Craig Levein reacts to the news Rangers want Jason Holt last night
By Decord reporter Craig Prawn
Rangers reacted with fury today over reports that suggest Hearts will demand a compensation fee should the Ibrox giants sign up former Gorgie Road youngster Jason Holt, who is currently on trial at Murray Park.
A Murray Park insider told the Decord, “Hearts are acting disgracefully. They don’t even want the boy and have allowed his contract to expire. He is a free agent and we should be allowed to pick him up for nothing. How can Mark Warburton deliver on his exciting plans for Rangers if we have to pay a fee for him?”
The Musselburgh born attacking midfielder, who has been widely compared to Paul Scholes, came through the ranks at the Edinburgh club, making his first team debut in 2011 after a loan spell at Raith Rovers.
The midfield schemer then spent the second half of last season on loan to Sheffield United, where he made a huge impression, scoring an astonishing 5 goals in just 15 games, and taking the South Yorkshire outfit into the League One play-offs.
The youngster, who has seven Scotland U21 caps, is desperate to be part of the Mark Warburton Revolution, after having the Master Baker’s vision for the Ibrox club laid out to him by the hottest young manager in the British game.
Holt’s dream could be shattered though as greedy Hearts insist on a development fee being paid by Rangers.
Hearts’ Director of Football Craig Levein said today, “They won’t get him for nothing. The rules are there for compensation. That’s a discussion if Rangers want to take him and that will have to take place.”
The former Scotland manager, who once played a game away to the Czech Republic without a single forward on the pitch, is adamant that Hearts should squeeze every last penny in compensation from Rangers should they opt to sign the creative midfielder.
Now, with Rangers refusing to be held to ransom, Holt might find himself without a club, which would be a real shame for such a talented player.
A spokesman for the Rangers Supporters Trust today blasted the Edinburgh club. Gris Crayon told the Decord, “This demonstrates everything that is wrong with Scottish football.
“It was a different story last summer when Rangers had to fight Dundee Utd, who maybe not coincidentally were founded as Dundee Hibernian, for compensation for Charlie Telfer. He was the best young player in Scottish football and they tried to get him on the cheap.
“The Scottish FA sat back and allowed Dundee Utd to kick us while we were down. Now the boot’s on the other foot and where are the SFA? Allowing Hearts to hold Rangers to ransom, that’s where.
“This vile, nakedly sectarian, anti-Rangers way of running Scottish football has to stop.”
It is hard not feel some sympathy with that point of view. It is imperative that the best young players are nurtured for the good of our game, and it should be made as easy as possible to facilitate his dream move to Ibrox.
Holt himself has pleaded with Hearts to be reasonable. A close friend of the player told the Decord, “Jason is desperate to join Rangers. After speaking to Mark Warburton he is tremendously excited by his plans for Rangers and doesn’t want to sign for anyone else. He also desperately wants to team up with Danny Wilson again. Danny is a class act and really took Jason under his wing at Tynecastle. Jason will be heartbroken if the move falls through because Hearts are being greedy.”
It is to be hoped that someone at the SFA will see sense over this and ensure that Holt’s dream move happens.
The Raily Decord 