Hi folks! Welcome back to another riveting ex-files! After last weeks look around League 1 we now move to the bottom division of the football league, League 2.

When attempting to write this I really do find it amazing at just some of the names that have been connected with Rangers over the years, whether it is a brief loan or trial game many years ago or a coach or manager, there are plenty that have got just a tiny connection to the R’s. 

I start with the most obvious club to catch my eye, the MK Dons. Now many football fans up and down the country really don’t give a damn about the club formally known as Wimbledon. Indeed I am of the opinion that they really shouldn’t have been allowed to move all the way from South London up to the concrete and roundabout capital of the world, but there you go!  

I’m sure everyone knows that the legend that is Kevin Gallen is currently playing at Stadium MK. Kevin, who scored a remarkable 97 goals in nearly 400 appearances, has been something of a regular for the Dons this season scoring 5 times in 10 appearances. I really believe that Kev really should be playing at least a division higher than he currently resides.  

Until recently Gallen was joined at the MK Dons by none other than regular Rangers nemesis Leon Knight. Yes the same Leon that proudly boasted when joining Brighton that they were a better club than Rangers and that he would be playing premiership football before us! 

After joining Rangers on loan from Chelsea in 2001 and contributing 11 appearances at the back end of that season without scoring Knight joined Huddersfield on loan, then Sheffield Wednesday before joining Brighton for £300,000 in 2003. After falling out with then Seagulls boss Mark McGee Leon signed for Swansea city but again fell out with the manager, Kenny Jackett. He briefly had a loan spell with Barnsley last year before linking up with Martin Allen at Mk Dons and now he’s been bombed out Wycombe!  

Also at Stadium MK is former loan Ranger Lloyd Dyer, who I thought was a decent player, shame Olly didn’t play him in his natural position when with us.  

Moving swiftly on and our next stop is Barnet. There’s not a single Rangers connection on show on the pitch, however looking after the players medical needs as Barnet physio is none other than former South African international Mark Stein. Big Mark joined QPR from Luton town in 1988 and in just over a season at Loftus Road scored 4 goals in 33 appearances.  

After spells at Oxford, Stoke, Chelsea, Bournemouth and Luton (again) he ended his playing days at Dagenham and Redbridge. After a spell as player boss of the Daggers, Stein left the club in 2004 after alleged racist comments were said in training. Stein spent a couple of years studying to become a sports physio, and in 2006 he was appointed Barnet’s first team physio.    

At Bradford City there are 2 ex R’s, Jamaican international Goalie Donovan Ricketts spent a period on trial with Rangers way back in 1998, after travelling with the Jamaican Squad to France for the World Cup finals.  

Their regular goalscorer Barry Conlon is the next Bradford player with Hoops connections. I didn’t know until looking on the Bradford website that the big Irishman signed his first professional contract in 1996 under Ray Wilkins however, like many Wilkins signings, things didn’t work out and he joined Man City for free in 1997 having not made a single appearance. Conlon has gone on to enjoy a distinguished career playing for the likes of Plymouth, Bradford and Darlington since his early days as a Rangers reserve.   

At Bury their new Youth Team Manager is none other than our record signing Mike Sheron! 

Across London Tony Roberts is still going strong at the ripe old age of 35. Roberts has been with the Daggers since 2000 and has been a regular making over 300 appearances and even scoring a goal! Until recently Tony had been goalkeeper coach for Rangers but after suffering from “personal problems” he left in 2006. Since then he has been coaching the ‘keepers at Millwall and the Arsenal academy twice a week. It’s amazing that he still finds time to train with his own team!  

Also on the team sheet on a regular basis for the Daggers is Northern Irishman Richard Graham, he came through the youth ranks at Rangers in the early 90’s and great things were expected of him but after drifting into the non league game with Chesham, Billericay and Kettering Graham finally came back up with Barnet.  

Also still plying their trade in the lowest league are Richard “egg head” Edghill with Macclesfield Town, goalkeepers Phil Barnes (Grimsby Town), Tim Sandercombe (Notts County), and Anthony Williams (Wrexham), Tommy Doherty (Wycombe) and Tommy Williams (Peterborough).  

So then there you have it, that’s League 2 rounded up. My next instalment is the one that hopefully you have all been waiting for! The Conference and lower league football. Which former striking flop wants a manager’s job with Farsley Celtic? Who’s trying to “rebuild” his career in the Welsh lower leagues? and who’s the latest ex- Ranger linked with Crawley Town? Find out all the answers and many more next week.

paul_j_curran@yahoo.co.uk