Euro run sees Gers rack up £5.2m profit

FROM BACK PAGE saw income soar this season on the back of their European involvement after Steven Gerrard led his men to the group stages.

That helped see revenue almost double in six months compared to the previous year and a statement read: “This period also includes an issue of £12.6m of ordinary shares, which raised £1.5m in cash and converted £11.1m of interest-free loans to equity.

“Revenue for the period was £35.3m, an overall increase of £15.9m (82%), over the comparative period.

“This was a result of three main factors – qualification for the group stages; six additional home ties, and one additional home friendly; the impact of the football management team on commercial opportunities and season ticket uptake.

“Operating expenses excluding amortisation of players’ registrations increased by £10.0m compared to the comparative period.

“The main reasons for this were the increased investment in the football BY GAVIN BERRY DAVIE WEIR gave Kyle Lafferty a half-time rocket at Pittodrie a decade ago before laughing it off when they took to the skies hours later for Rangers’ Christmas bash.

And the former Light Blues captain hopes the striker’s season is about to take off ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Cup trip to the north east.

Lafferty ended a five-month league goal drought when he completed the 5-0 rout of Hamilton at the weekend.

Weir knows the forward comes alive at the business end of the season after scoring in three successive title-winning games during his first Gers spell.

But he thanked Weir for getting him back on track in his stuttering second year at Ibrox after a blast at the break during a 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen in 2009.

Weir, with the backing of then boss Walter Smith, didn’t hold back at the interval with Lafferty hooked and replaced by Kenny Miller.

That loss, a first in 25 matches, left them trailing Celtic but Gers came from behind to win the title and Lafferty later admitted Weir’s rollocking helped turn his season round.