Gers duo agree long-term deals

04 July 2011 12:28
Allan McGregor and Steven Whittaker both hope to finish their respective careers at Rangers after signing long-term contracts at Ibrox.[LNB] Light Blues goalkeeper McGregor, 29, who came through the youth ranks at the Govan club, confirmed today that he had penned a new six-year deal.[LNB]Whittaker, 27, recently the subject of several rejected bids from Turkish club Bursaspor, signed on for another five years.[LNB]Asked if his new contract would effectively make him a Ranger for life, McGregor replied: "It looks that way, yes.[LNB]"This should take me until I'm 35 and hopefully I can stay a wee bit longer, you never know.[LNB]"I have been here all my life so there was no hiding the fact that I wanted to stay.[LNB]"I'm just really glad that I have signed.[LNB]"It's good for the club and it's good for me and I just want to repay them by putting in good consistent performances, week after week."[LNB]Asked if he would like to see out his time at Ibrox,[LNB]Whittaker concurred with his team-mate.[LNB]"Yes, I would love to," said the Scotland defender, who cost Rangers £2million from Hibernian in 2007.[LNB]"Five years is a long time. Allan and I appreciate the lengths of contracts and we will do everything we can to be successful and give the club back what they deserve.[LNB]"I spoke to the manager (Ally McCoist) and he was fully aware that Bursaspor were there but he said I wasn't for sale and they had no intention of me going anywhere.[LNB]"I was quite happy with that and obviously I signed a deal to prove it.[LNB]"It was a matter of negotiating and we have managed to come to an agreement.[LNB]"I'm delighted to sign a long-term deal and commit my future to the club."[LNB]McGregor has been constantly linked with a move to the Barclays Premier League with Aston Villa most recently reportedly interested.[LNB]However, the Scotland number one insists winning trophies at Rangers as well as the chance to play European football on a regular basis, meant leaving the Scottish champions was never an option.[LNB]"I never heard anything concrete (about interest from other clubs).[LNB]"As I said before, I never said I wanted to leave and I'm delighted that I signed. I just want to keep winning.[LNB]"I said that at the end of last season, I love that feeling of winning for this club.[LNB]"The feeling of wining the league, I don't think you can get that anywhere else to be honest.[LNB]"I want it to continue and hopefully it can for the next six years.[LNB]"Playing in Europe is obviously totally different from the league, you are playing against the best players in the world.[LNB]"It is a good thing for the club and I think we deserve to be playing on the biggest stage."[LNB]Whittaker, whose versatility has made him a key player at Ibrox, is also keen to add to his medal collection.[LNB]"I have been here for four years now and the last few years we have been successful," he said.[LNB]"I enjoy winning trophies and obviously I want to continue doing that over the next few years."[LNB]

Source: Team_Talk