KENNY MILLER is determined to ensure that his latest contract extension at Rangers is not his last after stating the belief that he has “a few years left” at the top level.
The 35-year-old striker has signed a new deal that will take him to the summer of 2017 and admits that he harbours hopes of remaining part of the set-up at the Ladbrokes Championship club for some time to come.
“Listen, I would never say never,” he said. “That is the way I look at it.
“When you get to this age, you don’t sign two, three, four-year deals.
“You play it by ear and you try to earn the right to maybe knock the manager’s door or, in this case, have the manager come and speak to you to ask if you would like to stay on again.
“For me, it was something I never had to think about for one second.
“I am fortunate enough that the manager has seen enough to feel that I can contribute to his team both on and off the field in the years to come.
“I am absolutely delighted to get it done and dusted. It was unexpected to have the conversation so early with regard to staying for another year.”
Miller has been actively involved with the Under-20 team at Murray Park as he plans for a future in coaching, but he insists that is not his central focus when there are so many challenges remaining on the field of play.
“For me, that is a side issue,” said Miller. “I do that when I can, but I am firmly focused on playing because I feel I have still got a few years left at that level.”
“At the moment, it is not so much about coaching as going in and helping out when I can.
“I have been doing it for a couple of months now and it is great to look at the other side of the game in terms of how things are done.”
Mark Warburton, the Rangers manager, has spoken at length in the past over the positive influence Miller brings to the dressing room, but insists that he has been given his new deal based purely on what he can deliver as a player.
“Kenny is doing his coaching qualifications, doing great work with our Under-20s and gaining invaluable experience,” said Warburton.
“From the first day of pre-season, he developed a real desire and a passion to help take the club forward and he’s made a very positive contribution both on and off the pitch.
“His seniority within the squad is very important, his knowledge and his experience are special when we have such a young squad and have recruited young players and have taken in young loan players too.
“He has a key role to play on and off the pitch. Kenny is very much part of our plans going forward.
“While he has a very bright future as a coach, this is a contract he has earned as player.
“He’s played a key role in terms of his attitude, performances and in a mentoring role to the younger players.
“Any spare time now he is committing to broadening his coaching experience and gaining valuable information in terms of delivery of sessions and appropriate content of sessions.”
Miller realises, though, that there is a certain responsibility on his shoulders to lead the way for the less experienced members of the current Rangers side. It is something that rests easily upon his shoulders.
“It is not only a young group of players,” said Miller in an interview with Rangers TV. “It is a new Rangers team.
“The older guys in the dressing room such as myself, Lee Wallace and Dean Shiels, who has been here for a number of years now, have to pass on the experiences they have got.
“It is about making the younger lads and the newer lads appreciate what this club is about and the expectations that go along with playing for this club.”
Expectation number one is winning promotion to the Premiership this season. Miller is keen to play an integral role in achieving that success and repaying some of the faith Warburton has shown in him.
“I hope I can repay him with some good performances, a few more goals and, hopefully, a promotion to get us back to the top league next year,” he said.
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