EX-RANGERS keeper Steve Simonsen has signed for Indian side Pune City, who are managed by former England star David Platt.
The ex-Everton goalkeeper spent two years at Ibrox as back-up to Cammy Bell, but played for a large chunk of last season after Bell had a shoulder operation.
But the 36-year-old, who also had a spell with Dundee, ran into hot water with the SFA after he was found guilty of betting on a total of 50 games in a year and got a one-match ban.
SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan challenged that decision, claiming his punishment was ‘unduly lenient,’ but they failed to increase the punishment.
Now Simonsen has joined the lucrative new league in the Far East.
He said: “I’m very excited to be joining Pune City for the forthcming Indian Super League season.
“I’m also looking forward to working with David Platt, who is a very good coach.
“I want to get down to hard work and bring trophies to Pune City.”
Meanwhile, former Rangers target Mat Ryan is Valencia’s new £5million keeper.
The Australian international will complete his move to La Liga today, but he could have been an Ibrox star.
In January 2013, then boss Ally McCoist snapped up the chance to bring across the Central Coast Mariners youngster on trial and the deal was agreed.
But Ryan pulled out of the deal at the last minute because Scottish football was planning a vote for league reconstruction which would have meant three leagues for the following season – a move which would have rendered Rangers’ matches in the Third Division meaningless.
The plan was eventually scrapped, but Ryan then clinched a deal to Belgian football with Club Brugge and has never looked back.
Now he’s set to move to Valencia and admitted: “It was an offer I couldn’t refuse.”
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