LEFT Hibernian, signed up at Ibrox, got dog's abuse back at Easter Road. Ian Murray needs no introduction to the enmity that exists within Leith towards Rangers and those who represent them.

It was all water off a duck's back, though. Indeed, following a short spell at Norwich City, he actually returned to his boyhood club three years after his initial departure to become captain and enjoy the honour of a testimonial.

Things are different with Scott Allan. Murray joined Rangers after running down his contract in Edinburgh. He did not submit a transfer request, did not have two bids for his services rebuffed and did not receive death threats on Twitter.

Murray believes Allan is now left in an impossible position at Easter Road. Should he accept that his ambition to move to the club that he supported as a child is to remain unfulfilled for now, at least, there must also be an understanding that he is very likely to remain Public Enemy Number One within his own support.

If results go badly, he will be to blame. If Rangers rack up another hefty win to match their 6-2 triumph in the Petrofac Training Cup, he will be to blame. If the Ladbrokes Championship proves to be a little too hot for Hibernian to handle, Allan will be made to pay.

Murray has an obvious interest in the end result of this transfer tug-of-war between two clubs that will provide stern competition for his St Mirren side this season.

He suspects, though, that the saga has become so poisonous and potentially damaging that it would be better for Hibernian, in spite of everything, to back down and agree a deal to let Allan get what he so evidently wants.

"When I was a little boy, I was a Hibs fan and I wanted to play for Hibs," said the St Mirren manager.

"It wouldn't have mattered who wanted to sign me. If Barcelona were competing with Hibs, I would have signed for Hibs. No question.

"Scott has grown up supporting Rangers and now has the chance to sign for them. This chance might never come round again.

"Of course, I can see the flip side. All Hibs fans are asking for is for him to wait it out for one year, but, unfortunately, that is not the way it works in football.

"In a year's time, who is to say Rangers will still want Scott Allan?

"The fans are upset and the club is upset. I am looking at it as an outsider, but it looks to me that it would probably be better now for everyone to move on and get it done.

"The ill feeling towards him is going to be astronomical. He is going to have to play an incredible standard of football week in, week out because fingers will be pointed at him the minute things go wrong for the team at Hibs.

"If he leaves the club, those fingers will only be pointed at him twice a season when he goes back to Easter Road. He will handle that.

"There is no question that there was bad feeling when I went back to Hibs after joining Rangers. The Hibs and Rangers thing is going to boil on forever.

"If you are 18 or 19, I think it would be difficult, but it really didn't bother me in the slightest.

"Scott seems a confident guy and I wouldn't imagine it would be a problem. He might even thrive on it because some certainly do.

"How many times has Kenny Miller gone back to Easter Road and scored a goal? It wouldn't faze Leigh Griffiths if he got stick for scoring against Hibs for Celtic."

Murray has walked in the shoes of the Hibernian supporters. He understands their desire to have their club's interests protected, but he has also made a living as a professional footballer and admits that colours his judgement of this summer's most contentious transfer.

"People talk about loyalty towards clubs and there has to be at times, but Scott has to think about what might happen if, God forbid, he got a bad injury and couldn't recover his form," said Murray.

"Is the club going to give him a job for life? It is going to provide for his family? He has to go and take the chance when he gets it and that is sometimes what fans do not understand.

"Naturally, I can understand why Alan Stubbs wants to keep him because he was the best player in the Championship last season, but he might be fulfilling a lifetime ambition to sign for Rangers."