Lee Wallace - I was Right To Stay At Rangers

[ian1964 10,413]

THE Rangers star claims a title medal, Third Division Player of the Year award and a recall to the Scotland squad are proof he made the right choice.

 

 

 

 

 

LEE WALLACE has opened his heart on the personal and professional integrity that made him stay and lead Rangersâ?? revival on the way back to the big time.

 

Last summer, as he watched colleagues walk away from Ibrox, the vice-captain was told he lacked ambition by heading for the Third Division. He was accused of just staying on at Rangers for the money. And he was informed by national coach Craig Levein heâ??d never be involved with Scotland while playing in the SFL.

 

But with a championship medal, a PFA Scotland Third Division Player of the Year Award and a recall to the national team under Gordon Strachan in his hipper almost a year on, Wallace reckons his decision was justified. The Light Bluesâ?? star remembers clearly the stick he got when he decided to stay at Ibrox.

 

Wallace said: â??I did hear stuff like people questioning my ambition but the decision was based on the fact I was staying at a fantastic football club.

 

â??I wanted to be a part of Rangers on their road to recovery â?? and now thatâ??s stage one complete. Iâ??m hungry as are a lot of guys in that dressing room to go and do it again.

 

â??My decision was also based on family issues as my son had recently been born. But there has never once been a time where I look back with regret because I have enjoyed this adventure travelling to new grounds and new surroundings.

 

â??Iâ??m in my second year and we have an amazing family at Rangers. I remember the first game up at Brechin in the Ramsdens Cup and the support from then right up until last Saturday has been superb.

 

â??I know everything hasnâ??t been great on the field and there have been ups and downs but the fans stood by us. Itâ??s been brilliant and itâ??s great to be part of.â?

 

With Gersâ?? vindicating his decision, Strachan followed suit and the Scotland boss picked him for the friendly against Estonia earlier this year â?? just months after Levein said Third Division players had no future with their country.

 

Wallace added: â??I found that strange, especially when Ian Black then got in the squad. He didnâ??t want to put any players in from those divisions because he felt they were a fair bit off the standard required to compete at international level.

 

â??That was fine with me. I respected his decisions and got down to working with Rangers.

 

â??I then remember the new manager saying no matter what level you are playing and if you are doing well at that particular time he would select you.

 

â??It was great to see my name in the squad and to be back in the international scene. I went away with them and wasnâ??t fazed. There were guys in there who were playing Premiership football.

 

â??And although the quality was better than what I was used to in terms of the intensity and

workload, I coped fine. At that point, I felt fairly comfortable being back in the international set-up and it makes me hungry to get that again.

 

â??Obviously I was disappointed the times I was overlooked but I solely focused on Rangers at

that point. I kept working hard and tried to get back into the managerâ??s plans.

 

â??I was bit disappointed to be left out the squads afterwards but I fully understand as a professional and I respected the managerâ??s choice.

 

â??I wished them all the best at that time and I wasnâ??t going to take the huff because I will always devote my time to Rangers. If I played well and got picked then great.â?

 

Wallaceâ??s dedication to the Rangers cause is clear â?? and he says thatâ??s been inspired from the top. Manager Ally McCoist has been as much a firefighter as a football manager this term.

 

But Wallace says the gafferâ??s determination to shield his troops from mayhem and shoulder the weight of the off-field issues has been an inspiration.

 

He said: â??The manager was sensational. He deflected all the off-the-field stuff away from us and helped us focus on our football. That was vitally important while the young guys have come in and done really well.

 

â??I remember back at the time when we were in administration and the manager was described as being a huge pillar of strength. I have to say he really has been, in terms of everything heâ??s done and the way he goes about his work.

 

â??Heâ??s a great guy, a great man and heâ??s done really well. He doesnâ??t get the credit he deserves. Heâ??s so passionate and he loves the job which is something we see and that helps us.

 

â??Heâ??s a true Rangers man. He gave a short piece to the crowd after the game last Saturday and he made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It also gave me goosebumps.

 

â??That just sums him up because he is a legend. But we appreciate how hard he works â?? and weâ??ll now look to move forward as a family.â?

 

For Wallace, itâ??s now time for a short holiday before embarking on what will be the next stage of the Rangers recovery.

 

On Monday, a team of Gers legends were treated like lords on their return to Ibrox for a crocks game.

 

And Wallace knows should any of this current group go through the divisions and help make Rangers top dogs again, theyâ??ll join that elite number.

 

He said: â??I was sitting up in the directorsâ?? box on Saturday when Lorenzo Amoruso came in just five minutes after kick-off and the fans gave him a round of applause. There was a big cheer and it is great the fans recognise the former players in this way.

 

â??The fans are so loyal and they are very committed to supporting their club. It makes it all the better for the players â?? and sometimes as players, you need to make sure you donâ??t overlook that or take it for granted.

 

â??I came into a club that has a massive expectancy â?? more than ever â?? to win games and win them well.

 

â??It is a great pressure to have but everyone is in it together. This is a remarkable family and itâ??s good to be a part of it.â?

 

 

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/lee-wallace-says-right-stay-1875234

[Super Cooper 0]

I do wonder if guys like Naismith, Davis, McGregor etc. would have lost their international places had they stayed. Perhaps not.

[Cotter 0]

Yep, pretty sure I love Lee Wallace.

[craig 5,195]

Future Captain in my opinion.

[DUDE 0]

Future Captain in my opinion.

 

Yeah. Such an all around great lad, happy this season went so well for him and really delighted he chose to stay with the world's greatest club when it was easier to walk away.

[foggy dewhurst 0]

of course you were right to stay on son now become a rangers player we will be talking about in the future

[alexscottislegend 2,059]

I do wonder if guys like Naismith, Davis, McGregor etc. would have lost their international places had they stayed. Perhaps not.

I think they would. In their case Div 3 was a step down. For Jig, to be fair, he is in the twilight of his career and Div 3 may be his level now. In Lee's case, moving from Hearts was a step up. He is still young and like with Templeton can build his career anew after maybe losing his way. Naismith, Davis et al are all at their peak. That's why I can't join in too much with the 'traitors' brigade.

[ian1964 10,413]

I'm surprised no other club is sniffing about him!

[bluebear54 0]

I'm surprised no other club is sniffing about him!

 

Agreed. He's a class act.

[aftershock 0]

Probably because he's always made it clear he's not interested in moving anywhere else. A rare player with morals before greed.