Novo dispels fears over future at Rangers
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Your support makes all the difference.Nacho Novo, the Rangers striker, has admitted he was worried he would never score for the club again when he was frozen out by the new manager, Paul Le Guen, in the summer.
Novo was linked with a move to Coventry in August but stayed at Ibrox to fight for his place. The Spaniard responded to an unexpected recall last week by firing two crucial goals in as many games. He was handed his second start of the season in the Uefa Cup game against Livorno last Thursday and scored the winner in a 3-2 victory.
Novo was back on the bench three days later but his 85th-minute goal gave Rangers a 3-2 win at St Mirren for their first away win in the Scottish Premier League since July.
Novo says the goals have helped his confidence "enormously". But he added: "There were times when I didn't think I would score another goal for Rangers. I didn't know what was going to happen and I felt nervous about my future.
"But the best decision I made was to stay at Rangers. I love the club and am happy to stay and fight for my place."
Novo celebrated his goal in Italy by running to the touchline and hugging Le Guen. He said: "Everybody has been going through a bad time lately, including the manager, and I wanted to show we are all together. We're all behind the manager. I was surprised when he told me I was starting. But the manager has been good with me and gave me the opportunity."
Novo says he understood Le Guen's decision to rest him for St Mirren game after his exertions in Italy. "I hope to become a regular again but you never know what will happen. The supporters have been fantastic to me and they are probably the main reason why I am determined to succeed at this club. They have kept me going with their backing."
Le Guen praised Novo for responding to the recall. "It's great to have a player like Nacho because he has a very good attitude," he said. "Even if he is on the bench he has a very good spirit and he wants to make a difference.
"He is a player who never gives up and I know he is ready to make a good contribution," he added
Hearts were yesterday fined £10,000 by the Scottish Football Association after their majority shareholder, Vladimir Romanov, criticised the country's referees. Hearts were also warned about their future conduct after being found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute by carrying the comments on their website. Romanov was critical of the conduct of match officials during last year's Scottish Cup campaign that ended in victory over Gretna in the final in May.
An individual disrepute charge against Romanov was deferred because the Lithuanian was unable to attend Tuesday's meeting with the SFA.
Romanov also faces a Uefa inquiry after criticising the Russian referee, Iouri Baskakov, following his handling of the 3-0 defeat by AEK
Athens in the third qualifying round of the Champions' League in August when Hearts had two players sent off.
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