Reports have emerging stating that one ex-Prem and EFL striker borrowed as much as £70k from fellow team-mates to pay his gambling debts.
The player, who was once heralded as a future star when he broke into the Magpies team in 2009, took the cash prior to being banned from casinos.
Now he’s opened up in an interview with FourFourTwo about that time, and how his career has since spiralled, and now he’s without a club due to his antics.
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29 year old Nile Ranger hasn’t played a match in professional football since New Year’s Day 2018, which was shortly after he was released by Southend United due to “recurring disciplinary issues”.
Familiar problems led to his permanent departure from St James’ Park in 2013 and now he admits that the same pattern of behaviour continued in further during spells at Swindon, Blackpool and beyond.
“Off the pitch I’d been in trouble with manager Chris Hughton, who’d been appointed at the beginning of the 2009-10 season,” he explained. “I turned up late for training more than once after developing a taste for midweek nights out, and was also spending far too much free time in casinos.
“I gambled £30,000 in a two-month period and had to borrow £70,000 from Hatem Ben Arfa, Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini to pay my debts. The club found out and instantly banned me from every casino in Newcastle, while Coloccini sat me down and warned me about the dangers of gambling.
“Mark Viduka was a positive influence too, often advising young players to save their money. Alan Smith was another good role model who drove a battered old car despite his big earnings. I still didn’t listen.”
He did win the Championship with the Magpies in 2009-10, scoring twice in 25 appearances, however that promising start diminished as Hughton and his successor Alan Pardew lost patience.
“A £96,000 promotion bonus landed in my bank account and I spent a chunk of it on a brand new Range Rover,” he admitted. “It soon caught the gaffer’s eye. Andy Carroll then got hold of my car keys at training and parked it in Hughton’s space.
“The gaffer warned me to spend my money wisely and not let it go to my head, but it went in one ear and out the other. I was still doing my bit on the pitch, and scored in a 4-3 League Cup win at Chelsea [in September 2010].
“After the game, I was pulled aside by a club official and told that several tabloid newspapers were going to print a photograph of me holding a gun the next day. My WhatsApp profile picture was me posing with a BB gun, and someone had sent a screenshot to a journalist.
“The club fined me two weeks’ wages, but that was loose change compared to the new five-year contract I was given just three months later. Newcastle had shown me loyalty but I only repaid them with hassle.”
It was six months ago that Ranger pleaded to play for Southend United at no cost.
He took to Twitter and wrote: “I would come and play for free to help the SHRIMPERS.. I owe it to the fans?”
I would come and play for free to help the SHRIMPERS.. I owe it to the fans ⚽️?
— Nile Ranger (@NilePowerRanger) February 11, 2020
Blues chairman Ron Martin revealed Ranger also met with manager Sol Campbell during January, when he reported trained with Oxford United.
Martin said: “Nile stays in touch and had met Sol in January.
“He is therefore on Sol’s radar but for the moment that is as far as it has gone.”
Ranger ended up scoring a total of 10 goals in 49 games before having his contract terminated two years ago.
HIS CAREER STATS:
–
Youth career
Crystal Palace
2007–2008 – Southampton
2008–2009 – Newcastle United
Senior career
2009–2013 – Newcastle United – 51 games (2 goals)
2011 → Barnsley (loan) – 5 games (0 goals)
2012 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) – 8 games (2 goals)
2013–2014 – Swindon Town – 23 games (8 goals)
2014–2016 – Blackpool – 14 games (2 goals)
2016–2018 – Southend United – 45 games (10 goals)
National team
2009–2010 – England U19 – 11 games (6 goals)
Social media users gave their thoughts after learning that the ex-Prem and EFL striker borrowed £70k from team-mates to pay gambling debts…
Nile Ranger could have been a top top striker had everything pace power strength good finisher unfortunately didn’t have the head on him to hit the heights he could have hit which was a shame for Newcastle United. Was such a talent.
— keith screaton (KEX) ⚫️⚪️ (@KScreaton) July 28, 2020
Probably raised a few eyebrows when he was posing with a gun. The club knew he was a liability even before we signed him
— Dan (@danc1396) July 28, 2020
If Ranger had kept the head down and focused on football I strongly believe he would have made a decent footballer. Unfortunately the lad thought he was a gangster and turned out to be a loser
— MagicMagpies (@MagPieMagic78) July 28, 2020
He was outside my work in London about 2 years ago poncing tabs off the lads I work with. Sad
— ScrEWfAcE (@Leetuned) July 28, 2020
“I gambled £40million on a striker. He scored two goals all season. I should be instantly banned from every football club on the planet – or running a cut price trainers shop.”
— Stay@home ??????? ? (@Dic_Penderyn) July 28, 2020
No chance he ever paid it back ?
— Duncan Mason (@Duncan_Mason) July 28, 2020
not surprising tbh
— Howay The Lads (@HWTL_) July 28, 2020
Threw a promising career down the drain!
— Paul (@thetoonreview) July 28, 2020
After finding out the ex-Newcastle striker pleas to play for free at League One club, fans gave their reaction…
Bollocks. Buy an alarm clock.
— Tim Hardwicke (@Arselona) February 11, 2020
— Connor (@BeastlyBwomono_) February 11, 2020
— ShrimpersTalk.co.uk ?⚽️ (@ShrimpersTalk) February 12, 2020
Come Homebase
— Conor O’Shea (@ConorOShea_) February 11, 2020
6’2 HE IS A BLUE
— Denver Chawner (@denverc99) February 11, 2020
Had your chance and blew it
— Matt Bacon (@Matt_Bacon36) February 11, 2020
Its a shame Ron Martin can’t afford free. Love you mate x
— Jake (@Jakec1505) February 11, 2020
Prove it. Start turning up for training, ON time ? and train then, if you keep turning up and they keep saying no then keep turning up until it’s a yes ⚽️⚽️
— Peter Round (@PinkyRound14) February 12, 2020
Wasted every opportunity given to you. You owe it to every set of fans you played for. They all believed in you and you threw it back in their face. You only mention the Shrimpers as they’re the worst team you played for as you know you’d never get in any of the other teams.
— FPL Goblin ??????? (@hamzasaysno) February 12, 2020
I love you unreal amounts Nile, I’ll personally carry you to boots and laces
— Will (@Will_Schwarz_) February 11, 2020
Please Nile! Someone at @SUFCRootsHall make this happen!
— Glen Meredith (@glenmeredith) February 12, 2020
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