THE Italian agent representing Rangers striker Marco Negri last night accused the club of refusing to sort out the striker's future, but that was angrily denied by Rangers chairman David Murray.

Tiberio Cavalleri launched a verbal attack on Murray and called on him to contact the player immediately to tell him where he stands.

However, Murray reacted angrily to the claims and made it clear if Negri had any problems then he should contact the club.

He added Negri was one year into a four-year contract and, therefore, expected him to report back for training in the new season.

Cavalleri claims Negri, who watched last week's cup final from the stand, hasn't been told if he will be playing at Ibrox next season or not. The agent believes Murray is to blame for failing to clear up the uncertainty surrounding the #4m player's future.

Cavalleri said: ''I want Mr Murray to call me now and tell me if he wants Marco for Rangers. Marco still has three years of his contract to run and wants to know what the future holds.

''At the moment, he is very sad. He waits for the telephone to ring and he hopes that it is Rangers calling. He wants them to call him and let him know what their plans are.

''A big club like Rangers should treat a player like Marco better. He feels as if he has been treated badly by the club and now feels it is up to Rangers to act like a big club and contact him.''

In response, Murray said Negri should be contacting the club, not the club contacting the player, if he had any problems.

''As far as I'm concerned, I expect Marco Negri to return to training with the rest of the Rangers team on the due date,'' said Murray. ''He is only one year into a four-year contract.

''If his agent and/or the player is promoting an exit from Rangers I think they should be phoning me. He is under contract and we expect him to report back for training at the due date unless we receive an offer or the confirmation he wishes to leave. We have had neither, so the position remains the same.

''I saw Marco Negri on the day of the cup final. I was in the same room as him for half-an- hour and he never said anything to me. It's certainly not my job to promote the sale of one of our players.''

It seems the agent's outburst is an attempt to force Rangers' hand in dealing with the striker.

However, Murray's comments suggest they are prepared to play a waiting game.

Whatever happens, it is clear that Negri will leave Ibrox, the question being when and for what price.

New Rangers coach Dick Advocaat has already put feelers out for a new front man and Negri's days clearly are numbered.

Despite being Scotland's top scorer with 36 goals, Negri had a dreadful second half to the season, when he scored only three times.

An eye injury playing squash, a bust-up with fellow countryman Lorenzo Amoroso, and an alleged unathorised trip to New York when he should have been in Italy have all contributed to his rollercoaster season at Ibrox.

Cavalleri claimed if Rangers got the situation sorted out there were a string of clubs Negri could sign for, including his former clubs Udinese and Perugia.

It is believed that when Negri is allowed to go there will be a price tag of around #3m placed on him, around #1m less than the Ibrox club paid Perugia a year ago.