Wylde 'leaves Rangers to save jobs'

Wylde 'leaves Rangers to save jobs'

Published Mar. 6, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

Gregg Wylde arrived at Rangers' Murray Park training ground earlier amid reports the midfielder has become the first player to leave the club as part of the administration process.

The 20-year-old, who has made 47 appearances for the club, is among five players who have reportedly agreed to leave the club without taking any redundancy package.

"I wanted to help out the club by keeping people in a job," Wylde told STV.

Kyle Bartley left Rangers' training ground this afternoon saying talks over the players' futures remained ongoing.

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The on-loan Arsenal defender does not expect a final decision to be made on potential redundancies on Tuesday after further talks with the club's administrators.

On Monday Duff and Phelps revealed in a statement that it had not been possible to reach a consensus where players could accept the necessary level of wage cuts to prevent job losses within the squad.

The players asked the administrators to consider a final proposal overnight for discussion on Tuesday morning.

Bartley said on Tuesday: "Talks are still ongoing but I've just decided to go home and come back tomorrow and see what happens.

"No decisions have been made yet. We just have to wait and see."

Asked if he was expecting a final decision today, the centre half said: "I don't think so."

Bartley was then asked what the mood was like inside Murray Park and replied: "Not great."

Asked about the gesture made by his Wylde, Bartley told media waiting outside the Milngavie complex: "It's fantastic."

The defender then told Sky Sports News: "All the players who will be taking wage cuts or leaving will be saving people's jobs.

"I don't think anyone who is still at the club wants to leave but it is a situation where some may have to leave to benefit the club.

"My parent club is Arsenal. It was said I'd go back if there were cuts but nothing has been decided yet. I am still a Rangers player for this season as it stands.

"It is a shame that such a big club has come to such a crisis. It is a very sad time for Rangers."

Rangers' financial timeline:

2010: November 18 - Scottish tycoon Craig Whyte confirms to the Stock Exchange he is considering making an offer and is in talks with MIH regarding a proposed takeover.

2011: April 1 - Rangers announce an £11.9million profit for the last six months of 2010 but £2.8million is wiped off for a one-off tax payment over an issue relating to 1999-2003. Alistair Johnston admits the other ongoing tax probe could leave Rangers with a bill they cannot afford to pay.

May 6 - Whyte announces his acquisition of Murray International Holdings' 85.3% shareholding in Rangers for £1 after the Takeover Panel ratify the protracted deal.

May 6 - Hours after the takeover a statement released by the Independent Board Committee, led by former chairman Alistair Johnston, revealed their continued scepticism over Whyte's ability to fund his pledges, including a promise to invest £25million in the playing squad over five years.

May 9 - Whyte claimed he was "very confident" Rangers would win their HM Revenue and Customs tax case regarding an issue which relates to offshore payments to players from 2001.

May 24 - Johnston and Paul Murray are removed from their roles as directors. Chief executive Martin Bain and director Donald McIntyre are suspended.

June 20 - Bain instructs his lawyers to open legal proceedings against Rangers. Four days later, Bain resigns.

September 13 - Bain succeeds in having £480,000 of the club's assets frozen while pursuing a legal case. During the hearing at the Court of Session in Edinburgh Judge Lord Hodge warned there was a "real and substantial risk of insolvency" if the club were to lose its battle with the taxman.

October 10 - McIntyre resigns as finance director but remains as an employee of the club. Just over a week later, he has £300,000 of Rangers' cash frozen pending a court case.

October 21 - Whyte warned of "significant" cuts at the club and admitted they faced a "crisis situation" over their two ongoing tax disputes.

November 30 - Rangers' annual financial figures show net debt has been halved to around £14million. The club also confirm Whyte had previously been disqualified as a company directory for seven years from 2000.

December 9 - Rangers agree an undisclosed out-of-court settlement with McIntyre.

2012: January 9 - Rangers had their shares suspended from trading on the stock exchange after submitting unaudited accounts.

January 18 - A three-day tax tribunal closes in Edinburgh.

January 31 - Rangers sell top goalscorer Nikica Jelavic to Everton but fail to replace him before the transfer window closes. Whyte admits using three years' worth of future season ticket sales to secure funds but denies using the money to fund his takeover.

February 5 - Whyte warns the club could face "the toughest few weeks" in it's history as he awaited the verdict into their tax tribunal.

February 13 - Rangers lodge their intention to go into administration at the Court of Session in Edinburgh. Whyte says the club's final tax bill could amount to £75million.

February 14 - Rangers appoint administrators Duff and Phelps in the Court of Session in Edinburgh. The Scottish Premier League confirm the club have been deducted 10 points, leaving them 14 points behind leaders Celtic.

February 21 - Administrators confirm that money from the Ticketus deal was used by Whyte to complete his takeover of the club. The firm paid £24million to secure the right to sell future season tickets.

February 23 - Rangers director of football Gordon Smith and chief operating officer Ali Russell agree to leave the club.

February 27 - Rangers were fined £50,000 by the PLUS Stock Exchange for failing to disclose owner Whyte was previously disqualified as a director.

March 6 - Reports claim Gregg Wylde is amongst five players who agreed to leave the club without taking any redundancy package.
 

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