Kris Boyd - Rangers Swan Song?

Although many expected Rangers to defeat Dundee United at Ibrox last night, few would have expected the scoreline to be 7-1. After 54 minutes, with the scoreline 3-1 in Rangers favour and with Rangers down to ten men, the prospects looked good for a close finish. Yet Rangers shrugged off the loss of Kenny Miller to a red card, and ended the year by handing out a real thrashing to Peter Houston's side.

The man who grabbed the headlines was Kris Boyd. He netted five goals, taking his top flight total to 160, surpassing the SPL record, held by Henrik Larsson. Some observers may equate this withg some sort of all-time record. It must be pointed out that this is not the case - the 'all time top scorer' tag applied to Boyd is only applicable since the 'Year Zero', when the SPL was formed as a breakaway from the Scottish Football League.

Still, Boyd's record is admirable. His Manager reckons he has become a better all-round player over the past year or so. This may be down to the 'tough love' handed out ny Walter Smith and Ally McCoist over that period. They were not slow to leave Boyd out of the Rangers team, and not just for big games, when they felt his overall contribution was lacking. When he took a hissy fit and stated that he didn't want to play for Scotland under George Burley, few offered much sympathy to Boyd, least of all from within Rangers.

In the past week much has changed. New Scotland boss Craig Levein has implied that Boyd will be back in contention for a place in the Scotland set-up and if he maintains his current scoring form it will be difficult to overlook him. Rangers seem to have settled to a more predicatble team line-up with Boyd and Miller forging a potent partnership up front.

But is there another factor at play? It is less then 24 hours until the January transfer window opens. It's a well-known fact that Rangers are strapped for cash and will be unable to turn down any decent offer for members of their squad. It is not long since Boyd stated that he wouldn't consider staying at Ibrox unless his contract was renewed on terms at least as good as his current one. Subsequent rumours that negotiations are underway ablout a reduced contract might just be a smoke screen. Is it the case that Boyd is ready to move on during January?

A year ago he turned down a move to Birmingham City where he would have earned a basic wage reckoned to be thrice his Rangers pay cheque. In the interim, as his stock diminished, it was suggested that his best move might be to the Championship. But his recent run of form will surely have re-ignited his chances of a move to the cash-panacea that is the Premiership. Teams fighting relegation would see his goal-scoring prowess as their salvation. Chairmen and Managers, anxious to appease restless fans,might take a gamble on the Scot who just cannot stop scoring goals.

Will Boyd be at Ibrox come the end of January? Walter Smith will hope so. Rangers fans' will hope so. But the answer to that question can only be provided by the bankers and money men behind the scenes at the Glasgow club.