had been quoted as saying that he would have to depart Ibrox if he lost his place to the new man.
''Jorg and I have been able to get an understanding during training. He knows that when we play one-twos I'll always be available to get in behind defenders. He is very good at putting balls through and I hope we the chance more often to do that.''
McCann reckons the kind of result Rangers managed on Saturday, when they were down to 10 men and under a lot of pressure, can be vital in a championship race. ''That is the kind of game that, when you look back at the end of a season, could have proved crucial in a title battle.''
Rangers will be without Colin Hendry, who was shown a red card after handling the ball to give St Johnstone a penalty, and thus will miss the game at Tannadice on Wednesday. However, Hendry, who was also booked earlier on, will be available for the Old Firm contest which, as ever, is looming as another vital collision between the clubs.
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