RANGERS returned to pre-season training yesterday without new signings Matt Crooks and Josh Windass after Accrington Stanley refused their former players permission to join their team-mates until suitable compensation has been paid.
The pair signed pre-contract agreements with the Ibrox club in January but Andy Holt, the Accrington owner, revealed they were still waiting on payment for the loss of their two players. With any cross-border transfer, the buying club must make a training compensation payment for any players under 23 providing their previous club has made them the offer of a new contract on the same or better terms.
Rangers’ response to Accrington’s stance was to blame the League 2 club for failing to provide necessary details to complete the paperwork, a fact refuted by Holt.
"We've written to Rangers informing them of our position and have copied in the FA and the Scottish FA," Holt told STV “Until the compensation package has been agreed they are our players, so they shouldn't be allowed to train with Rangers. We have them contracted until June 30.
"Rangers have got two great players for nothing so the least they can do is pay up properly and stop playing games. I believe they [the players] are up there in Glasgow. I have an email from Rangers requesting they train but I'm refusing permission until compensation is agreed."
A Rangers spokesperson replied: "Rangers has always been willing to pay a compensation fee as determined by FIFA regulations. However, in order to confirm a figure Rangers needs Accrington Stanley to co-operate fully by providing some necessary detail. So far they have failed to provide this."
Holt, though, then took to Twitter to reiterate his stance. “No pay, no play,” he wrote. “Now they want us to rush so they can train. They've had 6 months to get compensation sorted. I owe them nothing.”
Among those who did report to Rangers’ Murray Park complex for the first day of pre-season training were Clint Hill, the recent arrival from Queens Park Rangers, and goalkeeper Cammy Bell, a signing target for a number of other Scottish clubs.
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