Five- card trick costs Rangers
❑ RON VLAAR has handed Aston Villa a major boost by confi rming he is fi t to face Manchester United on Saturday.
The Dutch defender has not played since Tim Sherwood’s fi rst match in charge against Stoke on February 21 when he was red- carded, gifting the Potters a last- gasp penalty winner.
Vlaar, 30, said: “I hope to be involved against United. A run of games is what I’m aiming for now – for myself and for the team.
“It has been really hard. Injuries have happened to me a few times this season and the feeling I have now is I’m as happy as a child.” PROMOTION back to the Scottish Premier League is set to leave Rangers out of pocket after they promised to pay Newcastle a six- fi gure bonus as part of the deal for the ill- fated ‘ Ibrox fi ve’.
The Magpies are set to earn £ 500,000 from the cash- strapped Glaswegians, for sending them what has been in effect a load of crocks. The windfall will be triggered if the fallen giants earn a route back to the top fl ight in May.
That would see them pocket promotion prize money of £ 342,000 – £ 158,000 short of the amount they would be due to pay out to Newcastle for their ‘ part’ in any success.
The clubs have been at loggerheads, with Rangers fuming that four of the fi ve players signed on loan from St James’ Park in January are yet to fi gure for them this season – and are unlikely to do so.
Newcastle’s Slovenian midfi elder Haris Vuckic has earned praise for his performances in boosting the play- off bid with some impressive displays since his move north of the border.
But midfi elders Gael Bigirimana and Shane Ferguson will not play again this season, with Swiss youth international Kevin Mbabu and highly- rated reserve defender Remie Streete also struggling to come into contention due to on- going fi tness problems dating back to their arrival in Scotland.
New Rangers boss Stuart McCall stopped short of publicly blaming the players, expressing sympathy for Bigirimana, 22, who has been prevented from fi guring due to a mystery condition that has left the Burundiborn former Coventry City player unable to give a date as to any potential comeback.
However, McCall claimed that at least ‘ two or three’ of the deals would not have happened had the players undergone proper medical checks at the time of their moves – a basic of any form of transfer which, to the astonishment of supporters, was not undertaken.
The loans for the fringe players were pushed through when Newcastle owner Mike Ashley was attempting to increase his stake in Rangers.
That aim has been put on ice after the latest boardroom shake- up at Ibrox left the controversial Sports Direct magnate out of the picture. A Rangers statement from their annual accounts, which revealed losses of almost £ 3 million, said: “As part of the loan contracts for the fi ve players, should we gain promotion this season we will be liable to pay Newcastle a total of £ 500,000.”
After runaway leaders Hearts clinched the Scottish Championship title last month, the best Rangers can hope for is promotion via the play- offs – as long as they fi nish in the top four.