Ex-Glasgow Rangers boss Alex McLeish would have loved to see Steven Naismith go back to Ibrox.
Alex McLeish has told The Glasgow Evening Times he was disappointed that former club Rangers didn’t re-sign Steven Naismith this month.
The 31-year-old attacker joined Hearts on a half-season loan from Norwich City in the Championship last week.
The former Scotland international enjoyed a five-year spell at Rangers until 2012, having also began his career with the Glasgow giants.
At one point it looked as if a controversial return to Ibrox was on the cards but Gers boss Graeme Murty admitted to The Scottish Sun last week that although he spoke to Naismith, he opted against making a bid.
Only time will tell whether it was a wise move by Murty, but McLeish, who managed Naismith at Rangers,, says that he would have loved to see his former player go back to where it all started.
“I was disappointed that they didn’t get Steven Naismith,” he said to The Glasgow Evening Times. “I believe they should have pulled out the stops to get wee Naisy, I think he’s a great player.
“Ok, he’s coming to the end of his career, but in Scotland, I think he could excel.”
Naismith joined the Scottish giants from Kilmarnock in 2007, but he was on Rangers’ books as a youngster and you can see why he was open to re-joining the club, even if it would’ve disappointed fans following his acrimonious departure in 2012 after failing to associate himself with Charles Green’s regime.
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