Tugay threatens Rangers departure

Tugay making a rare appearance in a Rangers shirt

Turkey midfielder Tugay Kerimoglu has threatened to leave Rangers unless he gets a regular first team place.

Tugay arrived in Glasgow midway through last season in a £1.2m move from Galatasaray but started only six Scottish Premier League matches.

"I can't afford to wait much longer to get an extended run in the Rangers first team, not another full season," he said.

I ended up having to be very patient while sitting on the bench, which is not good for me at this stage of my career and something I can't allow to go on and on

Tugay Kerimoglu

"I didn't join the club to wait forever because I left a very good midfield at Galatasaray, which included Hagi, where I played every week.

"When I moved to Scotland I realised it would take time to settle and get to know the other players in the team so I did not expect to walk into the first team straight away.

"But I ended up having to be very patient while sitting on the bench, which is not good for me at this stage of my career and something I can't allow to go on and on."

Impress

Tugay insisted he would not walk out on his three-year contract without trying to impress coach Dick Advocaat.

"I feel positive that I will get the chance next season to show the Rangers fans just exactly what I can do, but at the end of the day it comes down to whether or not the coach selects me," he said.

"He has said I will play more often and I have to believe that. I have guaranteed him that I will fight for my place and also said that sitting on the bench is not good for me."