RANGERS have put their Scottish international keeper, Andy Goram, on
sale after a ''disagreement'' between him and manager Walter Smith.
The manager announced the decision as part of a shake-up among the
playing staff, which could cost about #10m.
New players will be coming to the club and nine are for sale,
including English internationalist Gary Stevens, former Soviet Union
star Oleg Kuznetsov, and Dutch winger Pieter Huistra.
However, 30-year-old Goram's inclusion will be a shock to fans still
suffering after the 1-0 Scottish Cup final defeat by Dundee United on
Saturday. He has been capped 29 times for Scotland and is considered one
of the finest goalkeepers in Britain.
Smith would not go into details of the row, other than to say that the
two had disagreed ''about how he should handle his training when he is
recovering from injury''.
He added: ''It is regrettable but I feel it is the only way the
situation can be resolved.''
Goram was the first signing made by Smith when he took over from
Graeme Souness three years ago, costing #1m from Hibs.
He suffered a serious knee injury which needed surgery in the US and
kept him out of action following last season's Scottish Cup final until
February this year. He played 10 successive club games as well as one
friendly international against Holland before being sidelined again
through injury.
He had hoped to be fit again for the cup final on Saturday but did not
make it. His deputy, Ally Maxwell, was at the centre of controversy when
Rangers lost a sloppy goal which proved to be the United winner.
Smith would not say if he would be signing a replacement for Goram.
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