Rangers will allow Neil Alexander to leave if he wants

Published on Monday 14 December 2009 22:02

WALTER Smith has revealed he would be prepared to let side-lined goalkeeper Neil Alexander leave Rangers.

Alexander has said he will consider quitting the club if he continues to play second fiddle to the in-form Allan McGregor.

Alexander, 31, made his first Clydesdale Bank Premier League appearance of the season in Saturday's 3-0 win over St Johnstone after McGregor suffered a hamstring injury. He will also start tonight's trip to Dundee United but is resigned to losing his place once his rival is fit – as he has done during his entire two-year Rangers career.

Smith said: "If he does come and say to me that he would like to go somewhere else and play, then obviously if the time's right and the opportunity's there then we have to let him do so."

Smith insists he can understand the frustration felt by the former Livingston, Cardiff City and Ipswich Town keeper, adding: "It's natural; footballers want to play football.

"Especially in the goalkeeping position, you don't get that many opportunities."

Alexander is one of a number of Ibrox players to have been linked with a January move away from the club and Smith joked: "He's probably joined the long list of our players who are all leaving in January.

"It's impossible for us to win a league championship with the amount of them who are leaving in that transfer window.

"I think it was eight this morning," he said.

Smith admitted it had been awkward repeatedly axing Alexander, despite the keeper having not put a foot wrong.

"As a manager, you stand or fall by those decisions," he said.

"But it is awkward, considering that he's a terrific professional. He's not let the disappointment prevent him applying himself to the game."

He added: "He's been excellent for us when he's come in and played."