Rangers fans 'sickened' after cancelled flight sees them miss Europa League final and lose thousands of pounds

Four Rangers fans have been left sickened after losing out on the “trip of a lifetime” to Seville and thousands of pounds out of pocket when their flight was cancelled without reason at the last minute.

Ex-pats William Stuart, Graeme Thomson, Gordon McCabe and Allan McDonald were due to depart Auckland in New Zealand for Doha on Sunday evening before flying on to Madrid for Wednesday's Europa League Final.

But as they approached the gate to board their Qatar Airways flight, an announcement was made that the flight had been delayed.

By the scheduled take off time, passengers were advised to make their way back through check-in where they would be put up in a hotel for the night.

The flight has now been rescheduled for Wednesday evening - just hours before Rangers are due to kick off against Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville over 12,000 miles away.

And the quartet, who never had tickets for the big game but planned to party with thousands of other Gers in the Spanish city, have decided to abort their plan and stay in New Zealand to ensure they see the game on TV.

Gers diehard William, originally from Houston near Glasgow, had spent 6000 New Zealand dollars on the trip, the majority of which he fears he won’t see again.

But it’s missing out on seeing his heroes in the showpiece final that hurts the 39-year-old most.

William, who played professionally for Stirling Albion and East Stirling before emigrating, told the Record: “I’m not even that bothered about the money - this was literally a once in a lifetime trip and experience for me.

“I missed the last final in Manchester 14 years ago as I was living in Sydney and have always regretted that and this trip was going to put that to bed. I feel sick, especially seeing all