Davis explains reasons for Rangers exit
Rangers' Steven Davis said he needed to be "playing at the highest possible level" as he explained the reasons behind his impending exit from the cash-strapped Glasgow giants.
Davis is one of eight players unhappy about the prospect of transferring their existing Rangers contract to Sevco – the new company or 'newco' set up by Charles Green that bought the assets of the soon to be liquidated 140-year-old Rangers for £5.5 million ($8.5 million).
Northern Ireland international Davis, who joined Rangers in 2008, captained the Ibrox club through four months of administration.
But, having stuck it out thus far, he is now ready to leave Ibrox with Green's application to get his 'newco' Rangers into the Scottish Premier League (SPL) looking set to fail because of objections from other clubs and demotion to the Third Division of the Scottish Football League a possibility.
Davis, in a statement in Wednesday's Daily Record, said: "Only those who know me will know how much Rangers mean to me.
"I signed a new contract last year, giving my best years to the club in the knowledge we'd be challenging for leagues and cups and in Europe year after year. That's the reason I came to Rangers.
"My young family love life in Scotland but after all that's gone on since administration in February there came a point when I needed to make a decision based on what was best for my short career.
"I am 27 and need to be playing at the highest possible level."
Davis and goalkeeper Allan McGregor confirmed their intention to leave on Tuesday along with midfielder Jamie Ness and forward Kyle Lafferty.
They followed Rhys McCabe, Sone Aluko, Steven Whittaker and Steven Naismith in objecting to the transfer of their contracts.
However, Lee Wallace said Tuesday he intended to stay at Ibrox.
Green has threatened legal action against those players objecting to the transfers of their contracts to the 'newco', something which the Professional Footballers' Association Scotland believe is their right.
And on Wednesday former Sheffield United chief executive Green accused the want-away footballers of being "opportunists".
If Rangers are ejected from the SPL, their place could be taken by either relegated Dunfermline or First Division runners-up Dundee.
Meanwhile prosecutors ordered police Monday to open a criminal investigation into the takeover of Rangers by Craig Whyte in May 2011.
Businessman Whyte bought an 85% shareholding in Rangers for £1 from previous owner Sir David Murray and made several pledges in terms of future investment and paying off the club's bank debt.
However, Rangers went into administration on February 14 this year following court action from UK tax officials.
Immediately after being appointed, the club's administrators announced that Rangers had failed to pay about £9 million ($14m) in tax since Whyte's takeover.
They also revealed that the club had paid off a debt to Lloyds Banking Group from a £24.4million ($38m) capital injection from investment firm Ticketus, which was secured on the back of future season ticket sales.
The tax debt was most recently listed at more than £21 million ($32.7m).
