Walter Smith has admitted that John Fleck and Danny Wilson see their futures lying elsewhere. The young duo, who have 18 months left on their contracts, have rejected new deals and Smith said he believed they were having their heads turned by the prospect of bigger contracts elsewhere.

Fleck has long been considered one of the most exciting prospects in Scottish football but has not yet managed to hold down a regular first team place. Central defender Wilson shot to fame when he replaced Madjid Bougherra following the player’s injury and has impressed when recalled to the starting line-up in recent weeks.

Rangers manager Smith said that he felt the players’ development would be better served by staying at Ibrox but has accepted that both players will explore their options when their contracts expire next year. Smith suggested that agents’ influence was a factor and confessed that he was disappointed Fleck and Wilson had rejected contract extensions..

"It's disappointing they did that, but that's the world we live in at the present moment,” he said.

"While it's disappointing for Rangers, especially as they've both come through the youth ranks, it's something we'll just need to accept.

"The situation we're placed in with agents means the boys aren't actually handling any aspect of it. It's other people who are doing that as much as younger players themselves.”

The Ibrox boss suggested that the decision did not take into account the fact that Rangers may be able to offer the pair regular football in the future.

"That's the disappointing aspect. Contractual aspects - at 18 years of age - are being placed before careers,” he added.

"That's the most disappointing factor of all this, especially when younger boys are obviously going to get far more first team opportunities now. It's disappointing we've had a couple come through the ranks, who are going to be decent players, but it looks as though they see their future lying elsewhere.

"It certainly doesn't look like they will be signing new deals now."