GOUGH ON THE WRONG FOOT!

Richard Gough brought a veil of tears down on a Rangers era then told his successors: I hope you have HALF as much success as we did.

The battle-hardened 36-year-old Ibrox captain was a weary figure after the 2-1 Cup Final defeat from Hearts left Gers without silverware for the first time since 1986.

Now Dick Advocaat and his new brand of all-stars will have to match the nine-in-a-row legend AND find Euro success next season.

And as he looked ahead to jetting out to Major League Soccer and San Jose Clash tomorrow Gough said: "Advocaat faces a tough task but for me it has just been great to be a part of it all.

"I hope the players who remain here remember how bad losing feels and are HALF as successful as we have been.

"The one thing about Rangers is you have to win and as a fan I hope they do that."

Gough was crestfallen after the defeat but was a dignified ambassador for the club as usual - even in the unaccustomed role of loser.

After surrendering the title to Celtic last week despite that win at Tannadice Gough had handed plaudits to the Hoops.

And as he bade farewell to Scottish football he sighed: "For the last two weeks I have been congratulating other teams which is not the way it has been for nine years. Even so I still want to wish Hearts all the best."

Gough was stricken when Ian Ferguson felled Stevie Fulton for the first minute penalty that controversially put the Jambos on their way.

And he confessed: "The game started badly for us because when you lose a goal that early plans go awry.

"My view of the penalty was that Stevie Fulton WAS fouled but the debate is whether or not it was inside."

Gough looked on in anguish as Ally McCoist was denied a late spot-kick when he tumbled under a David Weir challenge and he revealed: "I asked the linesman about ours and he said it was right on the edge of the box."

Now pounds 5m Dutch new boy Arthur Numan & Co must live up to what was achieved by Gough's braves before this season became a bridge too far.

Gough insists he had no regrets in coming back to Ibrox and said: "I have been very fortunate over these last nine years to pick up so many trophies but I so wanted one more.

"I'm terribly disappointed to go out losing.

"Now I leave on Monday for the States to play on Saturday for the Clash against Kansas City Wizards, my old club.

"I have played 93 games on the bounce without a rest and have only another 22 until I get a break!"

With that a legend thanked us for our time and strode out of Rangers. This time for good.

Taken from the Daily Record