Hamilton Academical right back Zander Hutton is attracting growing interest from across the Scottish Championship, with Rangers weighing up a possible early termination of his loan spell amid major upheaval at the League One club.
Hutton, who is contracted to Rangers, joined Hamilton Academical on loan earlier this season in a move designed to give the young defender regular senior minutes.
At the time, it looked a sensible step. Accies were pushing near the top of League One, Hutton was playing consistently, and the environment appeared stable enough for development.
That picture has changed dramatically.
Hamilton’s season has been overshadowed by severe off-field turmoil, with the club hit by a staggering 31-point deduction over the past 12 months due to financial breaches.
Those sanctions have completely altered their trajectory, dragging them from early title challengers into a relegation fight and leaving the squad operating in constant uncertainty.
While there has been a significant development this week – with Morley Sports Management Group completing a takeover of 97.5% of the club – Rangers are understood to be monitoring the situation closely before deciding whether Hutton’s development is best served elsewhere.
The takeover ends the controversial reign of Seref Zengin, who was last month ruled by the Scottish FA to be not a fit and proper person to hold a position within football.
Morley Sports Management Group, who also own Cymru Premier side Haverfordwest County, have moved quickly to stabilise the club, but the on-field damage has already been done.
From a Rangers perspective, the priority is simple: ensuring Hutton is playing at the right level, in the right environment, and under the right conditions.
That is where Championship interest comes into play.
Several clubs in the division are understood to be tracking Hutton’s situation, with Greenock Morton emerging as a particularly strong option.
Morton are managed by former Rangers utility-man Ian Murray, a factor that is believed to appeal to Ibrox decision-makers when it comes to loan pathways and player development.
Hutton himself featured prominently during Rangers pre-season under former head coach Russell Martin, earning praise before being sent out on loan.
With Martin now gone and Rangers reassessing their squad development strategy, opportunities for recalibration are opening up.
Hamilton’s takeover may yet bring short-term calm, but with Accies now sitting third bottom of League One and facing a long road back from their points deductions, Rangers are unlikely to want one of their assets spending the second half of the season in survival-mode football at that level.
A Championship loan – particularly under a former Rangers figure – would align far more closely with the club’s long-term planning.
No final decision has been made, but with interest growing and the January window moving quickly, Hutton’s situation is one to watch closely.