Hungry Rangers look to rebuild foreign legion

FIRST Division big-spenders Rangers have struck deals with two new foreign players as replacements for Welsh goalkeeper Mark Walton and defender Steve O'Shaughnessy who are parting company with the club.

Rangers chairman Lam Tai-fai refused to disclose the names of the new players until their contracts had been signed.

Walton and O'Shaughnessy contacted team manager Phillip Lee yesterday morning after reading in a Hong Kong newspaper that they had been sacked by the club.

But Lee cleared the air by saying that the duo did not want to play for the club anymore and have requested their salary for the month up until yesterday.

The club have agreed to release the pair even though they have not fulfilled their one-month probation contract.

The club have also agreed to pay the pair's three-week salary and their air fares home.

Both asked for an additional one-week salary, claiming they had been sacked by the club. But Rangers refused to bow to the request.

''We haven't told them they have been sacked. And we are not going to pay more to them as the deal was confirmed by both parties yesterday,'' said Lee.

Walton said he had not heard from club officials about his fate before reading it in the paper.

''If the problem is not sorted out, Rangers will be in trouble,'' said the former Welsh under-21 international.

Walton will try to convince the club to pay an additional week's wages.

Walton and O'Shaughnessy failed to show up for yesterday's friendly game against Second Division club Police, which Rangers won 4-3.

Chairman Lam said Walton and O'Shaughnessy's performances had not been up to standard since their arrival last month. He said they were disappointing at a training camp in Shanghai recently.

''We don't have to fire them as their contracts end next Wednesday. After that they're free to go. It's simple and reasonable,'' said Lee.

Lee also described Walton as a ''trouble-maker'' and said the team spirit has been affected by his behaviour.

In other foreign player news, former Coventry City striker Gary Bannister will be granted a contract until the end of the season.

While Australian-based Croatian centre forward Marko Perinovic's probation ends at the end of October.

The club will decide whether to give former Southampton central defender Mark Blake another short-term trial.

Meanwhile, Eastern beat First Division new boys Golden 3-0 at the Hong Kong Sports Institute yesterday.

The three goals were shared by their strike force of Dale Tempest, Ian McParland and left winger Ross Greer.