KENNY MILLER has urged Allan McGregor to quit Rangers unless he will still be utilised as first choice at Ibrox next term.
The Ibrox hero's future is up in the air after finishing the season as a European finalist and Scottish Cup winner.
It is understood that McGregor is still undecided on whether he wants to retire as a player despite appearing to make an emotional final appearance at Hampden against Hearts in the cup final.
Miller would be surprised to see his former teammate continue as a player if he was not utilised as first-choice and he has urged the 40-year-old to consider his options.
He wrote in the Sunday Mail: "When I read that Allan McGregor could stay at Rangers for another year as a back-up keeper, I almost choked on my breakfast.
"Not because I thought he might be retiring. He could well sign a deal at Ibrox if that’s what he and the club agree on.
"I haven’t spoken to him about it so I don’t know. But Allan McGregor as a No.2? Maybe only playing in 20 or 30 per cent of the games next season?
"No, I just don’t see that happening. I know him well enough to know that it wouldn’t suit him.
"Obviously, he’s 40 and there is going to be a time when he decides to hang up his gloves. But when he does, he won’t want it to be off the back of playing a handful of games for Rangers.
"He might as well just go now because Greegsy would not want to be that guy.
"If Giovanni van Bronckhorst tells him there’s a year’s deal on the table but Jon McLaughlin will be No.1 and he would be back-up, I don’t think he’d like it.
"At one point in the season, I thought he was all set on retiring. But towards the end of the campaign, he was wavering.
"From speaking to mates in the game like myself, Alan Hutton and others, we probably told him the same thing – to play on as long as he could.
"I’ve said to him myself that by staying at Rangers, he’s not dropping down a division or level. He’s not jumping from club to club.
"He’s exactly where he wants to be. And you’re a long time retired. For me, he’s still the Rangers No.1.
"The Scottish Cup Final, when he came on for the final few minutes, was a just-in-case scenario.
"A final bow in the event it was his last appearance for the club. But if I was him, I wouldn’t be retiring. I’d stay on for another year if possible.
"If Allan McGregor is still training and playing the way he always does a manager would be crazy not to play him. When you’ve got a keeper of that quality there, you pick him.
"Rangers have an able understudy in McLaughlin and a talented young keeper in Robby McCrorie. But these guys need to prove they’re better than Allan McGregor – not the other way around.
"It doesn’t matter what age you are. Those two need to show they’re capable of putting points on the board for Rangers almost single-handedly.
"That’s what Greegsy has done consistently over a number of years. McGregor doesn’t need to prove himself at Rangers. That’s up to the others."
