Former coach Billy Dodds’ remarks could jeopardize Rangers’ £15 million agreement for Hamza Igamane.

In the often-unforgiving glare of the Scottish football media, former Rangers coach Billy Dodds has re-emerged with comments that could send ripples of concern through the Ibrox faithful and potentially jeopardize a significant transfer deal for young striker Hamza Igamane. Dodds, who was part of Barry Ferguson’s interim coaching team at Rangers in the latter half of the 2024-25 season, has publicly questioned the £15 million valuation Rangers have placed on the Moroccan international, a figure that French club Lille are reportedly already balking at.¹

Dodds’ remarks, made on BBC Sportsound and widely reported by outlets like the Daily Record and Glasgow Times on Saturday, July 5, 2025, come at a sensitive time for Rangers.² The club, under new management with Russell Martin and a new American ownership group (49ers Enterprises), is attempting to navigate a complex transfer window. They aim to balance shrewd acquisitions with significant player sales to generate funds for further investment. The potential £15 million sale of Igamane was seen as a cornerstone of this strategy, a deal that would represent a massive profit on a player signed for approximately £2 million just last summer.

Billy Dodds, a former Rangers striker himself, worked closely with Hamza Igamane during his stint as interim coach from February 2025 onwards.³ He offers a unique, insider perspective on the 22-year-old’s capabilities and current development.

Dodds’ key assertions regarding Igamane are:

1. Questioning the £15 Million Valuation: When directly asked if he would pay £15 million for Igamane, Dodds unequivocally stated, “I would probably pay a few million, but I don’t know if I would go as high as £15million to be honest with you.” This is the most damaging part of his commentary. Coming from someone who just coached the player, it directly undermines Rangers’ asking price in the public domain and, more importantly, to interested clubs.
2. Raw Talent vs. Team Contribution: Dodds acknowledged Igamane’s “so much raw talent,” “strength,” and ability to “do things.” However, he quickly tempered this by emphasizing areas for improvement: “He has got to do more for the team.” Dodds explicitly stated, “As he gets older he will probably learn how to play for the team more, but he is a great lad, a funny lad – but he still has a bit to learn.⁴ The first thing I would say to him – and I did when I tried to communicate with him – is try and do more for the team.”
3. Communication Barriers: Dodds also mentioned a practical challenge: “I couldn’t help Igamane, because he didn’t speak much English but you tried your best.”⁵ While not a criticism of Igamane’s character, it highlights a potential hurdle in his immediate integration and tactical understanding within a new team, especially one in a non-French-speaking league.
4. The “Model” of Selling for Profit: Dodds, seemingly addressing the financial realities, stated, “You look at Celtic selling (Nicolas) Kuhn just now, if you buy someone for £1million-£2million and somebody offers you that sort of money you have got to sell Igamane.⁶ I know the Rangers fans won’t want to hear that but that is the mode⁷l.” This suggests an acceptance, from his perspective, that a profit-driven model is necessary, even if it means selling promising players like Igamane.

Rangers have reportedly been in advanced talks with Lille for Igamane, with the player himself said to have agreed personal terms. However, reports from France, notably from L’Equipe, indicated that Lille was “studying other profiles” besides Igamane, and that Rangers’ £15 million valuation was proving to be a “stumbling block.” This comes despite earlier reports suggesting Lille found the fee “not a problem.”

Dodds’ comments couldn’t have come at a worse time for Rangers’ negotiating position.

• Undermining Rangers’ Valuation: When a former coach publicly states a player isn’t worth the asking price, it gives potential buyers like Lille significant leverage. They can point to Dodds’ assessment as an independent expert opinion to justify offering a lower fee.
• Highlighting Weaknesses: By pointing out Igamane’s need to “do more for the team” and learn to “play for the team more,” Dodds provides Lille with ready-made arguments to drive down the price. They can frame these as legitimate concerns about the player’s readiness for a top European league.
• Fueling Doubts: Even if Lille were genuinely interested, Dodds’ remarks could create internal doubts within their scouting and management teams, causing them to hesitate or pivot more decisively to other targets they are already “studying.” The reports of Lille moving for Olivier Giroud and Vivaldo Semedo from Udinese further complicate the picture for Igamane.
• Public Perception: While the primary impact is on the negotiating table, it also affects public perception. Fans may begin to question the £15 million valuation themselves if a former coach suggests it’s inflated.

The situation presents a dilemma for Rangers. On one hand, they need to raise significant funds from player sales to reinvest in the squad and adhere to the “financial sustainability” model favored by the new American owners. Selling Igamane for £15 million would be a massive win on the financial front. On the other hand, publicly devaluing a player you are trying to sell is a cardinal sin in transfer negotiations.

• Holding Firm: Rangers could choose to simply ignore Dodds’ comments and hold firm on their £15 million valuation, banking on Igamane’s raw talent, his 16 goals in his debut Scottish Premiership campaign (including a memorable Old Firm winner), and his potential for growth. They might argue that Dodds’ assessment is based on a limited interim coaching period and doesn’t fully account for Igamane’s market value or long-term potential.
• Negotiating Down: If Lille’s interest truly wanes or their offers remain significantly below £15 million, Rangers might be forced to lower their asking price. This would be a blow to their transfer strategy and reduce the funds available for Russell Martin to shape his squad.
• The “Weak” Player Claim: In a separate, equally brutal comment, Dodds also reportedly claimed that “70 percent” of the Rangers squad he worked with last season were “weak” and didn’t deserve to be at the club.⁸ This broader criticism of the playing staff, while not directly related to Igamane’s transfer fee, paints a picture of a squad in need of a significant overhaul, potentially further adding pressure on Russell Martin to quickly bring in high-quality replacements.

It’s worth noting the context of Billy Dodds’ recent departure from Rangers. He was part of Barry Ferguson’s temporary coaching staff after Philippe Clement’s sacking.⁹ With the appointment of Russell Martin as permanent manager, Dodds, along with other interim staff like Allan McGregor and Neil McCann, was removed from his role.¹⁰ This could lead some to view his comments as potentially tinged with a degree of bitterness or a lack of full insight into the new regime’s long-term plans for players like Igamane. However, his direct experience working with the player still lends credibility to his technical assessment.

Ultimately, Billy Dodds’ very public assessment of Hamza Igamane’s market value comes at a critical juncture for Rangers. It adds another layer of complexity to an already delicate negotiation with Lille and highlights the transparency (or perhaps, bluntness) that comes from a former coach speaking candidly. Whether Rangers can still command their desired £15 million fee for Igamane now rests on their negotiating resolve and Lille’s desperation for the player, in the face of an appraisal from someone who knows the player best.