Former Rangers manager Mark Warburton has blasted fan dissent toward James Tavernier in a fervent show of support for the player he signed.
The club captain is now in his eleventh season at Ibrox, having been signed by Warburton way back in the summer of 2015.
At that time, the club was languishing in the second tier on the fabled ‘journey back’.
It’s fair to say that James Tavernier has seen and done it all at Rangers, but he continues to be a figure that splits the support.
James Tavernier and his contribution to Rangers
There is widespread appreciation for the service he has given to the club, beyond the impressive number of appearances and staggering amount of goals over the years.
528 outings and 139 goals in a Rangers shirt for James Tavernier.
That will be some act to follow.
Despite the numerous highs and memorable moments, for many fans, his name is synonymous with the near misses and the squandered opportunities for trophies in recent years.
To them, Tavernier has been a hindrance in the perennial battle against Celtic, too often leading the side to glorious failure.
Mark Warburton’s fervent support for Tav
It is that viewpoint that Warburton railed against in an exclusive feature-length interview with the Rangers Review.
“I get calls now from Rangers fans who phone up and say ‘yeah, you know he’s got a good goal but’ and ‘he hit a great cross but’.
“When Tav’s not there, you’ll be the first ones to be saying ‘if only we had Tavernier back’, said the Championship-winning Rangers boss.
“Because at the moment, when you put that ball down and he hits a 25-yard free kick or he hits a great delivery for someone to attack and score.
“He has to be thick-skinned. I can’t speak highly enough of him.
“He’s been outstanding for Rangers.
“Anyone who criticises him should look themselves in the mirror and say ‘look at what he’s done for Rangers.’”
The legacy of Tavernier at Rangers will be open to interpretation and it is a debate that will endure for a long time to come.
His sole focus now is to do everything to contribute to his second Scottish title at Rangers, and that would be a fitting finale for the Yorkshireman.
James Tavernier’s Ibrox contract expires at the end of the season and as it stands, the signals are that his time at the club will come to a close.
