Cambuslang Rangers co-boss Billy Campbell says everyone at the club is devastated by the news former goalkeeping coach Andy Goram has been given just six months to live after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The Glasgow Rangers goalkeeping legend was on the coaching staff at Somervell Park this season as the club won the West of Scotland Conference B title, but left the club last month following his health battles.
Goram revealed on Monday that he has inoperable Level 4 oesophageal cancer, which is lifestyle related, and has turned down chemotherapy which could extend his life by 12 weeks - a decision based on how ill it made his ex-wife Miriam, who battled cancer last year.
The 58-year-old has now been told by doctors to make the most of what time he has left and the news has left the friends he made at the club in shock.
But Campbell says he, co-boss Paul McColl and everyone at Camby will be there for the former Scotland No.1 in his final days.
He said: "I'm absolutely devastated and the whole club is. It's just a terrible time for Andy.
"I'm constantly in contact with him, as is Paul, and anything he needs, we'll be there for him.
"He's a great ally for us and he's brought so much to the club from a football perspective, but also on a personal level with how close we are to him.
"This situation is really unpleasant and our thoughts are with his family and his close friends but, obviously, mainly Andy because we know he has got a tough time ahead of him."
'The Goalie' took time away from the club in October last year when his former manager at Rangers, Walter Smith, passed away following a cancer battle.
Tragically, Goram has now been stricken by the disease, which has spread to his liver, right lung, three vertebrae and ribs.
Speaking to Daily Record , Goram said:“I thought I had severe indigestion. It was as though my gullet was blocked.
“After a few weeks, it got worse and nothing was getting through.
“Everything I ate or drank didn’t get halfway to my stomach and I threw it back up. The pain was off the scale.
“They had to put a stent in my oesophagus to unblock the cancer blockage and help me swallow again.
“The operation was a total success yet the pain was still unbearable.
“I’ve been in bad pain with all my knee operations and a snapped Achilles, but this pain was horrendous.”
He added: “I’ll fight like I’ve never fought before.
“Now the priority is to get the right mixture and strength of painkillers along with morphine.”
Goram is determined to battle on and had been due to attend a Q&A at Somervell Park on Saturday night after a Rangers legends match there, but had to pull out after feeling unwell.
Campbell added: "Andy's been massive for our club in the time he was here.
"We'd be in each other's company two or three times a week, travel to and from games and we were constantly talking about football and tactics, how we should play games, what formation.
"He loves that stuff.
"The positives he brought to us, not just from a goalkeeping perspective but as a guy, have been outstanding and I've got absolutely nothing but praise for him."
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