Rangers chiefs have been ordered to pay former kitman Jim McAlister almost £13,000 after he was unfairly sacked.
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.
The 38-year-old is now working with Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia in another behind the scenes position.
But an employment tribunal in Glasgow has found Ibrox chiefs liable for McAlister’s “unfair dismissal”, saying they were in “breach of contract” over his departure last year.
Meanwhile, sources said the ex footballer was “devastated” to be sacked by the club he’s supported his whole 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.
He played two seasons in the top flight over a three-year stay with Dundee and won each of the three lower-league titles in Scotland.
But in 2021 McAlister announced his shock retirement from playing, with the club saying he was quitting “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.
That opportunity was initially reported to be a logistics role behind the scenes at the Rangers’ training centre, involving working with long-serving Ibrox kitman Jimmy Bell.
But the legendary Gers’ kitman’s passed away in 2022 and McAlister assumed full responsibilities.
He was understood to have left Ibrox in July last year and the circumstances around his departure were never confirmed, but we reported in September how ex-Rangers boss Gerrard was looking to add McAlister to his back room team in the Middle East.
The former Liverpool FC legend is understood to have approached the former kitman to take over as kit coordinator with his Saudi Pro League side, where he is currently based.
No further details have been published by the employment tribunal on the circumstances of McAlister’s unfair dismissal, with the judgement stating that Rangers made no appearance at a hearing on December 14 and filed no defence to the action.
McAlister represented himself during proceedings.
A leading employment lawyer who advised in the case said: “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.
“Their conduct regarding protocols and procedures prior to the employment tribunal left a lot to be desired.
“The fact they offered no defence and had no representation at the hearing is indicative of that.”
A judgement on the financial award handed down following the hearing said: “The claimant’s claim of unfair dismissal is well founded and succeeds.
“The claimant’s claim of breach of contract by failing to give him notice of dismissal is well founded and succeeds.”
The club was ordered to pay £8,728 compensation for unfair dismissal and a further £1,572 for breach of contract within 28 days.
The tribunal also found Rangers had “unreasonably failed to comply” with disciplinary and grievance procedures and ordered an increase in compensation of £2,575.
McAlister declined to comment on the case.
Rangers FC did not respond to our request for comment.
