Ibrox upset won’t affect Miller’s new Livvy role

KENNY MILLER has insisted an ongoing legal wrangle with Rangers was never going to prevent him from pursuing his managerial ambitions after he was unveiled as Livingston’s new player-manager.

The striker left Ibrox under a cloud last month after he and Lee Wallace were fined and suspended for an alleged dressing room bust-up in the wake of the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic in April.

That row is rumbling on as Miller disputes the penalty imposed by Rangers, with appeals lodged via PFA Scotland to the SPFL.

But he is convinced the sour conclusion to his third spell at Ibrox — described as ‘hurtful’ by the former Scotland striker — would not

impact negatively on his reputation.

The issue did not deter Aberdeen, St Mirren and Hibernian from trying to persuade Miller to play for them next season, while Livingston dangled the attraction of the playermanager arrangement, which clinched the deal.

When asked if he was worried the Rangers row would block his progress into management, Miller replied: ‘Not at all. I’ll have my time to put that right. That day will come.

‘It’s an ongoing matter, so I can’t delve into what’s happening. But I’ll be taking it to a conclusion and that will come soon enough.

‘I’ve had to sit tight-lipped for almost a whole season about certain things.

‘Today’s not the day for that. It’s about coming to Livingston and how excited I am about that.

‘I have the opportunity to implement all the thoughts and ideas I have on football.’

Miller’s eventful final year at Ibrox saw him ostracised in the autumn by then manager Pedro Caixinha, brought back into the fold as captain by Graeme Murty, then suspended in April for the events following the 4-0 Hampden defeat by Celtic.

When asked if he was damaged by the manner in which his Rangers days drew to a close, Miller stressed: ‘I wouldn’t say so. It was disappointing. Everybody who knows me knows what I am and what I am not.

‘So what was done last year did hurt and left me disappointed. But damaged? No.

‘Who knows what their (Rangers) motives were? I don’t know if that was their purpose.

‘But, for me, there was hurt and disappointment about how my time there ended. I gave the club eight years’ service, I scored a lot of goals, I won a lot of leagues and cups and had some great times.

‘I enjoyed working with some really good people who are still at the club. You miss people you’ve built up relationships with over the best part of 20 years. So it was hurtful.

‘But you move onwards and upwards, on to the next challenge. I’m delighted this one has come up.’

Despite all that drama, Miller has not ruled out returning to Rangers for more fringe talent to augment his Livingston squad.

Ryan Hardie is already back on loan from Ibrox after a successful six-month stint in Livingston’s promotion run.

When asked if he would feel able to go back to Rangers for players, Miller said: ‘I don’t know. I can ask the question. You have to exercise every possible avenue when you’re looking to strengthen a team.

‘When you’re on a limited budget, sometimes you’ll be looking for a little help.

‘If you can give a player first-team opportunities that they won’t get at another club, then it’s always a route that a club looks at.’