ALLAN MCGREGOR says that Rangers was the only club he wanted to join after sealing his return to Ibrox on a two-year deal yesterday.
The 36-year-old becomes new manager Steven Gerrard’s second signing of the summer following the arrival of Scott Arfield earlier this week.
The veteran goalkeeper was offered a new deal by Hull City upon expiry of his contract at the KCOM Stadium and had other options on the table, but he insists that the chance he thought would never come to return to the club he left in 2012 is a dream come true.
“I’m buzzing, I cannot keep the smile off my face,” McGregor told Rangers TV. “When the chance came it was an absolute no-brainer.
“I started training here when I was 12 years old. Just to be back, it’s incredible.
“Did I hope? Obviously when time goes by you think it might not happen and you just enjoy your football elsewhere, but once you know that there’s a wee sniff that it could happen then it’s exciting.
“It did come as a surprise. Two or three weeks ago Bomber [John Brown] gave me a shout. Somebody text me to say Bomber wanted my number. I spoke to him a few times and here we are. Once I knew Rangers were interested it was the only place [I wanted to go].
“When you come here at such a young age and spend your career here until you are 30, apart from going on loan a couple of times, it means everything.”
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The arrival of McGregor casts doubt over the future of Wes Foderingham, but as far as McGregor is concerned, he is coming in to compete with the current Ibrox number one and Jak Alnwick for a starting position.
“Wes and Jak, when they have been playing, have done really well, so it will be a tough battle for me,” he said.
“I’m not coming here and thinking I’m going to be straight in the team. As every player does, they have to prove themselves and it’s up to the gaffer from there.”
McGregor is enthused about working with new Rangers boss Gerrard, and he believes that the Liverpool legend can reestablish a winning mentality at Ibrox.
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“It will be great,” he said. “I think it’s a big coup for the club.
“Hopefully that can bring us success on the pitch. Hopefully he will bring that winning mentality back. I’m not saying that we’ve not had that, I’m just saying consistently.
“You need to make [Ibrox] a fortress where nobody wants to come. You need to make sure you win games no matter who you are playing. Every game is an opportunity for three points, and if you keep doing that and doing that, as we have seen before, that’s what wins you titles.”
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