Players need support not abuse from Rangers fans to seal top flight promotion

I got it in the neck for a while from the Gers fans when I was a player. I went four or five games without scoring and I was targeted.

There were things happening off the park that folk were unhappy with at the time - and that didn't help the situation.

As soon as my form dipped and I stopped scoring goals over and above that, they took their frustrations out on me.

I didn't get it for very long. It didn't come from all of the supporters. And they didn't boo when I got the ball like they did with Lee.

No, if I misplaced a pass or squandered a scoring chance, then I was subjected to it. But I definitely heard them shouting and bawling at me.

No matter how small the section of the support that turns against you is, if you get booed by your own fans you are aware of it.

I only got it a couple of times. That was all. But it wasn't the most pleasant experience of my playing days. It was hard to take.

I can remember Ally McCoist getting it tight, too. I was playing in the Scottish Cup tie against Dundee at Ibrox when we lost 3-0.

Half the stadium started shouting: "Ally! Ally! Get to f***!" He got it really bad. So big Lee is in good company. But, having said all that, I don't agree with it.

Yes, Lee hasn't played as well as he could have this season, but there are a lot of players who you can say the same thing about.

I think it was always going to happen at some stage. But it isn't nice and I don't think it is right. Especially not at this stage in the season.

If you are struggling for form then the one thing that suffers in confidence. So when your own supporters start booing you then your self-belief is going to suffer.

Full credit to the Rangers fans who drowned out the boos by clapping. That showed exactly what they thought of their fellow supporters' actions.

The fans and the team has needed to stick together for the last three years and, by and large, they have done exactly that.

They cannot start to turn on the players now when there is a chance for the club to return to the top flight of Scottish football.

We are coming to an absolutely crucial stage of the season - starting with the game against Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday.

Rangers need to win through in Edinburgh to stand any chance of finishing second in the Championship table.

We need the players to get out there and perform to the best of their abilities and get results. They need to get the fans right behind them.

The play-off games have to be played in front of full houses at Ibrox. That is important to the club's chances of going up.

Earlier this season the supporters stayed away because they were reluctant to hand over their money given who was running the club.

Well, those individuals aren't running the club any more. Now is the time for the fans to stand up and be counted.

To be honest, the vast majority of them have. But the crowds have still been 10,000 to 15,000 down on what they were. We need to get them back.

The atmosphere at the Hearts game a few weeks ago was magnificent. The whole ground was jumping. The noise was deafening. The players responded to that.

That is what they need in the play-offs. Not booing the players who are going to get you the results you are wanting.

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