SAY IT AIN’T
RANGERS LATEST Ranieri and Leicester mates told Dodoo he was mad to join Gers
Wales want Ryan Giggs as their new boss if Chris Coleman quits to take over at Hull City.
The Tigers are ready to triple Coleman’s wages to £1.5million a year after he led the Welsh to the semi-finals at Euro 2016.
Although the former Fulham boss recently signed a new two-year contract, the Welsh FA are aware he could be tempted by a return to the Premier League.
I f Coleman does decide to go then Giggs is the man Wales chiefs would turn to as they plot qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
The Manchester United legend wants to move into management and would be a popular replacement. New Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has told John Terry that he can play on into his 40s.
The 3 5 - y e a r - old stopper looked to be on his way out after almost 18 years at Stamford Bridge – only for Conte to sanction the offer of
Even while Joe Dodoo was being given a guided tour of Ibrox – other clubs were trying to stop him signing for Rangers.
But after just four weeks in Glasgow, the former Leicester City striker is glad he didn’t listen to any of them.
It would have been easy for the 21-year-old to continue plying his trade down south. Even if he didn’t fancy being a fringe player with the newly-crowned English champions, he was sought after elsewhere.
But Dodoo took the plunge by moving to Scotland and committing himself to Mark Warburton and Rangers for the next four years.
And just 56 minutes into his Ibrox career, the youngster was convinced he’d have no regrets. He said: “Ranieri said a few little things to me.
“But it was a decision I had to make myself and I felt it was the right one.
“He respected it and he had no choice because my contract at Leicester was up. The opportunity came up, Rangers were keen to make it happen and I ’ m really happy with it.
“Leicester offered me a long-term deal and it was a big decision for me as a young player.
“Even though they’d have liked me to stay, I felt leaving was the best option.
“When I was up training with Rangers, other teams tried to get me.
“But I had to look at what was on the table and what was right for me. That was Rangers.
“In England there was some surprise at me coming here. But at the end of the day it’s Rangers so I don’t know why anyone would be surprised. I d idn’t pay any attention to it. “Mark is a great manager and I really l ike the way he plays football. It’s total football and that suits me. “For my development I’m better at Rangers. I’ll get more game time and the gaffer will teach me a lot. “I needed a manager who was going to help me get better. “Everyone has made me feel wanted at Rangers, from when I first walked in. The players have made it easy to fit in. They’re a tight bunch.
“Doing as well as they did last season, they got really tight. Leicester were like that as well. Having a close-knit group makes it easier to achieve things. It’s like a brotherhood.
“Seeing that, and how similar it is to Leicester, made me realise this is where I want to be.”
There’s also the added advantage for Dodoo of having a ready-made mentor at Ibrox in the shape of veteran hitman Kenny Miller, with the ex-Foxes kid already learning f rom the 36- year- old. Dodoo – an unused sub in yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Hamilton – said: “I can t a ke plent y f rom Kenny. He’s one of the most vocal lads in the dressing room and he’s great for the young players. I know I can pick his mind on cer tain things. I wat ch him in training and he’s constantly contributing in our video analysis sessions.
“He’s coming up with points that maybe sometimes you’ve not seen. I’ll look at it twice then think, ‘Ah, okay’.
“Kenny’s always trying to teach everyone. That’s actually what’s great about being at Rangers. Everyone is so passionate and wants to learn. I’m learning things every day.
“It’s amazing to have a player like that beside me, with so much experience.
“I’ll learn so much from him over time and I’ve only been here a month. Imagine how much I’ll have learned come the end of the season?”
You’d think as a teenage player at Leicester, Dodoo would have been blissfully unaware of the turbulence at Ibrox over the last five years.
But he revealed that even as a trainee at the King Power Stadium – with no affiliation to Gers – he was still well clued up. That’s why he’s now determined to play his part in helping them become Scotland’s No.1 club again.
He said: “It came as a shock. Rangers were the team who had dominated this league for years. So when the problems came, you couldn’t really miss it.
“I saw what happened and it’s great