Cup Final Diary.

I have lived in the Rangers dressing-room for three years and it's been a privilege - but yesterday I couldn't bring myself to go in.

I was depressed enough without having to look at the heartbroken faces of team-mates who have come to mean so much to me.

Now I have to look ahead to a new future at Everton but I will never forget what I have left behind at Ibrox.

The final was about a team of men who have become legends and it was about my gaffer. I feel so low for Walter that he couldn't go out as a winner.

The Rangers support stood to a man until the bitter end and that was for the nine superb years he has given them.

I will take away with me the memories of nine-in-a-row.

Playing at Rangers can either make you or break and many looked on me as a squad man at the start. I feel I can look back and say it has made me.

All day I'd coped fairly well with the hurt of missing out on this Final. I was consoling myself with the fact that I'd already experienced Cup Finals with both Dundee United and Rangers.

But as kick-off got closer all I wanted was to be out there. I sat in the stand kicking every ball and I was very emotional at the end.

I couldn't believe it when Coisty didn't get the penalty, and I thought Ian Durrant was excellent when he came on. Perhaps he could have changed things if he'd gone on earlier.

I'm just sad that my last game for Rangers was that 1-0 defeat by Kilmarnock that all but cost us the title.

No one likes to go out on a low like that.

If we'd won that one I feel I could have played in the last league game at Tannadice which would have been a lovely way to go at my former club.

As it was Walter had to concentrate on the Cup Final side and I was out.

If all goes well I will sign for Everton on Tuesday and I will begin my new era as Rangers look ahead to theirs.

ALEX CLELAND will become an Everton player this week after three sparkling years at Rangers following his bargain move from Dundee United.

Sadly, suspension counted him out of a glamour send-off before he tackles the Premiership - but we got an exclusive look inside his last day as a Ger.

Taken from the Daily Record