Dundee manager Paul Hartley has refrained from commenting on club captain Gary Harkins’ remark that Rangers are a new club, but insists that he will have a chat with the midfielder.
The Dees are scheduled to host Dumbarton for the replay of their Scottish Cup fifth round clash later tonight at Dens Park, with the winner travelling to Ibrox to take on the Gers in the next round of the competition.
Harkins is the captain of Hartley’s side and has managed to make 25 appearances in all competitions, chipping in with four goals and seven assists.
The 31-year-old midfielder was asked to share his thoughts on the prospect of facing Rangers in the Scottish Cup quarter-final, to which he replied: "They're just a new club. I've not played them before, so I'm looking forward to that. It should be good."
Following their liquidation in 2012, the Gers were demoted to the bottom tier of Scottish football, and the Ibrox outfit has made their way through the third-tier to the Championship, and look on course to earn promotion to the Scottish top flight this season.
relatedNewsStory
Hartley, who played for Hearts, Celtic and Aberdeen in his playing days, steered clear from making any comments on his midfielder’s statement.
However, the 39-year-old did highlight that he would be talking to Harkins over his Rangers comment.
Speaking in an interview with Herald Scotland, Hartley said: "I don't have any thoughts on it. I haven't see them.
"I have been told about the headlines but it is not something that I like to get into or want to get into it.
“I didn't even know he had said anything until this morning so we will have a chat with Gary."
Rangers’ descent to the bottom tier of Scottish football and their resurgence has sparked some fans to dub them a new club.
Harkins, however, later claimed on Twitter that he was just joking with his comments, he wrote: "Just a wee joke took too far."
