Cambuslang Rangers co-boss Paul McColl has confirmed that midfielder Grant Brennan has been ‘sacked’ by the West of Scotland Premier League club .
Disappointed McColl says Brennan was told off after allegedly talking to relegation rivals Petershill earlier in the season, but claims the player held talks with Irvine Meadow this week.
Brennan denies ‘touting’ himself.
In a social media message, the club said: “Cambuslang Rangers can announce today that Grant Brennan has been sacked from the team.
“The reason for this is due to him touting himself to other teams behind the management firm’s back.
“As a club we are bitterly disappointed as he has let the management and his fellow players down during a time we were fighting to avoid being relegated from the Premier League.”
In response, Brennan Tweeted: “Just to clarify, I haven’t touted myself to any clubs.
“During my time at Cambuslang I did everything I could to avoid relegation during my time there.”
Brennan scored in Cambuslang’s 2-1 defeat at home to Troon, which saw them relegated from the top flight, but McColl confirmed he will never play for the club again.
He told Lanarkshire Live Sport: “He spoke to Petershill about five or six weeks ago right in the middle of a relegation battle, and we found out, told him that’s not acceptable, that he wants to speak to others while the season is ongoing, and they were also relegation rivals.
“Then he does the same with Irvine Meadow.
“I wouldn’t normally slate a player, but that’s just unacceptable. We’re trying to keep our best players, he’s not even given us the chance to talk to him.
“He wasn’t getting a game with Benburb, we paid money for him and got him back to playing and scoring goals – down to us.
“He decides to go and speak to Irvine Meadow and you can’t do that, you can’t get back after that.
“You’re making time to go and speak to other teams, that’s ridiculous and disappointing.
“He gave us his word that he wouldn’t do it again, if any team was interested he would come and see us and let us know, and he didn’t.
“Most managers would say that’s the end of the line, you’ll not play for us again, even though he’s probably our best player just now.
“We’ve helped him more than he’s helped us, but that’s just players for you.
“That’s him done, he’ll not play again for us and can do what he wants, now.
“Teams might think twice about signing him because he’s acted in that way.”
McColl says players are able to speak to other clubs, but there’s a correct way of doing it.
He said: “We keep telling players to see out their contract and don’t act stupid near the end of it, don’t be touting yourself to several teams when you’re still under contract here until June 30.
“All he had to do was wait until next week when the season is done. That’s down to him, our last game is next Saturday and how he can’t wait until then, I don’t know.
“That’s the end of it, unfortunately for him and us, and we’ll just get on with it.
“If you’re going to speak to another team, which you’ve got the right to, don’t do it this season if you can, and if you’re going to do it, tell us.
“He didn’t, he went behind our back, and he had the chance to tell me last night when I spoke to him, and didn’t.
“Grant has let us down, big time, but we just need to get on with it.”
Brennan has been contacted for comment.
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