Bluepeter9 5,167 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Rangers Men Personified!! - Note the bit I had not thought about the risk of injury to Big Lee.Rangers in crisis: Ibrox star Lee McCulloch offers to play for free as administrators prepare to wield the axe Mar 5 2012 Exclusive by James Traynor and Keith Jackson LEE McCULLOCH last night offered to play for Rangers for free until the club has emerged from its financial crisis.And Record Sport understands the veteran has also made it clear that, even though he could end up more than a quarter of a million pounds out of pocket, he will not expect any of his money back after the club is in the hands of new owners.The extraordinary move will place the administrators under enormous pressure not to bullet McCulloch this morning when they arrive at Murray Park to start tapping manager Ally McCoist’s players on the shoulder as part of a swingeing cost-cutting plan to save £1m a month.We can also reveal that McCoist has agreed to sign an identical deal to help spare as many of his players as possible from the firing squad.But McCulloch’s remarkable pledge to pay to play for the jersey – waiving his contractual right to a wage of around £20,000 a week, while placing himself at risk of injury – may even have stunned the men from Duff and Phelps who had placed his name on a list of 11 top targets.McCulloch instructed Players’ Union chief Fraser Wishart to make the formal offer to the administrators yesterday as the clock ticked down to this morning’s expected Murray Park cull.We understand at least four other players have also been in talks with Wishart over the weekend, offering to do what they can to help save jobs.But the 33-year-old is the only one so far who has volunteered to go without any kind of pay. Union bosses were furious on Friday when the administrators turned down an offer for the entire playing staff to take 75 per cent deferrals on their wages.They believe the money that would have saved would have been more than enough to keep the club in business until the end of the season.And they warned any compromise deals will be removed if even one of McCoist’s men is shown the door today. They have also been angered by a warning from the administrators that, even after some contracts have been terminated, huge mandatory pay cuts could still be enforced on those players who remain. The news of McCulloch’s pledge came as Paul Murray, whose Blue Knights consortium is believed to be the club’s best hope of avoiding liquidation, was in talks with the administrators, urging them to limit the job losses.Murray met with top brass from Duff and Phelps at Ibrox on Saturday to continue his efforts to rescue Rangers from the hands of disgraced owner Craig Whyte.After learning of McCulloch’s intentions last night Murray pleaded with the money men to see sense.The former Deutsche Bank high-flyer told Record Sport: “If it is true that one of our players has offered to make such a massive financial sacrifice for the good of the club the administrators are professionally and morally obliged to accept it.“My first reaction to this is that Lee McCulloch epitomises everything that Rangers Football Club is about. It’s about people like Lee and Ally McCoist – people who love the club and are prepared to do anything they can to defend the club and to save the club. It’s an incredible gesture.”McCoist wants as many of his players as possible to be saved as he bids to secure a second-place finish in the SPL, worth around £900,000.McCulloch has emerged as a key man, having played as a stand-in striker after the sale of Nikica Jelavic to Everton and injuries to Kyle Lafferty and Steven Naismith. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smile 26,622 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Well done big lee. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeWallaceRFC 3,920 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I'm sure others will follow suit i.e. Shagger, Davis etc. Although some players understandably will take a pay cut but not absolutely nothing due to mortgages etc.But Big Jig Showing that he's a true blue in our hour of need. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grindhouse 97 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Good on them both Fantastic attitude and just the type of people we need during this difficult time Legends Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Der Hammer 160 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 As much as i don't think McCoist is a good manager and i don't rate McCulloch as a player all that sinks to the background.What the 2 of them are doing is remarkable in this day and age and shows what true Rangers men they are.I salute them and nothing that happens on the pitch can ever beat what they are doing to help the club.WELL DONE SUPER AND BIG JIG Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFC55 109,706 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Wonderful gesture although not in anyway a dig at lee but if he was going to be made redundant then he would be aswell playing for free Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelrug 268 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I am not surprised one bit by Jig's offer. Many people may have slated him in the past but surely his commitment should never be doubted.He is doing what you, I and any other supporter would do.Well done big man. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bombaybadboy08 15,660 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Makes you proud to be a Ranger. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_RFC87 761 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Jig and Ally Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mafia32 93 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Brings a tear to the eye. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2daludaludalu 390 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Well done Ally and Lee. True Rangers who are only thinking of the club. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanow 72 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 :praise: Loving these two right now more than ever ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryH 15 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Well done Ally and Lee. True Rangers who are only thinking of the club.Hats off to both of them!! True blue through and through!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossS1873 1,685 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Super Ally and Big Jig. Will always be remembered for this Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WVB 2,560 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Brings a tear to the eye.It sure does.What a gesture. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralCartmanLee 313 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 At 20k a week each i hope they have saved some of our normal staff from the chop with this gesture...well done lads, it sums the pair of them up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caseyjones 3,009 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 At 20k a week each i hope they have saved some of our normal staff from the chop with this gesture...well done lads, it sums the pair of them up. If he was going anyway, it won't have saved anyone else's job. There's still no guarantee that the administrators will spare him as his wages will be an on-going problem. Either way, it's a fine gesture, if true. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzalivesforever 1,990 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Respect when respect is due. Jig just earned himself a spot in the hall of fame. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFC55 109,706 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 It really does help that we have a group of players that actually care about the club! In lee and Ally we also have 2 guys that would probably have their balls cut off if it helped the club Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bothwellbear 1,392 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Exactly the kind of people we need around our club. Would be nice to see a few more make the gesture and i imagine there will be. A great gesture from a real Rangers man. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelrug 268 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Ally's comments on Saturday were proof of the nature of the man. Speaking of people having "wee fly kicks" and telling them to have a good kick because we won't be where we are for long.His attitude, desire to be a winner and abilities were questioned as a player and we all know how that turned out.The man is a fighter and will never give up on our club. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MosesMcNeil 1,664 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 It's deeply heartening to learn of the calibre of those who step up to the plate when it matters most of all.Lee McCulloch - made of the right stuff Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chef 436 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 The put the boot in at every opportunity boys won't like this, I see some struggle to accept this gesture for what it is, they have a certain class these two and I don't think they are doing this for anything other than the benefit of rangers and those young ones around them, amazing gesture.It's officially national pie week Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearette 23 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Haven't exactly been Jig's biggest fan over the years. But you can never deny his love for Rangers.Hats off Lee - a true blue. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAP1872 138 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Well done lads! fantastic gesture Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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