Barry Ferguson’s incredible Scott Allan u-turn
With the midfielder on his way to join the Scottish champions all of the predictions over the last month have suddenly looked a little foolish.
Hibs 6-2 Petrofac Training Cup defeat to Sevco was the feel good factor that the Ibrox support needed with the imminent arrival of Hibs best player adding to the glow of contentment.
On cue in his Daily Record column Ferguson reassured that people that all was well with the world reminding readers about Allan’s boyhood heroes, dreams coming true and the importance of player power as Hibs attempted to defy logic.
This morning the narrative is different, with the overnight news coming as a body blow for fans of the club from Ibrox.
In today’s Daily Record Fergie explains: “ And now, after hoping for a move to Rangers this summer and trying to force it through, he suddenly finds himself with the opportunity of joining Celtic instead.
“You can’t blame him for that and he does not deserve to be slaughtered if he decides his future lies in the east end of Glasgow.
“Celtic are Scotland’s champions. They can offer him European football. They might be two games away from the Champions League. And if they meet Hibs’ asking price they’d probably offer twice as much in wages as he could reasonably expect to earn at Rangers.
“And on top of all that if Rangers are unable to match Celtic’s offer – in terms of the transfer fee and the salary – then really the decision is straightforward from a professional’s point of view.”
Just three weeks ago the straightforward and professional point of view seemed missing as Ferguson explained: “Once a player’s mind is made up there is usually only one way it ends, it’s just a matter of when and for how much.
“Rangers’ first bid of £100,000 was a bit cheeky. Fair play to them for getting the ball rolling but Hibs were never going to bite on that figure.
“It seemed a bit low to me but you can’t blame Rangers for chancing their arm. Every club goes in low with their first offer but that’s all it was – a first offer.
“They upped it quickly but Hibs are standing firm. And you can’t blame them. They don’t need to sell. The Easter Road club are financially secure and can even afford to let Allan run down his contract this season but every player has his price – whether he’s at Hibs, Rangers or anywhere else. It will be down to whether Rangers meet that price.
“Allan might have just forced Hibs’ hand by slapping in a transfer request though. Everyone knows Allan is a Rangers fan. It’s no secret.”
With Allan on his way to join Celtic Dave King’s ‘whatever it takes’ pledge is likely to come under scrutiny raising the prospect of the South African based businessman unleashing his transfer warchest.