Dick Advocaat has defended former Rangers star Calvin Bassey after ex-Dutch international Andy van der Meyde demanded they release him on a free transfer.

Bassey has been slaughtered in the Netherlands for an error-strewn performance in Ajax's 3-2 defeat to Feyenoord, with former Everton star van der Meyde demanding they let Bassey go immediately despite splashing out £19 million to the Ibrox side in the summer.

He said: "Maybe he is a lovely guy, but it's just not possible to have him as an Ajax player.

"You know what they have to do? Release him. Now.

"Yes, give him away. You can't do this at Ajax.

"It was completely amateurish that Ajax spent so much money on him."

And he was joined in his attack by Dutch legend Marco van Basten, who added to the barrage of criticism.

He pointed out: "Bassey did everything in his power not to have the ball, he played it away as quickly as possible.

"He was completely lost. He didn’t know where to go."

But former Rangers boss Advocaat - who came out of retirement for the fifth time last year to manage his home town club Den Haag at the age of 75 - was at pains to defend the ex-Ibrox hero.

He said: "He was Rangers' best player last season.

"So you can't say he can't play football, but he really needs time.

"His manager John Heitinga has pointed out that to get the best out of him, you must have other defenders who can help him out if he loses the ball.

"He's a good defender first and foremost - Ajax didn't buy him for his football abilities."

Meanwhile, Ally McCoist believes Michael Beale has had a positive start to his Rangers reign and has already closed the gap on Celtic.

The Ibrox side remain nine points behind their city rivals at the top of the cinch Premiership but have won 13 of their 14 league matches since the Englishman replaced Giovanni van Bronckhorst in November.

Beale’s only defeat so far came when Celtic beat Rangers 2-1 in the Viaplay Cup final last month and Gers’ record goal-scorer McCoist believes the two teams are now more closely matched than they were prior to the current manager’s arrival.

“I definitely think the gap’s closed,” he said. “League Cup final, there wasn’t a lot in it, Celtic probably just the better team.

“The league game at Ibrox, Celtic started well but Rangers should have won the game.

“There’s maybe a train of thought that Celtic have slightly got the advantage at this moment in time. But I don’t think the gap’s what it once was.”