Former Rangers striker Kenny Miller has had his say on the shambolic Scottish Cup Old Firm defeat by Celtic under Graeme Murty that ended his and Lee Wallace’s Ibrox careers – and branded Murty’s treatment of Andy Halliday ‘unforgiveable’.
Halliday was replaced before the break in the 4-0 Hampden horror show that saw Miller and Wallace suspended by the club before being internally disciplined.
The former striker, now working in Australia, scored close to 100 league goals across three stints at Ibrox, winning plenty of silverware along the way but marked a controversial end to his time at the club he spent close to a decade representing.
Miller, speaking at length to Rangers fan site This Is Ibrox, has gone into detail of what happened in the Hampden dressing room in the aftermath of the 4-0 Old Firm defeat
“In football, things happen in dressing rooms,” Miller said.
“When emotions are running high at the end of an Old Firm game, when you’ve been absolutely battered again in a national semi-final, it was unacceptable.
“There were things again with (Andy Halliday), that were unforgivable to do that to somebody.
“It was just the captain of Glasgow Rangers addressing his teammates to let them know that that kinda stuff wasn’t good enough. That was it. There was a bit of to-ing and fro-ing…there were things had gone on at half-time of that game with people ranting and raving. Not, not Waldo but other players ranting and raving and going off.
“Staff members going off because we were getting pumped again by Celtic and at the end of the game it was much of the same but for some reason, because it was me and Lee. We were having a…not even a pop but just addressing our teammates.
“When you’re in a situation with people, you get a vibe and in the dressing room at Hampden so my gear is also in the middle and you’ve got half the boys to the left and half to the right – and we’re in the home dressing room.
“After the game, nothing was said. The boys are sitting and there’s silence and I can remember clear as day looking about and thinking ‘do I say anything’ but I’ve not played.
“I knew what was going on. What I mean by that is, I got back in against Hearts and played pretty much every minute of every game until I went down injured at Easter Road and ripped my hamstring in my eighth game in a row.
“I think we won six and lost two, Dundee and Hamilton – that was the old ‘headstand’ game and had some really good results against Aberdeen. I’m captain of the team through that spell as well and came back in with Waldo injured so I’m straight back in against Hearts with the armband.
“I’m buzzing to be back and it is a privilege and an honour to wear the armband as well. I got injured and then only started one game after that. One game. It’s not right and it doesn’t make sense.
“What was the one game? I came in the week before the Old Firm game, we beat Dundee 4-0 and I scored the opener. That was my only start in the second-half of that season. It doesn’t add up.
“People can say what they want but there was a reason why I wasn’t playing.
“Anyway, I’m sitting there thinking, ‘do I say something or do I not?’ I know what’s going on. I know I’m going to be finished at the end of the season. I looked along and seen Tav and he was kinda gesturing to me ‘are you going to say something ‘ and them Big Waldo started.
“Just letting the boys know and having his view. Obviously, he’s sat there and seen the game. Things then start to…people jump in off the back of it and it encourages debate.
“I say my piece and then all hell breaks loose with the aftermath of it.
“I’m just left thinking ‘what the f*** is going on’ because there’s nothing been said that’s not been said in a million other dressing rooms.”
In other news, Pundit backs Rangers star to win shock spot at Euro 2020 after stunning performances
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