James Tavernier has issued an emotional statement detailing the circumstances surrounding his shock omission from Rangers' final home match, revealing a significant breakdown with manager Danny Rohl. The 34-year-old captain was left out of the squad for the 2-1 defeat to Hibernian, depriving him of a proper send-off after 11 years of service at Ibrox.
Tavernier explained that he had delayed ankle surgery specifically to feature in what was intended as his farewell appearance. According to the veteran full-back, he had discussed the arrangement with Rohl beforehand and received assurance that he would start the match, allowing his children to walk out as mascots. "I personally informed the manager of this decision and explained how important it was to me and my family that I had the opportunity to say goodbye properly to the Ibrox faithful," Tavernier stated on social media.
A Father's Disappointment
The emotional toll extended beyond Tavernier himself. His son had sacrificed participation in the Rangers Academy's first overseas tournament in Holland specifically to attend his father's final home game. When the manager communicated via message that the skipper would start as a substitute instead of leading the team out, Tavernier acknowledged his emotions overwhelmed him. "In that moment, my emotions understandably took over," he revealed, describing the sequence of events as deeply hurtful.
The right-back rejected Rohl's version of events, which suggested Tavernier had refused a bench spot. Instead, Tavernier emphasized that prior conversations had established a clear understanding about his role in the final match. What troubled him most was the public narrative that differed from private discussions. "I want to make clear that no individual is ever bigger than this great football club. Rangers must always come first," he concluded, accepting some responsibility for how he reacted while standing firm on the facts of the matter.
The incident marks a difficult end to Tavernier's Rangers tenure, during which he amassed over 400 competitive appearances. With Rangers in third place following four consecutive defeats since the split, Rohl's side face Falkirk away on Saturday to complete the campaign.
