Wylde relieved to have his Rangers contract signed and sealed

Rangers youngster Gregg Wylde admits he is relieved to be able to focus fully on events on the park now after signing a new long-term contract.

The 20-year-old winger ended weeks of speculation over his future when he finally put pen to paper on a five-year-deal on Thursday. Wylde was the subject of a failed bid from Bolton earlier this month but is now looking forward to having a big future with the Scottish champions.

He told Rangers’ website: “It’s been carrying on for a wee while now and I’m just delighted to get it settled and to concentrate on things on the park. It went on for a few months but I spoke to the gaffer a few days ago and told him I wanted to stay and he was delighted because that was what he wanted too.

“There were a few clubs interested and there was a bid from Bolton that was rejected, and I told the club that I didn’t want to move, I wanted to stay here. I’ve been a fan since I was a wee boy and Murray Park was on my doorstep. Now I’ve been involved with the first team for a few years. When I’ve been playing as regularly as I have there would be no point in moving on when I’m happy here. I’m over the moon with the five-year deal and I can look forward to the time I have ahead here.”

Ally McCoist had reiterated his desire to retain the services of the young player after throwing out Bolton’s bid, and Wylde paid tribute to the manager for the part he played in helping to broker the new deal. He added: “To sign for five years at one of the biggest clubs in the world is great and I’m really looking forward to working under the manager.

Wylde signed the contract an hour before Rangers’ Europa League play-off second leg against Maribor, which saw them crash out of the competition at the hands of the Slovenians with a 1-1 draw on the night and a 3-2 aggregate loss, and hopes to play in tomorrow’s clash at home to Aberdeen. “The game on Sunday against Aberdeen will be a tough one but after the defeat in Europe we have to bounce back at home,” he said.

Aberdeen manager Craig Brown has urged his players to show greater consistency of performance throughout their contest at Ibrox. Aberdeen followed a run of four games without scoring with victories over Inverness and Dundee, but they had to hold off some late pressure to win both matches. The former Scotland manager said: “One thing for certain is Rangers will be hurting after the unfortunate European exit. A wounded animal is a dangerous one and we are very well aware that Rangers will have to react, but we want to maintain our decent results in the last couple of games. We need to be right up for the game and consistent in the way we play. The team is getting to know each other better.”