Steven Naismith - exclusive interview coming on Four Lads.

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Empire said:
Just finished watching it.

Says he 100% regrets the press conference and the wording.

It does make some sense what he’s saying about being young and not understanding business and separating the football club from the business but it’s still gut wrenching it got to that.

I absolutely loved Naismith at the time. I related so much to him. He was living my dream and many others. I think that’s why it hurt so much at the time. That squad from 2008-2011 is probably my favourite time as a fan. They were all so relatable to me being in my early 20s and going to games with all your mates and feeling like it was your mates on the park.

For me personally and I know 90% of this board will disagree with me but I try not to think back to 2012 and that includes Naismith and the press conference. I just don’t see the point in being angry about it anymore.

I really don’t think he’ll be back at the club though and that hysteria about all this is a bit mad.

Fair play to Stevie Clifford for this interview.
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Agree with all of this. Think I posted something similar early in the thread actually. I've just haven't got it in me to hate people for this type of thing albeit I understand why people do.

That said I wouldn't have him near us. Generally I'd like the new owners to take emotions out of certain decisions if they are for good of the club. I refuse to believe there isn't someone out there better or equally suited than Naismith though.

Bringing him in would've put Martin on a back foot he simply doesn't need to be on from day one. I spoke yesterday about the need to be relatable to the support and get everyone on side.

This appointment would've done the opposite.
 
GR6 said:
If they didn’t want to leave they wouldn’t.

At that time who was Scotland’s left back? Did Lee Wallace chuck away his career for Rangers?

We get misty eyed about these players who left in 2012.

Wallace, McCulloch and Templeton never get the credit for dropping down.

Kevin Kyle gets slaughtered on here for McCoist terrible use of the budget. He would’ve probably came here for £600 a week and got ten times that. For as much as he comes across like a tosser and wasn’t a very good Rangers player. At least Kyle wanted to be here.
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He delivered DPD parcels to a shop i worked in, in the town in 2021. Seemed a down to earth guy.
 
Crown_Defender said:
Agree with all of this. Think I posted something similar early in the thread actually. I've just haven't got it in me to hate people for this type of thing albeit I understand why people do.

That said I wouldn't have him near us. Generally I'd like the new owners to take emotions out of certain decisions if they are for good of the club. I refuse to believe there isn't someone out there better or equally suited than Naismith though.

Bringing him in would've put Martin on a back foot he simply doesn't need to be on from day one. I spoke yesterday about the need to be relatable to the support and get everyone on side.

This appointment would've done the opposite.
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Agree with what you’ve said there

Not here to defend Naismith, but I think he was actually in a situation where he didn’t understand what was going on. He wasn’t just finishing his Harvard MBA and let’s face it, only Neil Murray could have fielded the questions. What he should have done and what he should have been advised to do was have a preprepared statement read out by his agent or better still, Donald Findlay, saying they were considering their options and these would be revealed in the fullness of time.
 
Steven Naismith will not return to Rangers this summer.

It has been speculated over the past 24 hours that the 38-year-old could become part of Russell Martin's backroom team at Ibrox, although according to The Rangers Review, that won't be the case. The fact he has even been linked is worrying. I guess 4lads interview has something to do with it! Shameful betrayal by them
 
Brother Crockett said:
Agree with what you’ve said there

Not here to defend Naismith, but I think he was actually in a situation where he didn’t understand what was going on. He wasn’t just finishing his Harvard MBA and let’s face it, only Neil Murray could have fielded the questions. What he should have done and what he should have been advised to do was have a preprepared statement read out by his agent or better still, Donald Findlay, saying they were considering their options and these would be revealed in the fullness of time.
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absolute bollox! You seem totally unaware of what happened with him and the other snake traitor! Rangers are no longer the same club according to him and Whittaker! Did you miss their press conference? there is no way back for them and 4lads should be ashamed of themselves! Their desire for likes and hits clearly outweighed any sense of decency and loyalty to our club.
 
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CupidStunt said:
Stevie let him off far too easily there.

Should have made him listen to the words he said or repeated the words he said - not glance over it.

