Rangers manager Kenny McDowall told: Newcastle loanees must play

Another illustration of the dysfunctional set-up at Rangers has been provided by the club’s caretaker manager, Kenny McDowall, who has claimed he has been ordered by the board to play five loanees from Newcastle United. McDowall’s words have been contradicted by the Rangers chief executive, Derek Llambias.

The extent to which Mike Ashley controls affairs at Ibrox and St James’ Park was again highlighted close to the transfer deadline, as the batch of Newcastle fringe players – Haris Vuckic, Remie Streete, Gaël Bigirimana, Kevin Mbabu and Shane Ferguson – headed north on loan until the end of the season.

The Scottish Football Association, which has charged Ashley and Rangers over alleged breaches of dual club influence rules, is likely to take a dim view of those temporary transfers. Hearings for both parties will be heard by a judicial panel next month. Ashley, despite owning only 8.92% of Rangers, has a firm grip on commercial affairs, his Sports Direct business has loaned the Scottish club £10m and now there is an on-field alliance.

Speaking on Thursday morning, at his weekly media conference, McDowall revealed he had been informed about the transfers by Llambias, a former Newcastle managing director. McDowall twice replied “yes” when asked if he had been told the quintet had to play in his team when available, an order which he added had arrived from Llambias and the Rangers board member Sandy Easdale.

“On Monday night I got a call from Derek to say he had secured five players on loan from Newcastle,” McDowall said. “They came up the following day. Three of them have arrived and two will be coming in the next three or four weeks [the delay is because of injury].

“We are obviously looking to get promotion and they add competition to the squad. We met the boys yesterday, made them welcome and we go from there. They have come to Glasgow to play football.

“When I was given the job I was told players incoming and outgoing wouldn’t be my responsibility. So I knew that was the case, anyway. I take the team, coach the team and I am more than happy to do that and get on with it.”

Llambias later spoke to Sky Sports News. He insisted: “There’s no way the board is picking the team. The basis of any loan deal is that the players who arrive bolster the side and give the squad more depth. That’s exactly what is happening here.”

Pressed on how he could possibly be comfortable with the scenario, McDowall said: “They are obviously good players – they play for Newcastle. I will carry on and do what I am told to do. I would like to think – I have substitutes – that I can make a change. That’s where we are at.”

Bigirimana, Vuckic and Streete are fit and eligible to start in Sunday’s Scottish Cup tie with Raith Rovers at Ibrox.

The Rangers board, meanwhile, is expected to give its response on Friday to a request by Dave King for an extraordinary general meeting, aimed at removing existing directors.