PAUL Rideout walked through the Ibrox portals for the first time
yesterday when his #500,000 transfer from Notts County was completed and
admitted that he found his new environment ''staggering.''
The 27-year-old striker, who first came to public attention 12 years
ago when he scored three times for England in a televised under-15
schoolboy international against Scotland, who had in their midfield Paul
McStay, was named in the first-team squad for today's home game against
Hibernian, and the manager, Walter Smith, said the newcomer will appear
at some point.
The exact timing of his debut will depend on the fitness of Mark
Hateley, who remains doubtful, but the chances are that Rideout, whose
scoring exhibition in the schoolboy match convinced everyone who watched
that he was destined to become one of the game's stars, could be on from
the start. ''Perhaps this move could put me back on the map,'' he said
as he tried to come to terms with his new home.
After brief flirtations with glory during spells with Aston Villa and
Bari, he began to be edged from the spotlight and although bought as
cover for the current strike force -- particularly for Hateley --
Rideout, who gained seven England under-21 caps, said: ''The manager has
told me that if I do well he will not keep me out of the team. It's a
great challenge and it is entirely up to me.''
Ironically, he has arrived at a time when McStay is giving serious
thought to the possibility of leaving Scottish football, but Rideout
said he had no hesitation in accepting Rangers' offer, of which he knew
nothing until 7pm on Thursday night. ''I'd already thought that maybe I
had missed my chance to play in a big team again, and money didn't come
into this move,'' he added. ''I jumped at the chance.
''I've been at some big places such as Highbury and Old Trafford, but
this place is different class. It's certainly a different world entirely
from Notts County.''
Rideout decided to start his professional career with Swindon Town,
making his debut at the age of 16, and after 95 games and 38 goals he
moved to Villa and played one season with them (54 matches) emerging as
their leading scorer with 19 goals. Continental clubs were alerted to
the youngster and he signed for Bari in a double deal with Gordon
Cowans, but confessed yesterday that perhaps he moved too soon.
''They were not the most attacking team and I always found I was
playing with my back to the opposition goal, and maybe this move set me
back a couple of years,'' he said. Nevertheless, he played 99 games for
the Italian side scoring seven times in his first season, 10 in the
second even though they were relegated, and nine in the second division.
He returned to English football with Southampton, but lost his place
with the emergence of that potent goalscorer, Duncan Shearer, before
accepting a loan period with his first club, Swindon. Only last
September he signed for Notts County and played 11 games scoring three
times.
It had always been Smith's intention to secure cover from the time
Maurice Johnston left Ibrox for Everton, but the dip in Rangers' play
without Hateley, who has been injured recently, alerted the manager to
the fact that perhaps he should purchase a similar type of player. He
had watched Rideout a few times over the past couple of seasons and went
to see him play for Notts County in their Zenith Data Systems Cup tie
against Leicester last midweek. Despite the fact the player was used in
midfield that night Smith was convinced.
Although he has been given a two-and-a-half-year contract Rideout
believes he has a year in which to prove himself, but his arrival on the
Ibrox scene will make life much more difficult for John Spencer and Gary
McSwegan, who also is in today's squad. Neither of these players has
been able to compliment Ally McCoist's game the way Hateley can, and the
manager simply believes Rideout will be able to perform that function.
Regardless of which players Smith fields up front today, they will
have to be sharp because Hibs are a well organised and capable side and
will be at Ibrox seeking both points. ''They will be looking at games
like this one and convincing themselves that if they can win them they
will move up close to ourselves and Hearts,'' said Smith.
Hibs have given Mickey Weir until this afternoon to decide whether or
not he wants to sign the new contract on offer. However, he will play at
Ibrox regardless of the answer, although Tom McIntyre begins a
three-game suspension.
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