Tavernier's Departure: A Controversial Exit

James Tavernier has announced that he is leaving Ibrox in less than a month.

Following the match at Falkirk on May 16 time will be up for the former Wigan and MK Dons journeyman.

Eleven years of almost constant failure have made Tavernier a figure of fun throughout Scottish football.

After watching Celtic win five trebles, four consecutively, the non defending full-back has been affectionately known as Captain Disappointed.

The manner in which the news broke was very unusual. The club was caught out. They reacted a while after the announcement was made.

There was no glowing tribute from Danny Rohl or anyone at the club. No respect for the Hall of Famer.

On Monday Tavernier was on media duty with no decision confirmed.

Less than 48 hours later Fabrizio Romano was tweeting about the Ibrox captain. Very quickly followed by a Birthday Caird statement on Instagram stringing together the most predictable of cliches.

Yet as recently as Monday BBC Scotland reported:

Asked if he had been offered a new contract, he told BBC Scotland: “Not as yet.”
Did he think he will still be at Rangers next season? “I don’t know,” he said.
“Time will tell for that one. I’m a man who always focuses on short-term.
“My wife’s asking me about summer holidays and what the kids need on their holidays and I’m saying ‘talk to me at a later date’ because that’s too far ahead for me.
“I am obviously excited for what the future brings.”

It seems that Monday’s interviews have pushed the issue.

Tavernier hoped to get another year out of the Ibrox club, faced with a £2m wages donation the club has refused to cough up.

NO THANKS- NO NEW DEAL FOR TAVERNIER

Since the turn of the year Tavernier has been available to negotiate with other clubs.

There has been no offer of a new deal from Ibrox. He has been entitled to a testimonial since July 2025. The question hasn’t even by asked at a club media conference.

Monday’s interviews looked like the last throw of the dice from the departing skipper.

Again it was ignored. No contract, no testimonial. With all that in mid Tav forced the issue, catching the club out. They responded with one graphic.

‘Blind-sided by this, they weren’t expecting this to come out from James Tavernier,’ Robert Grieve, The Sun

During his time at Ibrox there has barely been a report of interest from elsewhere.

There were predictable stories linking him with a move to join Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq. Instead Gerrard signed former Celt, Jack Hendry.

There was one humorous incident in January 2019. One flyer of a report had claimed that Southampton were preparing a bid for the Ibrox captain.

Gerrard didn’t deal with it in the most diplomatic of ways as the Daily Mail reported:

When the topic of Southampton looking for a right-back was raised, the Rangers boss interjected: ‘They’re not. We made a call on it this morning and they’re not.
‘I think there will be talk of Tav and talk of Alfredo but the reality is there hasn’t been a solid bid for any of our players so far.
‘Will one come? Possibly, I’m not sure. I’ll have to answer the question when it does. There hasn’t been a respectable bid for any of the players where we stand right now.’

Most managers claim that they don’t read newspapers and ignore speculation.

Gerrard took a January transfer flyer on board, decided to phone Southampton up then shared the knock-back in the media!

SURPLUS TO REQUIREMENTS AND TOO EXPENSIVE

These days Tavernier is no longer a first pick.

Dujon Sterling is the first choice right-back with Jack Butland wearing the armband which has mystical powers to Ibrox fans and media messengers.

Two years ago it was reported that Tavernier was losing the captaincy.

The reaction caused a re-think. Tavernier continued with his precious armband, Phil Clement was a lame duck, limping on until back to back home defeats from Queens Park and St Mirren proved too much.

The departure of Tavernier will now dominate matters at Ibrox over the coming weeks.

On May 10 Celtic have the opportunity to inflict one final disappointment on the former Wigan ace.