Rangers manager Walter Smith believes Kevin Thomson's impending move to Middlesbrough is right for both player and club.
Rangers have accepted a bid from Middlesbrough for the Scotland midfielder, who has a year remaining on his Ibrox contract. Thomson will leave if he agrees personal terms on Teesside and Smith feels Boro can offer him the long-term security not on offer at Ibrox.
Smith told the club's official website: "We have agreed a fee with Middlesbrough so now it's done to personal terms and we should know later if the deal has gone through or otherwise."
Smith admitted last week that debt-hit Rangers were not in a position to offer new deals to players unless they are in the final few months of their contracts.
So he has opted to cash in on Thomson in a deal reported to be around £2million instead of risk losing the player for nothing.
The veteran boss said: "I did say last week that we had number of players going into the final year of their contracts and that we might have to look at offers if any came in.
"That was followed by headlines that we are selling all of our players but we're not and we don't have to sell a player.
"However, there are two sides to the Thomson deal in that he is going into the last year of his contract and, from the player's point of view, Middlesbrough can maybe offer more long-term security than he can have here.
"So we have that to take into account for all players and that's what's happened in the case of Kevin.
"We have had difficult decisions to make before and hopefully it will work out for all concerned."
Source: PA
