I’m a Rangers hero and I once gave one of my players a new contract because of his SINGING
CONTRACT renewal time is a tense one for football players , and managers too. It’s coming to that crunch period in the season which can make, or break, careers again this year. It’s coming up to contract renewal time at clubs around the countryGetty Keith Campbell - The Sun GlasgowStuart McCall took charge of Motherwell and old club Rangers in the SPFL[/caption] Les Gallagher - The Sun GlasgowThe ex-Ibrox midfielder remembers how one player persuaded him to take a chance on him[/caption] Out of contract stars will discover their fate – if their performances have been rewarded with a new offer, a wage rise… or even a release. It can be an unsettling time. But one manager has revealed the unlikely reason he handed his club captain a new contract – and kept his wife happy at the same time. And it was all down to karaoke at an end of season bash. Rangers nine-in-a-row hero Stuart McCall was Motherwell manager and all ready to say goodbye to his skipper Stephen Craigen. The year was 2011 and the experienced Northern Irishman was in contract limbo after eight years at Fir Park. Falkirk were among the clubs waiting in the wings if he was made available for a free transfer but McCall decided to take a chance on an extra year – and his gamble paid off. Craigen struck the right chord and played another 28 games for the Steelmen before moving into the media spotlight as a pundit – but the boss claims it was on the STAGE where he earned his deal, not the football pitch. McCall revealed the moment he made his mind up came at the Well’s end of season bash – and under duress from his own wife. He explained: “We had an end of season function back at Fir Park but my mind had already turned to the out of contract players. “Money was tight and giving deals out was going to be difficult. “I remember my wife coming back from the toilet, she said she’d bumped into a lady and had a really good chat – it was Stephen Craigen’s missus. “On the basis that she was a good woman, she said I had to give him a new contract! I explained I can’t give out contracts just because he has a good wife.” But McCall DID end up following his wife’s orders, albeit for very different reasons. Speaking to BBC Scotland‘s Sportsound programme he added: “The night went on and the lads went on the karaoke, all singing and right at the end, our captain Stephen Craigen went up and sang – unbeknownst to him – one of my favourite songs. “He sang it word for word, all the way through and everyone was up on the dancefloor. Stuart McCall handed Stephen Craigen a contract extensionKenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow Getty Images - GettyThe defender performed McCall’s favourite song – made famous by Kenny Rogers[/caption] GettyHis performance on the stage earned him another season on the pitch[/caption] “I remember going back to the table and said to my missus ‘Yep, Crags is getting a new deal’ – not on the fact that he has a good Mrs but for the fact he sang every word to my favourite song, all the way through. “The song was a Kenny Rogers classic, it was of course, The Gambler.” Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

CONTRACT renewal time is a tense one for football players , and managers too.
It’s coming to that crunch period in the season which can make, or break, careers again this year.



Out of contract stars will discover their fate – if their performances have been rewarded with a new offer, a wage rise… or even a release.
It can be an unsettling time.
But one manager has revealed the unlikely reason he handed his club captain a new contract – and kept his wife happy at the same time.
And it was all down to karaoke at an end of season bash.
Rangers nine-in-a-row hero Stuart McCall was Motherwell manager and all ready to say goodbye to his skipper Stephen Craigen.
The year was 2011 and the experienced Northern Irishman was in contract limbo after eight years at Fir Park.
Falkirk were among the clubs waiting in the wings if he was made available for a free transfer but McCall decided to take a chance on an extra year – and his gamble paid off.
Craigen struck the right chord and played another 28 games for the Steelmen before moving into the media spotlight as a pundit – but the boss claims it was on the STAGE where he earned his deal, not the football pitch.
McCall revealed the moment he made his mind up came at the Well’s end of season bash – and under duress from his own wife.
He explained: “We had an end of season function back at Fir Park but my mind had already turned to the out of contract players.
“Money was tight and giving deals out was going to be difficult.
“I remember my wife coming back from the toilet, she said she’d bumped into a lady and had a really good chat – it was Stephen Craigen’s missus.
“On the basis that she was a good woman, she said I had to give him a new contract! I explained I can’t give out contracts just because he has a good wife.”
But McCall DID end up following his wife’s orders, albeit for very different reasons.
Speaking to BBC Scotland‘s Sportsound programme he added: “The night went on and the lads went on the karaoke, all singing and right at the end, our captain Stephen Craigen went up and sang – unbeknownst to him – one of my favourite songs.
“He sang it word for word, all the way through and everyone was up on the dancefloor.



“I remember going back to the table and said to my missus ‘Yep, Crags is getting a new deal’ – not on the fact that he has a good Mrs but for the fact he sang every word to my favourite song, all the way through.
“The song was a Kenny Rogers classic, it was of course, The Gambler.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page