Sandaza: contract would have been ‘waste paper’

Published on Tuesday 21 February 2012 03:20

ST JOHNSTONE striker Francisco Sandaza has admitted that he is glad he did not commit to joining Rangers during last month’s transfer window, after watching the Ibrox club descend into turmoil following administration last week.

Rangers were keen on securing the services of the Spaniard, but attempts to sign him on a pre-contract agreement fell through after the player and his manager at St Johnstone, Steve Lomas, both questioned why the Ibrox club had not made an offer to buy him there and then rather than waiting until the summer when his contract expires and he becomes a free agent. He has caught the eye this season with his goalscoring exploits, notching up a tally of 15 to sit behind Gary Hooper (19), Anthony Stokes (18) and Nikica Jelavic (17) in the goal charts. Asked if he was glad that he had not signed a pre-contract with Rangers last month, Sandaza said: “Yes, because nobody likes to be in a club that is in administration. It’s been a good decision.

“I wish them all the best, I hope they will recover the situation because they are a good club and everybody would like to play for them, but at the moment they are having a hard time so I feel sorry for them. If I had signed a pre contract with them, now it’s waste paper.”

St Johnstone sit in fifth place in the SPL, level on points with fourth-placed Hearts. If Rangers fail to get a licence to permit them to play in Uefa competitions next season - they have until 31 March to sort out their affairs - the Perth club are firmly in contention for Europa League qualification.

Sandaza would not comment on whether be would still be around at McDiarmid Park next season, but confirmed that the club wants to hold on to him. “The club (St Johnstone) have offered me a contract to sign for two years and I don’t have any offers from any other clubs so I will think about it,” he said. “To get to Europe next season would be a successful season for us so I’m trying to keep focus on it.”

But he added that he would not be averse to a move to Rangers in the future if the Ibrox club’s situation is sorted out and he is made another offer. “It depends on the situation of the club and it depends on the offer,” he said. “Who knows, maybe. I never said I wouldn’t like to play for them. They are a big club and every footballer would be delighted to play for them.”

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