Rangers TV pundit reveals ‘big’ problem at Ibrox after club-record Rory Wilson financial revea
Alan Hutton has insisted Rangers need to prove there is a pathway to first-team football after rising star Rory Wilson snubbed a professional deal at Ibrox.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Gers defender and Rangers TV pundit admitted there have not been enough youth prospects breaking into the senior side at Ibrox.
As revealed by Football Insider on Monday, the Light Blues have offered Wilson, 16, the most lucrative first-year professional deal in the club’s history.
However, an Ibrox source told this site Wilson has informed the club he wants to leave this summer.
Hutton admitted he would be gutted to lose the teenage striker.
He suggested a lack of clear pathway to the first team may be the reason for Wilson’s decision.
Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “Look, it’s a shame. He’s only 16, he’s an absolute goal machine and that compensation thing is always going to be there. It’s a minimal fee.
“I always think that sometimes it can be more difficult moving to somewhere where it’s not familiar, You don’t know anybody and down there, the pathway is going to be hard.
“At Rangers you’re settled, you know everybody, I think it can be an easier transition into the first team. I think we have to see more homegrown players come through. There has to be a pathway there.
“That’s the big thing for a youngster, having the ability to see that people make it. People make it from the youth setup into the first team. We probably don’t see it enough.
“I would like to see the youngsters come through at Rangers. As a fan, that’s what you want. You want to see the academy working and bringing these players through and flourishing.
“When you’re so young and you’re doing so well where are, it would be good to see that progress in the team that you’re in.
“So I understand why but ultimately, I think it’s a shame when they do leave so young.
“I would just like to see him come through at Rangers. Obviously, I’m a little bit biased but I want to see that top talent come through. We don’t see it enough, it’s as simple as that.”
Wilson has scored 40 goals for the Gers’ youth teams this term and has seven in six appearances for Scotland’s under-17s.
In other news, Rangers on course to make “phenomenal” £70million announcement.