I will never treat my players the way Rangers treated me
Livi boss Kenny Miller lifts the lid on the torment of his dramatic exit from Ibrox
KENNY MILLER has spoken for the first time of his anguish at being exiled by Rangers on the eve of a managerial baptism of fire at Celtic Park. The 38-year-old begins the task of keeping
Livingston in the top flight today when he leads his team out to face the champions as an seventh successive league flag is unfurled.
But, in an exclusive interview with Record Sport, he has revealed how he knew his time at Ibrox was coming to an end months before he was accused of being involved in a Hampden bust-up with caretaker boss Graeme Murty – a charge which he has consistently denied.
And as he prepared to become a Premiership manager for the first time he said: “The way things ended for me at Rangers was a very painful experience.
“All I would have asked for was for a bit of professional courtesy or a wee bit of honesty. That’s something I’ll take forward now into the next stage of my career.
“I will never treat players like that. I will always strive to give them a level of respect and honesty because that’s what they deserve.
“I felt it was the least I deserved from Rangers after eight years of service, numerous trophies and all the good times and bad times we had.
“So to have to leave in the manner I did was disappointing but there was absolutely nothing I could have done about it. I felt like it was all being taken out of my hands quite deliberately.”
Miller will return to the National Stadium on August 13 for the start of an SPFL probe into the disciplinary action which saw him suspended, fined and brought about the end of his eight years at Rangers.
He insists he tried everything in his power to avoid taking it so far but figures inside Ibrox were hellbent on forcing him out.
Miller said: “I tried so hard to bring things to an amicable ending but I don’t think that would have tied in the way they wanted it to with everything else going on behind the scenes.
“I’ll be able to say a lot more about this when the time is right. Right now it’s still an ongoing matter so I have to be careful with my words but I do feel I need to clear my own name and let the Rangers fans know the truth.
“For now, all I can say is I’m hugely disappointed with some of the things that went on and how my time ended.
“But as for the details regarding what was going on at Rangers – the time will come when that can be set straight.
“It’s just not possible for me to go into it at the moment.
“I took some comfort from the reactions and comments of people in the game who know what I’m about. They know I’ve never been the kind of disruptive influence I was made out to be.
“Even the people inside Ibrox know what I’m about.
“All I’m focused on is going to Celtic Park on Saturday and the weeks after that.
“This is a fantastic way to start the new season. It’s to be enjoyed – but we will only enjoy it if we go there and do ourselves justice by giving everything we’ve got and by showing the togetherness that has got the club to this point.
“As long as do that we’ll walk away with heads held high.”
And Miller has not ruled out the prospect of one day returning to Rangers for a fourth spell – but this time in the dugout.
He said: “I’ve been given this fantastic opportunity to step into management, my first job, at the top level of Scottish football. It’s a chance to show what I can do.
“The ambition is to get to the top level – the same way as I did as a player. I need to earn my stripes and get to the top.
“Does that mean managing Rangers one day? Who knows.
“I want to get to the top and if that involves being the manager of Rangers then that’s something you could never, ever turn down.
“There’s a lot of hard work to be done and it will take these lads some time to adjust to the Premiership. They are going to find out quickly on Saturday what it’s all about.
“But, the way I see them work every day, I’m confident they are only going to get stronger as the season goes on.”