I literally can't stand Naismith and he better not ever get anywhere near Rangers.

Leaving is fine, career peak, fine, didn't want to play in the fourth tier fine, no problem.

But Steven, the words you said that day were insidious and you'll never be forgiven for it.

I couldn't watch him smiling and laughing anout his rangers memories, I just skipped right to that part, and it just pissed me off.

The most tainted player in Rangers history. He can %^*& off.
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This

Nobody expected ANY player who left at the time to stay and play in SFL3.

They were guaranteed moves anyway. Just leave the right way. What Naishame did was kick the club while it was down and in public. At its lowest ebb, after the club had stood by him through 2 serious injuries.

A Rangers fan doesnt do that. Not a proper Rangers fan anyway.
 
Bknowe said:
This

Nobody expected ANY player who left at the time to stay and play in SFL3.

They were guaranteed moves anyway. Just leave the right way. What Naishame did was kick the club while it was down and in public. At its lowest ebb, after the club had stood by him through 2 serious injuries.

A Rangers fan doesnt do that. Not a proper Rangers fan anyway.
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This all day long.
 
Really good interview and nice to go through all the good memories of those times. My favourite ever rangers team by far.

Naismith the player was a brilliant wee player and the type of player and character this team lacks.

I’m at a point where I just can’t be fucked being angry about what somebody said 13 year ago. I moved on a long time ago.
 
Haven't commented on this yet but am astonished people are attempting to rewrite history with this half wit on the grounds he was young and didn't know what he was saying.

He was 26 years old, hardly a silly wee boy. Every Rangers fan who heard it immediately thought what the %^*& is coming out of his mouth and why would he do that.

Not interested in listening to anything he has to say as time doesn't change how despicable he was.
 
Its fine not to hate Naismith for what he done but also not forget it.

Yes he may regret it and we can understand maybe he got bad advice, but he still done it and thats what will stick.

No ill feeling towards him but I would never want him back at the club either. Bed was made.
 
GR6 said:
If they didn’t want to leave they wouldn’t.

At that time who was Scotland’s left back? Did Lee Wallace chuck away his career for Rangers?

We get misty eyed about these players who left in 2012.

Wallace, McCulloch and Templeton never get the credit for dropping down.

Kevin Kyle gets slaughtered on here for McCoist terrible use of the budget. He would’ve probably came here for £600 a week and got ten times that. For as much as he comes across like a tosser and wasn’t a very good Rangers player. At least Kyle wanted to be here.
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Lee Wallace doesn’t get the credit he deserves for sacrificing his career at the top level to stay with us. Should really be held up in higher esteem than he currently is.

With the way his Rangers career ended, you have to wonder if he wishes he’d moved on in 2012.

We seem to hate those who left but barely give any thought to the loyalty of those who stayed.
 
Hammy said:
Lee Wallace doesn’t get the credit he deserves for sacrificing his career at the top level to stay with us. Should really be held up in higher esteem than he currently is.

With the way his Rangers career ended, you have to wonder if he wishes he’d moved on in 2012.

We seem to hate those who left but barely give any thought to the loyalty of those who stayed.
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Or revere the ones who walked out the door for free. I don’t buy the Steve Davis stuff either but I’ll not be staunch enough.

These were so called Rangers men, who were still going to be earning thousands a week. Some of our fans travelling to places like Montrose and Peterhead would be lucky to earn their weekly wage in a year in 2012.

If they really loved the club that much they would’ve knocked back other opportunities, got us up the leagues and became immortal to the support.
 
GR6 said:
Or revere the ones who walked out the door for free. I don’t buy the Steve Davis stuff either but I’ll not be staunch enough.

These were so called Rangers men, who were still going to be earning thousands a week. Some of our fans travelling to places like Montrose and Peterhead would be lucky to earn their weekly wage in a year in 2012.

If they really loved the club that much they would’ve knocked back other opportunities, got us up the leagues and became immortal to the support.
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This is nonsense, we couldn't have afforded to pay them for a start, you really think Greene and co wanted a wage bill that high meaning less for them and their grubby pals? Kidding yourself on, he wanted them out the door FFS.
 
