McLeish vows to rip Rangers squad apart

RANGERS manager Alex McLeish yesterday described himself as the Rottweiler who is prepared to rip the current squad apart so it can be rebuilt on more solid foundations.

McLeish has begun the clear-out of players the fans have been demanding, with Nuno Capucho, Emerson and Christian Nerlinger the first to be told they have no futures at Ibrox.

The trio’s contracts extend beyond the summer so if buyers cannot be found then the cash-strapped club will be forced to negotiate pay-off deals to get them off the wage bill.

Henning Berg and Michael Mols will also leave at the end of the season when their contracts expire and striker Egil Ostenstad will also depart. The de Boer twins, Frank and Ronald, are also out of contract and it now looks unlikely they will be offered new deals.

McLeish is under pressure as last year’s treble winners know they will finish the current season trophy-less following their Scottish Cup quarter-final defeat to Celtic.