Gers wanted to sell Bougherra: Rothen

Jerome Rothen claims Rangers attempted to offload star defender Madjid Bougherra during the January transfer window.

Rothen, who flopped at Ibrox after signing on loan from Paris St Germain on deadline day last summer, has also accused the debt-ridden club of forcing him out in order to save money.

The former France winger made eight appearances for Rangers, his last being October’s 4-1 Champions League humiliation at the hands of Unirea Urziceni.

The 32-year-old told So Foot magazine: “They wanted to save money. With the salary I had, they would save at least six months’ worth if they moved me along.

“They moved on Pedro Mendes, who went to Sporting Lisbon. They also wanted Bougherra to leave, but he didn’t accept. He said he wouldn’t be leaving until June.”

Rothen also hit out at Ibrox boss Walter Smith for freezing him out after the Unirea defeat.

“He dismissed me without saying anything,” said Rothen, who is now playing for Ankaragucu in Turkey.

“I didn’t open my mouth but I said to myself that it could not possibly be a sporting decision. Maybe the coach wanted me to rest for a while, but I started asking myself questions after three games.”

Rothen knew his days were numbered when Smith started John Fleck ahead of him in November’s return match against Unirea, despite Rangers suffering a raft of injuries at the time.

Rothen said: “He put a youth at 18 years old on the right. He put youths who hadn’t even trained with us before on the bench along with me. I was the nanny.”