McGowan explains Gers rejection

11 September 2012 10:53
Hearts defender Ryan McGowan says he rejected the chance to join Rangers as he did not want to drop down to the Third Division. Rangers saw a bid accepted for the 23-year-old, but were unable to persuade the Australian to make the move to Ibrox.

McGowan confirmed he spoke to Gers boss Ally McCoist about a possible deal, but he feared dropping out of the SPL would harm his international prospects. "Hearts accepted a bid but I rejected it," said the full-back in the Daily Record.

"Ally McCoist called me to go and see him, which I did out of courtesy, but I explained I didn't think it was the right move. "I was put in a position with Hearts accepting the bid. Rangers may have good players but you only improve by playing against the best, and that's in the SPL, not Division Three. "It's a massive club but it wouldn't have helped my international prospects. It was a football decision."

Source: team_talk