Scott Wright names Rangers turning point as transfer exit nears miss sets domino effect to ‘ideal scenario’ in motion

The Light Blues winger has worked his way back into the first team plans after a proposed switch to Turkey fell through.

Scott Wright made the decision that, given the choice, he would prefer Hampden to Turkish pleasure for happiness.

When Michael Beale’s Rangers career came to an end when he was sent off against Aberdeen in front of an enraged Ibrox crowd, it didn’t seem like the best course of action. The low point of a wild season for Wright and his teammates was that gloomy September day.

But fast forward nine weeks and Rangers are on track for a remarkable recovery under Philippe Clement, with one trophy in the bag, a place in the Europa League last-16 secured and the title race re-ignited.

Wright’s own transformation went full circle last weekend when he climbed off the bench to help see the Ibrox side hold off Aberdeen to clinch Viaplay Cup glory.

Had things worked out differently last summer when a switch to Pendikspor was put on the table, Wright would now find himself living amid the hustle and bustle of Istanbul.

It was a sliding doors moment but having opted against taking the Ibrox exit, Wright now hopes to open up a portal to further treasures in Scotland.

“It’s mad the way things work out in football,” he said. “I’d gone out to Turkey and spoke to the club but for a few different reasons it didn’t seem right for me personally to go. I was grateful to Michael at that point because he let me go out and speak to the club.

“But he never really pushed me out the door. He said there was a place for me here. Football moves so fast and I was grateful to come back to such a massive club and I’ll continue to work hard and try and fight for more opportunities.

“Obviously, winning more medals here with Rangers would be the best-case scenario, but in football, hindsight is a funny thing.”

To be honest, it didn’t seem promising when Wright came off the bench with his club trailing Barry Robson’s Reds at home. To make matters worse, he was sent out for a late lunge on Stefan Gartenmann.

An eventual 3-1 defeat saw the seething Ibrox support go nuts as they made it clear enough was enough as they sank seven points behind Celtic.

The end for Beale came swiftly as chairman John Bennett then turned to Clement to pick up the pieces. So far he’s assembled a 15 game undefeated run which now has the fans believing again. And his ability to instil fresh confidence in his players is having a major impact too.

In Wright, he has a player who looked destined to be discarded under the previous regime but who is now determined to play a serious role going forward.

“It was difficult for me,” said the 26-year-old. “There had been talk before about me maybe leaving but I ended up staying and keeping my head down and trying to fight my way back into the team.

“I was really disappointed to be sent off in that game against Aberdeen, even though I had started the game against Motherwell.”

We lost the manager as well. I had worked with Mick for a number of years, so it was very painful to see him go. However, there are highs and lows in football. If a low is on the horizon, then ideally a high will follow shortly.

All you can do is attempt to endure it till then. But there has been a remarkable improvement since then. It’s fantastic that we are developing a relationship with the fans. We’re just trying to move forward and accomplish the goals we established, one game at a time.

“You have to work hard to get your chances here. It’s up to you if you get written off or not. Some can write you off. It’s up to you whether you choose to listen to that.

“I just come in and work as hard as I can and I’m glad the manager here can see that. Hopefully I’ll be given a chance going forward.”

Wright should get his opportunity so long as he steers clear of the rotten luck Gers have had when it comes to injuries.

John Lundstram and Kemar Roofe are the latest additions to a never-ending casuality list after both limped out of Wednesday’s win over St Johnstone.

Wright was unfortunate enough to find his name added to it just as he got himself going under Clement with a League Cup semi-final winner against Hearts. But he was delighted to get back in time to play a part in the club’s first triumph in the competition since 2011.

He said: “It was really frustrating because the injury came just at a point where I felt I was in a good place, as was the team. But these things happen in football and you just have to ride with the highs and hang on through the lows.

“When you get to that point, it’s just a case of trying to get yourself back as quick as possible so you can help the team.

“It’s great that there are so many games this festive block because it means I can still play a lot now that I’m back, but it’s also annoying because I’ve missed out on some really big ones.”

Was I rushing to return for these significant matches? Of course!

“In my mind, Hampden was the goal I always wanted to strive for when I got down with the sports science team and physiotherapists to get a vision of where I was hoping to be.

We were rushing things, but I’m grateful they were able to come up with a strategy that allowed me to return on schedule. I will always be extremely appreciative of them for it.

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