McGregor fired up to help the good times roll again at Ibrox
ALLAN McGregor admits he is “buzzing” to return to Rangers after six years away.
The Scotland international, who left Ibrox in the wake of the club’s financial meltdown in 2012, rejected the offer of a new contract at Hull to head back to Glasgow.
The 36-year-old goalkeeper is Steven Gerrard’s second signing since he took over as Rangers boss, following the capture of midfielder Scott Arfield from Burnley earlier this week.
And McGregor admitted that it was a simple decision to return to Scotland after five years with Hull and a spell in Turkey with Besiktas.
“I’m buzzing and cannot keep the smile off my face,” he said. “When the chance came, it was an absolute no-brainer, so I’m buzzing to be back.”
The 35-cap Scotland international won three league titles, a hat-trick of Scottish Cups and five League Cup crowns during his first Rangers stint after coming through the academy.
He said: “I started training here when I was 12 years old and used to come through the main stand maybe twice a week. To be back is incredible.
“Even when I was on the bench when I was younger, some of the things you couldn’t write the script.
“Peter’s (Lovenkrands) last minute header in the Scottish Cup final, I was here for the 6-1 win against Dunfermline and Helicopter Sunday.
“You couldn’t write the script with these things and they are all memories that, if I look back on now, you just get hairs standing on your back and all over your body.
“It’s just an incredible feeling and I want to hopefully achieve that again.”
The ambition for Rangers next season will be to close the gap to Celtic, and key to that will be improving the club’s home form.
The Gers lost seven times at Ibrox in the Ladbrokes Premiership this season as they stumbled to third place and McGregor acknowledges that they must adapt to playing in front of their home fans.
“We need to make this place a fortress where nobody wants to come,” he said.
“We need to win games, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, every game is an opportunity for three points.
“If you keep doing that, as we’ve seen before, that’s what wins you titles.”
Boss Gerrard, meanwhile, said: “I am delighted to confirm Allan as my second signing this summer as we continue preparations for next season.
“He is a vastly experienced goalkeeper who we feel can add to the options available to us currently. He has won lots of silverware for this club, and has shone at the highest level in Europe.
“I have played against Allan a number of times in my own career and I know just how fierce a competitor he can be.
“He is a Rangers supporter who rose through the ranks here, so having someone with such a depth of feeling towards the club is another great asset to the squad.”