Departing Rangers captain James Tavernier has expressed his disappointment at missing out on a farewell appearance at Ibrox, stating he “felt deeply hurt and let down”. Tavernier, who is leaving Rangers this summer at the end of his contract, said that “the situation could and should have been handled much better” after an apparent breakdown in communication.
The right-back, who has made 565 appearances for Rangers, did not feature in the squad for Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat by Hibernian. He did, however, receive a warm ovation when presented with a commemorative shield by Rangers great John Greig before the match.
Tavernier’s Account of Events
Head coach Danny Rohl stated that Tavernier “had a medical issue” and was unsure if he would play in Saturday’s final game of the season at Falkirk. Tavernier took to Instagram on Thursday to explain his ankle issue, which began after last Monday’s defeat by Hearts and worsened after 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,” Tavernier wrote. He explained that he and the medical staff initially agreed an injection was the only option, scheduling it for Thursday. Tavernier then decided to bring the injection forward to Tuesday, which would have ruled him out of the Wednesday and Saturday matches.
Following discussions with his family and the medical department, Tavernier decided to delay the injection so he could play one final game at Ibrox on Wednesday night. He informed the manager, explaining the importance of a proper goodbye to the Ibrox supporters for him and his family.
Disagreement Over Substitute Role
Tavernier says he was later informed he would be a substitute. Reports then surfaced just before the game that he had left Ibrox and refused to be involved in the matchday squad. He said, “In that moment, my emotions understandably took over.”
Tavernier acknowledged that some may feel he could have handled the situation better. However, he added, “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 also expressed disappointment with the public version of events, stating it did not reflect the private conversations that had taken place. “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
- James Tavernier has made 565 appearances for Rangers.
- He has scored 144 goals for the club.
- He is British football’s highest scoring defender with 152 goals.
Tavernier stated that “no individual is ever bigger than this great football club. Rangers must always come first.”