Ex Rangers and Hearts star quits ninth-tier player/manager role in favour of extending career in lower leagues
The 37-year-old won two lower league titles at Ibrox and has vast experience of top-flight football
Cambuslang Rangers have pulled off a major coup by luring former Hearts and Rangers winger David Templeton to the West of Scotland First Division club.
The 37-year-old, who was appointed player/manager of ninth-tier Glasgow United last September, has decided to concentrate solely back on playing again as he extends his playing career into a 21st season with the ‘Wee Gers’.
A former Scotland youth international, Templeton will bring vital experience to Paul McColl’s side as they prepare for the forthcoming campaign and a potential title push, with the Camby boss revealing the move came “out of the blue” last week.
Templeton, who joins the ninth club of his career to date, won two lower league titles with Rangers as part of the club’s rebuild back up through the SPFL. He also played in the Scottish Premiership with Hearts and Hamilton Accies, as well as having a spell in England with Burton Albion.
Speaking to Lanarkshire Live Sport, a delighted McColl said: “It’s a great signing. David is a good player and a good boy as well. He was leaving Glasgow United and we got word about it, so we had a chat and asked him to come down to the park.
”We sorted a deal out and he is still a very decent player. He will do us a good turn, for sure. Luckily, we didn’t have to pay anything for him because I’m sure it would have cost us a few grand!
“He is 37 but he is still fit, really lean, has great feet and obviously played at a good level. It just came out of the blue and we thought ‘why not?’. He’s an ex-Ranger and still a good player at this level.
“He will be a big player for us. He is the type you want on the ball in the final third. He will make things happen for us and having a playmaker like that can make a difference.
“He’s a top lad, down to earth, no hassle off him. He’s not like some players who have played the game for a while and have a chip on their shoulder.”
Templeton is ‘highest profile’ signing Cambuslang have made with past Ibrox connections
Cambuslang have a history of signing a number of former Ibrox stars down the years, but McColl reckons the capture of Templeton represents the most significant one the club has managed to pull off.
He revealed: “I’ve had a few ex-Rangers players down the years - Gordon Dick, Chris Smith, Bob Davidson - who didn’t really play may first-team games but were at the club for years. But Tempy has definitely played more games and is the highest profile one we’ve had, so that’s an exciting one.
“He was part of the team that took Rangers back up the leagues and was decent at Hearts. He’s had a few bad injuries over the years that meant he probably hasn’t played as much football as he would have liked. Hopefully he can get a good run at it here.”
Supporters will be able to catch their first glimpse of Templeton in action when Camby begin their pre-season with a friendly against Newmains United at Somervell Park on July 11.