JUST IN: Rangers ordered to pay former player £13,000 after unfair sacking

The ex Dundee and Greenock Morton midfielder – a lifelong Gers fan – won a legal battle against the club he dramatically hung up his boots for three years ago.

Jim McAlister was wrongfully fired from Rangers, and the club has been forced to reimburse him for over £13,000 by the authorities.

A lifetime supporter of the Gers, the former midfielder for Dundee and Greenock Morton prevailed in a court case against the team he abruptly left three years prior.

The 38-year-old is now working with Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia in another behind the scenes position.

However, a Glasgow employment tribunal determined that Ibrox executives were in “breach of contract” when they let McAlister leave last year, and as a result, they were held accountable for his “unfair dismissal.”

The former football player, according to insiders, was “devastated” to be let go by the team he had followed his entire life “for no apparent reason.”

McAlister, who grew up on the Isle of Bute, made over 350 appearances for Morton over two spells at Cappielow and also played for Hamilton, Dundee and Blackpool.

During his three-year tenure with Dundee, he participated in two seasons in the top flight and won all three of Scotland’s lower-league championships.

However, McAlister shocked everyone in 2021 by announcing his unexpected resignation from the game. The team stated that he was leaving to “pursue a career elsewhere.”

It was later revealed that the former Morton skipper was moving to Rangers to work off the field for his boyhood heroes.

The employment was first described as a behind-the-scenes logistical position at the Rangers training facility, working with Jimmy Bell, a longtime Ibrox kitman.

However, in 2022, the renowned Gers’ kitman passed away, and McAlister took on full responsibility.

Although the reasons for his alleged July departure from Ibrox last year were never established, we revealed in September that McAlister was reportedly being courted by former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard to join his backroom team in the Middle East.

According to reports, the former kitman was approached by the legendary player from Liverpool FC to take over as kit coordinator for his Saudi Pro League team, where he presently plays.

The employment tribunal has not released any additional information on the circumstances surrounding McAlister’s wrongful termination; the ruling indicates that Rangers did not show up for a hearing on December 14 and did not submit a defense against the action.

McAlister conducted his own legal representation.

“Mr. McAlister was left devastated by his shock dismissal from Rangers, whom he’d supported all his life, as well as the treatment he received from the club,” claimed a renowned employment attorney who provided advice in the case.

“A lot was left behind by their behavior with regard to protocols and procedures before the employment tribunal.

“The fact they offered no defence and had no representation at the hearing is indicative of that.”

According to a ruling on the monetary award made after the hearing, “The claimant’s allegation of unjust termination is well-founded and successful.”

“The claimant’s well-founded and successful claim of breach of contract by failing to give him notice of dismissal”

Within 28 days, the club was mandated to pay £1,572 for breach of contract and £8,728 in compensation for unjust dismissal.

In addition, the tribunal determined that Rangers had “unreasonably failed to comply” with grievance and disciplinary procedures and mandated a £2,575 increase in compensation.