Rangers: Kris Boyd ‘would play for free’

AS FINANCIAL storm clouds gather once again over Ibrox, at least one senior player reveals that he would be prepared to pull on the jersey without being paid.

Rangers striker Kris Boyd. Picture: SNS

That may be necessary should the club lose its appeal against former director Imran Ahmad freezing half of the money in their bank account while he pursues a claim against them, especially if the existing shareholders do not raise the £4 million required to keep the lights on for another month.

Striker Kris Boyd, though, claims he is now playing for the love of the game and stated that he sought no assurances about Rangers’ financial health when he agreed to rejoin them during the summer.

“When I first joined Rangers, I was desperate to play for the club and I got that feeling back,” he said. “I would have walked through the doors for nothing.”

Speaking as Rangers announced Maggie’s as their Charity Foundation’s partner for this season, Boyd added: “I wanted the jersey back on. I don’t want to sound smart or ignorant, but whatever I earn between now and the end of my career is not going to change the way I live.

“I’ve managed my finances over the past few years to get what I hope is correct for me and my family. Whatever I do between now and then is a matter of getting myself back enjoying the game. I started off as a young kid going on to a football field and scoring goals. I did that last year.

“We can sit here and talk about assurances and this and that but, for what I went to Kilmarnock and played for and what I did last year, I can be proud. I want to do the same here and make up for the time I lost. The most important thing is we do things right as players and perform.”

Boyd is in the fortunate position of not having any concerns about life after football after lucrative moves to Middlesbrough, Eskisehirspor and Portland Timbers but he is of the opinion that none of the his team-mates should allow their form to be affected by the problems which threaten to engulf the club.

“I’ll continue to do what I do,” he said. “I’ll train hard, go into the games and try to get results for this club.

“For us, as players, the most important thing is to get in the team and train to stay in the team.”

“Hearts have started the season really well but it will be interesting to see if they can maintain that. Them beating us was a wake-up call and we have been on a good run since.

“We’ve kicked on and been undefeated. We’ve been up and down in a few games but we’ve shown why we are favourites for the league and I think it’s only a matter of time until we start clicking and we can win games more comfortably.”