GRAEME SOUNESS has opened up on why he felt it was right to honour Queen Elizabeth II as one of his first acts as Ibrox boss.
The Rangers legend was made first team manager in 1986 and straight away ordered the presence of Her Majesty to be clear in the dressing room.
He has now spoken up on why asking for the famous portrait was one of the first acts he carried out after being appointed.
The image was soon put in place and has been hung above the captain’s position ever since.
It’s been shared by the likes of Ally McCoist and Allan McGregor as they paid their respects.
As the nation mourns the passing of the Queen – Souness explained his reasoning behind the decision and opened up on his experience of a personal meeting.
Writing in the Daily Mail, he said: “One of the first things I did when I became Rangers manager, seven years earlier, was ask our kitman, Doddie Soutar, to get me the biggest portrait of our Queen that he could find, which we hung on the home dressing room wall.
“It has remained there to this day.
“I was one of the few very fortunate people to meet the Queen when she came to Anfield in 1993 to visit the Hillsborough Disaster Memorial.
“I was Liverpool’s manager and I’ve never forgotten her empathy for the families and the club at that difficult time.”
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Fellow Ibrox hero McCoist played under Souness right the way through his time in charge.
The former Scotland striker took to social media to share his own heartfelt message, he said: “Nearly every day of my playing career at Rangers, I got ready for work under this picture.
“They were the happiest of days and we all loved it. The lady who was Queen Elizabeth II was so much to so many, myself included.
“Thanks for your service to us all.”
The Light Blues had also gathered all of their teams together yesterday to observe a minute’s silence in respect.
The first team gathered in the middle of the main park at the Rangers Training Centre while the academy sides and the Women’s team formed a circle in the middle of another pitch.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
