'Unwanted' - Former Rangers player claims Tavernier doesn't want to be Ibrox captain

James Tavernier doesn’t want to be the Rangers captain with all the unwanted attention it brings, says Kevin Thomson.

The former Rangers midfielder told Darrell Currie on Premier Sports’ Scottish Football Social Club (23 September) that the Ibrox star’s performances have been below par this term but also feels he would prefer to be able to go under the radar more.

Tavernier’s future has been a major focus after a poor start to the year in which he was abused outside Ibrox after the Old Firm derby defeat and heavily linked to a transfer to Turkey in the aftermath [HITC, 6 September].

Thomson said (23m 50s): “I think Tav, deep down, and I say this with the greatest respect, I’m not so sure he wants to be the captain of Rangers.

“I think he would rather go under the radar a wee bit. I think the responsibility that comes with it, he’ll love it, it’s a massive profile, and it’s a brilliant, prestigious honour to get, but I think it brings a real unwanted attention on your shoulders and he has the personality to go a wee bit more unnoticed.”

Philippe Clement has backed Rangers captain James Tavernier

There is probably some truth to what Thomson says even if Tavernier would likely never act on the thought.

If he was ever going to remove himself from the firing line he would surely have done so by now, as he routinely takes far more flak than most as the figurehead and Rangers have come up short against Celtic so often in recent years.

The 32-year-old has never seemed the vocal sort of captain but has led by example for a long time, yet arguably this may have been an era where a loud and forceful figure was needed for the role in difficult times.

It’s not Tavernier’s fault that he was made skipper by Steven Gerrard, and he ultimately led the side to title 55 while largely outshining most of his teammates in recent seasons so it is unsurprising he has remained in the role.

But he might thrive if some of the weight was taken off his shoulders, even if the act of stripping him of the armband would look like a major slight by Philippe Clement.

A transfer in the summer when there was an offer from Trabzonspor [Sky Sports, 24 July] may have been the best option in hindsight but he is now into his 10th campaign for the club.

Whether he sees it through remains to be seen with Turkish transfer interest from Besiktas expected to return in the January window [Haber Turk, 10 September], and his fortunes between now and then will go a long way to determining that.

In other Rangers news, Clement may have struck gold with an “exciting” player at Ibrox now tipped to become a star.

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