Glasgow Rangers 2011/2012 Pre-Liquidation Squad: Where Are They Now?
Playing at Ibrox right before it all went sour, where are these guys now?
Going into administration in February, 2012, Glasgow Rangers fans then watched in horror as the business holding behind the football club was liquidated later that Summer, and the very history of one of Scotland's most famous sporting institutions was threatened. Make no mistake about it, there were very real worries that Rangers were going to be nothing but history, and fans worldwide would be denied the chance to see their team turn out at Ibrox Stadium once again.
Placed in the old Third Division after being denied re-entry back into the then-Scottish Premier League (now Premiership), the Gers had to quickly adapt to life in the fouth tier of the game. There was fresh hope that the club would focus on youth, mainly because many of the team who had been under contract in season 2011-2012 were no longer there.
When the new business behind Rangers was established, many of those players chose not to renew their contracts with the club, thus freeing themselves to go and ply their trade elsewhere. Naturally, fans were hostile towards these men, because there was a real element of abandoning Rangers when they were needed most.
This article focuses on 15 of the most high-profile players at Glasgow Rangers during season 2011-2012, and looks at what happened to them after that campaign was over. Some elected to stay and press on in the Third Division, whilst others went off to play football all over the globe, but where are they now?
15. Steven Whittaker
During his time at Rangers, Steven Whittaker was often on the receiving end of some serious slating from fans. A clearly talented player, Whittaker was nonetheless usually posted on the right side of a defensive back four, somewhere he nearly really looked comfortable. Far better as an attacking playing, it was baffling to see Walter Smith and Ally McCoist play the man where he was most fragile.
Signed in 2007 for £2 million on a 5-year deal, the Scot was nonetheless still in contract when it came time for renegotiation with Glasgow Rangers in 2012 (due to a previous extension of his deal), but he chose against sticking with the club and playing in the Third Division. Instead, Whittaker moved South, joining Norwich City, who were in the English Premier League at the time.
Now, the defender is still with Norwich, and will play once more in the Premier League due to the club being promoted in season 2014-2015 via the Playoffs from the Championship. During his time at Rangers, Whittaker lifted many a trophy above his head, but he has experienced mixed results at Norwich, not always being a first-team regular.