NATHAN Patterson left Rangers this week in a sensational deal that brings in a record sum for the club.

The Scot joins a growing brand of top young Scottish internationals in the English Premier League with Billy Gilmour, Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson already staring down south. It’s a brilliant move for our game.

You would think fans of other football clubs and the National team would recognise that. However, the hatred shown this week has only confirmed what we already knew. This country would rather hate itself to death than see positives for our game if it involves Rangers. Whether it’s a corner kick, a caution or even a free kick, everything Rangers consumes them. Everything is a conspiracy and everything is cheated - it must be tiresome being so bitter.

So before we get to that let’s concentrate on what it means for Rangers, because that is what is important. The club will rake in a fee of around £12 million pounds with a further £4 million and a sell-on clause available depending on how the player does. It’s a tremendous deal for the club and a brilliant opportunity for Patterson.

For Rangers, it means extra funds for the bank account in a tough climate where we are still battling the pandemic and whatever nonsense our Government throw at us. It may allow a signing or two and help the club to renew the contracts that are ticking down.

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So, for Rangers, it is very positive but of course, it stings we are losing a young graduate and supporter. But this club has never hidden its desire to create a model that sells big. This transfer strategy has long been spoken about, much like the decision to have a succession plan for a manager, and it is nice to see the club put these practices into place.

Rangers will need to replace Patterson however or promote from within. The natural youth replacement is Adam Devine but it is questionable whether or not he is ready for such a jump. If this strategy is to move on, then Rangers will have to promote or buy someone of promise and build them to replace James Tavernier for a fraction of the cost. It's likely Rangers will dip into the market and buy someone. James Sands will arrive, although he's predominately a central defender or central midfielder he's an exciting prospect nonetheless.

It’s an exciting time and if this sale gives Rangers capital, allows some contract renewals and a signing or two then the club have hit the jackpot.

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But perhaps that’s the problem.

When Hibs, for example, knocked back bids for Josh Doig and Kevin Nisbet, it was pleasing that the league's best young talent wasn’t being undersold. They were right to stand their ground especially when a buying club is chancing its arm with poorer clubs. More money in our league helps everyone and selling big has a knock-on effect.

For example, Aberdeen who have assets in young Calvin Ramsey and Lewis Ferguson can surely say 'If you are paying £16m for Nathan Patterson then we want what we value our player for!'. No longer should we undervalue our star players in this country.

Now I don’t care about Aberdeen or Hibs, but as a football fan, it's important to look at it as pragmatically as possible. Everyone should want the best for our league. For example, no way should St Johnstone have lost players like Jason Kerr and Ali McCann for such a pitiful amount. It’s about time we as a league got the deals the quality we have deserves.

That’s why people shouting this down so vociferously on social media is so baffling. This deal should be great for everyone.

All that's been seen and heard is folk talking it down and even some ridiculous claims about the value of the deal. The player apparently isn’t even that good despite him starring for the national team.

One ridiculous Twitter account even claimed Rangers would receive £1m per every 50 games he played in his contract terms. So in order to get the add-ons, he would have to play 250 games in five seasons. In reality, Everton barely play 50 games a year so Patterson would have to play nearly every game for five years. It’s utter stupidity that only the most gullible could swallow, but it underlines the hatred for our club that anyone would devalue their own credibility just to see who can shout ‘Sevco’ the loudest.

Walter once said: "Rangers is a way of life for many people", it’s just a shame some of them don’t even support our club. It’s also a shame the mere mention of our club seems to send them into an unfathomable fit of rage. But I get it, it’s a jealousy thing and they have every right I suppose. £16m for a second choice is some deal and it's likely to rankle. It will sting that Rangers are champions and kicking on once more but folk better come to terms with it.

For me, it’s all positive. I wish Nathan all the best and trust he will smash it and do really well. It’s a brilliant deal for everyone.

For Rangers it’s the step into the next level as a club that sells big, banks profits and then buys to go again. Anyone coming to sign our stars now knows the market our players are in and that any deal will be on our terms. This is a deal Rangers stood firm on and made sure we got our valuation. It’s the beginning of something.

Good luck to Nathan and for everyone else, wake up and see the possibilities this deal brings to our game. Put the hatred to one side because it’s positive for all.