Connor Goldson has hit out at Rangers for the way they handled legend James Tavernier's exit. The pair have a combined 17 years of service to the club but both left the Glasgow giants in unceremonious circumstances.
Former captain Tavernier left Ibrox last summer after racking up a remarkable 144 goals in 562 appearances in all competitions. However, the defender saw his time in Glasgow end under a cloud after a public fallout with former boss Danny Rohl.
Tavernier's final appearance denied
The German claimed that the skipper refused to be a sub in his last home game, and the 34-year-old was persuaded to appear on the pitch before kick-off against Hibs for a presentation by Rangers legend John Greig.
But Goldson - who played alongside Tavernier for six years - hit out at the treatment of his former teammate, telling Open Goal: "Mental. I don't know another football club that could do that after 11 years.
"He's in the Hall of Fame there. I can say let him play, don't let him play [in the last game of the season]. But I mean, do something better than he just walks onto the pitch, gets a little trophy and walks off. His family, his kids... do you know what I mean?
"I haven't spoken to him or anyone there to actually ask what happened. But I just think for what he's given the football club, just to leave on that..."
Goldson: He deserved to leave on a trophy
He reckons the 34-year-old - who has now signed for Maccabi Tel Aviv - deserved a trophy to sign off his time in Glasgow: "I wish he'd have won it last year because I think he deserved to leave on a trophy.
"What he gave to the club... I said it after the League Cup Final that he won't be appreciated until he leaves.
"I think now you're starting to see that. He was unreal. His right foot is a wand. Don't get me wrong, he's annoying to play next to for six years.
"The amount of arguments we had on a football pitch when he's at the back post every five minutes and you're left against a winger in the Europa League running at you 100 miles an hour and I'm playing centre-back and right-back... but he's quality.
"He wouldn't have learned how to defend better [in the Premier League]. I used to always say that Tav is a good defender, but he's so arrogant.
"He used to play against lower league teams in the SPFL and dive in. The next minute, the boy is 10 yards up the pitch.
"But he'll play against a good winger in Europe, defend properly and tackle him most times. Then he'll play against St Mirren at the weekend and they'll just nutmeg him and beat him 10 yards."
Goldson's own Ibrox exit
And Goldson admitted his own Ibrox exit was tainted as he departed for Aris Limassol in 2024 under Philippe Clement. The 33-year-old - who is now playing for Apollon Limassol - said: "I felt like I was still the best centre-half, comfortably. I felt like I needed that rest and I needed a full pre-season to go again. I remember Clement was like, 'Whatever you decide, it'll be your decision. But if you want anything, you can leave for free.'
"So I'm like to my agent, 'I'm not going anywhere.' But then we go to Holland for pre-season. I've worked over the summer and I'm flying.
"But then when you see in training when you're playing a game in 11 v 11 and you know which one's the good team, which one's the bad team. I'm always in the bad team and then we play the friendly and I'm in the second half team. I'm like, 'no, you're taking the p***.'"
