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Now one year on, just where are the dearly (and not so dearly)...departed


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ALLY McCOIST and Rangers fans didn't do walking away during the darkest days in Rangers' history â?? but many men who wore the famous Light Blue jersey did.

 

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While McCoist has lead his side to the Third Division title, those who left the club have enjoyed mixed fortunes since they declined to transfer their contracts over to Charles Green's new company last summer.

 

Here, SportTimes looks at how the former Gers stars have fared since their controversial exits.

 

WALKED AWAY

 

ALLAN McGREGOR

 

Joined:

Besiktas

 

McGregor ended his 11-year affiliation with Rangers when he refused to transfer his contract in July 2012.

 

The keeper didn't follow many of his team-mates in heading for the English Premier League, however, instead penning a two-year deal with Turkish side Besiktas.

 

After just one season in the Superleague, where he helped the Black Eagles to a third-place finish, he was on the move again, clinching a £1.5million move to Hull City earlier this summer.

 

STEVEN WHITTAKER

 

Joined:

Norwich City

 

Whittaker joined Steven Naismith for their famed press conference at which they announced they were to leave Rangers, opening the floodgates for several more to follow.

 

He was the subject of fierce criticism from the Light Blue legions, leaving the club just a year after signing a new bumper, long-term deal.

 

After an injury-disrupted start to life at Norwich, the Scotland defender went on to make 13 appearances as the Canaries maintained their top- flight status for another campaign.

 

STEVEN NAISMITH

 

Joined:

Everton

 

Once adored by the Ibrox crowd, Naismith went from hero to zero in the eyes of many fans when he walked away from the club.

 

The striker made 15 starts and 19 substitute appearances for Everton last season and scored four goals in his first campaign at Goodison Park. He must now impress new Toffees boss Roberto Martinez and faces a tough fight for a regular starting berth.

 

STEVEN DAVIS

 

Joined:

Southampton

 

Davis was the Gers captain during their financial turmoil but didn't hang around to lead Ally McCoist's side in the Third Division.

 

Southampton agreed a fee with Rangers after the Northern Irishman refused to transfer his contract over to Green's new company, with Davis 
penning a deal until 2016. He enjoyed a decent first campaign back in the English Premier League as the Saints avoided the drop.

 

KYLE LAFFERTY

 

Joined:

Sion

 

The striker split opinion amongst the Light Blue legions and his controversial Ibrox stint came to an end on June 30, 2012.

 

Like McGregor, he headed for the continent after turning his back on his boyhood heroes, but his time in Switzerland was to prove short-lived. After just one season and nine goals, he was on the move again, joining Italian Serie B side Palermo this summer.

 

JAMIE NESS

 

Joined:

Stoke City

 

Ness could have been a first-team regular last season but instead opted to join Stoke as he made his Ibrox exit. The midfielder made just one 
appearance, however, failing to finish a League Cup tie against Swindon. It remains to be seen if he will be in new Potters boss Mark Hughes' plans this term.

 

ALEJANDRO BEDOYA

 

Joined:

Helsingborgs

 

Bedoya only made a handful of appearances during his brief Rangers career before he joined the mass exodus last summer. He moved to Swedish side Helsingborgs and featured in their Champions League qualifying round defeat to Celtic.

 

RHYS McCABE

 

Joined:

Sheffield Wednesday

 

Another who would undoubtedly have featured on a regular basis this season, 
McCabe instead headed south to join Sheffield Wednesday. He made 22 appearances for the Owls in his debut campaign and will come up against his former club tomorrow night when McCoist's side head to Hillsborough for a friendly.

 

SONE ALUKO

 

Joined:

Hull City

 

The winger's contract at Rangers was up last summer but the Light Blues had the option of extending it for another year. Aluko decided against that, however, and penned a two-year deal at Hull. He was part of the side that won promotion to the Premier League and scored eight goals for Steve Bruce's side.

