'Stupid' - Keown blasts Rangers situation before financial cuts

Gary Keown has slammed Rangers for their “stupid” financial decisions with the club offloading big-money wages in the summer.

Writing in his Scottish Mail on Sunday column (page 98, 15 September), Keown believes there should be “clear daylight” between the Gers and the rest of the Scottish Premiership, but financial choices have held them back.

Departures of players such as Borna Barisic, Leon Balogun, and Kemar Roofe, have given the Light Blues breathing room in the wages department, though Keown remains unimpressed.

He said: “Thanks to the goalless draw against a Hearts side that couldn’t beat eggs at the moment, Rangers find themselves eight points behind Celtic and Aberdeen – and that’s why winning at Tannadice this afternoon is so important.

“No one expected Warburton to rival Celtic for the crown in 2016. Likewise, it is pretty much accepted that Rangers are not winning the title this season either.

“Whatever (Phillipe) Clement believes, the gap is too big in terms of on-field quality and off-field resources, with Celtic having stabilised and strengthened.

“What is not acceptable, though, is being dragged into a dogfight to finish second against rivals with a fraction of your budget.

“And for all the cuts that have been made to what was a frankly stupid wage bill at Ibrox, Rangers’ financial advantages over the rest mean they should be establishing clear daylight between them and the other 10 pretty soon.”

Are Rangers title hopes over?

Eight points is a huge gap in any league at this stage of the season, and although the Light Blues have a game in hand over Celtic, the difference in the teams is night and day.

That could be seen in the last Old Firm derby, which saw Rangers romped 3-0, and the green side of Glasgow doesn’t seem to be letting off anytime soon.

The additions of Nadim Bajrami, and Vaclav Cerny have shown positive signs for the Ibrox faithful, though it doesn’t look as if they will catch their rivals this season.

Clement has to get it right against Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday (15 September), so the Gers can kick on for the rest of the season, with a target of chasing down what remains of their title prospects.

Although, catching league-leaders Celtic may be a step too far for this current Rangers side at the moment.

In other Rangers news, Phillipe Clement has issued an update on Ianis Hagi’s future.

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