ST MIRREN 1 RANGERS 3

DICK Advocaat revealed last night that the proposed transfer of Lorenzo Amoruso to West Ham United is near collapse after the Londoners refused to meet his personal demands.

Speaking after his side's 3-1 victory against St Mirren at Love Street, the Rangers manager cast doubt on reports of his former captain's imminent departure, despite the Italian stating moments earlier that ''when you are not appreciated, you to leave''.

Harry Redknapp, the Upton Park manager, was in attendance last night with a view to tying up the deal for the former Fiorentina defender, but it now appears the move is not as straightforward as had been expected.

In fact, as well as the player's personal problems, Rangers have also yet to accept United's bid of #2.5m and, indeed, are understood to be holding out for a sum nearer the #4m they paid for his services three and a half years ago.

If a compromise cannot be reached, it will be the second time this season a switch to the Premiership has been scuppered due to the player's wage demands, after a move to join Peter Reid's Sunderland fell through.

However, it is almost certain Amoruso has played his last game for Rangers, even though Advocaat admitted he would be more than happy for the Italian to remain at Ibrox.

''Everybody is talking about him going to another club, but I know there is still a big difference between Lorenzo and the other club,'' Advocaat said.

''I don't think the deal will

happen and that's fine by me, but it must be fine by him also.''

With uncertainty surrounding the fitness of Craig Moore, the Australian internationalist who has been out for 10 months with a serious knee injury, Advocaat is not satisfied with the depth of defensive cover.

''Everybody is talking about Craig Moore, but he still has to prove himself fitness-wise. Ten months is a very long time.''

Amoruso appears to have ruled out the possibility of staying and put the blame firmly at the door of the manager. ''I don't know if this is the last time I will play for Rangers, but when you are not appreciated it is best to leave . . . but I have no problem with the other players.''

Rangers enter the break 12 points behind their Old Firm rivals, Celtic, but had to work hard for their win against a St Mirren side determined to avoid a repeat of the previous not-so-close encounter.

On that occasion, back in November, Kenny Miller helped himself to five goals in a 7-1 stroll, but the laudable efforts of Tom Hendrie's men proved in vain as Tore Andre Flo took his tally to five goals in four matches - either side of a Ricky Gillies

leveller from the penalty spot - with Bert Konterman providing the sheen with a second-half header.

Flo expressed his delight with the start he has made to his Rangers career but insisted his new set of fans will see the best of him after the winter break.

The Norwegian has only recently returned from a hamstring injury and will use the winter training camp in Florida to reach full fitness.

''First, I will have some time off. I am going to London and then I will have a week's holiday in Gran Canaria,'' he began.

''It is still very early for me, but I am glad to score some goals already to help keep the pressure on the teams above us in the league.

''I am still not 100 per cent and I felt tired during the second half but I will do some extra work during the break to improve my fitness.''

''I think the game was won and lost in the five minutes before half-time. I think to have gone in at 1-1 would have been psychologically a big lift for us,'' said Hendrie afterwards.

''I said before the game that if you are going to get a result against the Old Firm you have got to defend well.''

Flo's scoring return from injury against St Johnstone on Boxing Day merited his reinstatement to the starting line-up at the expense of Michael Mols, who made way for the club's record signing after only 28 minutes at Ibrox last week.

There were fears that Rangers would be forced to make an enforced early alteration after Barry Ferguson slumped to the turf after sustaining a nasty facial wound in a challenge with Hugh Murray.

However, it was the home side who had to shuffle their pack within the opening 10 minutes when Tom Brown twisted his ankle in the heavy turf and had to be taken off on a stretcher.

Steven McGarry was summoned from the substitutes' bench, but his side went into arrears before he had his first touch.

A driven corner from Neil McCann hurtled towards the head of Flo at the front post and the towering Norwegian nodded the ball past Ludovic Roy, the