SECOND CHANCE
MARK WILSON Flanagan deserves Ibrox opportunity, insists McAllister
GARY McALLISTER believes ‘remorseful’ Jon Flanagan deserves a second chance as he closes in on becoming Steven Gerrard’s seventh summer signing at Rangers.
The 25-year-old, a former team-mate of Gerrard’s at Liverpool, underwent a medical yesterday and is expected to join up with the Ibrox side’s training camp in Spain today.
Flanagan is a free agent after being released by Liverpool, but the signing would provoke debate given his off-field issues.
In January, the full-back was given a 12-month community order after he admitted to assaulting his girlfriend.
Rangers assistant manager McAllister insists there can be no excuses for Flanagan’s actions, but that he should be allowed the opportunity of rehabilitation.
‘I feel that,’ said McAllister. ‘It was unacceptable, most definitely. I have a little bit of an in because I worked at Liverpool, but it was unacceptable and a really poor decision that he made in that episode.
‘But he deserves a second chance. He showed remorse, he
put his hand up and has taken his punishment. ‘He wants to get on with his life and his football life.’ Flanagan’s development at Anfield was hampered by serious knee injuries that led to two operations. He made 51 Liverpool appearances in total after his debut in 2011 and has spent time on loan at Burnley and Bolton Wanderers in the last two seasons. Flanagan also earned an England cap with a substitute appearance in a 2014 friendly against Ecuador. ‘The club is in talks,’ confirmed McAllister. ‘We are in the medical stages at the moment and that is going to be in-depth because Jon Flanagan has had problems in the past with parts of his body. ‘It is deep and thorough and that is where it’s at. ‘I haven’t worked with him directly but I know him from my time at Liverpool. He’s tough, unassuming, he is an old school full-back that can play either side. ‘He can play in a back four, a back five or a back three, so he is versatile. ‘But the big thing is that we know him, we know his character and we think he can deal with 50,000 fans. ‘The expectation here is exactly the same as Liverpool. ‘Dealing with those expectations and the crowd is something we know he can cope with.