The contract comments of Rangers chairman John Bennett surely spell the end for the likes of Kemar Roofe at Ibrox.
The Ibrox chairman was speaking at the club’s annual AGM and was being pressed on the current state of the Rangers squad.
After a £21m summer of investment, Rangers look to have regressed with Philippe Clement having an almighty job on his hands to turn things around.
But whilst John Bennett refused to comment on the current state of the Ibrox team, his comments about wages being recycled back into the budget make for interesting reading.
John Bennett urges club to be smart with wages
Speaking as part of the Rangers AGM, John Bennett was asked about the quality and lack of “sellable assets” in the club’s squad.
In response to the question, the Rangers chairman warend the club must be “more clever” with those players who’re out of contract in the summer.
“We had a lengthy meeting on Friday, Philippe Clement and I,” said Bennett. “I don’t think the last window impinges on our ability to strengthen the squad. We have to aspire to strengthen always.
“It’s also about being clever, and more clever than we have been in the past, when it comes to wages, re-signing players and the recycling of wages rolling off.”
Taking about backing the manager, Bennett said: “The board will be ready, whether that’s in January or the summer.”
Experienced Rangers stars out of contract
There are currently five Rangers first-teamers who are out of contract in the summer, with all those mentioned players of considerable experience and wages.
Scotland and Croatia internationals Ryan Jack and Borna Barisic are joined by influential midfielder John Lundstram – who is known to be on a substantial wage packet.
Joining them is third-choice goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, veteran centre-back Leon Balogun, and perennially injured high-earner Kemar Roofe.
Whilst John Bennett didn’t talk directly about these players, his comments suggest the Rangers Board expects some of the wages dedicated to them to be freed up come June.
There are conversations to be had around Ryan Jack, whilst Borna Barisic is being linked to AS Roma, and a resurgent John Lundstram is working hard to justify his expensive wage packet.
But there can be no justification for Jon McLaughlin or Kemar Roofe being given a new contract, whilst the club must surely be looking beyond Leon Balogun too.
Kemar Roofe in particular is a case of serious frustration, the £4.5m signing seeing the bulk of his Ibrox career interrupted with recurring injury problems.
