Lee McCulloch has described the events at Rangers last season as a car crash, taken his share of culpability for the team's failure and asked the supporters to give the new management team time to deliver a bright future.

The 37-year-old former captain officially joined the Ibrox exodus to Kilmarnock yesterday by signing a three-year contract as assistant player coach - a move exclusively revealed by The Herald on June 27.

He will effectively hang up his boots and purely focus on working with Gary Locke and Peter Leven to make Killie a stronger proposition, with former team mates Kris Boyd and Stevie Smith under his tutelage.

McCulloch was one of 11 players released at the end of a miserable Championship campaign for Rangers where they employed three managers against a backdrop of a battle for the boardroom and failed to win promotion.

Some of the departed - including Boyd - have expressed their disquiet at the public criticism of their performances by the new Chairman Dave King but McCuloch has happily taken it on the chin.

McCulloch, who spent eight years with Rangers, said: "The last year with all the off-the-field stuff wasn't good. There was obviously massive uncertainty, fans demonstrations because they weren't happy with the board - and you could argue rightly so - and we had three managers.

"We had a team playing for most of the season with no confidence whatsoever. So it was tough and it ended up a wee bit of a car crash.

"You've got to look on it as a disappointment when you're Glasgow Rangers and you can only come third in the Championship. In fact, that's an understatement.

"Criticism of the players is something that's going to happen when you're at a club that size. With the expectations there, to come third in the second tier is not good enough so players just have to take that criticism.

"As a captain, I took it and I don't have a problem with that because it was deserved. Some people have had a go back but everyone's entitled to their opinion.

"I don't want to be drawn into that. How could I have a go at Rangers after what the fans and the club and everyone inside it have given me during my time there?

"Overall, though, I had eight fantastic years at the club, winning five league titles and five cups.

"I won a place in the Hall of Fame and played in the UEFA Cup final as well as being captain for a good few years so I'm not looking back with any negativity.

"This is the first chance I've had to thank the Rangers fans for all the support I've had from them. I always gave 100% when I played and, although some performances were good and others were bad, I've no regrets about my career there and I wish the club all the best.

"I've been a lifelong fan and they're still close to my heart. It's a place I love and I have fantastic memories which I'll take to my grave but this is a new chapter for me."

McCulloch, who said he turned down a couple of manager's jobs and playing contracts to join Killie, revealed he has spoken to Mark Warburton and his good friend Davie Weir about their Rangers plans.

He said: "I did have a chat with them and what they're going to do over there seems exciting. In my opinion, though, they're going to need a little bit of time because they're going to totally revamp the club, including the way the team has played in the last three or four years.

"Hopefully, the fans will be patient with them because I'm 99% sure that they are going to get it right and have that club challenging again.

"I know that time is something you don't tend to be given at either half of the Old Firm but, after what the Rangers fans have been through, I think they know that the directors have made the right appointment.

"Stuart McCall came in at the latter part of last season and did really well. He's a fantastic manager but I think that Mark and David will put their own stamp on the club.

"They have new ideas and Rangers will now be playing modern-day football. That itself is something that takes time and the educated fans will appreciate that and respect that.

"In spite of that, I just felt that a fresh start would be the best thing for me. And, with Kilmarnock in the position they're in, having not fulfilled its potential for a while, this offer was attractive.

"The club hasn't really been punching its weight over the past five or six years but hopefully now with some new faces and a new management team, we can get the club back to where they belong."