‘I had to leave Gers for Dons’

Ross Mccrorie admits he made his mind up to leave Rangers a year ago.

The Scotland Under-21 captain has joined Aberdeen on loan for the rest of the season, with an agreement in place to make it permanent come the summer.

The Pittodrie move – costing the Dons £350,000 – ends boyhood Gers fan Mccrorie’s decade-long association with the Light Blues.

The 22-year-old revealed he knew before a loan spell at Portsmouth last summer that he had to move for his career’s sake.

Former manager Pedro Caixinha tipped the Gers academy graduate to become a star for club and country when he handed him his debut in 2017.

But current boss Steven Gerrard preferred Ryan Jack, Steven Davis, Glen Kamara and Joe Aribo in midfield, leaving Mccrorie frustrated.

Mccrorie – who is to make his Dons debut when they face

St Johnstone in Perth tonight – said: “I’m absolutely buzzing to get up here.

“The reason why I went to Pompey last year was because I felt if I stayed at Rangers, my development was going to stall.

“Now the opportunity at Aberdeen arose and, for me, I had to get a permanent move somewhere. I thought Aberdeen was the best place to come and develop as a player.”

Asked if it was tough to leave Rangers, he said: “Nah, it was pretty easy for me to be fair. It’s my career so I’ve got to do what’s best for myself.

“Once I came back from down south I told the club it was time for me to leave.

“It’s not any good for me staying and Aberdeen is the best place for me to go show what I can do.

“I don’t want to talk about anything to do with Rangers now. I’m an Aberdeen player and that’s my sole focus.”