IT'S time for Rangers chairman Sir David Murray to call it a day and sell his beloved club. The Sheriff has had his time and if he doesn't get out of Dodge City soon, it will be the residents that eventually wipe him and his legacy out.

As Mr Murray prepares to celebrate 20 years in charge, he should step up his efforts to cut the umbilical cord before the baby he bought for £6million in 1988 starts to bleed him of even more than the alleged £100m he's already spent in the last two decades. Masterclass acts THERE was a moment in this match when I thought Scotland were in for a hammering from Diego Maradona's team - thankfully it didn't materialise.

Argentina's passing, possession and movement were a joy to watch for a 30-minute period in the first half. The second half was dull by comparison, but it still offered a lesson to George Burley's men about the requirements for Holland next year.

The SFA may have taken a financial hit for staging the game, but if our players can learn from this, we might benefit in the long run in World Cup qualifying. It was also a joy to see Maradona in the flesh - the last time I clapped eyes on him he was a teenage sensation.

This time, I witnessed a mature man desperate to put some pride back into his country and keen to emphasise success will only come if the players are together as a team. Another lesson learned.

As well as the financial drain on the Ibrox supremo's fortune, I sense at 57 years of age the last thing the owner needs this summer is a second bout of disgruntled and disenchanted supporters calling for his head if another title slips away.

The club's debt currently stands at over £20m and in the current economic climate, not even Sir David would buy into another round of spending a tenner for every fiver Celtic part with to appease the mob.

This weekend, to commemorate two decades in charge, there will be many journalists - or sycophants, take your pick - writing glorious tributes about the owner and what he's done for Rangers and Scottish football.

The reality for the man knighted for his services to industry in 2007 is he embarked on a reckless spending spree that ultimately failed to deliver the trophy he really wanted and left the Ibrox club staring at insolvency.

Mr Murray bailed the club out with his heart and not his astute financial head.

It is a fact even he acknowledges, when the Ibrox club woke up one morning to debts in excess of £80million, in a league that satellite television and major investors had deserted.

It would be wrong of me not to pay tribute to what I believe is Sir David's true legacy to Rangers and to our game.

He dragged the club screaming, kicking and with many scarves burnt into the 20th century, by sanctioning the signing of Maurice Johnston.

Signing a Catholic, in my mind, eliminated the possibility of the club being banned from Europe in the long run, as Uefa embarked on a more stringent policy of hammering clubs guilty of racist, sectarian and unruly behaviour.

The building of Murray Park is also worthy of praise as the chairman realised the true value of a training complex to develop youth and house facilities befitting of a club of Rangers' stature.

Some 30 trophies in 20 years with 13 league titles is impressive, but his obsessive desire to match Celtic's nine-in-a-row is costing him a few million pounds in interest even today.

The luck and the money are in short supply, by comparison, these days and two titles in the last eight years has highlighted that their city neighbours have taken tougher decisions to get their house in order, while bagging the big prize regularly.

The owner has this season taken to chastising his own supporters and asked them to take a long hard look at themselves for their behaviour and he's also delivered his own reality cheque' speech to fans calling on him to be reckless with his money once more.

Sir David Murray is a changed man. He may still love the club, but that may not be reciprocal if he does not find fresh investment soon.

Gers need new money and maybe fresh ideas. The promised moonbeams have disappeared and I think it's time Sir David enjoyed red wine from his vineyard and an occasional look at a bust of himself, which will surely be unveiled soon to pay tribute to what he left behind. Naka is king as Japan cruise

CELTIC midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura played through the pain barrier to lead Japan to a vital World Cup qualifying win over Qatar.

Coach Takeshi Okada was under pressure after last month's 1-1 home draw with Uzbekistan.

However, his players shone in Doha to record a 3-0 win.

Nakamura, who played with a heavily bandaged left knee, orchestrated the victory with Tatsuya Tanaka, Keiji Tamada and Brazilian-born defender Tulio scoring the goals.

"We expected a tough game but the players didn't flinch or try and hide," said Okada, who led Japan to their first World Cup Finals in 1998 during his first spell in charge.

"They showed what they were made of. We fixed the mistakes we made against Uzbekistan and we passed and moved very well. I'm very satisfied."

The three-times Asian champions are second in Group A with seven points from three games. Leaders Australia have a maximum nine points after winning 1-0 in Bahrain.

Scotland's next opponents in Group Nine on March 28, Holland, beat Sweden 3-1 in a friendly in Amsterdam. Robin van Persie scored twice, with Dirk Kuyt grabbing the third.

The other group contenders were also in action, Iceland winning 1-0 away in Malta courtesy of a goal from Heider Helguson.

Norway lost 1-0 in Ukraine, while Macedonia went down 2-1 in Montenegro.

Rangers forward Kyle Lafferty was subbed in the second half as Northern Ireland lost 2-0 to Hungary at Windsor Park, a game that also saw Partick Thistle keeper Jonny Tuffey make his international debut.

An understrength England were still too strong for Germany in Berlin, winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Matthew Upson and John Terry. Celtic's Andreas Hinkel did not feature in the German 18. Aalborg or bust

NEXT Tuesday's Champions League match for Celtic against Aalborg in Denmark will be their cup final in this group.

A win will guarantee Uefa Cup football at the very least and I am backing Gordon Strachan's side to do it. Aalborg represents the best chance Celtic have of finally ending this miserable away record of no victories. The Danes currently sit eighth in their Superleague and having conceded the most goals of any team in this group, Celtic must surely fancy their chances against them.

If Gordon's side can replicate the performance of the first half against Villarreal in Spain, over 90 minutes in Aalborg, it will be enough to secure European football after Christmas.