Former Rangers fan favourite Daniel Candeias is facing Turkish Super Lig relegation with Gençlerbirligi.
The Ankara-based club have been struggling at the bottom end of the table all season and with two matchdays remaining, only a miracle will now see them avoid the drop.
Since a run of three straight victories between mid-March and early April, 20th-placed Gençler have only won one of their last eight matches, and take a three-game losing streak into their penultimate fixture of the season.
Candeias and co. host Goztepe on Tuesday night knowing that their fate is very much out of their hands.
They have to defeat Goztepe and then win at Trabzonspor on the final day, while they need Kayserispor, Ankaragucu and BB Erzurumspor all to perform poorly. Due to their vastly superior goal difference, even a solitary point for Kayserispor would likely see them move out of Gençler’s reach.
Candeias himself hasn’t had a disastrous season, producing four goals and seven assists from 35 league appearances. Yet, at the same time, he hasn’t quite managed to come up with the numbers required to steer his goal-shy team to safety.
Relegation isn’t his only concern right now, either.
The former Gers winger missed a 5-1 hammering at Karagumruk on Saturday afternoon due to injury and his contract is up at the end of the season [Transfermarkt].
There’s every chance that Gençler will look to cut costs if they go down and Candeias could be a casualty.
Should the 33-year-old be released, he’ll make a good free transfer signing in the upcoming transfer window.
In other news, Rangers have been dealt multiple injury blows ahead of their final two Premiership fixtures.