5 hours ago
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Former Newcastle bad boy Nile Ranger has left non-league side Kettering Town and hinted at problems behind the scenes.
The 34-year-old showed promise as a youngster and played more than 50 times for the Magpies but his career was blighted by off-the-pitch issues.
He was jailed in 2017 after being convicted of online banking fraud, was put in a young offenders institute for armed robbery as a teenager and struggled with gambling addiction.
But Ranger was able to get his football back on track having matured in his thirties and became a fan favourite at Kettering, netting a winner in the FA Cup against Northampton Town that was broadcast on the BBC.
Ranger scored 18 goals in all competitions last season but the Poppies have now parted ways with their star player.
A club statement read: 'The Club wishes Nile every success in his playing career and Nile knows he has a family that would always welcome him back to Latimer Park.
Nile Ranger has left Kettering Town and the club said in a statement it was by mutual consent
Ranger shared messages on X suggesting he had not wanted to leave the club
And the owner George Akhtar went on: 'I want to personally thank Nile Ranger for the memories he has left the Kettering Town faithful.
'His commitment to the Club, both on and off the pitch, is a testament to him. You will be missed.'
But Ranger appears to be unhappy with the manner of his exit.
He took to X, where he has 40,000 followers and reposted some messages from fans hinted at trouble behind the scenes and suggesting his departure was not mutual.
He shared one post on X that read: 'I’m sorry whatever has happened at the club has taken place @NilePowerRanger.
'A lot of questions to be answered. You will always be a Kettering Legend and a hero to my kids. All the best for whatever you do next.'
There was another repost that read: 'From [what] I hear, nothing mutual about @NilePowerRanger leaving. He's been brilliant on and off the pitch.'
Ranger's career has followed a rocky path and he since explained that his early conviction for armed robbery was at a time when he was running with a gang in north London.
Ranger was on the books at Newcastle but has fallen down the leagues as his career has gone on
'It all starts with just messing around with friends and jokes that go too far', he previously explained. 'I started running with a gang in the area. We were convicted of street robbery in Muswell Hill. There was a weapon, but we didn’t use it.
'They were cracking down on street crime, so I got sent down. I wasn’t with a professional club at the time, and I didn’t really realise what I was risking. Jail was pretty rough, but it taught me a lot. The most important thing is that I never want to go back.
'At Southampton (academy) I got two written warnings about my behaviour – stupid things like going out or messing around in the lodge. Then I was caught at the end of the season with kit that I’d taken. I gave them no choice and they kicked me out.
'The change of atmosphere at Newcastle did me loads of good. I was away from the old faces, the old problems.'
Ranger banked £10,000-a-week at Newcastle early in his career and now reflects that it was too much, too soon for him.
He said last year: 'I would bring all my friends up to Newcastle [from London] for parties.
Ranger played for Southend while wearing an ankle tag having been released from prison
'I had more money than sense. There was no discipline from me. I was living life in the fast lane.
'Looking back, I've realised the many silly decisions that led to the situations I found myself in. I messed up.'
After Ranger left Newcastle, he endured a tumultuous spell at Swindon, regularly going missing from training and not turning up.
He scored 10 goals in 28 games for the club but had his contract terminated in 2014. Ranger then signed for Blackpool but again went AWOL, citing 'family issues' at the time.
He released a contrite statement, saying: 'I have seen two of my good friends pass away. Whilst overcoming this it has made me realise life is really short and I have really been taking things for granted.
'I would like to use this opportunity to thank Southampton, Newcastle, Swindon and Blackpool for giving me the chance to experience the dream of being a professional footballer.
'To add to this I would like to apologise to everyone at these clubs including management, players, staff and fans. I should have given more and been a better role model.
'I would also like to add I am sorry to my current team-mates at Blackpool for being missing for a long period of time.'
Ranger was a key man for Kettering and scored 18 goals for the club last season
He found further controversy at Southend, his next club. When Ranger was released from prison in 2017 after 10 weeks of his eight month sentence for fraud, he was unable to play for Southend in their midweek games due to his 7pm curfew.
When his electronic tag was removed and he could finally play games without a curfew, he scored and celebrated by taking his boot off and mimicked using it as a machine gun.
Manager Phil Brown said Southend had 'severed all ties' with Ranger in 2021 after the striker failed to attend physiotherapy sessions, while the player argued that the club would not fund his travel.
Kettering then became his first club in a couple of years but Ranger has now left the non-league side and it remains to be seen whether he will continue playing elsewhere.