 

JOHN FLECK

 

Joined:

Coventry City

 

Tipped for a bright future at Rangers, Fleck's Ibrox career came to a low-key end when he opted to leave 12 months ago. The forward made more than 40 appearances for the Sky Blues last term, but finds himself at the centre of more financial problems as Steven Pressley's side face an uncertain future.

 

JUAN ORTIZ

 

Joined:

Granada

 

Ortiz penned a three-year deal at Ibrox when he joined from Almeria, but was Spain-bound just months later as he returned to his old club on loan. He eventually went home on a permanent basis last summer.

 

STAYED

 

KIRK BROADFOOT

 

The defender made two appearances for Gers â?? against Brechin and East Fife â?? before leaving by mutual consent to join Blackpool.

 

CARLOS BOCANEGRA

 

Started the season as captain and featured seven times before clinching a deadline-day loan deal with Racing Santander. Moved to Chivas USA this summer after coming to an arrangement with Rangers for the remaining 12 months of his deal.

 

DORIN GOIAN

 

Played two cup and two league games before heading to Italian side Spezia on loan. Like Bocanegra, he left the club earlier this summer.

 

MAURICE EDU

 

Joined Ness in moving to Stoke for an undisclosed fee, but didn't fare any better in the Premier League. Just one appearance before joining 
Bursaspor on loan.

 

ALSO DEPARTED

 

Gregg Wylde and Mervan Celik were the first two players to leave, taking voluntary redundancy days after Duff and Phelps were appointed as administrators. Sasa Papac retired at the end of the season, while Salim Kerkar and David Healy left on Bosman deals, joining Charlton and Bury respectively.

 

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/now-one-year-on-just-where-are-the-dearly-and-not-so-dearlydeparted-131202n.21666657

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A reminder of the squad that went.

 

We lost 17 players straight away, plus three more a wee bit later on. Not to mention youngsters who were let go. For one we got a transfer fee. Of all those, I'd only have Aluko back at some point in the future.

 

Evening Times

 

ALLY McCOIST and Rangers fans didn't do walking away during the darkest days in Rangers' history â?? but many men who wore the famous Light Blue jersey did.

 

While McCoist has lead his side to the Third Division title, those who left the club have enjoyed mixed fortunes since they declined to transfer their contracts over to Charles Green's new company last summer.

 

Here, SportTimes looks at how the former Gers stars have fared since their controversial exits.

 

WALKED AWAY

 

ALLAN McGREGOR

 

Joined: Besiktas

McGregor ended his 11-year affiliation with Rangers when he refused to transfer his contract in July 2012.

 

The keeper didn't follow many of his team-mates in heading for the English Premier League, however, instead penning a two-year deal with Turkish side Besiktas.

 

After just one season in the Superleague, where he helped the Black Eagles to a third-place finish, he was on the move again, clinching a £1.5million move to Hull City earlier this summer.

 

STEVEN WHITTAKER

 

Joined: Norwich City

Whittaker joined Steven Naismith for their famed press conference at which they announced they were to leave Rangers, opening the floodgates for several more to follow.

 

He was the subject of fierce criticism from the Light Blue legions, leaving the club just a year after signing a new bumper, long-term deal.

 

After an injury-disrupted start to life at Norwich, the Scotland defender went on to make 13 appearances as the Canaries maintained their top- flight status for another campaign.

 

STEVEN NAISMITH

 

Joined: Everton

Once adored by the Ibrox crowd, Naismith went from hero to zero in the eyes of many fans when he walked away from the club.

 

The striker made 15 starts and 19 substitute appearances for Everton last season and scored four goals in his first campaign at Goodison Park. He must now impress new Toffees boss Roberto Martinez and faces a tough fight for a regular starting berth.

 

STEVEN DAVIS

 

Joined: Southampton

Davis was the Gers captain during their financial turmoil but didn't hang around to lead Ally McCoist's side in the Third Division.

 

Southampton agreed a fee with Rangers after the Northern Irishman refused to transfer his contract over to Green's new company, with Davis 
penning a deal until 2016. He enjoyed a decent first campaign back in the English Premier League as the Saints avoided the drop.

