Done deal: 2016-17 mainstay quits Rangers for English club
By Harvey Byrne
Defender Rob Kiernan has been offloaded to English League One side Southend after agreeing the terms of his exit from Rangers, it was confirmed on Thursday.
The Essex-based club announced the 26-year-old’s signing via their official website and Twitter account with the defender agreeing a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.
Kiernan’s exit brings the end of a two-year stay at Ibrox after he completd a move from Wigan in the summer of 2015 for a fee of £200,000.
He helped the Gers win promotion from the Championship in his first campaign, while also achieving glory in the Challenge Cup with a 4-0 final victory over Peterhead.
His second season however was largely disappointing and the centre-back was one of a number of Rangers players to receive criticism for his performances despite remaining a mainstay of the side.
But, he finishes his time in Glasgow having played 76 times for the club in total and Kiernan will now be hoping to help Phil Brown’s team win promotion from the English third tier.
Football Insider verdict:
Given the signings of both Fabio Cardoso and Bruno Alves at the Gers this summer alongside Danny Wilson and the emerging David Bates already being in the squad, there simply wasn’t any room for Kiernan to get much game time in the next campaign. Manager Pedro Caixinha has had a big overhaul of his squad this summer and Kiernan was always expected to head through the exit doors alongside Joe Garner and Barrie McKay. It is now likely that attacker Harry Forrester will also depart soon with Caixinha stating on Thursday that his situation could be resolved before the end of the month.
In other Rangers transfer news, this Gers 23-year-old has responded to interest from England.
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