Gers duo reject switch

Rangers pair Steven Naismith and Steven Whittaker have rejected the transfer of their contracts to the newco at Rangers.

The duo now consider themselves free agents after the Ibrox outfit, who are now known as The Rangers FC after financial troubles forced them into liquidation, had claimed that all player contracts had been transferred and that anyone disrupting the process would face legal action. They have, however, seen Rhys McCabe and Sone Aluko object to the decision, and Naismith and Whittaker have now followed suit, with lawyers acting for the Scotland international duo claiming their clients will not be reporting for pre-season training and are seeking new clubs. A statement from Simon Catto of HBJ Gateley said: "Steven Naismith and Steven Whittaker are formally intimating their objection to becoming employed by the transferee in accordance with Regulations 4(7) and 4(9) of the TUPE Regulations. "Accordingly, Steven Naismith and Steven Whittaker will not be attending for training or any other meeting next week and consider themselves to be under no contractual obligations to any party."