In the final few days of the transfer window the Daily Record has finally admitted that austerity is in place at Ibrox.
Phil Clement has been spelling it out week by week since he let the cat out the bag in Holland when he spoke to three reporters without having a Communications assistant by his side.
On Friday the current Ibrox boss explained that he had to get high earners out the door and bring in cheaper replacements.
That afternoon ‘former Liverpool star’ Ben Davies was reported to be in talks with Birmingham over a loan move, with each passing day the chances are that the third tier club will have to pay less of a percentage of the defender’s salary as panic sets in at Ibrox. It isn’t likely that another club will swoop in for Davies.
Breaking the new reality to their army of readers, Michael Gannon tells Record readers:
Clement doesn’t just have his hands tied. He’s like the Black Knight from Monty Python’s Holy Grail who has his arms and legs hacked off but writes it off as mere flesh wounds. Clement has made some mis-steps in recent months and has dangerously shown signs of getting dragged into the Glasgow goldfish whirlpool. But the guy doesn’t half have his work cut out – and more so this week than ever.
The Rangers boss has been hinting at it for a while now but couldn’t be clearer now that he has to shift even more of his deadwood before he can get back to rebuilding the side. Back in 2010, the Tories and Lib Dems went about slashing costs all over the shop – and we’re now in a time of austerity at Ibrox.
Those comments seem at odds with recent claims in the Record of bringing in £3m rated left-backs from Italy and £7m wingers and central defenders from Portugal.
Gannon adds:
Ben Davies may be offski but Phil wants the likes of Ianis Hagi, Todd Cantwell and Rabbi Matondo to hit the road to free up cash to bring in some of his own targets. He might get his wish – but it’s not much use if these guys sit tight until the final minutes of the window. Admitting he needs them to leave might not be the best negotiating strategy, either.
These guys are on hefty wage packets and will take some shifting. In an ideal world, Rangers would recoup dosh in transfer fees then wish them all the best.
In reality, they head out on loan and Gers don’t even get all their pay pokes covered on a weekly basis. They know the club is desperate so might dig in. It’s a brutal situation for Clement to be in – but the gaffer won’t get much sympathy from punters if it goes belly up in the derby.
You can add Tom Lawrence and Kieran Dowell to that list, and basically Anyone, Everyone else on the payroll but there is barely a sniff of interest. When asked for a transfer fee to secure James Tavernier Trazonspor promptly dropped their interest.
Kemar Roofe and Ryan Jack from last season’s losers can’t attract an offer despite being free agents.
There may be a few offers on Thursday and Friday for Clement’s players but they will be loan deals only provided the bulk of the wages are being paid by their current club.
On that basis we’ll be able to judge the brilliance of A Proper Football Manager, in yesterday’s 6-0 win over Ross County Matondo was on a basic wage close to three times the basic of the Don Cowie’s entire squad.
I see Ryan Jack has landed on his feet running while waiting to be ‘swooped up’ by some top class ,rich club ! The ever loyal BBC in Scotland ,decided to expose his analytical skills to the planet on Sportscene last night . He was as nervous as a kitten in a room full of weasels …..just another example of the Beeb’s policy towards ex theRangers players and affiliates.The national broadcaster can never ,ever have enough of them on the payroll….our payroll !
Watched Sevco game yesterday..Ross County are diabolical…Seriously bad.
Over emphasis on money there in the sevco players wages. A bit like those train drivers, who can be on £100k after training (with no minimum entrance qualifications)!
That’s three times a teachers’ salary, who require a degree minimum qualifaications and have no overtime rate at all!
But that is not enough and they still they want more!
14% has been offered, but like the sevco players, you have to ask.
What exactly do you get for your money?
Further proof – if ever needed – that the DR and the SMSM remain stupid and/or pathetically weak.
This has echos of 2012 at ibrox.
The SMSM totally ignores the reporting of a massive crisis at ibrox,
and only relents when everybody and their dog already knows the truth.
In 2012, it was Administration Day itself which forced the SMSM to remove
its head from the sand.
The fact that the DR is now reporting the cash crisis at sevco,
perhaps sevco is a lot worse off than even we hoped…? 🙂
So true his interview was a called to arms but we are talking about football where Celtic board have been taking all the flak Clements beat a team that got put out of league cup by a 2nd division league now that is part timers the week before they just got through there selves to the next round and celebrated with there Hitler youth dressed 5 thousand while the rest of there support where on there way home finger tip save held on in a poor game if they come out and attack Celtic they will be playing onto there hands they will defend hit on break they will miss out midfield punt up the park in which they will get fouls I’m sure they have picked the ref Steve McLean who was on var he denied Celtic three penalty calls one was a stone waller and another if given you couldn’t argue then refused to red card ST Mirren for a blatant kick on Taylor and who got book for taking the kick Rodgers new what was happening took Taylor of cause next challenge he would have been off and miss next week Glasgow Derby yes Rodgers knew what was happening seen it before if there is any thought on football ross should be the ref he is our top ref by a mile