 

KYLE LAFFERTY

 

Joined: Sion

The striker split opinion amongst the Light Blue legions and his controversial Ibrox stint came to an end on June 30, 2012.

 

Like McGregor, he headed for the continent after turning his back on his boyhood heroes, but his time in Switzerland was to prove short-lived. After just one season and nine goals, he was on the move again, joining Italian Serie B side Palermo this summer.

 

JAMIE NESS

 

Joined: Stoke City

Ness could have been a first-team regular last season but instead opted to join Stoke as he made his Ibrox exit. The midfielder made just one 
appearance, however, failing to finish a League Cup tie against Swindon. It remains to be seen if he will be in new Potters boss Mark Hughes' plans this term.

 

ALEJANDRO BEDOYA

 

Joined: Helsingborgs

Bedoya only made a handful of appearances during his brief Rangers career before he joined the mass exodus last summer. He moved to Swedish side Helsingborgs and featured in their Champions League qualifying round defeat to Celtic.

 

RHYS McCABE

 

Joined: Sheffield Wednesday

Another who would undoubtedly have featured on a regular basis this season, 
McCabe instead headed south to join Sheffield Wednesday. He made 22 appearances for the Owls in his debut campaign and will come up against his former club tomorrow night when McCoist's side head to Hillsborough for a friendly.

 

SONE ALUKO

 

Joined: Hull City

The winger's contract at Rangers was up last summer but the Light Blues had the option of extending it for another year. Aluko decided against that, however, and penned a two-year deal at Hull. He was part of the side that won promotion to the Premier League and scored eight goals for Steve Bruce's side.

 

JOHN FLECK

 

Joined: Coventry City

Tipped for a bright future at Rangers, Fleck's Ibrox career came to a low-key end when he opted to leave 12 months ago. The forward made more than 40 appearances for the Sky Blues last term, but finds himself at the centre of more financial problems as Steven Pressley's side face an uncertain future.

 

JUAN ORTIZ

 

Joined: Granada

Ortiz penned a three-year deal at Ibrox when he joined from Almeria, but was Spain-bound just months later as he returned to his old club on loan. He eventually went home on a permanent basis last summer.

 

STAYED

 

KIRK BROADFOOT

 

The defender made two appearances for Gers â?? against Brechin and East Fife â?? before leaving by mutual consent to join Blackpool.

 

CARLOS BOCANEGRA

 

Started the season as captain and featured seven times before clinching a deadline-day loan deal with Racing Santander. Moved to Chivas USA this summer after coming to an arrangement with Rangers for the remaining 12 months of his deal.

 

DORIN GOIAN

 

Played two cup and two league games before heading to Italian side Spezia on loan. Like Bocanegra, he left the club earlier this summer.

 

MAURICE EDU

 

Joined Ness in moving to Stoke for an undisclosed fee, but didn't fare any better in the Premier League. Just one appearance before joining 
Bursaspor on loan.

 

ALSO DEPARTED

 

Gregg Wylde and Mervan Celik were the first two players to leave, taking voluntary redundancy days after Duff and Phelps were appointed as administrators. Sasa Papac retired at the end of the season, while Salim Kerkar and David Healy left on Bosman deals, joining Charlton and Bury respectively.

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Bedoya did. He just left it a bit longer to do so. McCoist wanted to keep him and tried to persuade him to stay, but he wanted to go to back to Sweden.

 

Bedoya transferred over before he left. I'm sure everyone will give McCabe a 'warm reception' at Hillsborough.

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all the players did what was right for them.

 

at a push in Wallace case that was also what was good for rangers. pretty much everyone else from the senior squad shafted rangers.

 

Thats pretty much my way of thinking on it as well. Only Wallace was a sellable asset from the established first team squad that wanted to stay and see this through. Of the others who stayed, like McCulloch & Alexander, it was probably more because they were getting good money, a guaranteed place, and no offers from elsewhere. Talk of loyalty etc from those 2 only goes a little way towards the truth I think, but they are still miles ahead of the rest of those who f'd off without a second glance.

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