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Daly has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season. Lynne Cameron/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Dubliner John Daly on the verge of Rangers move

The former Ireland U21 striker looks to be on his way to the blue side of Glasgow.

IRISH STRIKER JON Daly looks set to make an unlikely move to Glasgow Rangers later this year.

The Dundee striker, who has scored 10 SPL goals and 15 in all competitions for Dundee United this season, is out of contract this summer and has gained interest from a number of clubs.

Rangers expressed their intent in signing the 30-year-old back in January and, after lengthy discussions, The Scotsman are reporting that a deal is close.

A former U21 international, Dubliner Daly would join a small group of Irish players to make the switch to the blue side of the Old Firm and would also become the first Republic of Ireland player to line out for the Gers in a competitive fixture at senior level in over 80 years.

Having won the Scottish Third Division, Rangers will play in the second tier next season but won’t be able to sign Daly until their transfer embargo is lifted on September 1.

Daly in action for the Ireland U21s back in 2003. Credit: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Dermot O’Riordan, who sold a 15-year-old Daly to Stockport from schoolboy club Rangers back in 1998, told The Daily Record that he never thought he would see him sign for Rangers.

“There aren’t many Dubliners who sign for Glasgow Rangers but I’m pleased for Jonathan,” O’Riordan said.

“Obviously it’s an attractive proposition for him and the financial package on offer will have tempted him. This could also be the last big move of his career.

When he went to Stockport at 15 I believed it would be a stepping stone for him because he was a schoolboy Irish international and a real prospect.

“He had trials with bigger clubs than Stockport but I couldn’t have imagined he’d one day play for Rangers. Back then, it would have been more likely to be Celtic because of the Irish connection with the club.”

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33 Comments
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    Mute Martin Harkin
    Favourite Martin Harkin
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    May 16th 2013, 12:37 PM

    I wonder how it’ll go down when he’s celebrating with his Tricolour when they win Division 2, no doubt it’ll be accompanied by a rendition of the Famine Song

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    Mute macca
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    May 16th 2013, 3:50 PM

    It’s fairly simple lads! As a southern Irish catholic u will be HATED by rangers! There is a savage hatred there! I would play for 3,000 easily somewhere else

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    Mute Martin Harkin
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    May 16th 2013, 4:36 PM

    I know, I support Celtic

    11
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    Mute macca
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    May 16th 2013, 12:18 PM

    How the hell could you play for them

    52
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    Mute Shane O Reilly
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    May 16th 2013, 1:39 PM

    It’s a job and he is out of contract.

    31
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    Mute macca
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    May 16th 2013, 2:30 PM

    If u were a true Irishman u wouldn’t go near them

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    Mute David Keogh
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    May 16th 2013, 2:58 PM

    Macca, you saying you have never worked for a British company? or bought British products which fund the British economy??? Drop that sh*te about being a “true Irishman” its a job and hes getting to do what he loves most! Fairly sure you would change your attitude if it was you being offered upwards of 30,000 per week to play!

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    Mute macca
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    May 16th 2013, 3:00 PM

    I wouldn’t play for rangers in a fit! That’s what this is about!

    14
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    Mute macca
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    May 16th 2013, 3:01 PM

    I wouldn’t play for rangers in a fit! That’s what this is about

    10
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    Mute Peter Kavanagh
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    May 16th 2013, 3:10 PM

    It’s alright, Macca. Somehow I don’t think they’re looking to sign you.

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    Mute macca
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    May 16th 2013, 3:15 PM

    And I bet if asked neither would any “real” Irish player on the Republic of Ireland team

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    Mute Shane O Reilly
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    May 16th 2013, 3:24 PM

    True Irish man would go f*ck off with that. How about being a true Irish man when you have a mortgage to pay and no income coming in. Would you go on the dole or get a decent paying job playing soccer? Grow up.

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    Mute macca
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    May 16th 2013, 3:40 PM

    And ur gonna try tell me this lads only option was rangers? Lmao! u go around and ask most southern Irish people would they play for rangers if they were professional footballs and I know the answer ul get

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    Mute Shane O Reilly
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    May 16th 2013, 3:46 PM

    Are you gonna try tell me otherwise? Do you know him, his situation and his offers? No. 2 offers on the table so lets say one is 7 grand a week at rangers and the other is 3 grand at another place. So you’re saying you would still not go for the sake of 1/3 of a million more? If the money was on the table in front of you?

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    Mute David O'Sullivan
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    May 16th 2013, 3:47 PM

    Only option? Maybe not, best option? Probably.
    Not everyone is as backwards in their thinking as you are.

    14
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    Mute Gary Keating
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    May 16th 2013, 4:44 PM

    Celtic are a British club..