Walters to Drinkell said:
This is nonsense, we couldn't have afforded to pay them for a start, you really think Greene and co wanted a wage bill that high meaning less for them and their grubby pals? Kidding yourself on, he wanted them out the door FFS.
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So they couldn’t afford to pay, but McCoist was on £800k a year? Actually McCoist didn’t know what he was on did he? Remember now! £800k in the fucking Third Division.

So we can pay the manager who doesn’t know what his wage is around £15k a week but I’m talking nonsense because we couldn’t have paid the wages and Green wanted them out the door…

Just like he didn’t want to pay Goian, Edu, Bedoya, McCulloch, Broadfoot, Neil Alexander, Wallace and Bocanegra.

Facts are simple. The individuals did not want to TUPE their contracts across, the term is Rejection To Transfer.

Green and his cronies were rats. But you can’t seriously use the argument that they wanted to be greedy and get their mitts on money, when it made more sense for them to get all the players to cross over, and then sell them, creating both a hole in the wage budget and transfer fees in the pocket too. Wild observation.

I find it incredible that people want to take comfort in this knights in shining armour pish with 2012 how they did what was best for the club, the difference is that Naismith and Whittaker were cunts in an interview, the rest couldn’t wait to jump of the sinking ship.

They are not Rangers men.

Del Piero knocked back Manchester United when they were relegated to Serie B. He is reported to have told Sir Alex Ferguson “Juventus are in trouble and they need me”. It’s a shame our revered “Rangers men” didn’t have the same attitude.
 
GR6 said:
Or revere the ones who walked out the door for free. I don’t buy the Steve Davis stuff either but I’ll not be staunch enough.

These were so called Rangers men, who were still going to be earning thousands a week. Some of our fans travelling to places like Montrose and Peterhead would be lucky to earn their weekly wage in a year in 2012.

If they really loved the club that much they would’ve knocked back other opportunities, got us up the leagues and became immortal to the support.
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The one thing people overlook when saying this is that we couldn’t afford to keep these players while playing in the lower leagues. No TV revenue, no European football … the wages of McGregor, Naismith, Davis, etc would have buried us.

They had to leave, but it’s how they left that’s the issue.
 
GR6 said:
Or revere the ones who walked out the door for free. I don’t buy the Steve Davis stuff either but I’ll not be staunch enough.

These were so called Rangers men, who were still going to be earning thousands a week. Some of our fans travelling to places like Montrose and Peterhead would be lucky to earn their weekly wage in a year in 2012.

If they really loved the club that much they would’ve knocked back other opportunities, got us up the leagues and became immortal to the support.
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These guys are footballers mate, they have a short career, of course they didn’t want to play for us in the third division, it would have signalled the end of their primes in the lower leagues.

Going by that interview with Naismith and stuff we’ve heard others say. The players were treated like absolute shite in the run up to them leaving, basically blackmailed at times. They knew something wasn’t right with green and co, so why would they then look to hand them over money by transferring over so we could sell them. As there was no way we could have afforded to keep any of those players.

In the end I’m glad all of these guys did leave as it didn’t let Charles Green and anyone else who fucked us get their hands on any extra money to %^*& the club over further.
 
I have listened to the interview in its entirety. Clearly loved playing for Rangers and extremely grateful to Walter for the impact he had on his career. And clearly all the players were shafted during the whole admin event.

However he’s still a Judas c***t for that interview. Some things are just unforgivable!
 
Loved him as a player for us. He was superb. Shame the way it ended but it is what it is.
 
What I will say is fair play to the big man for doing that could not of been easy sitting with that wee prick.

Just starting it now, see how we go.
 
I do sometimes think folk try to one up each other with hate directed towards him for social media likes.

Deep down I’m not convinced anyone cares enough anymore whether folk admit to that or not.
 
Hammy said:
Lee Wallace doesn’t get the credit he deserves for sacrificing his career at the top level to stay with us. Should really be held up in higher esteem than he currently is.

With the way his Rangers career ended, you have to wonder if he wishes he’d moved on in 2012.

