Keith Wyness disagrees with Rangers ‘narrative’ over 'unannounced' Youssef Chermiti offer

Rangers were right to play striker Youssef Chermiti in the recent defeat to Hibernian despite him being subject to a bid from Fenerbahce. 

That is according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the transfer situation was nowhere near advanced enough for the Gers to have pulled the Portuguese out of the game. 

Rangers rejected a £22million bid for Chermiti, before he was then stretchered off in their defeat at Ibrox, with the injury now confirmed to be to his ACL.

Wyness believes that the situation was nothing more than “very unfortunate” for Andrew Cavenagh and Co., despite suggestions from some sections of the fanbase. 

Rangers hosted an AGM with supporters the day after the game, in which one fan questioned the club hierarchy as to why Chermiti was even allowed to be involved in the game. 

Cavenagh answered the question calmly and pointed out that the club are under no pressure to sell the frontman, and did not feel that the bid met their valuation. 

Rangers board right to not give in to Youssef Chermiti ‘narrative’

Aberdeen’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004 and now runs a consultancy business advising elite clubs – believes that the Rangers board were right to not accept the “narrative” that Chermiti shouldn’t have played. 

The Scottish businessman pointed out that the club were “far away” from a deal going through, and believes that it is little more than “tough luck” for the Gers.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, he defended the decision for Chermiti to play from the off. 

“This was brought up at the AGM as to why, if they had that bid, they didn’t take Chermiti out of the game? And the chairman said quite rightly, just because an unannounced bid comes in, you can't start taking your players out of games,” Wyness said.

“They weren't far enough advanced in those negotiations to be able to justify that. That's understandable, of course, but the narrative has suddenly become we turned down £22m, and then he got injured, and we've lost all that money.

“The whole Chermiti asset is gone for a while, but it wasn't certain that there was definitely going to be £22m there. Getting your first fax or your first phone call suggesting it is not necessarily a guarantee of a deal going through.

“I can understand Rangers' point of view there. Very unfortunate; it's tough luck. It's the way it goes, I'm afraid, and not easy for Rangers to accept.”

Rangers given ‘very good news’ by Paraag Marathe

Wyness previously told Football Insider last week that Paraag Marathe’s decision to step away from his role with the San Francisco 49ers is “very good news” for both Leeds United and Rangers. 

The American businessman has taken the decision in order to focus on the 49ers Enterprises’ footballing projects, both at Elland Road and Ibrox. 

Wyness is adamant that a stronger day-to-day presence from Marathe can only help the speed of decision-making at the two clubs, something which he believes is crucial to successful ownership. 

Marathe is heavily involved at Ibrox, and spoke alongside Cavenagh at the recent AGM.