Source: Team_Talk
Hateley: Love or money for Boyd
The striker is out of contract at the end of the season and says contract talks have yet to begin between Ibrox bosses and his agent.
However, reports suggest the 26-year-old, who would be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a new club in January, is unwilling to accept a new deal on reduced terms.
Asked whether Rangers should break the bank to retain the services of a player who has scored more than 100 goals for the club, former Ibrox star Hateley said: "The bank is already broken at the moment at Rangers and that is the problem.
"Players are coming to the end of contracts at a time when the club is in financial difficulty and they have to realise that the money might not be available for new contracts.
"Players might be offered on the lower side of what they've got and then it becomes an issue whether the player really wants to stay at the football club or move on for financial gain and maybe also to further his career.
"It's a difficult situation the club finds itself in, whether it's Kris Boyd or anyone else who is up for a new contract.
"The money simply isn't there at this particular moment."
Hateley, himself, enjoyed lucrative spells at clubs such as AC Milan and Monaco, as well as spending five years at Rangers.
But he insists the ability to reflect on a fulfilled career beats having a bulging bank balance every time.
"Let me tell you, having had a career and earned decent money, it's not all about earning money at the end of the day," he added.
"It's about what you are when you are finished and looking back
and making sure you have been the best player that you can be.
"That is a frustration I have of a lot of young players who are in football nowadays.
"Maybe it's too much money too early but the ambition has to be
there if you want to get to the top of your game.
"Everybody has to strive as much as they can to improve and be better by the time they have finished."
The debate over Boyd's work ethic refuses to go away but his ability to find the back of the net cannot be argued with, having weighed in with more than 30 goals last season.
"He's a big asset," Hateley said.
"But I think a lot of the players at the club are big assets, whether they are marketable, sellable or, like Kris, big assets in terms of goalscoring.
"One way or another, he is an asset to the football club and
always will be."
But the former striker added: "I'm a frustrated fan.
"A lot of supporters of the club are frustrated, not only with Kris, but also with other individuals at the moment who aren't playing to the top of the game.
"A pet hate of mine is someone who has a talent and doesn't want to drive that talent forward.
"That's how I find a lot of players, and not only Kris, who are in football at the moment."
Hateley was speaking at the Old Firm Alliance Street League launch in Glasgow.
