Rangers announced their release list earlier this month and, perhaps, the most surprising name on the list was that of Ciaran Dickson.
The Scotland youth cap had experienced first-team football under Steven Gerrard and signed a two-year extension to his contract during the season, however, this was ripped up and cancelled.
Writing in The Athletic, Jordan Campbell revealed that. series of disciplinary issues were behind the midfielder’s exit, and, speaking to Football Insider, Alan Hutton hopes that it is the “kick up the backside” that the player needs to get his career back on track:
“You never like to see it. The thing I will say is it’s obviously not the first time. He’s obviously been given opportunities in the past and let the manager or the side down.
“On the flip side, it may be the kick up the backside he needs to spur him on and say: ‘Right, I need to screw my head on.’
“What an opportunity to throw away. It’s such a shame. A young, talented player throwing it away on discipline reasons.
“It’s nothing to do with footballing ability, it’s time-keeping, keeping yourself in check, doing the right things.
“It’s a mentality thing, which is a real shame.
“You hope he can bounce back from it but this obviously isn’t the first time it’s happened. It’s happened a lot for Rangers to take this stance moving forward.
“It will be disappointing. You just don’t want to see any young footballer fall by the wayside because off ill-discipline.”
Former youth player Ciaran Dickson playing for Burnley today against Rangers B. pic.twitter.com/vCFQ6nf6sn
— Ibrox Chat (@IbroxChat) July 14, 2021
Dickson would have been competing with Stephen Kelly for a role in and around the first-team this season, however, he now has to start again, yes, he is talented and with clubs like Burnley said to be interested in him, he could yet get another chance at the highest level.
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Rangers may have lost out on a potential transfer fee but Gerrard is right to crack the whip here, the players should know where the line is and if Dickson has crossed it repeatedly, there was no other choice, as Hutton says, it’s a shame but there is only one person to blame.