James Tavernier opens up as possible Rangers farewell date changes
James Tavernier has once again addressed his uncertain future at Rangers after his potential farewell date was brought forward.
Tavernier’s contract runs down at the end of the season, and with no confirmed progress over fresh terms, his 10-year stay is set to come to an end.
Gers’ Scottish Cup knockout at the hands of Celtic on Sunday meant that his final bow will not come at Hampden, but he could still walk away with the Scottish Premiership title a week earlier.
The veteran full-back missed out on a start at Ibrox in the latest Old Firm derby, though he has insisted his focus is on leading the club to glory rather than his looming Rangers departure.
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When could James Tavernier’s final Rangers game be?
A bitter elimination against their arch rivals in the cup quarter-finals confirmed that Danny Rohl’s side have just the league to fight for, but they are sorely off the pace.
Their deficit to leaders Hearts stands at six points, while the 2-2 draw with Celtic in their last top-flight outing also allowed Martin O’Neill’s charges to leapfrog them.
There are now only nine matches remaining this season, and with each of them, Tavernier will move closer to leaving the club he has called home since 2015.
As a result, his last appearance is expected to be Rangers’ finale in late May.
“Yes, obviously I want to play more games, more minutes,” Tavernier told reporters after the loss to Celtic.
“But it’s down to the manager, who and what he selects, and you’ve got to respect that. I’m just going to give it all, what I’ve normally done every season, and see where it takes us.”
Tavernier will hope to rectify his costly penalty miss against Celtic over the coming weeks, and he may be given the chance to do so at St Mirren on Sunday lunchtime.
Tavernier set to miss out on fairytale ending
Tavernier has been an Ibrox stalwart for the best part of a decade, but since Rohl’s appointment, he has found himself behind Dujon Sterling in the pecking order.
He committed his future to the club with a new four-year deal back in 2022, turning down Premier League interest in the process, and remains a loyal servant.
But the uncertainty around his contract benefits nobody, and it therefore makes sense for both parties to choose to part ways after the curtain falls on this season.
Aged 34, Tavernier would bring welcome experience and know-how to his next club, and he certainly won’t find himself on the free agent market for long.
It is just a shame that he will likely step away from Rangers without a trophy in his last campaign. Simply, he deserved a farewell befitting of his outstanding service.
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