uneasydaz
Well-Known Member
RAB DOUGLAS has revealed he turned down Rangers for Celtic – because he refused to play second fiddle to Stefan Klos.
Douglas was wanted by both sides of the Old Firm after starring for Dundee.
Gers made the first move after identifying the goalkeeper as a short-term replacement for crocked No1 Stefan Klos.
But Douglas bravely resisted the lure of a bumper pay rise at Ibrox before Celticeventually swooped.
He told Open Goal: “I never spoke to Rangers directly. They got in touch with Peter Marr (then Dundee owner).
“It was £850,000, I think, for me. Klos would be injured for six games, so I was told I would play for six games and then I’d be back on the bench.
Hodgy (Alan Hodgkinson) was obviously the national coach who I had conversations with being in some of the squads, like the Bs and that. He was keen to work with me.
But I think for me, my principle was I just wanted to play. I’d been used to playing with Livingston and Dundee and Blair (his agent) went back to David Murray.
“I was a Motherwell fan so it didn’t bother me either way. Celtic then got in touch, I think it was £1.2 or £1.3million.
I met Martin O’Neill and John Robertson, I never met anyone from Rangers, we were moving ashtrays about for formations and stuff like that.
“You know how enthusiastic Martin O’Neill is and you weren’t guaranteed anything there. He said, ‘It’s a fight between you and Gouldy, I want you to come’.
I said to Blair, ‘I’d like to go to Celtic’ and Blair said ‘Robert I’ll double my money if you go to Rangers, but I’d advise you to go to Celtic.’
Klos was sensational. I just wanted to play, it didn’t matter to me.
“I didn’t think Gouldy was rubbish. Gouldy came up as an unknown and did very well for himself at Celtic. I keep in touch with him, great guy, great goalkeeper and great memories.”
Douglas made over 100 appearances for the Bhoys, winning six trophies and playing in the UEFA Cup Final.
Douglas was wanted by both sides of the Old Firm after starring for Dundee.
Gers made the first move after identifying the goalkeeper as a short-term replacement for crocked No1 Stefan Klos.
But Douglas bravely resisted the lure of a bumper pay rise at Ibrox before Celticeventually swooped.
He told Open Goal: “I never spoke to Rangers directly. They got in touch with Peter Marr (then Dundee owner).
“It was £850,000, I think, for me. Klos would be injured for six games, so I was told I would play for six games and then I’d be back on the bench.
Hodgy (Alan Hodgkinson) was obviously the national coach who I had conversations with being in some of the squads, like the Bs and that. He was keen to work with me.
But I think for me, my principle was I just wanted to play. I’d been used to playing with Livingston and Dundee and Blair (his agent) went back to David Murray.
“I was a Motherwell fan so it didn’t bother me either way. Celtic then got in touch, I think it was £1.2 or £1.3million.
I met Martin O’Neill and John Robertson, I never met anyone from Rangers, we were moving ashtrays about for formations and stuff like that.
“You know how enthusiastic Martin O’Neill is and you weren’t guaranteed anything there. He said, ‘It’s a fight between you and Gouldy, I want you to come’.
I said to Blair, ‘I’d like to go to Celtic’ and Blair said ‘Robert I’ll double my money if you go to Rangers, but I’d advise you to go to Celtic.’
Klos was sensational. I just wanted to play, it didn’t matter to me.
“I didn’t think Gouldy was rubbish. Gouldy came up as an unknown and did very well for himself at Celtic. I keep in touch with him, great guy, great goalkeeper and great memories.”
Douglas made over 100 appearances for the Bhoys, winning six trophies and playing in the UEFA Cup Final.