Ricksen rejects Rangers deal

Rangers defender Fernando Ricksen has rejected the offer of an extended contract at Ibrox, his agent Henk van Ginkel confirmed today.

The 27-year-old – currently serving a four-game ban for elbowing Hibernian striker Derek Riordan in the CIS Insurance Cup semi-final last month – will look to further his career in Italy or Spain at the end of next season, according to adviser Henk van Ginkel.

But the agent is confident Ricksen, fined £10,000 (€15,000) by the club over the Riordan incident, will stay at Ibrox until the end of his current deal next summer.

Van Ginkel told the Dutch press agency ANP: “He will serve out his contract and, after that, he leaves the club.

“But, up to this moment, no clubs have called us.

“I must say that we were quite satisfied with what Rangers offered Fernando but, sometimes, you need to go on. We are in no hurry. We will see what will come our way.”

Ricksen failed to settle in his first season after he joined the club for former boss Dick Advocaat in the summer of 2000.

But he went on to win over the supporters with a series of good displays, despite Celtic’s dominance in the Bank of Scotland Premierleague.

However, the player has also made headlines off the field too, including a £7,000 (€10,500) fine for letting off fireworks late at night and assaulting his neighbour when he complained, throwing the fully-clothed Rangers chairman John McClelland into a Greek swimming pool and an alleged dalliance with the glamour model Jordan.

Meanwhile, the Ibrox club must wait a further 24 hours before learning whether Frank de Boer will be fit for the Old Firm derby.

The Dutch international hurt his ankle in a challenge with Dunfermline striker Craig Brewster in the 4-1 win last night and is now rated as doubtful for Sunday’s Glasgow derby.

The Rangers medical team were unable to ascertain the full extent of the damage today due to swelling around the injury.