It was pretty clear at Tynecastle on Tuesday night that, regardless of how he plays, John Souttar will get dogs abuse from a Hearts support that seems to think he owes them something.
Despite playing well and being the consummate professional, Souttar was booed throughout the win over St Johnstone which suggests that the best outcome for all parties might be for him to sign for Rangers earlier than anticipated.
Speaking to Football Insider, Alan Hutton reckons that it is a matter of when, not if, the deal will be completed when asked about Craig Levein’s comments on whether or not Souttar’s levels would drop:
“I get where Craig Levein’s coming from.
“Is he going to go into full-blooded challenges when he knows he’s going to Rangers at the end of the term? I don’t think that’s a problem. He’s a very combative footballer.
“I think the biggest problem surrounding the whole situation is how the fans react. It can be difficult for the player. You know he’s leaving at the end of the year to go to what is a rival.
“How do they take to him? Does opinion change on him? It can be difficult for the player as well, a loss of confidence if the fans are on your back and things like that.
“It’s in everybody’s best interest if they can strike some sort of deal to allow him to go this month.
“Then he’s got the time to bed in, hit the ground running and then look forward to next season.
“In my opinion, it will happen. It’s probably just a matter of time before it does.”
Anybody would think that Rangers have broken the rules and that it is the first ever Bosman in Scottish football between two clubs in the Premiership, Motherwell lost their top scorer to a challenger for the top six in Dundee United and wished him well with his future employee.
It’s funny because David Turnbull never gets booed playing for Celtic against Motherwell, or when they had Scott Allan or Stuart Armstrong with Hibs and Dundee United, compare and contrast with the treatment Ryan Jack got at Pittodrie – playing for Scotland – and you can only come to one conclusion.
“No one Likes us…….We don’t Care” – Graeme Souness pic.twitter.com/9QB8cHtviT
— Mr Van M (@MBS1872) May 20, 2016
Rangers are the establishment club, nobody likes us, we don’t care.