“It’s time to leave” – Blow for Rangers as top talent departs

Unfortunately, we can’t have it our own way, we’ve saved – or made – millions, potentially, by signing Calvin Bassey and Charlie McCann from Premier League sides at the end of their contracts so can’t really complain when our best youngsters decide to move in the opposite direction.

Scotland Under-17 international, Rory Wilson, has been in fine form this season, scoring over 40 goals for the Under-18s, however, instead of signing professional terms with Rangers, he has decided to head over the border, as reported by Glasgow Live:

“Rangers have been brilliant for me. There’s no getting away from that. But it’s time to move on and get to the next level.

“I’d like to thank Rangers for everything they have done for me because it’s been great for me over the last eight years, but it’s time to leave.

“I’ll probably be going down south.

“We’ll wait and see what happens in the next couple of weeks. Everything will be sorted very soon.

“At Rangers, all the coaches have been fantastic for me. I can’t thank them enough for all their help.

“I want to go down south and try and prove myself and become a top player and that’s what I am going to do.”

At the risk of sounding bitter, he could easily have moved to the next level at Rangers, played B team football for a season and been in and around the first-team, it’s almost like he is jumping ship at the earliest opportunity and been listening to his agents rather than his coaches.

Unlike in the case of Billy Gilmour, we are a settled club now and as shown by Alex Lowry and Leon King, if you perform in the academy teams, you will get your chance, but we all know the differences in terms of wages for a Premier League youth player and one in Scotland.

Wilson may have seen the likes of Tony Weston, Robbie Ure and Juan Alegria in the older groups and thought that, as a striker, his pathway to the senior squad isn’t an easy one but with Aston Villa the favourites to sign him, you can’t help but think we’ve been stitched up a little bit here.

The 16-year old goes with our best wishes, I just hope he doesn’t live to regret making such a big decision so early in his career.