Rangers managed to lure Ross Wilson to Ibrox this week.
Rangers landed Southampton’s Ross Wilson this week – and Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has today reacted to his Ibrox move.
The Gers saw Mark Allen quit his role as director of football last month, meaning Rangers had to go and find a replacement ahead of the January transfer window.
Rangers’ first choice in 2017 when they first wanted a director of football was Wilson, but he turned them down two-and-a-half years ago in order to stay at Southampton.
They unsurprisingly went back in for the Scot after Allen’s exit, and it’s proven to be second time lucky for the Gers as Wilson was appointed director of football at Ibrox this week.
Wilson was credited as being key in the move to sign Virgil van Dijk from Celtic in 2015 having seen him shine in Scotland, whilst he also signed Stuart Armstrong from the Bhoys last year.
The former Falkirk man gives up a role as director of football operations at Southampton, a role which saw him work closely with boss Hasenhuttl since his arrival at the club last year.
Now, Hasenhuttl has reacted to the move, admitted it was ‘surprising’ to see Wilson leave, even though the thinks Rangers are ‘a famous club, a big club’, believing he is a big loss to the Saints.
Hasenhuttl added to Four Four Two that Southampton’s plans moving forward won’t be dented by Wilson’s exit, and reflected on a ‘very good’ relationship with him as he said his goodbyes.
“It was surprising for me, but what I can say is that I had a very good relationship with him,” said Hasenhuttl. “I liked to work with him, he is a nice and fantastic character, a fantastic personality and I enjoyed every minute with him. I wish him all the best. He goes to a famous club, to a big club, and has a new challenge. It was, I think, about five years here. For us, it is a big loss for sure – but this is what happens in football. For us it will be important that we bring somebody new in and we will do this.”
“This will be the main work for the board and for (chief executive) Martin (Semmens). They are still busy in this part I am sure. I have other things to look at and work to do, but I will also have my opinion for this position. We have our plan, our schedule, what we want to do, the players we want to look at. It is independent from Ross. We know what we want to have for our game, for the positions we need and so that doesn’t make a big change in a moment,” he added.
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