GIANT CHANGES

Berg knows there are similarities. between Rangers and Man Utd but. insists one is on the way Up and the Ws other has to find path aD glory

- ANDY NEWPORT

THERE have been plenty of parallels to be drawn between Rangers and Manchester United in recent years.

During their big-spending 90s heydays, their starstudded teams were the dominant forces north and south of the border.

In Walter Smith and Sir Alex Ferguson, both could claim to possess fierce leaders capable of turning even the biggest names into quivering wrecks with one flick of their hairdryer switch.

And just as Sir Alex was swapping out his Old Trafford old guard to bring in a new generation of United icons after the turn of the century, so too were Rangers reinventing themselves under first Dick Advocaat and then his Ibrox successor Alex McLeish.

Goodness, they even began their descent of their decline around the same period, with Rangers' 2012 financial implosion coming just 12 months before Sir Alex announced his Red Devils retirement.

Bar the odd flicker of silverware, there hasn't been all that much for either the Ibrox fanbase or those taking their seats at the Theatre of Dreams to cheer in the decade since, with noisy neighbours across their respective cities gobbling up trophy after trophy. But according to Henning Berg, that's perhaps where the similarities end.

Because while Rangers appear to be trapped in a circle of self-inflicted calamity as they prepare to take on United in today's glamour Murrayfield friendly, the English giants are at last getting their house in order ahead of the new season.

The former Norway defender Berg, one of just 12 men to have played for both sides, told Record Sport: "The parallels are that both are massive clubs in their region.

"They both have a great history in British football with many, many titles.

"These are special institutions with incredible fan bases.