Danny Röhl stands by his controversial decision to leave out outgoing captain James Tavernier from Rangers’ 2-1 defeat to Hibernian.
The 34-year-old right-back refused to sit on the bench after being told he would not start in what was to be his farewell match at Ibrox after 11 years in Govan, despite bringing forward a planned injection on an ankle knock to allow himself one last game.
Tavernier appeared on the pitch before the game to receive a memorial shield from former Rangers captain and manager John Greig, but in a statement on social media he said he felt “deeply hurt and let down” by the German coach’s decision, with the X post being liked by former and current players.
Röhl said after the fourth defeat in a row after the split: “My job is to make decisions who starts. I made my decision, I was very transparent with him.
And ahead of the final game of the season at Falkirk on Saturday – where Tavernier will be absent after taking the delayed injection – the former Sheffield Wednesday boss repeated a question which has divided Rangers supporters.
“I think from the first part I was very clear and open to him, and I think that was the reason why it was also my wish and suggestion that he get a proper farewell on Wednesday,” said Röhl.
James Tavernier appears to have played his last game for Rangers
“But also at this point I always said to him, ‘you could be starting, you could be coming off the bench’.
“It’s not meant to be. If you ask me what was on my mind today, it was first to get three points, win a game, see Tav with his family come in, get the plaque that he deserved, walk around the stadium and then finally get some minutes on the pitch.
“If it’s a starter or sub, it was for me. In the case of how I spoke to him, I clearly gave him a suggestion.
“He asked me if I’m a starter and I said, ‘if nothing changes overnight, you won’t start, but you’ll get your minutes on the pitch’.
Tavernier won the Scottish Premier League under Steven Gerrard
“I think my team knows that. My final decision, and that’s why I said ‘if’, it’s always on the day of the match, I decide my team, three hours before the game, never overnight. As a manager, you make decisions with emotions and sometimes you have to sleep over your decisions to make final decisions. It was the normal process.”
Asked why he thought Tavernier should have started on the bench, Röhl said: “Again, I took the picture, I gathered information and this is also a part, we are still a club that has to play for results and for victories and I made the decision what is best for the team at this moment.
“And that was my final decision for him at that moment. But it was always in the back of my mind to give him this goodbye, and I was honest with him.”