Summer Ibrox exit looms for Madjid Bougherra

MADJID Bougherra, an injured absentee in Rangers' 1-0 victory over Hamilton yesterday, has claimed that he has turned down a new two-year contract extension at Ibrox and is set to leave this summer.

The Algeria internationalist has a year left on his deal, but clubs in Qatar and Turkey have indicated they want to sign the defender, who also has ambition to play in the English Premier League. Incoming Rangers manager Ally McCoist clearly wants to keep Bougherra and the former Charlton ace was offered a new deal. But Bougherra has rejected the chance to continue his career at Ibrox. He said: "Rangers offered me a chance to extend my contract by another two years, but I politely refused. I have spent three wonderful years here in Glasgow and I want to try a new challenge.

"I have one year left of my contract with Rangers and everything depends on discussions I have with the people in charge of the club. If I do stay another year, there will be no problem on my side because I've only known good times with Rangers. Now if there is a great challenge for me elsewhere and the club is okay with it, I think I will be leaving."

Walter Smith, who watched his side scrape past Hamilton thanks to a 44th-minute goal from Nikica Jelavic after Allan McGregor had saved a penalty from Dougie Imrie at the other end, expressed surprise at Bougherra's comments.

Asked about Bougherra's situation, Smith said that negotiations had been conducted by Rangers chief executive Martin Bain. "A new contract? That wasn't exactly my understanding of how things had gone. Martin Bain was in discussions with his agent. Martin has never mentioned that to me."

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