Allan Hodgkinson never played for Rangers and worked on their coaching staff for only a few years, but the former England keeper – who passed away in 2015 – nevertheless made a huge contribution to the Ibrox club’s title success this season.
More than 20 years ago, he went toe-to-tie in an argument with the club’s all-conquering Dutch manager, Dick Advocaat, over the future of rookie keeper Allan McGregor.
The youngster had endured a catalogue of injuries (broken hand and a damaged wrist) and Advocaat wanted to show him the door.
Luckily for current boss Steven Gerrard, Hodgkinson stood his ground and persuaded the Little General to give McGregor one more chance.
“Hodgy was key to Rangers keeping him on,” said Ewan Chester, who was employed as the club’s chief scout for two decades.
“Allan had suffered a few injuries but it was his fingers which he had a real problem with at that point and they were taking a long time to heal.
“Dick was getting a bit impatient with him and would have let him go, but Hodgy insisted that he had to stick with him because he was sure he’d go on to be a star.
“I think everyone connected with the club is glad that he got his way in the end.”
© SNS Group Chester has absolutely no doubts that McGregor has done more than anyone else to help Rangers stop Celtic’s 10-in-a-row juggernaut in its tracks.
“He was Man of the Match again at Parkhead last weekend and he’s made the difference,” he claimed. “He’s been pivotal in the last two Old Firm games.
“Celtic could quite easily have won both but he pulled off big saves at really crucial times in each of them.
“That’s what defines great goalkeepers – they make the saves you don’t think they should be able to make. Andy Goram was the same.”
Hodgkinson, of course, also worked with Goram for Rangers and Scotland, joining the national team at two World Cups and two European Championships.
McGregor’s current contract is due to expire shortly and Chester believes the 39-year-old has earned the right to a new one, while accepting the fact that there are no guarantees he can continue to operate at the same high standard as he’s been showing.
© SNS Group“For me, McGregor is Scotland’s Player of the Year and it’s the biggest no-brainer in football to offer him a new contract when his current one expires at the end of this season,” he said.
“You hope that you can pull one more season like this one out of him but that’s the $64,000 question because, at that age, it can disappear very quickly.
“If he can get anywhere near the heights he’s hit in this campaign then it then it would be worth it. But my concern is whether we can get the same level of performance from him and Steven Davis next time out.
“Can Scott Arfield last another year? Can Ryan Jack’s knee hold out? Them, and James Tavernier, are the ones who do it week in, week out for Rangers while the others do their bits in and around them.
“But those players have been crucial – they’ve put the marker down and set the standards. Davis has been immense in that regard and if those boys can maintain that, then happy days.
“Allan will be 40 in January but Dino Zoff won the World Cup with Italy at that age and Peter Shilton played at the highest level in England in his 40s, so it can be done.
“I keep in touch with Stefan Klos (the Champions League-winning goalie for Borussia Dortmund who went on to win 10 major trophies with Rangers and he’s absolutely delighted that Allan is still doing what he’s been doing for all these years.
“He’s been exceptional. Even in a recent game against St Mirren, he made a big save when Rangers were 3-0 up and with only five minutes left.
“Losing a goal at that stage wouldn’t have mattered because the three points were safe but he still had the pride and determination to keep that clean sheet.
“That’s what makes him who – and what – he is.”
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