GER DROPPED
Forgotten ex-Rangers star, 25, who was hailed by Steven Gerrard wakes up unemployed after being released by English club
He has left the club along with a former Celtic ace
A FORMER Rangers star has been left unemployed after being released by an English club this week.
The 25-year-old, who joined Rangers in the summer of 2019, has seen his exit confirmed by the team following the release of their retained and released lists.
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He will now need to start his search for a new club and will be hoping to kickstart his career once again after grinding to a halt down south.
Jake Hastie was signed by Steven Gerrard on a four-year deal at the end of the 2018/19 season after he impressed the manager following his standout displays with Motherwell, where he was nominated for the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year, along with then team-mate and future Celtic midfielder David Turnbull.
It was Ryan Kent who ended up scooping the award but the winger soon joined the Englishman at Ibrox after already agreeing a pre-contract switch earlier in the year.
Almost five years ago, he was one of Gerrard's first signings but he never managed to kick on in Govan, despite featuring heavily in the pre-season build-up.
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Speaking after he signed the winger, the Liverpool legend insisted he would go on to have a big future at the club.
He said: "Jake is one who will join the first team squad next season. He's a very exciting prospect.
"I'm very aware we want success now and as quick as we can but it's also very important that we keep trying to strengthen this team and he is one who can help us for many, many years.
"He's someone who's got answers in the final third of the pitch, whether that be in a one-on-one situation or to assist or score a goal."
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Aged 20 at the time, the youngster went on to start in Rangers' Europa League qualifier against Gibraltar minnows St Joseph's at Ibrox on July 18, helping the Gers to a 6-0 win.
Hastie next appeared as a late sub in a League Cup win over East Fife the following month but he didn't appear again for the Light Blues all season.
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He actually headed elsewhere just two months after becoming a Gers player and agreed to join EFL League One side Rotherham until the end of the season.
In fact the winger spent most of his Ibrox career on various loans, spending time at former club Motherwell and also joining Partick Thistle and Linfield.
He moved on permanently in June 2022, joining Hartlepool United.
But despite hoping to kick on down south, he was mainly used as a rotation player, making 24 appearances in his first campaign before opting for a new challenge this season after spending the first half of the season in the National League.
Hastie returned to Scottish football in January to join Hamilton on loan and made seven appearances in League One before returning to his parent club when the National League season ended.
And now his time is also up down south after running down his contract with the club.
He has left Hartlepool along with former Celtic kid Brody Paterson who has also been released.
Opening up on the challenges he faced the English fifth tier, he said in November: "It’s been tough but it’s been a good learning curve as well. I've enjoyed it to be fair
"There’s a good group here, everybody gets on well with each other and we’re getting back to what we’re good at, which is playing football.
"For me personally I’ve just had to stay mentally strong and keep working away and eventually things always turn in football, and with hard work it always repays.
“It’s a weird one because you work hard all week and then you’ve got nothing to show for it on a Saturday.
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"I’ve been working hard since pre-season, I had a good pre-season, and I’ve been feeling really fit and really sharp and I’ve kept working away – the gaffer has told me to keep working hard and I’ve got my chance.
“I’ve gradually got sharper in games and I’m starting to find my feet more.”
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