Rangers released list is one that a few years ago would have seemed unimaginable with only Steven Davis escaping the cull.
The Northern Ireland legend’s contract is due to expire at the end of this campaign, however, an ACL knee injury in December has seen the club show some common sense.
A statement on the Rangers website confirmed who was leaving and why Steven Davis isn’t one of those heading out the door.
“Steven Davis, whose contract is also expiring, remains in discussions to continue working with the club’s medical team to support his return to full fitness following a long-term ACL injury suffered in December 2022.”
Allan McGregor, Ryan Kent, Scott Arfield, Alfredo Morelos and Filip Helander are the big five that many expected to depart.
MORE RANGERS STORIES
What this means is that Michael Beale has significant space on the wage bill that he can play with this summer before any other departures are confirmed.
What future at Rangers does Steven Davis have?
For Steven Davis, who is on a reported £8,000 per week, his future now will be focussed on getting himself fit again.
There intention won’t be to give the 38-year old a new contract so that he can return to first-team action next season especially when you consider the players that Rangers have been linked with already.
Competition for places, if Jose Cifuentes and Kieran Dowell are signed, will be tight as it is without considering the futures of John Lundstram and Glen Kamara.
By the time that Davis is fit, he could be 39-years old and off the back of a major injury.
An injury that Ianis Hagi is still recovering from despite being back in training for a few months and some 15-years younger that Davis.
The most likely outcome, is that Davis is given a role within the academy to progress through his coaching badges and, if he chooses to stop playing, it would be a surprise if it doesn’t become a permanent one.
For once, the club has done the right thing as a hall of famer gets to go out on his terms, whenever that may be.