Aluko appeals for clarity over what is happening at club

Chief football writer

Wednesday 9 May 2012

SONE Aluko became the voice of the Rangers dressing room last night when he appealed for clarity on the club's takeover process on the day Bill Miller pulled out of the running.

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Michael Grant

The Rangers players are due to begin their summer holidays on Sunday evening, after their final game of the season against St Johnstone in Perth. So far, they have had no guidance on who is likely to own the club at the start of next season, who will hold their contract registrations, what SFA and SPL sanctions Rangers may face, what division they will be competing in, or even whether the club will be able to fulfill fixtures next season, at all.

Aluko said that while he was not personally anxious about his own future, he realised that other Rangers players may be under stress about what lies ahead for themselves and the club as a whole. "I think we all need to know. I'm not the type of person who will worry myself, you don't achieve anything by worrying. I am laid back about it but I am still keen to get it sorted and I know the seriousness of the situation. If I had a pound for every time someone came up in the street with a question I could buy the club myself. But we're the last to know. They ask 'what's going on', 'are you going to stay'."Administrators Duff & Phelps had upset the players' union, PFA Scotland, by claiming that if the club reformed as a newco their registrations would automatically transfer from the existing club to the new one. Some of the players and their agents have also been irritated at the lack of updates from Duff & Phelps' representatives, Paul Clark and David Whitehouse, although Aluko said there was an understanding that the squad also needed space to be able to concentrate on fixtures. "We do get updates," said Aluko. "They come in every now and again to let us know but we also have games to focus on so they try to limit the distractions we get from meetings and meetings and meetings. When we first went into administration, we had a meeting almost every day and I think it showed in our performances, we hardly had time to train. I think it's wise they have distanced themselves from us."Miller's withdrawal last night and the increasing likelihood of Rangers having no owner by the time the club's income stream dries up – Duff & Phelps have said the club will effectively run out of money to meet day-to-day costs at the end of this month – makes it more likely there will be a mass exodus of senior players this summer. The temporary pay cuts they accepted in March, in order to spare other staff from redundancy, will end on June 1 but the club does not have the money to pay them those full salaries. Unless a deal is struck with Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy or the Blue Knights, Rangers could plunge into full liquidation.As things stand, Rangers are banned from European football for three seasons and – unless an appeal is successful next week – banned by the SFA from signing any player older than 18 for a year. Although many of the players are supporters of the club there would be little criticism if they decided they had to further their careers elsewhere.The team which pulls on the colours at McDiarmid Park on Sunday could look entirely different to the one which starts next season. Aluko, at least, played down the significance of that and said it would not be a factor in the players' approach to the season's final game. "I've been in football long enough to know that teams break up. At Aberdeen, we lost players every year and new players come in. That's just Scottish football these days, teams don't stay together. It's looking like it will be that way at Rangers but maybe not, maybe they will keep the core of good players. We need some additions as it is, so we'll see what happens."How do I try to get away from it all? I just chill out, speak to my family, speak to friends. It's a lot easier than people think. Once you're in a situation there's no escaping it, so you just have to handle it. Even if you're not a Rangers fan I think you would look at our club and see that everyone has really come together, the fans, players and manager have a really good rapport. I've really enjoyed it. The fans have been great to me and I don't take that for granted. Not every player gets that sort of treatment. If I do end up leaving it will be tough and I will look back with good memories, but if I end up staying I will be happy to stay."Money comes and money goes. If you are lucky and you have a long career you won't miss the money you lose from being in administration for two or three months. If you are sensible in your life, and I'm only 23, I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to make it back up. I still want to win things in my career and that won't change. Even though I haven't won things this year it's still been a positive season for me. Rangers are a massive club and I'm sure they will win things in the future and maybe I will be part of that."

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Aluko appeals for clarity over what is happening at club

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