Soccer: Rangers turned down Watford-bound Vega

Rangers chairman David Murray has revealed how he was offered the opportunity to buy former Celtic defender Ramon Vega.

Vega has completed a three-year move to Watford after the Parkhead club failed to offer him a long-term deal.

But Murray insists a representative of the Swiss player tried to manufacture a move to Ibrox just one month after Vega helped city rivals Celtic win the domestic treble.

Murray said: ‘‘A representative of Ramon Vega’s contacted me and asked whether Rangers would be interested in signing him.

‘‘I said: ‘Thanks but no thanks.’ That was the end of the conversation.’’

Vega claims he was a favourite of the Parkhead faithful and that he won games for Celtic during their most successful campaign in over 30 years.

He insists he wanted to stay at Parkhead but was disappointed that manager Martin O’Neill did not offer him a better deal and described the club as ‘‘unprofessional.’’

The defender said: ‘‘I was very surprised with how Celtic did business. I had a great season for them. I won games for that club and the fans loved me.

‘‘I gave everything for them and we won the Treble. No-one can take away what I gave to Celtic. It’s sad it has ended like this but it’s not my fault.

"I’m very happy with my new deal with Watford because it gives me what I want security in the longer term.

‘‘I would have stayed at Parkhead. All I wanted was a contract which was not insulting. I was told Celtic wanted to give me that contract.

‘‘But I am still, even now I’ve signed for Watford, waiting on them to give me an improved deal.

‘‘You can’t get more unprofessional than that.’’