Defender confirms he will leave at end of season

Rangers defender Steven Smith has confirmed that he will leave the club at the end of the season, despite being offered a new contract at Ibrox.

Smith has started the Gers’ last two matches, in the absence of regular left-back Sasa Papac, but has admitted that, in general, lack of first-team opportunities has forced him to look for a new club.

The 24-year-old said:

"The club have offered me a year's extension but Walter Smith knows what my answer will be and it has nothing to do with money.

"It's because I want to play. In an ideal world, I want to stay at Rangers but playing nine or 10 games a season won't help my career.

"I wasn't disappointed with the offer. In fact, I was surprised they offered me anything at all.

"It will be difficult to move on. But I need to be playing every week.

"There's a temptation to stay for another year. Will I end up anywhere like this, where I'm playing at Hampden and going for titles? That's the stuff that makes you want to stay.

"But it looks like I'll be moving and the treble will be the perfect way to end it."

Rangers are 3/1 with Boylesports to win the treble this season.