We seem to hate those who left but barely give any thought to the loyalty of those who stayed.
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Lee McCullough got dogs abuse on here and was accused of only staying because nobody else wanted him.
 
Hammy said:
Lee Wallace doesn’t get the credit he deserves for sacrificing his career at the top level to stay with us. Should really be held up in higher esteem than he currently is.

With the way his Rangers career ended, you have to wonder if he wishes he’d moved on in 2012.

We seem to hate those who left but barely give any thought to the loyalty of those who stayed.
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100%.
 
Hammy said:
Lee Wallace doesn’t get the credit he deserves for sacrificing his career at the top level to stay with us. Should really be held up in higher esteem than he currently is.

With the way his Rangers career ended, you have to wonder if he wishes he’d moved on in 2012.

We seem to hate those who left but barely give any thought to the loyalty of those who stayed.
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He played 27 games in the English championship 8 years after people were saying he only stayed because nobody good wanted him.
 
I seldomly get agitated and angry at matters I have no control over, considering it a waste of time and energy. He however is a noticeable exception even all these years later. A fan who lived the dream and was looked after by the club through two bad injuries. I can accept the footballing reasons for leaving but he feathered his own nest financially and then that interview! Sorry this falls into the category of never forgive, never forget.
 
Hammy said:
Lee Wallace doesn’t get the credit he deserves for sacrificing his career at the top level to stay with us. Should really be held up in higher esteem than he currently is.

With the way his Rangers career ended, you have to wonder if he wishes he’d moved on in 2012.

We seem to hate those who left but barely give any thought to the loyalty of those who stayed.
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He doesn't seem to get any recognition at supporters events either. Has he been involved in any 5 Stars events or Club functions?
Maybe that's his own choice though?
 
I don’t why I’m surprised at the lack of contrition he shows in the interview about the press conference etc. but I am. I’d heard from people who know him he doesn’t really care about how he left and this puts the tin lad on that.

A Judas rat bastard, one of our own who kicked us all in the balls when we were at our very lowest.

Will never be welcome back at Ibrox.
 
Andythebear1972 said:
Clicks and hits and comments and engagement for Four Lads. They knew exactly what this would bring from the Rangers support and looking at the comments and views on the video, they've gotten exactly what they wanted.

Their recent (two weeks ago) Helicopter Sunday video on Youtube got 2.5k views, the Naishame interview is already closing in on 5k views and it was uploaded today.

Stevie and co knew exactly what they were doing with this, and it's worked.
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Agree. They did it for engagement, hits, controversy etc As someone reasonably ambivalent to 4lads before this I’d never give them a sub now. I’m a subscriber to H&H and they would never entertain this pish.
 
I don't hate Naismith, but neither do i like him. I just think he's an ex player who I don't want to hear about and certainly dont want to see him in any capacity at the club.
 
Dado_Prso_9 said:
The one thing people overlook when saying this is that we couldn’t afford to keep these players while playing in the lower leagues. No TV revenue, no European football … the wages of McGregor, Naismith, Davis, etc would have buried us.

They had to leave, but it’s how they left that’s the issue.
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Ok, so how do you explain Goian, Edu, Bedoya, McCulloch, Broadfoot, Neil Alexander, Wallace and Bocanegra?
 
GR6 said:
So they couldn’t afford to pay, but McCoist was on £800k a year? Actually McCoist didn’t know what he was on did he? Remember now! £800k in the fucking Third Division.

So we can pay the manager who doesn’t know what his wage is around £15k a week but I’m talking nonsense because we couldn’t have paid the wages and Green wanted them out the door…
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Our income in 2012-13 was less than £10m. There is no scenario where the 2011-12 team stays and plays in the Third Division.
 
That's the first time I've read those words from Naismith. What a wee f@nny he is. If you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all.
There was no need for him to say that.
My dislike of him is now hate.
 
Bluefin221 said:
Our income in 2012-13 was less than £10m. There is no scenario where the 2011-12 team stays and plays in the Third Division.
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I am not for one minute suggesting that they all stay. But if they were true Rangers men, surely they would’ve taken a pay cut? Better still, the best scenario would’ve been to TUPE the contract over regardless of whether they believed that Green etc would’ve got their mitts on the money. Again, doesn’t answer my question. What did the afore mentioned players who did TUPE there contract over do?

