Dylan McGeough has recounted the day he told Walter Smith that he was quitting Rangers to return to Celtic.
With no offer from Rangers on the table to extend his contract the then 17-year-old was in the final year of his Ibrox deal in when word about Celtic’s interest began to emerge.
McGeough’s performance in a 4-2 win for Rangers over Celtic at Barrowfield last November convinced Neil Lennon to make his move to bring the midfielder back to Celtic.
Telling Smith that he was about to cross the great divide again must have been a daunting task for McGeough who could have been in for some tasty treatment in the final months of his contract at Ibrox before moving to Celtic.
Rangers eventually came up with an alternative five year contract but the born again Celt said no to that but stayed on to see out the remainder of his Ibrox contract.
“It was hard telling Walter Smith I was going, but I think he understood where I was coming from,” McGeough recalled.
“It was nothing personal or anything against Rangers. It wasn’t just about what club I supported, it was more to do with what would be best for me. We talked about it for weeks as a family.
“Once Rangers knew Celtic were snooping about, they knew it would be hard to keep me as I’m from a Celtic family and had previously been there as a boy.
“If you put a Rangers fan in that position he would probably go back to Rangers.
“It was a hard decision to make especially when you are sitting in front of someone like Walter Smith. I had five-year contract offers from both Rangers and Celtic.
“To have the two biggest clubs in the country trying to sign you was great but going back to Celtic was a decision to make for my career and it’s worked out fine so far.”
McGeough added: “I couldn’t say a bad word against Rangers. I had a great time there and they looked after me even though they knew I was a Celtic supporter.
“Once I signed a pre-contract I was still there for six months but I didn’t leave on bad terms. They were happy to see me doing well.
“Rangers are a massive club and it took a lot for me to move but I thought about it for weeks and considered what would be best for my development.
“I felt if I played for the Rangers first team early in my career the chance of Celtic would probably be taken away. But even after I made my mind up, Rangers looked after me very well.”
Most 17 and 18-year-old ‘wonderkids’ end up falling off the radar unable to cope with the adulation and expectation that comes with life at Celtic or Rangers.
In recent times Michael McGlinchy and John Fleck have been tipped to be the next big thing before their careers had properly started.
Neither player has been able to live up to the hype with McGeough well aware that his goal against St Mirren will count for little if he allows the attention to go to his head.
The midfielder added: “The past few days have been crazy. There have been people round at my house. There have been lots of neighbours and friends round for their tea. You just need to keep your feet on the ground.
“Once you start believing that you have made it that will show on the park and you will get slack.
“It’s great to do well and I appreciate everything. But the hard work starts now.”
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