'No better way to sign off than winning league' - Halliday on Tavernier

Andy Halliday reckons there would be no better way for Rangers captain James Tavernier to sign off than winning the title.

Tavernier, who announced he would leave the club at the conclusion of this season, has won one league title in his 11 years at Ibrox and now has just five games left at the club.

Halliday was the full-back's team-mate in over 100 games and also believes the 34-year-old's impact at the club won't be properly appreciated until he has left.

"I think there's no better way to end an 11-year career at Rangers than by lifting the trophy as a captain at the end of the season," Halliday said on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I'm sure Hearts and Celtic have loads to say about that.

"It's always really surprised me how kind of split the Rangers fans' opinion over James Tavernier is.

"Over the 11 years, he's arguably been the best player in the majority of the seasons and I feel as if they had more James Taverniers in those seasons, Rangers would have won a lot more trophies than they did.

"The fact of the matter is, I feel as if he's almost critiqued due to team success rather than what he's been like as a player.

"But he's been an incredible servant, over 550 games, 150 goals as a right-back, taking the club to the Europa League final as captain, finishing the Europa League as top goalscorer in the tournament.

"Obviously, the real kind of negative for him is the fact that he feels as if, as a captain, he's probably not won enough at Rangers."

Despite Tavernier having started less frequently this season, Halliday points out: "He's got 20 goal contributions.

"So he still had such an impact on the pitch any time he's played.

"I remember Connor Goldson saying this years ago when Rangers won the League Cup final, and fans talked about it, but I think it's so true that Rangers fans won't appreciate James Tavernier until he's gone.