WITH another Major League Soccer match against Montreal Impact looming at the Stade Saputo Olympic Park in Canada this Sunday afternoon, Scott Arfield is firmly focused on the immediate future.
Arfield has enjoyed the two competitive run-outs he has had for Charlotte FC since moving to the United States this summer – he helped the franchise to draws against New York City away and Cincinnati at home last week – and he is now eager to record his first win.
But it was inevitable that he would be asked to look back both at his time at and departure from Rangers when he agreed to speak to a gaggle of Scottish journalists via Zoom ahead of the fixture – and he happily did so without a trace of anger.
Supporters of the Ibrox club fully expected out-of-contract quartet Filip Helander, Ryan Kent, Allan McGregor and Alfredo Morelos to move on when the 2022/23 season ended back in May.
However, the exit of Arfield surprised and disappointed many of them. Did the fans’ favourite not still have a great deal to offer in the new campaign and beyond? A fair few felt he did.
The 34-year-old, though, harbours no ill will at all towards his old employers or their manager Michael Beale about his time to Govan coming to an abrupt end. He explained for the first time that it suited all parties.
“We made the decision together,” he said. “When you get older you think of the game differently. But the desire and the appetite to play football on a consistent basis has never left me.
“I was coming on for 20 minutes here, 10 minutes there, half an hour sometimes. It’s difficult to make an impression. After the manager came in, I think it was just two games I started and I didn’t really do it in either of them.
“It’s difficult when you are playing 10 minutes here and there and then being asked to play 90 minutes because the game is different. It did get a bit difficult when you want to grab your chance.
“It all comes down to playing consistently, that was my thing. I want to play, I want to wake up on Sunday morning sore from the effort that I put in on a Saturday. That is the best feeling, when you know you have represented your club. You might have had a big moment. It is the greatest feeling to have.
“And I wasn’t getting that on a consistent basis. That was the biggest thing. I feel as if I have got big moments in my temperament. Technically, I think I have still got it. Hopefully I can show it in a different league.”
Arfield added: “But there is no ill feeling whatsoever. Me and the manager have still got a very strong and amazing relationship. There are no hard feelings on my behalf.
“I went to see him four or five times in a small space of time. It was the best decision for everybody, no doubt about it. Although obviously it was hard for me, my family and the manager, I think it is the best decision.
“The club has moved on now and it is in great hands. They have recruited really well and I have fallen on my feet here in terms of on and off the pitch. I am delighted.”
Having spent five rollercoaster years as a player in Govan and enjoyed many memorable successes domestically and in Europe, Rangers will always hold a special place in his heart.
Indeed, he refused to rule out returning to Ibrox in some capacity when his playing days are finally over.
“I would love to go back to that football club,” he said. “If you ask anybody, if you get the opportunity to go there then you take it. Even guys most people don’t know who work at the club feel extremely lucky to be part of it.
“If anything comes up in a coaching capacity, helping the young boys in the first team even, I would jump at the chance. But I think that’s a few years away for me now. I have a lot more in my legs and a lot more big moments hopefully.”
Arfield has kept a close eye on the incomings at Rangers since leaving – Beale has brought in no fewer than seven new recruits, including his old team mate Leon Balogun, during the summer – and he is convinced there are big things to come from them in the months ahead.
“It’s fantastic,” he said. “I spoke to the manager at length, probably from the first day he came in, but more so from February time up to the end of the season. He was on it.
“Obviously, Ross Wilson leaving and going to Forest put more onus on him to bring those players in. I think the manager has more than 24 hours in the day because he just gets things done. He finds time for everything.
“He’s personable, he’s a fantastic man, he’s a family man. And he’s obsessed with football and obsessed with Glasgow Rangers. I think every fan has to count themselves lucky they have him as their manager. Because I think there are good times coming. “I always rate Rangers’ chances to win the league. We came up short on a couple of occasions. Obviously, last season was disappointing. But certainly with the manager there, they are as good as anybody.
“I’ve seen a few of the new players who have come in and obviously still speak to some of the boys. They’re saying they’ve recruited really well.
“With his backroom staff as well and James Bisgrove (chief executive) and John Bennett (chairman) stepping up I think they’re in good hands now. Hopefully we can see the best of it.”
Arfield helped Rangers to win their 55th Scottish title, lift the Scottish Cup and reach the Europa League final when he was at Ibrox and endeared himself to supporters forever in the process.
He admitted he will always remember the send-off they gave him after his final home match against Hearts in May.
“It was amazing, absolutely incredible,” he said. “My family still talk about it. I have to say I did get a wee bit lucky. I had to do a Sky interview straight away as we were doing the lap of honour – myself and the four others who were leaving.
“I did the interview and then got to really milk it by myself. It was a moment I was so thankful for. But I did get a wee bit lucky with that interview, so I need to thank Sky for that.
“If you come to a club the size of Rangers, you want to make an impression and you want that respect and friendship to be replicated both ways. It certainly was. It was an amazing, amazing moment, one I’ll never forget. ”
