Charlie McCann must now regret his January decision of leaving Rangers for Forest Green Rovers as he spends his time watching from the stands.
Charlie McCann arrived from Manchester United in the summer of 2021 with the hope that he would be the next Calvin Bassey, a player capable of progressing into the first-team and making the club a profit when he left.
Unfortunately, it didn’t work out quite like that with the 20-year old now struggling for game time at League 1 outfit Forest Green.
A change of manager within days of signing, followed by the loan transfer of fellow Old Trafford academy graduate Charlie Savage, has seen Charlie McCann’s time on the pitch reduced to just 53 minutes under ex-Rangers striker Duncan Ferguson.
Michael Beale was loathe to let the Northern Ireland Under-21 international leave, however, he respected the player’s wishes and okayed the deal, with the arrivals of Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell pushing McCann even further down the pecking order.
Where has it gone wrong for Charlie McCann since moving to Forest Green?
It was clear that the Lowland League was too low a level for McCann but there were too many players in front of him under both Rangers managers this season.
A start against Dundee United earlier in the campaign suggested that he was in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s plans though, who explained why he had been given his chance:
“I’m really happy with his development. Charlie is training really well.
“A bit unfortunate for him he cannot be in the Champions League squad but today he is available again.
“I’m really impressed with his performances in training so I am happy to see both Charlie and Leon in the starting line-up.”
A January loan move seemed the most likely option, which would have given him the opportunity to impress, but with the comfort blanket of knowing that he still had a contract at Rangers.
It was a surprise for many to see him head out in a permanent transfer.
With hindsight, going to another Premiership club until the end of the season would have been perfect, not only to play, but to attract other potential suitors and increase his options, including the prospect of regaining his place in Beale’s first-team squad.
To go from starting for Rangers and regularly getting on the bench to sitting in the stands for Forest Green in the same season, I’d be surprised if McCann’s agent is still on his Christmas card list.
