Steven Davis, Kyle Lafferty; we don’t need to hear them
With Scotland
facing Northern Ireland
tomorrow night at Hampden, it sees a return to Glasgow of two controversial ex-Rangers
players, Steven Davis and Kyle Lafferty.
facing Northern Ireland
tomorrow night at Hampden, it sees a return to Glasgow of two controversial ex-Rangers
players, Steven Davis and Kyle Lafferty.
Both rejected the chance to stay
at Ibrox, both rejected the opportunity to TUPE their contracts over to Charles
Green’s newco consortium, and both, being on the opposing team tomorrow night,
have gone to the press with their views.
at Ibrox, both rejected the opportunity to TUPE their contracts over to Charles
Green’s newco consortium, and both, being on the opposing team tomorrow night,
have gone to the press with their views.
But are these views worth
listening to?
listening to?
At the time, they, along with
Naismith, McGregor and Whittaker, all of whom will ironically be facing the
former two tomorrow night as part of the hosts, were castigated widely by
Rangers fans.
Naismith, McGregor and Whittaker, all of whom will ironically be facing the
former two tomorrow night as part of the hosts, were castigated widely by
Rangers fans.
Not, you understand, for leaving.
Most Rangers supporters accepted players of this quality would not want to play
their football in the Third Division among the uncertainty of the Club’s
future.
Most Rangers supporters accepted players of this quality would not want to play
their football in the Third Division among the uncertainty of the Club’s
future.
Their departures were
understandable. No, the ire fans have is that by not TUPEing over, Rangers were
unable to command a fee for them, and players the Club had spent millions on
(and thousands on in treatment regarding Naismith) just upped and left and did
not look back.
understandable. No, the ire fans have is that by not TUPEing over, Rangers were
unable to command a fee for them, and players the Club had spent millions on
(and thousands on in treatment regarding Naismith) just upped and left and did
not look back.
With Rangers in a perilous
predicament, these players decided they were more important than the Club and
left. Many point to the fee Southampton paid for Davis, but it was merely a goodwill gesture,
and they were under no obligation. For that reason they have some fans’
respect.
predicament, these players decided they were more important than the Club and
left. Many point to the fee Southampton paid for Davis, but it was merely a goodwill gesture,
and they were under no obligation. For that reason they have some fans’
respect.
But the players, do they?
Davis said on the eve of the match:
“We always seemed to do well in the cup
competitions but none of us – whether you were a fan or a player – could have
foreseen what would happen at the club. When you play football, you don’t
really have your mind on anything else but with the publicity Rangers get, we
started to get away from that.
competitions but none of us – whether you were a fan or a player – could have
foreseen what would happen at the club. When you play football, you don’t
really have your mind on anything else but with the publicity Rangers get, we
started to get away from that.
When the new people came in, we didn’t know who we were dealing with
and there was no dialogue in terms of telling us which direction the club was
going in. We never heard from the new owners about how they wanted to take the
club forward or what their ambitions were for the next four or five years.
and there was no dialogue in terms of telling us which direction the club was
going in. We never heard from the new owners about how they wanted to take the
club forward or what their ambitions were for the next four or five years.
We didn’t even hear how the next six months might pan out. There were
no conversations had with us at all and it was an impossible situation for
everybody. I didn’t ever get a phone call to say what the plans were or what
the aims of the club were to try to progress.
no conversations had with us at all and it was an impossible situation for
everybody. I didn’t ever get a phone call to say what the plans were or what
the aims of the club were to try to progress.
It was difficult because nobody really knew what sanctions were going
to be applied and if we were going to be relegated or not. We were put in a
position where we had to make a decision on our futures without knowing what
the future might hold in store.”
to be applied and if we were going to be relegated or not. We were put in a
position where we had to make a decision on our futures without knowing what
the future might hold in store.”
Many might nod acknowledgement at
these views, and understand the uncertainty, and give concessions. But then…if
this was such a problem, very strange how international players like McCulloch,
Wallace, Alexander, Bocanegra, Edu, and Goian to name just 6 were quite happy
to TUPE over.
these views, and understand the uncertainty, and give concessions. But then…if
this was such a problem, very strange how international players like McCulloch,
Wallace, Alexander, Bocanegra, Edu, and Goian to name just 6 were quite happy
to TUPE over.
Laferty, for what it is worth,
adds:
adds:
“Some Rangers fans have asked me if I’d go
back there and I’d jump at the chance, but whether that’s an option
or not is another thing. What happened for me at Rangers was disappointing.
That wasn’t how I wanted to end my career there. But it had to be done.
back there and I’d jump at the chance, but whether that’s an option
or not is another thing. What happened for me at Rangers was disappointing.
That wasn’t how I wanted to end my career there. But it had to be done.
“I’ve supported Rangers since I was a young boy and still support them
now. It would be good to go back to change people’s perceptions of me. If I
went back now I’d let my football do the talking. Hopefully that would change
their minds of me.”
now. It would be good to go back to change people’s perceptions of me. If I
went back now I’d let my football do the talking. Hopefully that would change
their minds of me.”
All very tub-thumping indeed but
unfortunately like Davis
his selfish departure rather undermines his good sentiments. Plus the rather
comical notion that he would jump at the chance to return, but would not jump
at the chance to stay, nor has he shown any desire until this match to ever
make the journey back to Govan.
unfortunately like Davis
his selfish departure rather undermines his good sentiments. Plus the rather
comical notion that he would jump at the chance to return, but would not jump
at the chance to stay, nor has he shown any desire until this match to ever
make the journey back to Govan.
All a bit convenient.
Many reading this might say ‘move
on, it is in the past’ – they are right, it is. But at the same time the old
wounds have been more than teased by two of the biggest perpetrators of the
exodus in 2012 opening their mouths.
on, it is in the past’ – they are right, it is. But at the same time the old
wounds have been more than teased by two of the biggest perpetrators of the
exodus in 2012 opening their mouths.
Maybe some things are just best
left buried.
left buried.