Danny Rohl is right about one thing in honest James Tavernier admission at Rangers
James Tavernier's lengthy tenure with Rangers ended in chaos after a public fallout with former boss Danny Rohl.
After 11 years of service, experienced full-back Tavernier departed Ibrox at the end of his contract last season.
Tavernier had his detractors among the fanbase, with one medal each in the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup, and Scottish League Cup deemed scant reward for over a decade of service.
But most will concede that he deserved better than the way things ended, with the public fallout with Rohl dominating the headlines.
Tavernier was informed he would not be starting his final Ibrox game at home to Hibernian, but then stated he would not even turn up for the match.
Eventually he did to receive applause from the crowd before leaving, and Rohl has been opening up on those dramatic final days.
Danny Rohl shares his side of James Tavernier fall out
Rohl left Rangers after just eight months in charge last month.
This past few days, he has been opening up on his time in Govan, and Ibrox News reported what Rohl told Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh in his final days.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Rohl has now explained that his decision to bench Tavernier was in part because he had been told the skipper was struggling with an ankle injury.
“But after Celtic, he was disappointed and said he had some problems with his ankle. I heard at that time he’d said: ‘My season is over’," he said.
“I spoke to him and the physios and said: ‘Guys, he has to make the last game at home, maybe not as a starter but he should get some minutes out in front to say goodbye’.
“I messaged or made the call to say: ‘OK Tav, you will be part of the game but will not start’.
“For me, it was clear. He would get his ceremony before the game and hopefully take his family out with him.
Rohl then later made the honest admission that he has still not spoken with Tavernier since the very public fallout.
But it is something else the German said that, whether you like him or not, is absolutely spot on about the past few seasons at Rangers.
Danny Rohl right with what he said about Rangers leadership group
At Ibrox, Tavernier was part of a leadership group including Jack Butland, Nicolas Raskin, and John Souttar.
There is the very realistic possibility that none of those players are at Rangers next season, with Tavernier and Butland out the door, and Raskin and Souttar expected to leave.
Rohl thinks that is inevitable that leadership group had to be disbanded in order for Rangers to improve their chances of success moving forward.
"It’s never easy to take your captain out and make a final decision. But after 10 years, I was the guy who made that decision," Rohl added.
“Do I think that had to happen for things to change? Yeah, I think so.
"They now have two players from Hearts (Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin) and Dan Neil, guys who can help.
“You change the mentality with new players. And if you put some players out, the mindset can change."
It might be an uncomfortable truth, but Rohl is absolutely spot on that the mentality had to change.
The previous leadership group failed to consistently deliver the goods when it mattered.
A change was needed, and Derek McInnes' recruitment has certainly centred on bringing in experienced heads, with leadership qualities.