The £1 deal that set Rangers on downward path

Football writer Stephen Halliday looks back ten years to the fateful day when Sir David Murray sold his stake in the Ibrox club to Craig Whyte.

Rangers have monopolised the shortlist for the Scottish Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award with four of Steven Gerrard’s squad in contention to win the prize.

Goalkeeper Allan Mcgregor, captain James Tavernier, defender Connor Goldson and midfielder Steven Davis are the four nominees for the oldest and most prestigious individual honour in Scottish football. The winner will be announced before the end of the season.

Inwhathasbeenaremarkably consistent season for Rangers, who have lost just three of the 54gamestheyhaveplayedinall competitions so far, it’s no surprise they have dominated the Player of the Year voting.

Mcgregor has enjoyed a vintage campaign, the former Scotland goalkeeper keeping 21 clean sheets in his 41 appearances and producing a series of outstanding saves at crucial moments of big games. The 39-year-old has signed a new one-year contract to extend his playingcareerintonextseason.

Tavernierwastheleadingcontender for the Player of the Year prize in the first half of the season, the attacking right-back scoring 17 goals in his first 27 games of the campaign. He was sidelined for two months by a knee injury sustained in February but has since returned to the side and will collect the Premiership trophy after Rangers’ final game against Aberdeen at Ibrox on May 15.

Goldsonhasbeenreliableand durable at the heart of Rangers’ defence. The 28-year-old has played every minute of every match, scoring eight goals as wellascontributingtohisteam’s fine defensive record.

Davis has excelled at the heart of Rangers’ midfield. He would bethefirstplayerfromhiscountrytowinthesfwaplayerofthe Yearawardinits57-yearhistory.