FORMER Rangers stars who were locked in a landmark legal dispute with the club have dropped their case for unpaid holiday pay.

Kyle Hutton, Ian Black, Richard Foster and Steven Simonsen were seeking payouts totalling a five-figure sum from the Ibrox side after their contracts were not renewed when the club failed to gain promotion to the SPFL Premiership.

The footballers were part of a group of 12 players who were released by Rangers in the immediate aftermath of the play-off defeat to Motherwell in the 2014/15 season.

They were claiming that because the season ended on the same day their contracts expired, those released did not have the chance to take all of their holidays.

However, papers lodged at the Glasgow employment tribunal office confirm the cases have now been dropped.

Documents relating to the four players all state: "The claim, having been withdrawn by the claimant, is dismissed."

It is unclear if the players, who were backed by footballing union PFA Scotland, reached a settlement with the club or chose to simply drop the claims.

Had the sportsmen been successful in their claims, it would have become a landmark case with a precedent being set for other footballers.

It is understood that two other players also dropped their claims against the club earlier on in proceedings.

The contracts of the four players ended on May 31 last year, the same day as the clash with Motherwell which ended in a 6-1 aggregate defeat.

They were advised that because they were unable to take the bulk of their statutory holidays, normally reserved to the close season, their abrupt release left Rangers owing them cash.

The claims relied on a clause in their contracts which stated: "Holiday leave entitlement is 35 days per calendar year.

"Holiday leave shall be taken during the close season, or exceptionally at other times, but always on such dates as may be approved, in advance, by the club. In the event of employment for part of a year the entitlement shall be pro rated."

PFA Scotland declined to comment on the case due to confidentiality.

Rangers also refused to comment.

On leaving Rangers, Hutton moved on to Partick Thistle then Dunfermline and is now currently playing with Queen of the South.

Black got a deal with Shrewsbury Town, while Foster joined Ross County and Simonsen moved to Indian Super League club FC Pune City.