A CHANCE TO CROSS THE GREAT DIVIDE...
FOSTER BACKS SCOTT TO SHINE IF HE LEAVES DONS FOR RANGERS
LEAVING Pittodrie for Ibrox is a journey that tends to come with a little more baggage t han a regular 150-mile trip. The bitter rivalry between Aberdeen and Rangers makes that obvious. For some of the supporters you leave behind, forgiveness is difficult to find.
Richard Foster knows that. He was the first player in the 21st century to cross the divide from north to south when he spent the 2010-11 campaign on loan at Ibrox. It was a move made in a quest for self-improvement. And one that earned him a league medal under the guidance of Walter Smith.
A decade on, and with Rangers closing in on their first title since that season, Foster feels the challenge could be similarly embraced by Scott Wright. He can see an opportunity for Wright to learn and grow if he becomes the latest to trade red for blue.
The Ibrox club have informed Aberdeen of their intention to discuss a pre- contract with the 23-year-old attacking midfielder. Concluding an agreement for the summer would then open the way to try and accelerate the transfer before the January window closes.
Foster feels sympathy for Derek McInnes at the likelihood of losing a player who has just blossomed this season.
But he also understands the lure for Wright in trying to raise himself to the standards being set by Ryan Kent and others within Steven Gerrard’s squad.
‘I think he would fit into the Rangers system really well,’ Foster told Sportsmail.
‘He understands the game very well and takes up intelligent positions. He’s quick and sharp. If you go there and start playing beside players like Ryan Kent, l i ke Ianis Hagi, l i ke Alfredo Morelos up top, your game is going to improve.
‘You have to look at it two ways. If he is a confident lad and backs his own ability, then, if he goes there, he has to say: “I’m going to show the manager that I can get in the team”.
‘At the same time, you would hope that part of that would be watching the guys he is training beside. You want to see what they do and try and improve your game to a level where it is on a par with them.
‘Let’s be honest, Ryan Kent cost £7million. You are not expecting Scott Wright to go there and be as good as Ryan Kent straight away. But with the potential and ability he has got, there is no telling why he can’t get there at some point.
‘You look at the midfield coaches he would have at Rangers. They were unbelievable players. That knowledge could also be imparted to hopefully improve his game.’
When put to Foster that he made the switch to Ibrox with more first-team experience than Wright, the 35-year-old quipped: ‘Aye, but I think Scott has a lot more ability than me!’
Clearly, though, mental strength is something of a prerequisite. That goes for leaving Aberdeen for Rangers. And in trying to force a breakthrough at Ibrox. Sone Aluko — in 2011 — and Ryan y Jack — in 2017 — followed Foster in making the switch.
‘I looked at Rangers having the likes of Steve Davis, Lee McCulloch and David Weir,’ said Foster, who was appointed Aberdeen captain after returning from the loan before a second spell at Rangers between 2013 and 2015.
‘The full-backs were Sasa Papac and Steven Whittaker. All top players.
‘I knew I was going as a squad p player y but I felt I was at a stage g in my career when I could also improve. I knew I was going to be able to learn — and learn from one of the best Rangers managers ever in Walter Smith.
‘I was probably thinking quite selfishly, in that I could improve my game by learning from excellent international players.
‘I had played against st Rangers plenty of times. People eople a l wa y s asked why hy Aberdeen raised their ir game against Rangers. . It was because the fans raised their game and we fed off that.
‘Is the rivalry still the e same now as i n the e past? I think the reason on behind it has probably ably changed over the years ears — because i t has been t here since the 1980s and people just continue it on. There is still this undercurrent.
‘In my opinion, Aberdeen are t he t hi r d bi ggest c l ub in Scotland. So there is a basis for rivalry anyway because the big two are from Glasgow.
‘It’s always going to be there for a certain extent, but the darker undercurrent is not something we really need.
‘It adds a spice to the games, but sometimes it crosses a line. Certain players, myself included, have received stick for basically trying to go and further your career.’
Even with no fans currently inside Pittodrie to make clear their displeasure, Foster doesn’t think anyone would benefit from Wright signing a pre- contract with Range Rangers and then seeing out the sea season with Aberdeen. ‘ If it i s to be done, Ab Aberdeen would still ra rather get it over the li line this month,’ said th the full-back, now with P Partick Thistle.
‘Yes, we don’t have fa fans in stadia but we hav have f ans on s ocial medi media. ‘Espec ‘Especially with the history between the two clubs, I think it would be better for the player — and both clubs — for it to be done and dusted in January.
‘I feel sorry for Derek McInnes. In the past few seasons, how many of his top players has he lost?
‘He is used to the situation. I’m not saying Scott is an easy player to replace, but Derek has had to do that over his period in charge and has constantly come up with the answers.’