One of the biggest aspects of the
end of Rangers’ season, beyond promotion, that is, is the impending exodus of
the ‘Rangers Twelve’.
That is, the dozen+
out-of-contract players who are extremely unlikely to be given new deals, and
will inevitably move on to pastures new.
The critical question is how this
action will benefit the wage bill, and the news is extremely good for Rangers
supporters.
Let us take a blow-by-blow look at
how much Rangers will expect to save a month with the likes of Lee McCulloch,
Ian Black and Jon Daly heading out of Govan.
Jon Daly. He made the move from Dundee Utd to Rangers, and his wage
is roughly around £20,000 a month, £5,000 a week.
Kenny Miller. Coming from the MLS, the SPL, the English
Championship, and the EPL Miller’s experience is impressive and for League 1
Rangers to snatch him set the Club back a reputed £26,000 a month, £6,500 a
week.
Kris Boyd. Also making the step down to the Championship, Boyd’s
wage is said to be the same as Miller’s; £26,000 a month, £6,500 a week.
Bilel Mohsni. He came from the upper mid-range of English football
(Southend, Ipswich), and his Ibrox wage is
said to be around £36,000 a month, £9,000 a week.
Steven Smith. In a similar boat to Boyd and Miller, he was reported
as being on the same as McCulloch currently is (£72K), at his former side MLS
outfit Portland Timbers. But that is no longer the case at around £26,000 a
month, £6,500 a week.
Kyle Hutton. His wage is slightly more modest compared to his
peers, at no higher than £20,000 a month, £5,000 a week.
Richard Foster. Again, similar to Miller, Boyd & Smith. Roughly
£26,000 a month, £6,500 a week.
Steve Simonsen. Despite being a deputy and no longer first-pick
since Bell’s
return, Simonsen is reported to have commanded around £40,000 a month, £10,000
a week to join Rangers.
Sebastien Faure. Former Lyon youth
player Faure is out of the picture under McCall, and was a low-cost signature
in 2012. Basic wage around £16,000 a month, £4,000 a week.
Lee Robinson. Another low-cost wage, the third-choice (or second, depending on McCall’s mood) is around £20,000 a month, £5,000 a week.
So with these players set to
depart over the next two months, Rangers stand to save:
£83,000 Per Week
£332,000 Per Month
Obviously these figures are not
completely backed up by documentary proof, given no one other than the player,
his agent, and the CEO knows exactly what clauses and wages go out. But sources
do manage to get information from those they work with, and that is how
salaries often leak out. These figures also exclude win bonuses and appearance clauses, unless otherwise stated, so the actual number is likely considerably higher.
Optimistically add the severing of McCoist’s ongoing salary for
Gardening Leave and that basic monthly figure leaps to around £400,000.
Either way, it is a clear fact
the wage bill is far too high and that near-half million a month would be
better used in other ways.