Rangers FC

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• Founded:1873
• Manager:Walter Smith

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Beattie: It was easy to leave Stoke

14 Aug 2010 - 13:25:58

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James Beattie is looking forward to starting a new chapter in his career after completing his transfer from Stoke City to Rangers.

The 32-year-old former Everton and Southampton star has penned a two-year deal at Ibrox as Walter Smith made a rare foray in to the transfer market.

Beattie said: "I'm delighted to sign for such as club as Glasgow Rangers. It's been quite a quick deal to be done as far as I was concerned. I came to Ibrox on Thursday morning, I was met by the gaffer (Smith) and chief executive (Martin Bain).

"I was shown around the stadium which is magnificent. It's the first time I've been there. You can see straight away it's a club steeped in history. To walk out even when the stadium was empty was quite something, I'm looking forward to walking out when it's full.

"I had quite a long chat with the gaffer and he spelled out what he wanted me to do and I told him what I wanted to come here and do. It was between the two clubs to settle on a fee and I'm glad to say that's all finished now and I'm sat here and I've signed. I'll probably get to know how big the club is when I play.

"It was an easy decision to leave Stoke as I wasn't required there anymore and when a club like Glasgow Rangers comes in and expresses their interest in you and you have a chat with someone like Walter Smith and you're shown round a stadium and the facilities - it makes everything else pretty easy."