Halliday lays out ambitions with new club after Rangers exit
By Danny Wright
Andy Halliday is eager to win the Azerbaijan league title after securing his exit from Rangers.
The 25-year-old will spend the duration of the 2017/18 season on loan with FK Gabala after he was told that he wasn’t part of Pedro Caixinha’s first-team plans at Ibrox.
The Azerbaijani league isn’t one of the most well-known in Europe, but Halliday asserts that he was clued up about Gabala and the country itself before making the loan move there.
“I got plenty of information about the club before I signed from goalkeeper Graeme Smith, who played here and Rangers team mate Lee Hodson who played against Azerbaijan for Northern Ireland. They both told me it was a beautiful country,” the midfielder said, as quoted by the Daily Record.
“Gabala are a big club. Look at the success they have had in Europe. I want to be part of the team and I want to challenge for the league and in European football.
“I feel I have settled in really well and I am looking forward to play competitive games.”
Halliday made 42 appearances across all competitions for Rangers last season and scored five goals, but he was largely criticised by fans for his poor displays in the midfield.
He was a big part of Mark Warburton’s plans, but clearly failed to impress Caixinha as he earned just 52 minutes of action in the final six games of the Scottish Premiership.
Halliday joins Joe Garner in leaving Ibrox, after the striker agreed terms with Ipswich last month.
Caixinha has welcomed eight new players to Rangers as his huge overhaul of the squad continues.
Gabala finished runners up in the Azerbaijan Premier League last season and will be hoping to win their first title now that they have Halliday on board.
In other Rangers news, the Gers could be on the verge of a ninth summer signing after meeting the valuation with a bid for this midfielder.
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