Wild that our Manager took just under 10% of that £10mil turnover you have suggested on his own wage. Would’ve been extremely difficult to live comfortably on say £200k in Glasgow in 2012.

Rangers men but.
 
Just finished the interview and my feelings on him haven’t changed.

If he had said to Stevie “Listen, Hands up I shouldn’t have said what I said. I was a daft laddie just following my agents advice and I can understand why the support was angry and I apologise for that” I probably would have forgiven him.

My overall takeaway is I don’t think he really thinks he done anything wrong.
 
GR6 said:
I am not for one minute suggesting that they all stay. But if they were true Rangers men, surely they would’ve taken a pay cut? Better still, the best scenario would’ve been to TUPE the contract over regardless of whether they believed that Green etc would’ve got their mitts on the money. Again, doesn’t answer my question. What did the afore mentioned players who did TUPE there contract over do?

Wild that our Manager took just under 10% of that £10mil turnover you have suggested on his own wage. Would’ve been extremely difficult to live comfortably on say £200k in Glasgow in 2012.

Rangers men but.
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Very easy to sit on your armchair and demand other people take a pay cut. Very different when that's your career and you have commitments. You could argue that some players acted with indecent haste or at least took advantage of a situation to get a free transfer somewhere else. I think that's a highly uncharitable view of things.

Some people have a false or selective memory of 2012. The reality is it was an unprecedented and chaotic situation and my inclination is to give the benefit of the doubt to most of the people involved. We didn't even get a licence to play football until the eve of the season. And that's not forgetting the saga of ownership and all the 'what if?' scenarios that summer. So I don't really hold it against anyone for not wanting to sign over their future earnings to some Yorkshire big hands. Very few people really knew what was happening or what the next logical step should be.

And, as has been said elsewhere in the thread, it's not as if people are clamouring for parts of the stadium to be named after Lee Wallace or Lee McCulloch.
 
Jamiegatami said:
Just finished the interview and my feelings on him haven’t changed.

If he had said to Stevie “Listen, Hands up I shouldn’t have said what I said. I was a daft laddie just following my agents advice and I can understand why the support was angry and I apologise for that” I probably would have forgiven him.

My overall takeaway is I don’t think he really thinks he done anything wrong.
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I listened to it yesterday. He did say he regretted how it ended.
To be honest I thought it was a really good listen.
 
sneddon38 said:
He shouldn’t have, but I mean if you were in his shoes. He was a supporter and a player and Greene and co were taken the piss out of players etc. it backfired on him he probably regrets using the words but he was provably trying to be transparent with supporters
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His gripe was with the spivs not the Club.
He is a Rangers man and he has already said some of his words were ill chosen.
Some people have taken offence and it's not for me to tell them what to do but if it was me I would let it go and look to the exciting future we now have
 
Andre55 said:
absolute bollox! You seem totally unaware of what happened with him and the other snake traitor! Rangers are no longer the same club according to him and Whittaker! Did you miss their press conference? there is no way back for them and 4lads should be ashamed of themselves! Their desire for likes and hits clearly outweighed any sense of decency and loyalty to our club.
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I'm agreeing with you. He should have been no where near that press conference. Footballers aren't exactly Stephen Fry with their articulation and they will always be set up to answer leading questions.
 
Coop1872 said:
He doesn't seem to get any recognition at supporters events either. Has he been involved in any 5 Stars events or Club functions?
Maybe that's his own choice though?
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Could well be that he isn’t into self promotion.

But there was a lot of “we’ll never forget what he did for the club” type chat in 2012 and yet there’s more love for a player who was here for four months on loan (Jason Cummings) than him.

Could easily have carved out a very good career in England for himself and become a regular Scotland international if he’d left.

FWIW while it ended badly, he was a decent servant to the club. Captained us in our worst moment of our history and was one of our better players as he helped navigated us up the divisions.
 
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