The full back will move on at the end of the season and will hope to bow out by collecting his second Premiership winners' medal
18:16, 23 Apr 2026
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James Tavernier(Image: Getty Images)
Andy Walker has described the timing of James Tavernier's announcement that he will be leaving Rangers as 'really bizarre'.
The Ibrox skipper confirmed on Wednesday that he will call it quits after 11 years with the Light Blues at the end of the season when his contract expires.
The 34-year-old skippered the club to glory in the Premiership, Scottish Cup and League Cup, as well as in a memorable run to the Europa League final.
Tavernier will be hoping to bow out on an almighty high with Gers still in the fight to lift the league title next month. With five games to play, Danny Rohl's men sit just a single point behind leaders Hearts and two clear of Celtic in third.
Earlier in the week, the former Newcastle kid had revealed that the Ibrox giants had not approached him about extending his deal, despite his insistence that he plans to play on for another four years.
And his decision to go public about his pending exit as we edge towards the finale of this thrilling three-way title race has baffled Hoops hero Walker.
Speaking on GO Radio, he said: "I must say that I don't understand the timing of it.
"I think he said pretty recently that he was focused on the team until the end of the season and then the next he's making a statement.
"I just thought the timing off it was really bizarre. It's not as though they are sitting at the top of the table in his last season.
"You look at the way Andy Robertson has done it, he's been looking for a new contract but not been offered one and he now knows that he will have to leave.
"He (Robertson) will get a terrific send off at Liverpool and I am sure that Tavernier will too but I just didn't understand the timing of it when everything is about the last five games and taking the biggest prize of all."
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