Scott Allan is told in training yesterday that a second Rangers bid has been rejected.
By Decord reporter Jeith Kackson
Scott Allan has told friends that he is on the verge of quitting football over Hibernian’s refusal to accept an improved offer of £250,000 for his signature.
The midfield playmaker, who is a lifelong Rangers fanatic, had hoped that the Easter Road club would see sense when Mark Warburton upped his offer yesterday afternoon. Allan asked for a meeting with Hibbees manager Alan Stubbs at which he expressed his determination to move to Ibrox. But last season’s SPFL Championship Player of the Year was left ‘shattered’ by Stubbs’ refusal to see sense.
The former Celtic defender, who took over at Hibernian last season, said yesterday, “I can categorically say that Scott Allan will not be going to Rangers.”
A close friend of Allan told the Decord, “Scott is just in bits about this. All he has ever wanted to do is play for Rangers. He’ll never get over it if Hibs don’t let him go to Ibrox now.”
The midfield playmaker’s heartfelt plea has fallen on deaf ears though, with the heartless former Celtic stopper making a phone call to Warburton pleading with him to end his interest in the Easter Road club’s prized asset. Stubbs said, “I spoke to Mark this morning. I have a good relationship with Mark. It was me who made the phone call and I was making Mark aware of our stance. It is just respect and it was a respectful phone call.
“Our stance is very strong, we are not prepared to sell Scott Allan because he is fundamental to what we want to achieve.”
Fortunately for Allan, the Master Baker is a hard-nosed former City trader and is extremely unlikely to listen to Stubbs’ request.
Respected figures in the game have rallied round to help Hibs see sense. Former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson told the Decord:
“Everyone knows Allan is a Rangers fan. It’s no secret. Now he’s apparently ready to tell Hibs he wants to go. It puts the Edinburgh club in a total jam.
“The way the game has gone the power is all with the player these days and I know from my short time as a manager the last thing you want is a player in the dressing room who doesn’t want to be there.
“Knowing the lad I am sure he will be 100 per cent professional if he is still at Hibs this weekend or beyond. That’s the kind of guy he is.
“But if he wants to go it is pointless keeping him if an agreement on a fee can be reached between the clubs.”
Rangers Supporters Trust spokesman Gris Crayon also weighed in. He told the Decord last night, “I don’t know why Allan Stubbs can’t just accept that this very talented player wants more than anything else to play for Rangers. Of course, it’s no secret, and perhaps not coincidental that Stubbs is a former Celtic player. He is refusing to sell Scott Allan to Rangers for nakedly sectarian reasons.
“It was a different story only a few weeks ago when Dylan McGeouch was allowed to return to Parkhead. There was no haggling over fees or anything like that then – Stubbs just let him go back to Celtic, no questions asked.”
“Everything that’s wrong with Scottish football is encapsulated in this saga. It’s no coincidence it comes so soon after Peter Lawwell being re-elected onto the SFA board. This sinister anti-Rangers agenda must end.”
Strong words from Crayon, and it is hard to disagree. The man caught in the middle of all this, Scott Allan, is a tremendously talented player and you can only guess at the anguish he is going through today.
It’s time for Hibernian to get round the negotiating table seriously so that the deal can be put in place before the teams meet this weekend. Otherwise an already powderkeg situation could get quickly out of control.
The Raily Decord 