LEWIS MACLEOD admits there were ‘different factors’ in play when he quit Rangers to move to Brentford.

The midfielder became an integral part of the Ibrox squad after he burst onto the scene during Ally McCoist’s time as boss and won the Third Division and League One titles.

But he was sold to Brentford midway through the Championship campaign as the former Gers regime cashed in on one of Rangers’ prized assets.

Just weeks later, Dave King, Paul Murray and John Gilligan swept to power at Ibrox but Rangers would miss out on promotion under the guidance of Stuart McCall.

Read more: Lewis Macleod: Rangers will go from strength to strength in the Premiership under Mark Warburton's guidanceGlasgow Times: Lewis Macleod celebrates a goal during his time with Rangers.

Macleod told SportTimes: “I was disappointed but at the same time it was an opportunity to try something different. There was a lot going on at the club when it happened so it made it quite difficult.

“It was a good opportunity and unfortunately it has not gone the way I would have liked. I have got to put all that behind me now and focus on the future.

Read more: Lewis Macleod: I can look to the future with Brentford after putting injury hell behind me

“There were all sorts of different factors that added up to it. It was a hard decision for me to make being a Rangers fan. But it is done now and I have to look to the future.

“There were a lot of financial restraints and all sorts of things going on off the pitch at that time.

“I don’t think anybody, I certainly didn’t, knew what was going on. There were all sorts of different factors that you can take into it.”

The switch to Griffin Park has not gone to plan for Macleod as he has been struck down with persistent injury problems and struggled to make his mark in the Championship.

The 22-year-old was tipped for a bright future in the game when he emerged through the Ibrox ranks and he is keen to see his former Ibrox mentors return to the dugout in the future.

He said: “I would like to think [Ally could be a manager again]. He brought me through and I owe a lot to him, Ian Durrant and Kenny McDowall.

“They were great with me from youth level to the first team. They gave me my opportunity and stuck by me a lot when I was young.

“I owe them a lot and I enjoyed every minute working with them. It would be good to see them back involved in football.

“It was a very tough period at the club and no matter who was in charge there they would have found it very difficult.

“It isn’t a true reflection on how good they are in the management side of things.

“It was a tough period for them so it would be good to see them link-up again and do well wherever that may be.”