The Connor Goldson Rangers importance factor that drove contract agreement - full van Bronckhorst Q&A

Here is what he had to say on Connor Goldson, Steven Davis and Allan McGregor signing contract extensions and the emergence of Calvin Bassey.

Connor Goldson, Steven Davis and Allan McGregor signed new contracts, how important was it to keep those guys given the experience they bring?

I think it is very important because those are players who have played and have a lot of years and experience for the club. I think you always have to have a good mix with experienced players, who know the club really well and what it means to be a Rangers player. We have a large group of players who will come into the prime of their careers and we have talented players coming through the academy. I think we have a good mix to develop the older players.

How pleasing was it to retain Connor?

Of course it is going to be more difficult the more players that come to the end of their contract and Connor was becoming a free agent. I think he did fantastic for the team last season and I was really happy that he chose to stay on. Of course he had the possibility to go to another club and the Premier League is a big league for everyone. I think also Connor felt what he has now at Rangers, everything in his life as well. I think in the end he wanted to continue his career here instead of going to another team and I am happy because he is one of the pillars of this team.

How important could he be for someone like Calvin Bassey in helping him develop?

I think it is a process that you want as a coach. I am the manager, I am responsible for the process and developing my players, but the more players that are involved in that process, especially the experienced guys who have played so many games at various levels, they will help the guys as well. If we continue to do that we become stronger as a team and the talented players will develop. Of course the development of Calvin last season was fantastic.

How good can Calvin Bassey become?

He can be very good. I always remember the first game we played at Hibs away and he had to come in because Leon went off. He came in and the first action he had was pressing on the midfield and he is a serious physical presence. The next day I saw him at the training ground and I remembered that action and I told him ‘that is what I want from you when you play’.

He did it in the Scottish Cup final when there was a minute to go and he’s running across.

He is fantastic. He is a player who is at the beginning of his career but also a player who is open for coaching. He wants to develop himself and hopefully we can have him longer here because I think his development needs to be a couple of years more before he reaches the level that he will be comfortable to get into a new team.

That was the talk last season that he would be sold in the summer but you would want him to stay here and develop?

You never know. Of course the potential he has is big, the potential also that a team will notice he has. He came in, he is very sharp, he is very energetic and happy. I think it is good for him to keep going, keep going, and to give everything he has to this team, which he has done so far really well.

Does Calvin understand he has more learning to do and this is a good club for him and he will make that move one day?

I had the same. I came here in ’98 after the World Cup and had three good years with Rangers and then I moved on to Arsenal and to the Premier League. I think that is also a path that many players will do. If you see the squad, Joe played for three years and we have reached a level now where I think he can reach another level being involved in the strongest league in the world. We have Kamara as well, who is talented and came here. That is what you want as well and that is also what being a successful team in Scotland brings with it.

I am more than happy to help Calvin in his development and to make sure he comes to reach a level where everyone will say ‘well, the best thing for him is to move on’. They are all winners. The club is a winner because we developed him and we will get a transfer fee. And the player as well, he will have a fantastic time here then move on.