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The keeper spent more than a decade with the club coming up through the youth system, but at 22, he still hadn’t made a first-team appearance.
When it was then rumoured that Alan McGregor was set to return, he knew it was time to go.
McGregor returned last summer and went straight in as no.1. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
“Every player who has come through Rangers’ youth system has the dream to play for the first team,” Kelly told the Daily Record. “Obviously if that ever happened to me then I would be absolutely delighted.
“But it was never going to happen for me a year ago. I had to leave and show that I could play at the highest level possible.
“I got that chance with Livingston in the Scottish Premiership now I’m trying to do it in England. I’m just delighted to be at QPR and very grateful for the opportunity.
“Whatever comes afterwards comes afterwards but that’s not what I’m focusing on just now.”
Kelly kept clean sheets against both Rangers and Celtic last season. (Photo by Vagelis Georgariou/Action Plus via Getty Images)
Verdict
Kelly has done extremely well for himself in the year since leaving Rangers. Stuck behind McGregor, Wes Foderingham and Jak Alnwick, his chances of making it big looked extremely slim.
Yet, he proved last season that he’s more than capable of being a no.1 in the SPL. With 14, he registered just one less clean sheet in the league than McGregor [Transfermarkt].
On the back of that, Kelly has earned a big move to the English Championship and will be hoping to kick on even further.
It’s encouraging though, that even after he’s headed for the bright lights of the English game, he’s open to a return to Ibrox in the future. If he proves himself over the next couple of seasons, an opportunity could present itself when McGregor eventually retires.