Tavernier confirms no offer yet of new Rangers contract

Rangers captain James Tavernier has confirmed he has not yet been offered a new contract and says "only time will tell" whether he is still with the Scottish title chasers next season.

The 34-year-old right-back has been with the Ibrox club since being bought from Wigan Athletic 11 years ago.

Tavernier has had a bigger challenge for his place this season, but 36 of his 49 appearances have still come as a starter and he has scored 13 goals.

Asked if he had been offered a new contract, he told BBC Scotland: "Not as yet."

Did he think he will still be at Rangers next season? "I don't know," he said.

"Time will tell for that one. I'm a man who always focuses on short-term.

"My wife's asking me about summer holidays and what the kids need on their holidays and I'm saying 'talk to me at a later date' because that's too far ahead for me.

"I am obviously excited for what the future brings."

It is Tavernier's first season under Danny Rohl, who took charge after Russell Martin was sacked in October.

Asked if playing time would be a factor on whether he wants to remain at Ibrox, Tavernier stressed: "Nobody is guaranteed to play football. You have to earn that right to start."

Having trailed the Edinburgh side by 11 points when Martin was sacked, Rangers head into the final five games of the season sitting one point behind leaders Heart of Midlothian and two ahead of reigning champions Celtic.

"The mentality shift from what the boys were and what they are now since the manager's come in and calmed the storm of when he first came in, I think the boys have responded really well," Tavernier said.

He admitted that Rangers had drawn too many games but pointed out that they had only lost twice in the league all season.

"We are moving in the right direction and we've just got to continue it," Tavernier said, pointing to the 6-3 win over Falkirk last time out as an example of the "resilience" of the team.

"I feel we have put ourselves in a really good position coming into the split."

Rangers have had some "really good team bonding" while Celtic were involved in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Sunday and Tavernier was relishing the resumption of the three-team battle for the title.

"It is exciting for Scottish football and it should be, but I am focusing on Rangers," he added.