HOULLIER TARNISHES LIVERPOOL'S IMAGE, SAYS BOUMSONG

Auxerre's French defender Jean-Alain Boumsong has confirmed he will join Rangers and blamed Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier for the breakdown in talks with the English club.

For a long time it looked as though the Cameroon-born player would move to Liverpool but he has confirmed he has signed a five-year pre-contract with the Glasgow club.

"I have effectively signed a pre-contract with Rangers for the next five years," he told his personal website.

"Rangers came to get me and I had a very good contact with them."

Some in France are surprised that Boumsong opted for Scottish football rather than the Premiership but the player said: "Maybe Rangers can be a springboard for me, a stage, but my objective is to be in a competitive team from next season and rival the best teams in Europe.

"I know some people will criticise my choice a lot but I have taken this decision and I have no regrets."

However, Boumsong then blamed Houllier for the breakdown in talks with Liverpool.

"At the end of last season, Liverpool and Auxerre reached an agreement," said Boumsong. "This agreement, Gerard Houllier told me, had to be submitted to the Liverpool board.

"I awaited confirmation, but nothing came. After waiting until November I understood Houllier did not want me.

"I found this attitude a bit surprising. The way he treats players tarnishes the grandiose image of this club."

Boumsong also revealed that Inter Milan had made an approach to acquire his services but did not follow it up with a firm bid.

PA