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    Mute Joseph McGranaghan
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    May 16th 2013, 5:22 PM

    It’s a job!!! My dads from Glasgow and even there in the epicentre of it all, you get offered a chance to play professional football, you take it. Now if both are in for you that’s a different matter…

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    Mute David O'Sullivan
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    May 16th 2013, 2:18 PM

    Who cares!!! The Celtic v Rangers crap is the reason most people can’t stand the old firm derby!! People give others abuse for following Man Utd, Liverpool etc because they have no connection with them. The same argument should hold for these historically bigoted sides!

    Celtic fans are possibly the worst soccer fans in the world. I once was told, while wearing an AC Milan shirt, (they were playing Celtic) I should support Celtic because they’re catholic… I had fun pointing out that Italy is the home of Catholicism, which I did in no uncertain terms!

    P.s I have no love for AC Milan, just an old jersey I stole off the lads!

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    May 16th 2013, 3:20 PM

    Are you for real, the abuse fans from English clubs give each other is unreal and as you say for no reason at all.
    At least Celtic and rangers fans have history and with that some sense of ( misguided as it is ) justification about not liking the other.
    As for rangers and Irish players well its Like Michael Jordan playing for the KKK’s basketball team, the club hate who you are, the fans hate who you are and if you want to play for them go ahead there’s nothing stoping you but don’t expect to be invited to too many supporter club functions. ( unless its a 12 of July one then I’d Make an excuse and stay at home or wear something flameproof)

    14
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    Mute Mario
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    May 16th 2013, 4:10 PM

    Your uneducated-you have 1 conversation with an idiot and you brand the clubs fans as the worlds worst???Celtic and their fans came across as fantastic over the their recent European nights-You don’t have 1 notion as to what your talking about

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    Mute David O'Sullivan
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    May 16th 2013, 6:20 PM

    I’m uneducated?! I disliked Celtic before this, the vast majority of Celtic fans have never been in Scotland, let alone Celtic park. Plastic IRA wannabes

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    Mute Mario
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    May 16th 2013, 8:08 PM

    You are wrong but with you being so small minded and a brain of so little magnitude I am not going to waste my evening in reading your rants, And yes, you come across very uneducated

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    Mute David O'Sullivan
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    May 16th 2013, 8:40 PM

    Whatever helps you sleep at night sweetheart. Anyone who who supports a team defined by religion has no right to call anyone else small minded.

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    Mute Mario
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    May 16th 2013, 8:44 PM

    I never mentioned anything about being a supporter-Sweet Dreams

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    Mute David O'Sullivan
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    May 16th 2013, 8:53 PM

    Then why attack me on my opinions?

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    Mute Andrew Fitzsimons
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    May 16th 2013, 7:19 PM

    A lot of people are misunderstood here and think his detractors are complaining about him playing for a club with strong British vibes. It’s more extreme than that; Rangers are not just a British club, but a strongly anti-Irish club, who sing songs about being “up to our knees in Fenian blood.” For those who think its silly in this day and age to dislike Rangers for what they stand for, then try and spend half an hour unharmed in a Rangers pub on matchday. Your Irish accent won’t help you one bit!

    14
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    Mute sean o hannrachain
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    May 16th 2013, 9:45 PM

    Completely agree, it’s not about playing for a pro-British club it’s playing for an anti-Irish club

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    Mute Gavin Byrne
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    May 16th 2013, 9:14 PM

    See how long he lasts with them dirtbird fans

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    Mute Jakim Berndsen
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    May 16th 2013, 3:49 PM

    Am I the only one that finds people’s following of the Old Firm in this country absolutely bizzarre. They play football in a different country, but the way some people go on about it you’d think it was two sides from Dublin. Sure, there’s a catholic/protestant rivalry there, which most consider stupid these days anyway, but that in no way makes it an Ireland vs the brits game. If people are so wound up about British people that they consider an Irish man playing for Rangers a national disgrace, they can go live in the Gaeltacht, speak nothing but Irish, buy no British products at all and see where it gets them. People bearing grudges for things that happened before many of their births is ridiculius

    And wearing Celtic Jersey’s to an Irish game. I follow hibs, and despite their Irish links I wouldn’t dream of wearing the Jersey of a Scottish side to an Irish international game. For all their Irish connotations, they are and remain a Scottish club from Glasgow, and it’s laughable that many try to pass them off as our major national side.

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    Mute Aodhán Ó Maonaigh
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    May 17th 2013, 7:14 AM

    100%agree with you

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    Mute William Scully
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    May 16th 2013, 12:16 PM

    Cork goalkeeper Alan Smith made his Rangers debut last month… So he’ll be the 2nd Irish player in 80 years!

    9
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    Mute Decl@n Hanley
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    May 16th 2013, 6:45 PM

    He can play for whoever he likes. Let’s just hope he doesn’t join in with the fans when they start belting out “The Billy Boys”.

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    Mute Ryan Doyle
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    May 16th 2013, 5:03 PM

    Well done to him for ignoring the biggoted rubbish that spews from the underclass up there.

    4
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