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Rangers target Francisco Sandaza: I don't want to leave St Johnstone cheaply
Saints striker has said he will not leave the club in a pre-contract deal, while his boss has hit out at Rangers handling of their interest and a referee decision in their 2-1 loss
14 Jan 2012 18:26:00
By John Stammers
Getty Images
Rangers target Francisco Sandaza maintains he will not leave St Johnstone in any pre-contract agreement.
Saints lost 2-1 to Ally McCoist's side on Saturday, but the 27-year-old striker put in an impressive performance against the club that had reportedly made an approach for him.
Sandaza, whose contract expires in the summer, denies knowing about any such offer and believes that if a club wishes to sign him he deserves a solid offer.
He told reporters: "Everybody is in the papers talking about a deal or a pre-contract but I don't know anything.
"My team is St Johnstone and I'm focused on this club. The club hasn't received any bid for me.
"I don't think I will sign any pre-contract because I trust my possibilities and I think I can score more than 20 goals in this league.
"If somebody wants me, they have to want me good enough. I think I'm a good player and I've worked hard enough to get to this level and I don't want to go to any club cheaply."
Sandaza's manager, Steve Lomas, hit out at Rangers for 'acting like a small club' in their pursuit of his forward.
He said: "I do believe there should be a bit more leadership from the top at Rangers.
"Ally McCoist has got a difficult job because of the finances and he has had to follow Walter Smith, who is a legend, so he has a tough job.
"But this wouldn't happen if David Murray was at the club, he wouldn't let it. Rangers are a big club but unfortunately they are behaving like a little one.
"We haven't even had an offer. As a boy, I was a Rangers fan. They are great fans, the Rangers fans, and I'm sure they must be feeling slightly miffed that they can't go out and pay for Fran Sandaza.
"I would be worried, especially a guy who is in the last months of his contract. I would be extremely worried if I was a Rangers fan."
Lomas was also angry with Sandaza's agent, Clive Jagger, adding: "As for his agent, we still haven't heard if he's turned our offer down - probably as big an offer as St Johnstone have ever made in their history, which I think is slightly disrespectful to us.
"He's on the TV saying this and that. No doubt he wants him to go to Rangers because he will be getting something."
The match itself rubbed salt in Lomas' wounds as his side lost 2-1 thanks to a Nikica Jelavic double. The Saints boss then turned his bitterness towards the referee, following the positioning of a free-kick that lead to Rangers' opener.
He continued: "Unfortunately we are talking about a refereeing decision again.
"I like Craig Thomson, I think he's a fantastic referee and it's by no means a witch hunt from me, but I said to Craig he got it wrong after the game.
"Whenever there is an offence the foul has got to be taken where it's committed, not seven yards away. I'm all for football being played quickly but it's got to be at the right position. It's a bitter one to take."
McCoist revealed on Friday that an offer had been made for Sandaza, but declined to comment on the situation after the game saying it was for another day.
During the match McCoist and Lomas were warned about the behaviour towards each other, but the Rangers boss said there was no issue.
He concluded: "These things happen. I'm just going in to see him and we will have a bottle of beer. There are certainly no problems there, just a wee bit of dug-out excitement."
Saints lost 2-1 to Ally McCoist's side on Saturday, but the 27-year-old striker put in an impressive performance against the club that had reportedly made an approach for him.
| Bet: | Returns: | Inverness Caledonian… £22.00 | Draw £32.50 | St Johnstone £29.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Inverness Caledonian… £23.75 | Draw £32.00 | St Johnstone £30.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Inverness Caledonian… £23.80 | Draw £32.50 | St Johnstone £30.00 |
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Sandaza, whose contract expires in the summer, denies knowing about any such offer and believes that if a club wishes to sign him he deserves a solid offer.
He told reporters: "Everybody is in the papers talking about a deal or a pre-contract but I don't know anything.
"My team is St Johnstone and I'm focused on this club. The club hasn't received any bid for me.
"I don't think I will sign any pre-contract because I trust my possibilities and I think I can score more than 20 goals in this league.
"If somebody wants me, they have to want me good enough. I think I'm a good player and I've worked hard enough to get to this level and I don't want to go to any club cheaply."
Sandaza's manager, Steve Lomas, hit out at Rangers for 'acting like a small club' in their pursuit of his forward.
He said: "I do believe there should be a bit more leadership from the top at Rangers.
"Ally McCoist has got a difficult job because of the finances and he has had to follow Walter Smith, who is a legend, so he has a tough job.
"But this wouldn't happen if David Murray was at the club, he wouldn't let it. Rangers are a big club but unfortunately they are behaving like a little one.
"We haven't even had an offer. As a boy, I was a Rangers fan. They are great fans, the Rangers fans, and I'm sure they must be feeling slightly miffed that they can't go out and pay for Fran Sandaza.
"I would be worried, especially a guy who is in the last months of his contract. I would be extremely worried if I was a Rangers fan."
Lomas was also angry with Sandaza's agent, Clive Jagger, adding: "As for his agent, we still haven't heard if he's turned our offer down - probably as big an offer as St Johnstone have ever made in their history, which I think is slightly disrespectful to us.
"He's on the TV saying this and that. No doubt he wants him to go to Rangers because he will be getting something."
The match itself rubbed salt in Lomas' wounds as his side lost 2-1 thanks to a Nikica Jelavic double. The Saints boss then turned his bitterness towards the referee, following the positioning of a free-kick that lead to Rangers' opener.
He continued: "Unfortunately we are talking about a refereeing decision again.
"I like Craig Thomson, I think he's a fantastic referee and it's by no means a witch hunt from me, but I said to Craig he got it wrong after the game.
"Whenever there is an offence the foul has got to be taken where it's committed, not seven yards away. I'm all for football being played quickly but it's got to be at the right position. It's a bitter one to take."
McCoist revealed on Friday that an offer had been made for Sandaza, but declined to comment on the situation after the game saying it was for another day.
During the match McCoist and Lomas were warned about the behaviour towards each other, but the Rangers boss said there was no issue.
He concluded: "These things happen. I'm just going in to see him and we will have a bottle of beer. There are certainly no problems there, just a wee bit of dug-out excitement."
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