Danny Rohl’s heart-breaking claims about Tavernier’s brutal Ibrox exit

For months it had been planned. Walking around a packed Ibrox holding aloft the SPFL trophy with his team-mates keeping a respected distance.

Fifty thousand adoring fans cheering their skipper on a night of emotion. For any bear under the age of 20 being at a title party is a distant, hazy memory.

They’d need to be in their thirties to have legally celebrated with an alcoholic drink.

Tav’s Title Party was perfectly scheduled. Celtic had lost eight SPFL matches and two managers by the end of March.

Even a Scottish Cup defeat to Celtic wouldn’t spoil the dream send off. Even if Captain Disappointed skied the first penalty in the direction of Dublin Airport.

The Daily Record sent Scott McDermott out to Salzburg to get the inside story on the fall out between Rohl and his beloved skipper.

As an exercise in the lack of leadership it is a classic as Rohl explained his version of events.

I think I showed Tav a lot of trust because he came on against Motherwell (first post-split game), played at Hearts and then started against Celtic.

At that moment, I showed trust that he could lead the group in those moments. I gave him the games.

Three defeats Danny boy, three defeats in case you’ve forgotten. Three cup finals.

Captain Disappointed was substituted soon after Celtic went 3-1 in front in the Glasgow Derby. Fittingly Daizen Maeda popped in a double as a farewell gift.

Celtic fans rose to acclaim the Greatest Loser in the History of Scottish Football. The derision and contempt was amazing as he trudged away.

The armband came off, Tavpen left Scottish football to the cheers of the Celtic fans.

Back in the dressing room he could soon hear the chants of ‘Danny, Danny Rohl’. The gormless German thinks that singing his name was a compliment. That Celtic fans feared and respected the wig wearing German!

ROHL OUT THE EXCUSES DANNY BOY

But after Celtic, he was disappointed and said he had some problems with his ankle.

I heard at that time he’d said: ‘My season is over’.

I spoke to him and the physios and said: ‘Guys, he has to make the last game at home, maybe not as a starter but he should get some minutes out in front to say goodbye’.

Tav probably has a very different recollection of events after the defeat from Celtic. His Instagram account will be getting prepared for launch.

On the Tuesday at training, you see who are the starters and who is not.

I messaged or made the call to say: ‘OK Tav, you will be part of the game but will not start’.

A message and a phone call are very different. Why not discuss it face to face, man to man, loser to loser?

For me, it was clear. He would get his ceremony before the game and hopefully take his family out with him.

He would get 10 or 15 minutes at the end of the game, get his flowers and have a happy day without negative emotion.

Except Hibs won the match. Loser Rohl lost four consecutive cup finals. In addition to two real cup ties against Celtic.

But the Wednesday was a difficult day. Probably the most emotional day for me at Rangers.

At our 4pm meeting, Tav said he wouldn’t be coming to the stadium.

We were prepared for the ceremony. No-one knew about this.

So much drama over getting a tray from John Greig.

I had to say something to the media – but didn’t know what to do.

Perhaps tell the truth? Just a suggestion.

I tried to convince him to play those 10 or 15 minutes.

Finally, he arrived very late but it wasn’t the best way to say goodbye.

Why did I do this at that moment? After three defeats I had to make a decision on what I thought was best for us to win the game against Hibs.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t do it. But I made my decision that day, not about giving Tav presents – because he’d have got that at the end of the game.

But at the start, I wanted to play the strongest team against that opponent.

That defeat from Hibs was Rohl’s last match at Ibrox.

His handling of Captain Disappointed probably convinced Andrew Cavenagh that it was time to go all in staunch.

Bring in a management team and leadership group that were in tune with the fans.

To get rid of losers and high earners like Tavernier and Jack Butland.

Both of them turned on the Birthday Card patter on Instagram as they picked up their last Ibrox pay cheques.

In 11 years of failure Tav collected three winners medals while watching Celtic winning five trebles.

Before he arrived at Ibrox Celtic had just three trebles to their name.

Super Jack has one League Cup winners medal to show for three years of failure.

In two penalty shoot-outs against Celtic Butland faced nine spot kicks. All were converted.

But it is James Tavernier that will be remembered most and celebrated by Celtic fans.

Truly, we won’t ever see another Hall of Famer to match the former Wigan utility man.