Rangers are currently in Eindhoven Holland carrying out a vital preseason summer camp, and every player who made the flight has a fighting chance of being part of manager Philippe Clement’s plans next season, even if they might have been told they were surplus.
If they were on the plane, they have a fighting chance of changing the manager’s mind.
This means, of course, if they were omitted, they are not in Clement’s plans at all and should not expect to be used much next season.
This we certainly know to be the case for Sam Lammers, who was not even included in today’s B Team selection for the win over Hamilton at Auchenhowie, with his future at the club completely over.
But it also appears to be the case for right back Adam Devine, who was included in the B Team selection, as captain, and as not being included on the flight and left behind instead with the kids and reserves, has been unceremoniously dumped from the first team.
Unfortunately Devine, 21, simply hasn’t impressed in the way his predecessor Nathan Patterson did. When Patterson was 19 he was being sold for £16M to Everton – Devine has come nowhere near Patterson’s level, and hasn’t been able to develop to anything like that quality.
He’s not even viewed as good enough to be deputy either, even if there’s a romance on supporters’ parts that they want to see youth players given chances.
If the lad’s not good enough, he’s not good enough, and he doesn’t go to Holland.
He has one more year on his deal, Rangers will either be looking to sell him for a small fee this summer or loan him out – he’s one who’s had a few loans and never shone on any of them.
And it appears Clement has told him to find a new club or find a loan.
If Alex Lowry could make this flight but Devine couldn’t, it gives you an idea of the esteem Clement holds the defender in.