Sutton aims Rangers barb at Robbie Savage over 2021 'play for free' offer
12/23/2024 07:30 AM
Robbie Savage once offered to play for Rangers for free and was turned down.
But that doesn’t stop the former Manchester United trainee taking potshots at Scottish football whenever he can when taking on media duties in his retirement.
Savage’s offer came after Gers had been demoted to the bottom tier of Scottish football and Ally McCoist was in charge and looking for players to help the club on its journey back to the top.
The former Wales international reckoned he could stroll it at that level and even offered to PAY to play at Ibrox.
But one major catch was that he couldn’t play on Saturdays due to work commitments so would only have been available for midweek and Sunday games.
Unsurprisingly, Rangers didn’t take him up on the offer.
And that has now come back to bite him during yet another argument with Chris Sutton.
Sutton aims Rangers cheap shot at Savage
It came amid a discussion about Ange Postecoglou and his position at Spurs.
Despite Postecoglou bouncing back from his Rangers draw by thumping Southampton, Tottenham slumped to another low by being hammered 6-3 by Liverpool yesterday.
His side does have a defensive injury crisis but he continues to face questions over how he sets them up.
Postecoglou was under mounting pressure before the Gers clash and is still having his future questioned.
English pundits often like to proclaim that what worked for Ange in Scotland is never going to work in England and Savage has been beating that drum.
But Sutton hit back on BBC Radio 5's 606: "You wanted to have a cheap shot at Scottish football, that's what you wanted to do and be dismissive [about Postecoglou].
"You wanted to sign for Rangers when they were in division three and Ally McCoist turned you down.
"You wanted to go there for free and he didn't want to take you.
"I'm just saying you weren't good to play for Rangers when they were in division three and you're having a pop at Scottish football. It's just unnecessary."
Savage was able to laugh and replied: "I was 42."
What Savage said about playing for Rangers for free
Savage said at the time, via Daily Record: "If they are desperate for players, I'll play for nothing! You think I'm joking, I'm serious. I've sent a text to Charles Green to ask Ally if he needs any help.
“I'm deadly serious about the offer. I was sitting at home bored the other night and got thinking about Rangers and what I could offer.
"I heard they were short of players so I put something up on Twitter and – bang – it all went berserk. I know Ally from working together at tournaments such as the World Cup. We got on well and my offer is genuine and sincere.
"I have media commitments most Saturdays, including my 606 show on Five Live, that keep me in England but I'd be free most Sundays as well as other times of the week.
"If Ally needed me to play 15 games a season in midweek I'd be there no problem. I'd play free of charge and even pay my own flight up there just to help Rangers out.
"I know Charles and he phoned and left the message on my answer machine and maybe we'll speak again.
"I appreciate we'd most likely be talking emergency cover but if Ally wanted me as part of his squad I'd happily sign up.
"I know there is a transfer embargo for a year from September, so what if Ally is hit by an injury crisis and loses 10 players over the course of a campaign?
"He could call on me and I'd be there. I'd even sign a contract without playing just in case I was needed.
"I've only retired a season and I'm as fit as I've ever been. I was captain of Derby County and didn't miss a game or a training session."
