James Tavernier says he was “deeply hurt and let down” after missing out on a farewell appearance for Rangers. The departing captain, who is leaving this summer at the end of his contract, said the situation surrounding his absence from Wednesday’s match against Hibernian “could and should have been handled much better”. Tavernier, 34, explained his absence came after 11 years at Ibrox.
Before Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat by Hibernian, Tavernier received a warm ovation from supporters when he was presented with a commemorative shield by Rangers great John Greig. Head coach Danny Rohl said Tavernier “had a medical issue” and was unsure if he would feature in Saturday’s final game of the season at Falkirk.
Tavernier Details Ankle Issue and Missed Appearance
Writing on Instagram on Thursday, Tavernier explained the background to his ankle issue, which arose following last Monday’s defeat by Hearts. He started but did not finish Sunday’s loss at Celtic Park. “The last 24 hours have been the most difficult and emotional of my career for both myself and my family,” said Tavernier.
Tavernier explained that he and the medical staff initially agreed that an injection was the only option, scheduled for Thursday. However, after Sunday’s game, he decided to bring the injection forward to Tuesday, which would have ruled him out of both Wednesday and Saturday’s matches. Following discussions with his family and the medical department, Tavernier decided to delay the injection to play one final game at Ibrox on Wednesday night.
He informed the manager of his decision and how important it was for him and his family to say goodbye to the Ibrox faithful. Tavernier said that following correspondence with Rohl, he was informed he would be a substitute. He added that reports surfaced just before the game that he had left Ibrox and refused to be involved in the matchday squad.
‘Emotions Understandably Took Over’
“In that moment, my emotions understandably took over,” Tavernier added. “Many people may feel I could have handled the situation better, and I accept that, but after dedicating over a decade of my life to this club, with my family beside me throughout it all, I felt deeply hurt and let down.”
He added that he was most disappointed by “the version of events that was later presented publicly, as it did not reflect the conversations that had taken place privately.” Tavernier stated, “I firmly believe the situation could and should have been handled much better from all sides. A lack of communication allowed matters to escalate unnecessarily in the build up to such an emotional occasion for myself and my family.”
Tavernier’s Rangers Legacy
- He has made 565 Rangers appearances.
- He has scored 144 goals for the club.
- He is British football’s highest scoring defender with 152.
Tavernier announced late last month that he would be leaving this summer at the end of his contract.
Near the end of his statement, Tavernier said: “I want to make clear that no individual is ever bigger than this great football club. Rangers must always come first.”