Even the man himself could understand why first-team opportunities were in short supply at Rangers last season.
Ousting the club’s Player of the Year from the starting XI, after all, is easier said than done. And with Jack Butland almost immediately establishing himself as a talismanic figure at Ibrox, a place on the bench was realistically the best his Rangers rival could hope for.
But still, Robby McCrorie might have felt that opportunities would be a little more forthcoming.
McCrorie won’t have expected to be a regular starter either in the Scottish Premiership or the Europa League. But surely Philippe Clement could have handed him the odd run out in the domestic cups? McCrorie was left on the sidelines against even the likes of Ayr United and Morton.
And, at the age of 26, the Ayrshire-born glovesman was clearly not willing to spend another season gathering dust and cobwebs. Especially after Scotland boss Steve Clarke indicated that he would have to feature more often if he was to force his way into the national team roster.
McCrorie, then, jumped at the chance to join Premiership rivals Kilmarnock when the opportunity presented itself this week.
Goalkeeper Robby McCrorie leaves Rangers for Kilmarnock
Clement, speaking to Rangers Review, admits that McCrorie would have jumped at the chance to depart six months earlier, though the Glasgow giants had little interest letting him go in the knowledge that an ill-timed injury to Butland would have proved disastrous.
“I knew Robby McCrorie was desperate to go in January,” Clement explains. “I stopped him in January.”
The former Monaco and Club Brugge boss was not willing to stand in McCrorie’s way again, however, with Rangers bringing in a replacement in the shape of Liam Kelly from Motherwell.
Clement adds that McCrorie’s departure was agreed pretty quickly with Kilmarnock keen to get him through the door before their Europa League qualifier with Cercle Brugge at the end of July.
“We helped him to act fast in this window,” the Belgian adds. “Because it’s important, with European games to come, he trains with his new team.”
McCrorie joined Rangers’ academy well over a decade ago.
The former Scotland Under 21 international made only seven first-team appearances though he did impress during the first few months of the Mick Beale era when given an opportunity to stake his claim.
McCrorie was a standout performer in that 3-0 Old Firm victory over bitter rivals Celtic back in May 2023.
Former Scotland youth star seals Ibrox exit
“I’ve been looking to do this for a long time now,” McCrorie tells Sky Sports when asked to explain his decision to move on from Rangers. “And the manager in Derek McInnes and the club in Kilmarnock has given me the opportunity and shown me the commitment to bring me here and get games.
“So, I’m looking forward to the future. From a football perspective, I wouldn’t say it was difficult (to leave Ibrox). There was frustration the last couple of years.
“From the emotional side, I’ve been there since I was eight years old, 18 years. I was desperate for this to happen so, I’m glad it’s done now and I’m looking forward to what I can bring to Kilmarnock and what they can do for myself also.
“I was always set on getting out and getting games.”
