Former Rangers midfielder Charlie McCann has been opening up on his switch to Forest Green – and claims he’d one day love a return to play at Ibrox.
The likeable 20-year-old Northern Ireland star had made the breakthrough at Ibrox following a switch from Man United but struggled to hold down a consistent first team place.
When League One strugglers Forest Green came knocking, it presented something of a dilemma to the young star who’d taken to life at Rangers very quickly.
The choice was between trying to battle into the Rangers squad amid stiff competition whilst resting on the fringes at Ibrox or go and play first-team football in England’s third tier.
It’s a choice that the ambitious Charlie McCann felt was necessary for his career but it hasn’t made leaving Rangers any easier.
In fact – as the youngster reveals Ross Wilson also wanted to keep him – McCann is clear he’d one day like to return to Ibrox.
Charlie McCann talks Rangers Forest Green exit
“It was a really difficult decision for me to make,” Charlie McCann told the Daily Record.
“I had to try and weigh up what’s going to be better for me in the long-term.
“I have the chance of getting regular game time in League One, which is a good standard.
“It was whether that’s going to be more beneficial than sitting around at Rangers, waiting for an opportunity that might not come. Eventually I came to a decision. But it was never going to be easy leaving Rangers.
“I’ve only been at the club for a year and a half but I genuinely fell in love with it during my time there. So it was a tough call. Hopefully I’ve made the right decision and I can move forward in my career.
“If I was just floating around and playing B team games at Rangers, it would have been straightforward. I was close to the first-team. But yet so far away, if you know what I mean?
“A lot of boys would have been happy to wait at Rangers. But that’s just not in my nature.
“I just felt like I had to go and prove myself. I didn’t want to get to 22 and still be on the fringes.
“I spoke to the manager, as well as Ross Wilson. Both of them, especially Ross, didn’t want me to leave. But they understood why I was going.
“I’ve always said the one thing I want to do in my career is play consistently for Rangers. If I was doing that now, I wouldn’t even be thinking about going anywhere else.
“And I’ll always want to fulfil that ambition in my career, if I can. If I could get back here, and become a Rangers player again, I wouldn’t miss that opportunity.
“I’d snap someone’s hand off for that in the future. I’m just at the point now where I have to go and make a proper football career for myself – before I start to drift away.”
Charlie McCann made eight appearances for Rangers and did look to have a bright transfer at Ibrox before his switch to Forest Green.
But you’ve got to admire the youngster’s ambition and let’s hope that the midfielder leaves Rangers with no choice but to resign him.
If reports are correct too, Rangers have ensured resigning Charlie McCann is relatively straight forward.
