It felt like us against the world but we were playing for Gers and we all knew what the badge meant I wish I could have stayed
BY GARY RALSTON
Five years ago today, Rangers emerged from the financial catastrophe that engulfed them to play their first game as a bottom-tier side – against Brechin in the Ramsden’s Cup. Record Sport speaks to the man who played between the sticks at Glebe Park on that historic afternoon. THE hedge along the side of the Glebe Park pitch was an obstacle Neil Alexander was happy to confront to become a Rangers history maker.
The barriers put in his way behind the scenes at Ibrox, however, denied him the chance to show his commitment to the club through good times and bad.
Five years ago today Rangers emerged from the rubble of financial collapse to start their journey back to the top with a Ramsden’s Cup fixture at Brechin.
The Angus town boasts a cathedral and Rangers arrived on a wing and a prayer, less than 24 hours after their SFA membership had been rubberstamped and with a squad that could best be described as skeletal.
A transfer embargo was in place, half the squad had left after refusing to work for Charles Green and the club didn’t even have the authority to play pre-season friendlies under boss Ally McCoist.
It was down to the old guard such as Alexander, aided by Lee McCulloch, Lee Wallace and Carlos Bocanegra, to talk inexperienced young players such as Andy Little, Kal Naismith, Robbie Crawford, Barrie McKay and Lewis Macleod through the most daunting months of their fledgling careers.
It is a period on which Alexander, now back with Livingston, reflects with a polite mix of pride and also disappointment that he couldn’t finish the work he started. He had stood tall between the sticks in the 2008 UEFA Cup Final in Manchester. He was equally as willing – more even – to do the job at Elgin he had performed at the Etihad.
He said: “In hindsight it did not work out as I hoped it would. I stayed for one year but I was in it
for the long haul. I wanted to go the whole way, from the Third Division all the way back to the Premiership.
“That was my intention. To go down in history as one of the Rangers players who stuck by the club to get it back to where it belonged.
“I don’t want to stick people in it but promises were made and didn’t come to pass. I was constantly told I would get a two-year deal and only a 12-month offer came.
“That’s all I wanted. Two years. Security for my family. It was never about the money. I would have played for Rangers for nothing. A lot of people don’t realise when we went into administration I was one of the guys who took a 75 per cent pay cut.
“I didn’t think it was anything to the club to give me two years and then Cammy Bell was signed on a pre-contract. I had no problem with Cammy but when a manager signs someone in our position you know he’s going to be No.1.
“I was only 36 and also not willing to be back-up at that level. The Premiership? Not a problem but I was better than a sub in the Second Division.
“I didn’t want to leave ever. I’d happily have stayed. I’d have played in any division just to be with Rangers. It was the best six years in my life and I wish it could have been more. I’d love to still be there now.
“I’m just so grateful to Rangers and Walter Smith for giving me the opportunity to get to the club in the first place because it made one of my dreams come true. That first season back may have been tough but playing for Rangers any time is an unbelievable experience.”
Rangers scraped through against Brechin as they needed an extra-time winner from skipper McCulloch to settle the tie.
Alexander, 39, was an everpresent as Rangers romped to the title. It was the most troubling period in the long history of the club but it developed character he can call upon still.
He said: “The Brechin game typified a lot of away games we played that year. It was a tough place to go against a team desperate to claim our scalp and create headlines.
“They equalised and I remembered looking around and thinking it could be a long afternoon. Every game was a cup tie. We didn’t really look forward to the away games.
“That summer was difficult. We virtually had to treat our first three or four competitive fixtures like pre-season friendlies. We were pretty raw. We had a pre-season history of games against Manchester City, Newcastle and Chelsea at Ibrox, with training camps in Germany. Everything changed overnight.
“It was a hard time but we had faith and belief that regardless of what our team looked like, we were representing Rangers. We knew what the badge meant and we had a job to do. We got our heads down.
“It felt like us against the world but I enjoyed the responsibility of it all and so did the other guys. It’s an experience that will stand Lee in good stead at Kilmarnock, for example. You learn more about your weaknesses and strengths from the tough times than the good.”
Alexander moved to Crystal Palace after Rangers won the title then enjoyed a couple of exceptional seasons with Hearts before moving to Aberdeen last season as back-up.
His reputation remains solid among Ibrox fans, even if he was given the usual treatment from a section of the crowd when he lined up at his old stomping ground for Hearts.
He said: “Rangers fans are amazing. I feel they appreciate what I did for the club in six years even if they don’t know what happened behind the scenes that season.
“I can have an opinion now I’m no longer with Aberdeen or Hearts and I’m absolutely delighted for Rangers and their fans to see the club back on an even keel. Scottish football will also be all the better for having a strong Rangers challenging Celtic, along with Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs.
“I wish I had gone the full journey but it wasn’t to be. I had a great time and I don’t regret a thing. I loved it all.”