Rothen: Gers tried to sell Bougherra

10 April 2010 10:55
Jerome Rothen claims Rangers are so desperate to "save money" that they attempted to sell Madjid Bougherra during the January transfer window.[LNB] Rothen, who flopped at Ibrox after signing on loan from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day last summer, has also accused the debt-ridden club of forcing him out in order to save money.[LNB]The former France winger made eight appearances for Rangers, his last being October's 4-1 Champions League humiliation at the hands of Unirea Urziceni.[LNB]The 32-year-old told So Foot magazine: "They wanted to save money. With the salary I had, they would save at least six months' worth if they moved me along.[LNB]"They moved on Pedro Mendes, who went to Sporting Lisbon.[LNB]"They also wanted Bougherra to leave, but he didn't accept. He said he wouldn't be leaving until June."[LNB]Rothen also hit out at Ibrox boss Walter Smith for freezing him out after the Unirea defeat.[LNB]"He dismissed me without saying anything," said Rothen, who is now playing for Ankaragucu in Turkey.[LNB]"I didn't open my mouth but I said to myself that it could not possibly be a sporting decision.[LNB]"Maybe the coach wanted me to rest for a while, but I started asking myself questions after three games."[LNB]Rothen knew his days were numbered when Smith started John Fleck ahead of him in November's return match against Unirea, despite Rangers suffering a raft of injuries at the time.[LNB]Rothen said: "He put a youth at 18 years old on the right. He put youths who hadn't even trained with us before on the bench along with me. I was the nanny."

Source: Team_Talk