New Livi boss Miller will continue Gers fight
Kenny Miller won’t end his dispute with Rangers, despite being appointed as Livingston player-manager.
The 38- year-old remains determined to clear his name after being hit with a fine after an alleged bust- up with former Ibrox boss, Graeme Murty.
But he doesn’t rule out asking his former club for loan players to help him make a success of the new job – that almost everyone has told him he can’t do.
It might have been thought that Miller would want to draw a line under his time at Ibrox.
But he believes it’s important the matter comes to a conclusion.
Speaking after being unveiled as the new Livi gaffer, Miller revealed how strongly he felt about events that unfolded after Rangers were beaten 4-0 by Celtic in the Scottish Cup semi-final.
He said: “I’ll be taking it to a conclusion, and it’ll come to one soon enough.
“What was done last year did hurt, and left me disappointed. But it didn’t damage me.
“Who knows what their motives were? I don’t know if that was their purpose.
“But for me there was just real 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, really good people, who are still at the club.
“You miss people you have built up relationships with over the best part of 20 years. “So it was hurtful. But you move onwards and upwards to a new challenge.”
Miller has always been determined to carry on playing. He’s adamant he will be the first name on the team sheet when Livingston travel to face Celtic on the opening day of the Premiership season.
The role of player-manager is a tough one, and the former Scotland hit- man admits that friends in football tried to talk him out of remaining on the pitch.
He went on: “Everyone tries to put you off it when you speak to them, and say you can’t do both roles. For every 25 saying I couldn’t, there was maybe one saying I could.
“There’s an existing structure at Livingston that is definitely going to aid me, and make the transition that bit smoother. “There are going to be bumps along the road, there’s absolutely no doubt about it.
“I will learn in the job. In a month or two, I’ll be more familiar with what is required and what the job entails.
“To come to a club in the Premiership for my first manager’s job is huge.
“Being able to play and help the lads on that field of play was a big part of the decision.
“As a player, it was great to get out yesterday morning and play football in the training.
“We will work out how it’s going to operate over the coming weeks.
“Hopefully, I will be on the field more often than not.
“Getting someone else in to help on the sidelines will be discussed over the next few days.”
Miller’s unsure of the reception he’ll get from the Rangers’ supporters when they next meet.
And he’s not sure how the Ibrox hierarchy will react if he asks about taking one of their players on loan.
But whatever people think about his ability on the pitch, there’ s no doubting his determination.
He wouldn’ t still be in contention to be playing as he approaches his 40th year without being incredibly single-minded.
He said: “I’d love to think I’ll get a good reception from the Rangers fans.
“I never got the opportunity to acknowledge them at the end of the season — it was taken away from me.
“I don’t know if I can get players from Rangers. I can ask the question.
“You have to exercise every possible avenue when you are looking to strengthen a team.
“If you can give a player firstteam opportunity they won’t get at another club, then it is always a route to looks at. I will be no different.
“We’ll be looking to add strength in depth, but from what I’ve seen already, there’s already some good players with a great work ethic.
“That will stand us in good stead throughout the season.”