Andy Goram has revealed he gave up on finding love and settling down years ago.
The Rangers idol split from three wives and had a series of doomed romances before realising he was destined to remain single.
Goram was last month told by doctors he has around six months to live and faces fighting stage 4 oesophageal cancer on his own.
However the 58-year-old is stoic about what lies ahead – and philosophical about his tangled love life.
He admitted he should have spent more time discussing leaving Oldham Athletic with first wife Jackie Taylor and how signing for Rangers sent his marriage to Tracey Fitzpatrick on a downward spiral.
However Goram poignantly described third wife Miriam Wylie as his “soulmate” and paid tribute to her for supporting him through his cancer diagnosis.
He said: “I’ve not had a serious relationship for around 10 years.
“There’s been a couple of short-term things but we were just company for each other.
“No rings were involved.
“It’s been that way since my late 40s.
“There’s not a lot of relationships around for guys in my age bracket.
“I’m now almost 60, I’m not a young buck anymore and I’ve been fine being on my own.”
Goram gained a reputation as a hard-drinking womaniser in his heyday.
A relationship with widow Elaine Mitchell ended in 2011 over Goram’s lifestyle.
However he claims his bad boy image had nothing to do with how his marriages hit the skids.
The Ibrox legend’s first wife Jackie was pregnant with their son Danny and didn’t fancy moving north of the Border when Oldham sold Goram to Hibs for £325,000 in 1987.
He left to pursue his career which had just seen him break into the Scotland squad and go to the World Cup in Mexico the previous year.
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Goram said: “I went into training one morning and the manager Joe Royle said ‘We’ve sold you to Hibs.’
“I told Jackie and she said ‘That’s good but I’m not coming.’ I wanted to go. It was a bigger club, bigger wages and a chance to further my career.
“I’d been part of the World Cup squad and wanted to kick on and be Scotland’s first choice goalkeeper.
“I understand Jackie not wanting to uproot.
“She had a business with her dad and Danny was on the way.
“It was a mistake not spending more time talking the move through with her.”
Goram then met Edinburgh casino croupier Tracey after he moved to Easter Road.
The pair got married and had son Lewis before things started to unravel when Goram signed for Rangers for £1million in 1991.
He said: “I was with Tracey for about six years.
“Things only went t**s-up when I left Hibs for Ibrox. One of the main reasons me and Tracey split was signing for Rangers.
“I’ve always thought that. Being a Rangers player was a lot different.
“You could be away with the team five nights a week.
“Problems started to emerge and we drifted apart.”
He added: “I’ve always been portrayed as a womaniser but Tracey met someone else before I ever did.
“We were living separate lives under the same roof towards the end.”
Goram then married pub landlady Miriam in 2001.
The couple had a turbulent relationship before separating three years later.
However they have remained close and Goram revealed Miriam has been a source of support since he was told he had terminal cancer.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer last year but is winning her own battle with the illness.
He said: “Miriam is my soul mate, we’re still close.
“I think most people know that. But we’re just good friends now, that’s all.
“She came to see me all the time when I was in hospital.
“Her partner Dale is a good guy and he’s fine with that.
“Miriam has been a great help to me. Her daughter Kerry and I are still close. She’s also been tremendous.
“When Miriam became ill last year I was there to help her.
“She’s now doing all she can to be there for me.
“I talked about refusing to go through chemotherapy with Miriam. She knows what it’s like.”
Goram and Miriam ran a pub together while he was still playing top-flight football with Motherwell.
He believes the pressure of living and working together contributed to their marriage breakdown.
The former Rangers No1 said: “We probably spent too much time together and didn’t have a social life.
“I’d go to training with Motherwell in the morning then I’d come back and work in the pub.
“We wouldn’t finish up until 2am sometimes. It was one of those things.”
Now Goram spends most of his time at his flat in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, watching Sky Sports.
He said: “I don’t need other people around me for entertainment. I’m happy on my own. I don’t go out to the pub every night.
“I’ve got Sky Sports and I can cook for myself. I’m actually good in the kitchen, although things have had to change now because of the cancer.
“I can’t cook the things that I used to. I’m on a sloppy diet.”
Goram said he has refused to dwell on what went wrong in his marriages.
He added: “There’s no point in having regrets.
“I believe we’re all dealt cards in life and we decide how to play them.
“There’s nothing to be gained in feeling sorry for yourself if you play the wrong hand.
"The best thing to do is just get on with it.”
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