Rangers hero makes explosive summer transfer claim and points finger towards Ibrox hierarchy
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Former Rangers vice-captain Connor Goldson ended six years in Glasgow when he moved to Aris Limassol in the summer.
The 32-year-old centre-back joined under the Steven Gerrard revolution and went on to be a near ever-present for Rangers making 309 appearances over six relentless seasons at the club.
After yet another campaigned ended in failure and Connor Goldson was eventually dropped by Philippe Clement, the writing was on the wall for the Rangers high earner ahead of this season.
But Goldson insists that if he had it his way, the defender would've stayed put with the ex-Brighton man sensationally suggesting he was forced out of Ibrox.
Connor Goldson 'told to leave' Rangers
"It was difficult to leave," Goldson told the Daily Record. "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."
Rangers hero on the 'hardest' part of exit
The comments are sure to turn heads at Rangers after a summer of substantial change at Ibrox.
Whilst it's not clear which figure pushed Connor Goldson out the door at Rangers, the club let 16 players from last season's squad leave the club, signing only nine new players to replace them.
It's led to a substantial domestic downturn this season with Rangers currently nine points off Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic and Aberdeen.
Whilst Connor Goldson takes responsibility for the downturn in his own form, the big centre-back claims that he never even got the chance to say goodbye to his teammates.
It comes with Rangers and Aris striking a deal over the defender on the eve of a pre-season friendly with Birmingham City.
"I understand that my last season at Rangers wasn't my best," said Goldson. "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."
