By Chris Wright
As if the deal wasn’t shady enough already, Rangers manager Kenny McDowall claims he has been told by the club that the five loan signings acquired from Newcastle United on deadline day must be included in his starting line-up if fit.
Gael Bigirimana, Haris Vuckic, Kevin Mbabu, Remie Streete and Shane Ferguson all joined Rangers on Monday, a matter of weeks after Newcastle owner Mike Ashley increased his stake in the Scottish club to 8.92%.
Ashley also bequeathed cash-strapped Rangers with a £10million loan in January to ensure the club was able to stay in business for the foreseeable future.
Speaking to BBC Sport, McDowall claimed that Rangers chief executive Derek Llambias (who previously worked under Ashley at Newcastle) and chairman Sandy Easdale relayed the instructions re: his five new players to him earlier in the week.
McDowall, for the record, took over from Ally McCoist on an interim basis in mid-January but has since handed in his resignation and is currently working a 12-month notice period.
“I have handed in my notice and have told the guys I am happy to take the team. So I am not going to complain,” McDowall said.
“I will carry out the instructions that they give me and do my best. I have a job to do and I am happy to do it.
“The boys have come up to play and they will play. That’s just how it is.”
So that’s two football clubs Ashley is running like a Sports Direct jumble sale now.
What a bloody awful mess Rangers have got themselves in.
(Photo: @RangersFC)