The return of Allan McGregor

The Allan McGregor and Rangers story is a very strange one indeed. Naturally we know how he left us in 2012, but time seems to have healed for a lot of fans and now that the 36-year old keeper has returned, the gravity of what he did has been played down significantly.

Just like many of the rest he deserted us when we needed him, citing tosh about financial uncertainty with regards a transfer, when it was just clear that with Rangers going to the Third Division was not what he had in mind.

He used excuses about fearing where the transfer fee for him would go if he transferred his contract, despite plenty of other players doing it anyway, so honestly his and others’ excuses didn’t wash and probably never will.

But that said there wasn’t a Bear around, ourselves included, who didn’t have huge smiles on our faces seeing him back.

He’s one of us, whatever has happened and whatever mistakes he made in the past – even Kyle Lafferty has admitted he was badly advised – not everyone admits their errors though and we don’t want to hold grudges.

And it’s great to see him back. We have the closest thing to a world class goalkeeper we’ve had since he left, and there’s something warm and fuzzy about watching Allan McGregor at Rangers’ training as if six years have been erased and he never even left.

It’s surreal in many ways. He’s the first returning deserter and he’s honestly been welcomed back with complete and unconditional support. We wanted him back, and we got him. We doubt Steven Naismith or Steven Whittaker would quite get the same welcome in truth – but Allan McGregor was as thrilled to come back as we were to get him back.

It’s true – time is the greatest healer. Have we completely forgotten the past? No – impossible for this club to just erase 2012 and onwards.

But just because the wound was deep doesn’t mean it never heals.

We, like the rest of the support, can’t wait to see McGregor in goal against Bury on the 6th of next month at Ibrox.