MATT Crooks and Josh Windass, the Accrington Stanley players who agreed four year deals with Rangers on Wednesday, were yesterday informed they must remain at the Wham Stadium until the end of the season.

Crooks, a centre half or defensive midfielder, and Windass, whose preferred position is just off a lone striker, are both out of contract with their English League Two club in the summer after turning down the chance to extend their stays in Lancashire.

Accrington will be due training compensation from Rangers if they depart in the close season due to the players being under the age of 23 – but it will be a nominal sum as their academy only has category three status.

Mark Warburton, whose side is currently just three points clear at the top of the Championship, is keen to increase his side’s chances of winning promotion to the top flight of Scottish football and would like the pair to join now.

The prospect of Rangers tabling a £400,000 bid to land the pair during the January transfer window has been mooted.

However, Accrington are currently in seventh position in the English fourth tier and are hopeful of winning promotion in the 2015/16 campaign and manager John Coleman has insisted they will not be allowed to depart early.

“I told them they weren’t going to leave until the end of the season, and that’s still the position,” said Coleman.

“I said three months ago that they were free to do what they want in January because the minute they didn’t sign the new contracts that we offered them, which were unbelievable for a club of our size, I knew they weren’t going to sign and they were going to go in the summer, so nothing’s changed.

“I’m not churlish enough to know that every player’s got his price and if a price comes that we can’t turn down, well then we don’t turn it down, but I can’t see that happening so they’ll be Accrington players until the end of the season.

“We’ve had no dialogue with anybody. We got an email off Rangers informing us very curtly that their intention was that they were going to speak to the players with a view to signing them at the end of the season, and that was it. It was a three-line email, and that’s all we’ve heard.

“But my perspective on the season hasn’t changed. They’ve only agreed to sign them at the end of the season, so it’s business as usual for me. And my focus is on the Notts County game on Saturday. What happens between now and the end of the season is all I’m focusing on.”

Meanwhile, both Crooks and Windass have stressed they remained committed to Accrington after being branded “disrespectful” by Coleman for commenting on their agreements with Rangers on social media website Twitter.

“Yesterday (Wednesday) was a hectic day for everyone, especially myself and it finished with me signing for Rangers FC as most are aware,” said Crooks.

“As much as I am looking forward to joining, there is no time like the present and I’m still an Accrington Stanley player, so my focus is playing well for myself and more importantly the team.

“I’d also like to take this time to thank the fans, players and staff of ASFC. We’ve had a roller coaster ride with plenty of downs along with recent ups but you’ve stuck with me, you’ve given me an opportunity I could never have had, so thank you.”

Windass said: “Yesterday (Wednesday) was a massive day for me to sign for Rangers and was a proud moment for me and I can’t wait to get started.

“But as far as I’m concerned I will give my all for Accrington in every game I play until I leave, whether it be this window or the summer. I owe Accrington a lot and will never forget that.”

Coleman had said: “I don’t get embroiled in social media, but I do think going on and seeing the players had tweeted about ‘buzzing to play for a massive club’ is disrespectful to our fans.

“Our fans have backed them through thick and thin and I do think there should be more respect in place.

“When I became a manager, my ethos was always to treat players how I would want to be treated and I just wish there had been more communication from the players to myself.”

Meanwhile, Brentford were last night reported to have turned down a £100,000 bid for Toumani Diagouraga, their French defensive midfielder, from Rangers.