LEE MCCULLOCH reckons former Ibrox team-mates Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller will be ‘hurting’ after being suspended by Rangers.

The Light Blues have banished both players after launching an internal investigation following a dressing room bust-up with manager Graeme Murty on Sunday.

Tempers flared in the aftermath of the 4-0 Scottish Cup defeat to Celtic and Wallace, the club captain, and Miller have now been told to stay away from Ibrox.

Read more: Chris Jack: The writing is on the wall at Rangers when there are issues behind closed doors

McCulloch shared a dressing room with both players but they are now fighting for their Light Blues careers.

McCulloch told SportTimes: “Kenny has got an opinion and that is what you need, I think. Especially when the stakes are as high, as they are at the Old Firm.

“More opinions are better, but I don’t know what has happened in this case. They might have been out of order or they might not.

“I think they are two big characters in the changing room so it would be a big loss. If they are not going to be back, then the two boys will be hurting with what has happened.

“I am sure neither of them will have wanted to end their Rangers careers like this. But let’s just wait and see what happens and see if that is the case and if they play again.

“It is not a nice situation and not a nice way to end your career at such a great club and after such good service. We will need to wait and see.”

Defeat to Celtic was another significant blow to Rangers and Murty as their Scottish Cup dreams were emphatically ended at Hampden.

Read more: Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller in the dark over their Rangers futures​

Wallace and Miller are believed to have confronted Murty after the game and their actions have now led to action being taken by the Light Blues hierarchy.

McCulloch said: “I am surprised how the captain of the club and an experienced player have been suspended but I don’t actually know what has happened. By the time that comes out, everyone will have a clearer view.

“I don’t what has happened here or if they have been over the score.

“What I do know is that I have been in many dressing rooms where they have been arguments at half-time or the end of a game and people have squared up to each other.

“That is what I was brought up in in football terms and after a game against your biggest rivals when you have been beaten 4-0 it would be alarming if people didn’t have something to say.

“All my career and if every dressing room I have been in there have been fights and disagreements, but it has never been leaked out about what has happened.

Read more: Chris Jack: The writing is on the wall at Rangers when there are issues behind closed doors

“That is probably one of the disappointing things for me. I think there is an unwritten rule that what happens in the dressing room should be staying in the dressing room.”

Rangers return to action against Hearts this weekend as they attempt to take another step towards securing second spot in the Premiership this term.

Wallace and Miller will play no further part for Murty’s side in the closing weeks of the campaign and McCulloch admits it is another unnecessary sideshow at Ibrox.

He said: “I think the club could be doing without it, the players could be doing without it, obviously, and the supporters could be doing without it.

“Obviously someone has thought that there is an issue that needs addressed and that is what they have done. Until we find out the facts, it is hard to comment.”