Gregg Wylde insists the current crop of Rangers players should not be criticised for refusing to accept a 15% deduction on their salaries.
The winger knows exactly how they feel.
Wylde was at Ibrox when the playing staff were first asked to take wage cuts two years ago as administrators Duff & Phelps tried to save the troubled club.
The 22-year-old became the first player to leave when he offered to have his contract ripped up and become a free agent, rather than risk non-playing staff losing their jobs at the club.
It was a move which went down well with the Light Blue legions, although the players who did accept cuts but eventually left on frees such as Allan McGregor, Steve Davis and Steven Whittaker became public enemies No 1 amongst the fans.
There seems less anger towards the players on this occasion as the vast majority of supporters lay the blame for the club’s troubles firmly at the door of both the previous and current Board.
Wylde, who has just signed for St Mirren following unsuccessful spells with Bolton Wanderers and Aberdeen, admitted: “This brings back unpleasant memories.
“You’ve got to remember players still have to pay for whatever houses they live in and whatever cars they drive.
“They’ve also got to put food on the table for their kids like everyone else.
“They’ve obviously got a lifestyle, too, and they’ve got to look after that.”
Rangers Chief Executive Graham Wallace floated the idea of Ally McCoist’s men boosting the club’s financial difficulties by agreeing to a reduction in their pay packets.
Captain Lee McCulloch consulted his team-mates over the proposal before informing the Board it wasn’t something the players were willing to give the go-ahead to.
Wylde feels sympathy for the existing players now in a similar plight to what he experienced but hopes their decision to reject the proposal won’t earn them stick from the supporters.
“Two years ago, I first heard about our pay being affected when I was going into training, and it wasn’t a nice situation to be in,” he recalled.
“My mum and dad were asking me what was happening, and so were all my friends. I didn’t really have any answers.
“It was the same for all the players at that time, and I’m sure the current Rangers players are experiencing the same thing.
“It’s certainly not a nice situation to be in.
“But you have to try and block it out, and still do your job on the park.”
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