JOHN RANKIN admits he is looking for one final happy memory to take from his last appearance in a Dundee United shirt at Kilmarnock this afternoon.
Rankin has had an emotional few weeks. It was plainly evident how much United's relegation affected him as he spoke to fans after a damaging home defeat to Hamilton and the decisive loss to local rivals Dundee at Dens Park.
Days later, he was told he would not be offered a new contract and he was fighting tears after playing his last match at Tannadice on Tuesday, captaining the side to a 3-3 draw against Partick Thistle before getting an ovation when he substituted in the closing stages.
The final curtain comes at Rugby Park where new manager Ray McKinnon will watch from the stand as United finish a painful Ladbrokes Premiership season, but Rankin has enjoyed cup finals and European adventures at United and admits all those recollections will be carried with him at Rugby Park.
"I've got great memories of my five years, leading the club out at the Scottish Cup semi-final at Ibrox (in 2014) when there was a siege mentality that day,” said the 32-year-old. “We were outnumbered that day and the crowd was unbelievable. To get to the final was probably the proudest moment I have had here.
"I have had a great five years and I have played with some unbelievable players, young players who applied themselves and moved on and made the club a lot of money.
"It's not a nice thing saying goodbye. The way my family has been received here and the way the supporters have reacted to me, I have loved every minute of it. My kids are now Dundee United supporters. They don't know anything else.
"Tuesday was tough. I don't have any regrets whatsoever apart from this season when we have gone down."
Rankin admits, however, that his impending departure is yet to sink in.
"I think it will probably come after Kilmarnock,” he said. "Tuesday was my last home game and I wasn't really sure how it would go. I don't really like goodbyes. I would rather 'trap-door it' and shoot out.
"I would have loved to have won my last game at Tannadice, but it wasn't to be, so Saturday it is. If we can go to Rugby Park and get three points, that would be a great way to bow out.
"I don't know how many of the boys will be here next season, but we are playing for pride and that last wee thing for the supporters to send them away on their holidays with something to think about for next season.
"The fans have been great all season. To travel in the numbers they do is unbelievable.
"The two crowds that stick in my mind are the two crowds that went up to Ross County week after week. They stuck by us all season.
"The way the season has gone you wouldn't blame them for not turning up on Tuesday night, but they turned up in numbers. To get that reception on the way off was great. I went on again to thank them and the reception I got, again, was incredible.
"That's something that will last with me forever."
Meanwhile, Kilmarnock manager Lee Clark says his players must instil belief in their supporters with a performance of quality that can prove they are able to maintain Premiership status
Clark will rest some of his more important performers, but he wants his team to display all of the qualities that will be required for Killie to prevail in the impending Play-off final.
“We want a performance to get the fans going,” he said. “They have been the one consistent positive since I came through the door. The support has been terrific.
“We need to deliver a performance and result to make sure they come out in force for the second leg of the play-off in numbers because they’ll be crucial to us. They have to know how important they are to us.”
Clark was angry with his team’s performance in the first 45 minutes at Dens Park on Wednesday night, not least because the way a team plays is invariably a mirror image of its manager.
“I said that to the players at half-time in Dundee. I’d never accept that as a manager because that is no reflection of what I am as a person and as a manager.
“I understand you can never always be at your best technically or be at your best with passing, crossing, shooting or defending, but you can always give your maximum in terms of physical output, your effort, your desire, your determination.
“They know Saturday is important for us going forward, although we know the following two games are huge for the football club and everyone associated.”
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