Credit: Imago

James Barker

Thu 14 May 2026 8:40, UK

Gabby Agbonlahor has described Rangers boss Danny Rohl‘s decision to leave James Tavernier out of his team for his final Ibrox game as “disgraceful”.

In what has been a dismal final few weeks of the 2025-26 season, Wednesday night was supposed to have been one of celebration for Tavernier.

Rangers’ clash with Hibernian was their final home game of the campaign, and for the 34-year-old defender, his last opportunity to wear the royal blue shirt at Ibrox.

Indeed, after over a decade of service to Rangers, Tavernier will be leaving Glasgow when his contract expires this summer.

As such, it was widely expected that the under-fire Rohl was going to, in some ways, hand Tavernier a testimonial-esque occasion against Hibs.

What has Gabby Agbonlahor said about Danny Rohl?

So, when the teamsheets were announced prior to kick-off, the absence of Tavernier’s name from Rangers’ starting XI stunned everyone.

According to Rohl when speaking to the media after the game, he’d initially named him as part of the substitutes for medical reasons, but that it was always his intention to bring him on to get some minutes.

However, Rohl claims that upon hearing that he wouldn’t be starting, Tavernier didn’t take that news very well, and as such, decided he didn’t want any part of the fixture and stayed away from the side.

Rohl has been criticised over Tavernier’s exclusion, with many feeling that this was no way to treat a legend of the football club, and that he should be allowed to start if the player himself was feeling fit to play.

Speaking on talkSPORT on Thursday morning, Agbonlahor is the latest pundit to voice his displeasure with Rohl, and the former Aston Villa and England striker didn’t pull any punches.

“Can I also say, Danny Rohl, disgraceful. Not giving Tavernier minutes. He was crying when he came out onto the pitch,” he said.

“All he’s done for that club… They weren’t playing for anything last night and he would have got a nice send-off. I didn’t like that at all.”

Rohl should’ve honoured Tavernier’s fitness word

Judging by what Rohl has said on the incident following Wednesday’s defeat to Hibernian, it looks pretty clear that Tavernier felt he was fine to play.

Given it was supposed to be his big and deserved Ibrox send-off, the veteran defender is sure to have played through just about any pain in order to have that experience.

He’s played 565 times for Rangers and has scored 143 goals: that’s the type of player who, as a manager, you should have no qualms taking their word on.

This may sound cruel and this is merely a suggestion of a potential mindset for Rohl, but as far as he could be concerned, if Tavernier was to get injured, then why would that particularly bother him?

Rangers don’t have anything to play for in the final game, and Tavernier is leaving at the end of the season anyway, so why would Rohl be adamant on resting him if the player is clearly wanting to play?

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.