Departing Rangers captain James Tavernier has opened up about his emotional farewell at Ibrox, revealing he felt "deeply hurt and let down" after being denied a final appearance in front of the home fans. The 34-year-old right-back, who has given 11 years of service to the club, didn't feature in the squad for Wednesday's 2-1 defeat by Hibernian, though he did receive a warm ovation when he took to the pitch pre-match to accept a commemorative shield from Rangers legend John Greig.

Head coach Danny Rohl cited a "medical issue" for Tavernier's absence, adding uncertainty about whether the defender would play in Saturday's season finale at Falkirk. "There was no conflict," Rohl said. "I made my decision he would not start today because he was not 100%. He stayed away from the team today."

But in a heartfelt Instagram post on Thursday, Tavernier detailed the full story behind his ankle problem, which flared up after last Monday's defeat by Hearts. He started but didn't finish Sunday's loss at Celtic Park, and the emotional toll has been immense. "The last 24 hours have been the most difficult and emotional of my career for both myself and my family," the Englishman wrote.

Tavernier explained that after discussions with the medical staff, an injection was deemed the only solution, initially scheduled for Thursday. But after Sunday's game, with emotions running high, he moved it up to Tuesday—a decision that would rule him out of both Wednesday and Saturday's matches. However, after speaking with his family and the medical team throughout Monday, he decided to delay the injection until Thursday so he could play one final game at Ibrox on Wednesday night.

"I personally informed the manager of this decision and explained how important it was to me and my family that I had the opportunity to say goodbye properly to the Ibrox faithful," Tavernier said. Yet after corresponding with Rohl, he was told he would only be a substitute. "In that moment, my emotions understandably took over," he admitted.

For a player who has been a cornerstone of Rangers' recent history—captaining the team to the 2021 Scottish Premiership title and leading by example through countless battles—this wasn't the send-off anyone expected. It's a reminder that even in the world of professional sports, where every decision is scrutinized, the human element often gets lost in the shuffle. For fans who have cheered Tavernier's every cross and celebrated his leadership, this farewell feels like a missed opportunity to honor a true servant of the club.