Jack Butland was reportedly told he would be Rangers captain this season IF James Tavernier moved on.
That was the chat around the time there was fervent speculation about interest in the Ibrox skipper from Turkey and elsewhere.
Well as it has turned out, the goalkeeper has had the chance to wear the armband on occasions this season anyway as it seems Tavernier is no longer guaranteed a start.
The 32-year-old was dropped or rested, depending how you look at it, for the win over St Mirren and Butland assumed his on-pitch duties for that one.
Tav was back in to face Aberdeen and Motherwell but found himself back on the bench again last night as Rangers took on Olympiacos in the Europa League.
That meant his fellow Englishman donned the captain’s armband again in Greece.
Butland speaks on Rangers captaincy and Tavernier
It should always been seen as an honour to captain Rangers and Butland is the type who would always recognise that.
So it was not a surprise to hear him do just that post-match. But the 31-year-old made sure to point out his Gers pal is still the skipper, as proud as he was to lead the team out in his absence.
Butland was also full of pride for the performance the team turned in under his leadership and called on them to find those levels on a more consistent basis.
He said: “It’s an honour to represent the club in Tav’s absence, but he’s the captain. I was in Tav’s absence, but honoured to lead the team out and proud of the performance.
“Cyriel Dessers scored a big goal for us, which he has done on many occasions. We play so many games, we put him in and he works hard and doesn’t always get the credit he deserves.
“But it was a team performance and I was proud to lead the boys out. I think they earned their stripes. There are games I will be busier in, but I am as proud of that performance as any.
“It’s brilliant to see the boys play like that and we know that’s what we’re capable of.
“We really need to replicate that more often because we know we can do it. It’s a good result at a difficult place away from home.
“The boys were incredible, the fans were incredible and we can take a lot of confidence from that.
“We got punished for one moment and we didn’t deserve to be behind. It was about keeping the boys’ heads up and the confidence high.
“I just tried to reassure them, tell them to keep going and not to give up. We don’t do that and we have shown it on many occasions.”
Philippe Clement explains dropping Tavernier
Philippe Clement insists he wants more than one leader in his Rangers team, and clearly Butland would be one of those.
He insists the situation was known by all parties before the season in terms of the fact Tavernier can no longer perform at the same levels for every single minute in every single game.
So the rotation will continue for the rest of the season as Gers hope to keep playing in the Europa League.
“That’s never an easy decision,” said Clement when asked about dropping Tavernier for the game. “But I want more than one captain in the group.
“It’s also, if you come at a certain age you cannot play 60 games any more at the same level, so that’s normal.
“We knew that before the season. We talked about that before the season also and Tav is just the captain.
“So he will continue like that and he will play also more games this season and it’s about competition for the spots, for everybody.”
