Craig Moore believes Connor Goldson took his eye off the ball a few times when he first arrived at Rangers.
But after watching the Ibrox defender excel in a flawless, title-winning season, he says it’s vital the club don’t do likewise with just a year left on his contract.
Goldson is the only one of Gers’ most senior players yet to extend their stay in Glasgow after Allan McGregor, James Tavernier,
Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe all agreed new deals.
The former Brighton centre-back, who arrived at Ibrox from the Seagulls in 2018 for £3million, is reportedly in talks with the board who want to fend off interest in their vice-captain.
Moore spent 11 years at the heart of Rangers’ defence and knows the value of a quality centre-back who consistently produces the goods.
The Australian has watched Goldson’s performances get better in a Rangers shirt during his three-year stint, culminating in last year’s Premiership triumph.
Moore sees the 28-year-old as a key member of Steven Gerrard’s squad as they prepare for Champions League qualifiers.
That’s why he’s praying that, behind the scenes, a new contract is being thrashed out to keep Goldson at Ibrox.
Moore said: “You saw the importance of Connor last season. He didn’t miss a minute, did he? He played every game.
“You’ve seen him grow in confidence by playing regular football. He’s got full confidence in his body now and confidence in his form as well.
“And that spreads to the rest of the squad.
“If you have stability at the back, from the goalkeeper to the centre-backs, it gives you that base to go on and build something.
“That’s exactly what Rangers have managed to do and Connor has been a big part of that.
“Connor has a presence in both boxes and a good range of passing for a defender.
“He showed that last season with the long diagonal ball that can cut a team open.
“Physically, he’s strong and has pace. And his concentration has improved since signing for Rangers.
“In previous seasons there had been lapses in that department but now he’s seems to have got on top of that part of his game.
“He has become a massive player for the club.”
Moore is convinced Rangers will already be well down the road in negotiations with Goldson and his representatives.
But, with just a year left, it’s the player’s prerogative if he decides to let the contract run down and leave for free next summer.
Moore said: “When you’re coming into the last year of your contract you can re-sign if you want to stay and the club want to protect their asset. Or the flip side, which you see sometimes, is that the player just tries to run his contract down.
“I don’t know what Connor’s thinking but he’ll be 29 in December. So I’m surprised that he’s not signed an extension yet like the other senior players.
“I’d like to think that it’s something Rangers and Connor are discussing right now behind the scenes.
“After what the team achieved last season – and how important Connor was to that – hopefully he’ll want to stay at Rangers for a few more years.
“Every player wants to be able to perform at the highest possible level. At your club, that’s the Champions League. So of course Connor will want a crack at that – he’ll want to experience it.”
When Moore left Rangers for Borussia Monchengladbach in 2005, he also had just a year left on his deal.
After his appearance at the Olympic Games for the Socceroos, he was frozen out at Ibrox and an exit was always on the cards.
Moore has no regrets and admits the time was right to leave.
And not knowing Goldson’s personal circumstances, he has urged supporters not to cast judgment on the defender should he wish to leave.
He said: “When I left Rangers my situation was different to Connor’s. I had been at the club for almost 12 years, from when I was a kid. And it’s important to know when it’s the right time to leave.
“I’d grown up at Rangers so I’d been there a long time. I’d seen other players maybe stay a little too long.
“I didn’t want to be one of those players who was hanging on at a club for dear life – and not remembered by fans the way you’d like to be.
“Rangers are a massive club and that’s difficult to repeat anywhere in the world. But when you consider I went to Borussia Monchengladbach and Newcastle, I played at big clubs.
“I didn’t exactly leave on good terms because I went to the Olympics. But that was partly due to the fact I knew my time at Rangers was coming to an end.
“I don’t have any regrets. My feelings about the football club and my memories are only of great times.
“A player has to take a lot into consideration and sometimes it’s not as simple as what the majority of people might think it is.
“Fans will automatically ask, ‘Why’s he not staying longer?’
“But it’s difficult to judge from the outside.
“I’d like to think that Connor has loved his time at the club and, after an amazing season, he’d want to stay.
“It would be great if he’s still here for the next two or three seasons. But time will tell if that happens.”
