Gers respond to transfer claims

Walter Smith says nobody has contacted Rangers about signing Barry Ferguson but indicated they would be willing to listen to offers.

Weekend reports stated the Gers skipper was a January target for relegation-threatened Newcastle, with Magpies boss Joe Kinnear indicating that he had enquired about the midfielder's availability.

Smith insists no bids have been made for the Scotland international to date, but punters eyeing a £10 free bet on the SPL title battle might be concerned to hear that Rangers admit they would have to consider offers.

The Rangers manager revealed: "If the comments are accurate then it is strange.

"As far as my chairman, my chief executive and myself are concerned, there's been no contact with Newcastle or any other club regarding Barry."

Smith added: "I have no influence over who wants to bid for any of the players at Rangers. But what football manager can say that if somebody comes along and makes a bid for one of their players that they won't consider it.

"You have to and that is what we did with Alan Hutton and if anybody comes in then we will give them an answer, but so far the only offer we have had is for Alan Gow from Wolverhampton."