Ross Wilson has blasted back at claims he’s bungled Rangers ’ contract situation and flopped in the transfer market - telling snipers they’re talking nonsense.
The Ibrox Sporting Director has been in the firing line for Gers fans over both recruitment of new players and the safeguarding of assets in the Light Blues’ dressing room. But he insists he’s proud of the work carried out in his three years in Govan despite half a team of players running into the final months of their deals.
Top team stars including Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos - both of whom held a high value a year ago - are among a host of players out of contract next summer and free to talk to clubs in January. Wilson was keeping his cards close to his chest when pressed on an update on talks with Kent and Morelos. But he wasn’t holding back when asked if it was a mistake to allow a group of 10 first team stars, which also includes Steven Davis, Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield and Allan McGregor, to enter the final months of their deals.
Wilson fired back: “I don’t buy it. I don’t buy into that at all. Nonsense. There are two key assets here who have been talked about for a long time in Kent and Morelos.
“There is another group of older players who I’m sure everybody understands good contract management is to have those lads on one-year contracts and review them year on year. And there are a couple of boys who have been injured quite a lot so again it is sensible to keep reviewing before the end of the season as well.
“So I don’t buy into that. I don’t think the criticism has been unfair because I think everyone is entitled to their opinion on that, of course they are.
“But I think we are comfortable with the direction of travel with our contracts. It played out last year with Connor as well so we’ll see where we go with that.”
Wilson insists he can hold his head up high over Rangers’ recruitment record since he arrived in October 2019. He said: “People can always make their judgements at any time.
“Whether it’s the scouting team, the managers, the sporting director, the chief executive, people always have an opinion on something. We are very proud of a lot of the work we have done here.”
A year ago Connor Goldson was in a similar situation to Kent and Morelos as he stalled on penning a new deal right up until his old contract ran out in the summer. Wilson used the defender’s example to argue all was not lost with the discussions on Kent - who signed for £7m from Liverpool three years ago - and record breaking goalscorer Morelos who was a £1m bargain from Helsinki in 2017.
New boss Michael Beale was adamant he wants the duo to stay long term but added they “don’t hold all the cards” as far as their contract situation is concerned. Asked if he was confident the pair would pen new deals, Wilson said: “As Michael said the other day there are two different sides to that, there is the players’ side and the club’s side. Let’s see where we go first.
“Two very, very different situations between the two of them. They are both private and personal situations for the two boys and their agents so I won’t go into any details there but they are two very, very different situations. Time will tell.”
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