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Hearts’ Rory Currie explains decision to snub Glasgow Rangers offer

General View of Ibrox Stadium (Reuters)
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The former Rangers striker claims the Ibrox side changed their mind about keeping him last summer.

General View of Ibrox StadiumRangers’ Ibrox Stadium

Heart of the Midlothian striker Rory Currie has explained his decision to snub Glasgow Rangers.

Currie spent time with both Celtic and Rangers as a youth, but left Ibrox at the end of his contract last summer.

And the 19-year-old told the Edinburgh Evening News the Gers were undecided about keeping him on until Hearts made their move – having initially offer him the chance to return as a trialist.

“Rangers told me I was to come back in as a trialist last summer,” said Currie, who made his seventh Hearts appearance in Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat to local rivals Hibernian and was one of few positives for Ian Cathro’s side.

“Once they found out I was signing for Hearts, they tried to get me to sign for them. Obviously, my mind was made up. I’d decided Hearts was the place for me.

“I had a meeting with Craig Levein and Robbie Neilson and they made it quite clear that youth development is a big thing at Hearts. They said they would strive to bring young players through, so that really made my mind up. I want the best chance I can get to play first-team football. Hearts is the club for that.

“They’ve been brilliant for me. I’ve been at Celtic and Rangers but Hearts have been the best with me. They’ve really helped my development and given me a chance that the other two didn’t give me. It’s been brilliant so far. Hopefully it keeps going that way.”

Currie’s Hibs cameo could see further opportunities come his way between now and the end of the campaign.

And should that prove to be the case, the Lanark-born player is likely to have revenge on his mind, with Rangers only five points ahead of Hearts in the Scottish Premiership standings.

Graeme MurtyFormer Reading captain Graeme Murty is Rangers’ interim manager

The managerless Ibrox side trail second-placed Aberdeen by six points in their first season back at the top level following a four-year exile.

Will Rangers regret messing Currie around last summer?