Rangers in fight against time as desperation kicks in over contract stalemate
COMMENT
Rangers need to act fast to ensure that one of their most important players, David Bates, remains at the club for the foreseeable future.
The 21-year-old’s contract runs out at the end of the season, and the Gers hierarchy need to find a solution to the problem as soon as possible as they face a fight against time.
Bates has been superb for the Light Blues since making his return to the first-team against Celtic in the goalless Old Firm derby in December.
He has outshone the likes of Bruno Alves and Russell Martin in the Gers’ backline, and the team looks far weaker without him.
Bates might not have been ragdolled by Moussa Dembele the way Alves and Fabio Cardoso were in the recent Old Firm clash at Ibrox if he hadn’t been taken off injured.
The centre back has been a key player for Graeme Murty’s side in their recent run of good results, and it’s not a surprise that the side have performed poorly during his absence through injury.
He will be a big miss in the upcoming Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic in April, but he will be an even bigger miss if he is allowed to leave the club for free in the summer.
Desperation is starting to kick in, and it is vital that Gers director of football Mark Allen manages to thrash out a deal with Bates before it’s too late.
In other Rangers news, Russell Martin is now fit again after suffering an injury
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