Football: Gough to quit Rangers at end of season

The Rangers captain, Richard Gough, has announced this will be his last season at Ibrox. He will leave Rangers in May, and the 34-year- old central defender, who has spent nine years with the Scottish champions, hopes to go out in style.

"It is my aim to guide Rangers to another treble before I go," he said yesterday. "There is a time to come and a time to go. Come May I will have been here 10 years and it is time to call it a day.

"But before I go, you can take it from me I will be channelling all my energies into helping Rangers win the treble. I am not thinking yet about what I want to do later. I will have a holiday at the end of the season and then consider my future."

A lucrative stint in the Japanese J-League is one option for the former Tottenham and Dundee United player, who cost Rangers a then club record fee of pounds 1.5m in 1987. Gough is the most successful Rangers captain since the war, collecting six championships, three Scottish Cups and four League Cups.

Rangers are granting Gough a free transfer in view of his outstanding service to the club.

The manager, Walter Smith, said: "It was a little bit of surprise to hear he wanted to leave. He came to see me a few weeks ago with those thoughts in his head. We all respect his honesty in coming to this decision. He has let everyone know where he stands."