LEE McCulloch will return to Ibrox on Saturday unencumbered by a sense of regret. The Kilmarnock interim manager spent eight seasons as a Rangers player, the early years patently more enjoyable than the end.

The salad days of titles, cups and an appearance in a European final soon gave way to financial meltdown, administration and then three years scrambling about in the lower leagues. McCulloch stayed throughout it all. His reputation eventually suffered as a result, his advancing years naturally leading to a downturn in his contribution.

By the time of his final season, a growing angst over Rangers’ failure to win promotion out of the SPFL Championship led to a bout of collective finger-pointing. Many were jabbed in the direction of McCulloch and Kris Boyd, ironically both lifelong Rangers supporters.

The recriminations took a sinister turn. Online rumours about how much he was earning surfaced and McCulloch could not avoid hearing about it. As one of those players who had offered to play for nothing during the period of administration in 2012, it stuck in his throat that he was now being accused of grasping for money as the club struggled to balance its books.

“It was a nightmare,” he admitted as he looked ahead to the William Hill Scottish Cup tie between his old club and his current employers. “It was tough going personally – and I know there were other players as well – but the rumours going about social media and everywhere were ‘he’s on X amount of money a week’. I don’t know who was behind it and I’d love to have found out. Some of the figures that were being bandied about over what I was making a week, I just couldn’t believe it.

“I just saw it as people trying to make you take your eye off the ball. Rumours grow arms and legs. That was something that really annoyed me because it was so far from the truth it was unbelievable. I don’t know where it came from. For me to have stayed, offered to play for free when I had offers – no matter what anyone says – and knocked them back ... then it comes out the blue that I’m earning all this. I wasn’t earning even a third as much as the highest-paid player at the club. So there was a wee bit of nastiness there. It was so, so far from the truth it was alarming. I don’t blame the fans because if you hear that, you’re going to believe it. But I don’t have a clue where it came from.

“You had to put it to one side. That’s not an excuse. The team last season didn’t play well enough, they weren’t good enough. Maybe in the long haul, last year was a blessing in disguise for the club. The club is the most important thing.”

Timing is everything. Had McCulloch left Rangers prior to the start of their downward spiral – say around 2011 – then he would likely have emerged with his reputation unscathed. Instead in the latter years he became something of a caricature, teased by opposition fans for his lack of pace and overtly physical approach. Again, though, there are no major regrets.

“If I could turn back the clock I wouldn’t change a thing, I’m quite loyal that way,” McCulloch said. “For me, I had the chance to do the right thing and I feel I did that. So no, I wouldn’t change anything. I look back with pride and a sense of achievement with being there just over eight years. And I think it’s three Scottish Cups, three League Cups, three Premier Leagues titles, and the Third and Second Division. That’s the way I look at it – all positive.

“The slight regret is not doing the whole journey [to the Premiership]. But everything happens for a reason. The most important thing is the club and you have to say it’s in a far better place than where it was – especially last year.”

After Gary Locke’s resignation last night, McCulloch will be returning to Ibrox as Kilmarnock’s interim manager, but he hopes Rangers supporters will remember those good times, and not the latter seasons, should they catch see him heading into the away dug-out on Saturday. “I will hopefully get a good reception. Rangers fans have always been brilliant with me. It was an honour and privilege to have captained the club.”

Life at Ibrox is undoubtedly smoother now than it was in McCulloch’s final year, although there have been one or two bumps in the road. Being knocked out of the League Cup by St Johnstone was one and Kilmarnock could add to their woes by doing likewise. “Rangers didn’t turn up on the night and we need to hope that’s the case when we go there on Saturday,” he said.

Lee McCulloch was speaking at a William Hill media event. William Hill is the proud sponsor of the Scottish Cup.