RANGERS should try to cash in on Kris Boyd before the start of this campaign or run the risk of losing out on millions by allowing him to walk away for nothing at the end of the season.

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RANGERS should try to cash in on Kris Boyd before the start of this campaign or run the risk of losing out on millions by allowing him to walk away for nothing at the end of the season.

The striker has now entered the final year of his contract, and the fact the club have not attempted to open signing talks over an extension would suggest to me they don't see a long-term future for him at Ibrox.

If no contact has been made with the player, or his representatives, then you've got to ask - do Rangers really want to keep him?

It is highly unusual for a club to allow one of their leading players to enter the final year of his contract without being offered a new deal.

Boyd, of course, is not the only player at Rangers in such a position. Barry Ferguson, Nacho Novo and Kirk Broadfoot find themselves in an identical situation.

I am sure over the next week or two decisions will be taken on the futures of some of those players. But the fans will be particularly interested to discover what is in store for the man who has scored more goals than any other player at the club over the last few years since he signed from Kilmar- nock.

My own personal feeling is the best option for everyone concerned is to sell Boyd before the start of the season. It would suit Rangers in the sense that they would be banking a few million for a player who could go for nothing in less than a year's time.

At a time when every penny counts at Ibrox, it would be a severe financial blow if they were to lose a guy who was commanding a transfer fee of £3.8m last season on a Bosman. So I'm sure Rangers will be keen to get this sorted out as quickly as possible.

And I also think it is the best option for Boyd as well. I don't see him playing first-team football on a weekly basis next season.

Kyle Lafferty, for me, will have a big say in Rangers' season and I see the Northern Ireland international being handed a crucial role.

I also think Steven Naismith, now that he is back from injury, will operate more as a striker rather than wide left.

Kenny Miller is still a pop-ular choice with the Rangers management team so I can see Boyd finding it extremely difficult to stay in the team, despite his amazing scoring record of 102 goals in three-and- a-half seasons.

Would it make sense for Rangers to offer Boyd a new deal? Well, it would if he was going to play top-team football every week.

But Walter Smith has made it clear every player is still available for transfer. Money still needs to be brought in before any new faces can arrive.

And I'm sure if Birmingham City were to come back in for him, or a number of Championship clubs who would be tempted to sign someone with such an impres-sive goalscoring record, Gers would listen to offers.

In saying that, I don't think Rangers would have won the championship last season had they sold Boyd to Brum during the January transfer window. His goals made a huge difference during the title run-in.

I'm sure the player, and no doubt the Rangers supporters as well, are fed up with the constant speculation, but that is what happens when you enter the final year of your contract.

However, I'll be very surprised if he isn't sold on during this current transfer window.

SPL TV deal is a good result

SPL clubs should count themselves extremely fortunate to have a TV deal on the table from Sky and ESPN.

I shudder to think what impact the collapsed Setanta TV deal would have had on our game had a new broadcaster not come forward to offer a rescue package.

Yes, the new deal isn't as lucrative as the previous offer on the table - a meagre £65m over five years as opposed to Setanta's mega-money. But, at the end of the day, it's better than nothing.

Can you imagine clubs such as Falkirk and Kilmarnock trying to operate without any TV income? It would put them in grave danger and that's why we should be so relieved to have this new offer on the table.

The 12 clubs will now vote on the proposed deal brokered by Lex Gold. It might not suit every club. I can understand the Old Firm's frustration as they are the major appeal in the division and they want to rake in as much cash as possible.

But this deal at least provides clubs with a bit of stability during difficult times and maybe in a few years time, when things pick up, the SPL can look more closely at the prospects of producing their own TV channel.

My advice to the chairmen who will be voting on this deal would be to accept it.

If they play hard- ball with this one they might just find there is not another offer forthcoming - and that would be to the detriment of Scottish football.