BATES RATES WERE TOO HIGH
Gers refused to cave in to defender’s wage demands
DAViD BAteS has signed for hamburg after Rangers refused to bow to wage demands of around £7500 a week.
The fledgling defender, 21, has won a surprise move to Germany at the end of his deal but is likely to start his new adventure in Bundesliga 2.
He’s joined the relegation-threatened club on a four-year deal just two years
after moving to Rangers from Raith Rovers, initially on loan.
Rangers are in line to net only a five-figure compensation payment under FIFA guidelines but pointblank refused to meet salary demands from Bates and his advisors they believed excessive.
His package would have outstripped considerably the salary levels of other Rangers youngsters and Ibrox chairman Dave King and his board decided to draw the line on a player who has made just 19 appearances for the club.
Bates made himself the first name on the teamsheet under Graeme Murty with impressive performances in the last couple of months.
But he hasn’t played since suffering an ankle injury in the 3-2 defeat to Celtic last month although he hopes to return before the end of the campaign.
The defender though is relishing his new adventure.
Bates said: “After a whirlwind 48 hours I am absolutely delighted to have my future sorted.
“Like Rangers, HSV are an iconic club with tremendous history and all the pressures that come with that.
“They have given me a lot of faith in their recruitment and I can’t wait to kick on and develop further as a player. It was an opportunity I don’t think anyone could turn down.”
Bates went on to thank everyone connected with Rangers for their support and said he hopes to play again before he leaves.
He said: “I’d like to thank all the fans, staff and board for the last two years.
“Hopefully I can get fit enough to help in some way to finish as high as possible.”
Hamburg are favourites to be relegated from the Bundesliga as they sit 17th, five points off Mainz in the play-off spot.