Rangers finalise contract with Max Cameron as Ibrox chief speaks out
Max Cameron has committed his future to Rangers.
While Russell Martin concentrates on bringing in players that can contribute straight away for the Gers, it is pivotal that they keep their academy stars around in Govan, rather than losing out.
Newcastle are already set to poach Alfie Hutchinson and Oliver Goodbrand, who were out of contract this summer, in a real blow.
However, the Gers have managed to keep hold of another of their most promising talents in a huge boost for Kevin Thelwell.
Rangers announce Cameron contract as McCallum speaks out
Cameron is a left-footed winger who has previously attracted interest from the Premier League.
However, the Gers have confirmed (19 July) that the 16-year-old has signed his first professional contract with the Ibrox outfit.
Interim Head of the Academy, David McCallum, commented on the news, saying: “We are delighted to welcome Max into our full-time programme here at the Academy.
“He is a player who hasn’t been short of interest from elsewhere in recent months, but he is convinced that Rangers is the perfect environment to aid his progression both on and off the pitch as an individual.
“He has shown great potential throughout his time in the Academy, and we’re excited to see him make the step into a professional environment.”
Rangers need to give youth a chance
It is all well and good to give your academy stars a new contract, but they need to be handed a chance to forge a place in the first team.
That is something which the Gers have struggled with in recent years, with Kris Boyd slamming the state of the Rangers’ youth set-up after Bailey Rice hardly featured last season under either Philippe Clement or Barry Ferguson.
Ross McCausland is the most prominent recent graduate of the academy, and he has not made the required impact in the senior ranks, with seven goals and seven assists in 66 games for the Light Blues.
| Stats (All competitions) | McCausland |
| Matches | 66 |
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 7 |
| Minutes played | 2,720 |
If they can secure a sustainable pipeline of prospects that can play for the first team, it would vastly reduce their expenditure on transfers, therefore reducing the risk of expensive flops.
Thelwell had hoped to bring Everton ally Gareth Prosser to Govan to help upgrade the situation, but he joined Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates after his Goodison Park departure, in a major blow for the new majority ownership.
Keeping their most promising talents is a start, but Thelwell must ensure that there is a genuine path to the senior side; otherwise, what is the point in tying them down to new contracts?
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