Scottish Championship: Pulling power one reason to back Rangers
Published:
After three seasons in the lower-league doldrums following liquidation in 2012, Rangers are tough to oppose at 2/5 for an automatic return to the top tier by winning the Ladbrokes Scottish Championship.
Having attracted former Brentford boss Mark Warburton to Ibrox following the Londoner’s unjust dismissal from Griffin Park at the end of last term, the 54-time champions of Scotland clearly sense their spell away from the top table is coming to an end.
Warburton has already made a few astute signings, none more so than former Rangers, Everton and Scotland centre-half David Weir as his assistant, while ex-English Premier League pair Danny Wilson and Martyn Waghorn have been added to the playing ranks.
A measure of the fallen Glaswegian giants’ perceived dominance in the second tier can be taken by their pursuit of 2014/15 Scottish Championship PFA Player of the Year Scott Allan, who currently plies his trade with 3/1 second-favourites to win the division Hibernian.
Despite Hibs boss Alan Stubbs’ assertion that the midfielder isn’t going anywhere, the fact that Allan is a Rangers fan and hails from his country’s most populous city suggests otherwise.
Warburton and co have already had a couple of bids rejected for the 23-year-old, who left West Brom on a free transfer last term after loan spells at Portsmouth, MK Dons and Birmingham, with the last offer going in at £225,000.
Hibs were forced to release a statement confirming Allan had handed in a transfer request that was rejected, going on to announce:
“Hibernian FC has refused both bids because the club has no wish to transfer a valuable player to strengthen a major rival in the battle to win the Championship and gain promotion to the Premiership.
“Hibernian’s position has not changed. The player will not be sold to Rangers.”
Money talks though, and with Allan’s heart already at Ibrox, it will be difficult for Stubbs to keep him on board.
Such a move would see Rangers’ skinny 2/5 odds shrink even further.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
Fancy a flutter? Sign up today to claim up to £25 in free bets.
