IBROX VIEW ...
We learned not overly long ago now that the infamous “Newcastle Five” would set Rangers back £500,000 if promotion was secured.
Once again Sports Direct/Mike Ashley profit from Rangers. But that is not the subject of debate.
With four of the five still yet to feature significantly for Rangers, only Haris Vuckic has carried the torch for the frankly absurd deal, scoring a boatload of goals and doing a great deal to increase his stock in the football world.
While he was technically a Slovenian international, truthfully no one had ever heard of him beyond keen-eyed Geordies but it is thanks to Rangers he has become an increasingly prominent figure in mid-level British football.
The question is, does his contribution justify the potential outlay of half a million pounds just for the privilege of having him and his injured chums train at Murray Park.
It is a tricky one. Many fans would argue the sacrifice of such a glut of cash is a good investment in the grand scheme of things, if Rangers do manage do achieve promotion with his goals and contribution playing a role in said accolade.
On the other hand, he is a loan, and beyond special circumstances (such as Falcao) loans are not supposed to have a price tag attached. And more than anything, they are certainly not supposed to have one attached as a result of a condition being achieved.
Given the fact his four chums are essentially crocks who have been registered to Rangers since late January but outwith him have managed 43 minutes of first team football between them, it seems an exorbitant price to pay for the return obtained.
Unfortunately given Rangers will already be charged £500,000 just for mere participation in the playoffs thanks to the SPFL voting a lock in, the Ibrox Club’s coffers are being tested at a time they need nothing but help.
Is Vuckic worth £500,000? If things were normal, he would possibly fetch that amount. But things are not normal and these circumstances are a blackmail clause rather than a player’s direct value.