Connor Goldson boarded a flight to Birmingham expecting to play for Rangers that night.
Little did he know, he had already kicked his last ball for the club he loved. And even now, just over three months later, that still hurts the former Ibrox stalwart. Goldson is enjoying a new life in Cyprus at Aris Limassol where the November days are a lot brighter than in Glasgow. But he can’t forget the dark cloud that engulfed him prior to his shock Ibrox exit.
This was a guy who had dedicated six years of his life to Rangers, playing almost EVERY game in that time. A key member of their title-winning squad in 2021 and a pivotal figure in the team that reached a Europa League Final in Seville. Yet to this day Goldson hasn’t had the chance to say a proper goodbye.
At the end of July he knew the Rangers hierarchy – but NOT gaffer Philippe Clement – wanted him out. Up until that pre-season friendly against Birmingham City he had refused to go. But instead of being in the starting line-up at St Andrew’s, he found himself on another plane to Cyprus.
Against his wishes the Rangers board had accepted a bid from Aris and Goldson had no other option. He had been an incredible servant and dressing-room leader for Gers since arriving from Brighton in 2018. And as he watches Clement’s side struggle in the Premiership this season he’s still convinced he could have helped their cause.
In his first exclusive interview since leaving the club, Goldson told MailSport: “It was difficult to leave. I still felt I had a lot to give. Listen, I’m happy with this move. It has been great for me and my family and given us a great lifestyle. But do I think I could have contributed to Rangers this season? Of course I could have.
“That’s why I was so disappointed. The club gave me a contract when I was at the best point in my career. But, two years later, they didn’t want to fulfil that contract any more. Did I leave under a cloud? If I’m honest, I had felt that cloud from the end of last season. They told me they wanted me to leave. And I want to make this clear – that wasn’t the manager.
“He was actually really good with me. But there were a lot of new people within the club who didn’t know what I’d given over six years. One said they wanted me to leave. At first I said no, I wasn’t going. But then it was probably my time. Listen, I have to respect the fact that the club didn’t want me any more. So I was happy to leave in the end and I don’t hold any hard feelings.
“I had six amazing years with some brilliant times and some difficult ones. But over the six years I gave my best every time. No one will take that away from me.”
Goldson was heavily criticised last season as Clement’s team squandered a lead in the Premiership title race that let in Celtic to secure Three-in-a-Row. The centre-back is honest enough to admit he wasn’t at his best. In fact, he says the Belgian boss was RIGHT to drop him for the Scottish Cup semi-final win over Hearts at Hampden in April. But after six years of sterling service at Ibrox, Goldson insists there were mitigating circumstances. And it still rankles that he didn’t get to go on his terms.
He said: “I understand that my last season at Rangers wasn’t my best. But it also wasn’t as bad as it was made out to be. I probably killed myself a bit going into it by not having a pre-season. I had one day of training before playing Kilmarnock on the opening day – then played the next 40-odd or 50 games.
“Towards the end of it, when I was dropped against Hearts, I hated it at the time. But when I look back, was it the right decision by the manager? Probably. In the games leading up to that I looked shattered. It was hard for me to take before the semi-final but it was the right decision.
“But Rangers mean everything to me. I feel grateful that I was given the opportunity to play for a club that size. The days and nights I had there, they can never be beaten or forgotten. They made me the player and the person I am. So I have the utmost admiration for that club.
“When I joined I was off the back of an operation on my heart. It would have been easy for them to say no but they showed faith in me. And over six years I always tried to repay that. Not getting the chance to say goodbye, to my team-mates and the fans, was the hardest bit. I was in Birmingham for the friendly and got the call to say the move had all been agreed. With the supporters, whether I was loved or not, I think they’d have given me a great reception and realised everything I’d given to the club. It’s a shame but I’m sure one day I’ll be able to come back and do it the right way. I really hope so.”
For now, Goldson has to watch events at Ibrox from afar and it pains him to see them toiling in the league behind Celtic and Aberdeen.
But he reckons it’s a result of mistakes that have been made at the club since their title win under Steven Gerrard three years ago.
Goldson said: “I watch a lot of games and it’s been a tough start. But they need to quickly get going. They can’t write off a season in November because a lot can happen and there’s two cup competitions to play, as well as Europe. It’s tough for me to talk about Rangers now because there are still so many people at the club I respect. But the fans aren’t happy with what’s going on and that’s understandable.
“Are Rangers in transition? Yes. But should they be nine points behind after 11 games? No. When they had the chance to build in 2021 they didn’t. And we’re seeing the repercussions. It’s not just finance, it’s everything. Rangers have still spent a lot of money over a number of years. So it comes down to recruitment, finding the right players and selling when the time’s right. Unfortunately, they have allowed too many players to leave on free transfers without getting money for their main assets.”