Kenny Miller believes Allan McGregor may as well leave Rangers NOW if he is not going to be the first choice next season.
The Ibrox veteran is out of contract and is taking time to make up his mind over his future.
Talks are believed to have started over a new one-year contract with the added responsibility of a coaching element in the fresh agreement.
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It is also said the 40-year-old would not be guaranteed the Rangers No1 spot - which Miller insists would not suit his old pal.
He reckons McGregor is still worth eight to 10 points per season and in his opinion is still the top keeper at the club and would love to see him stay for another campaign.
Writing in his Daily Record column, he said: "Allan McGregor as a No.2? Maybe only playing in 20 or 30 per cent of the games next season?
"No, I just don’t see that happening.
"I know him well enough to know that it wouldn’t suit him.
"Obviously, he’s 40 and there is going to be a time when he decides to hang up his gloves.
"But when he does, he won’t want it to be off the back of playing a handful of games for Rangers.
"He might as well just go now because Greegsy would not want to be that guy.
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"If Giovanni van Bronckhorst tells him there’s a year’s deal on the table but Jon McLaughlin will be No.1 and he would be back-up, I don’t think he’d like it.
"At one point in the season, I thought he was all set on retiring.
"But towards the end of the campaign, he was wavering.
"From speaking to mates in the game like myself, Alan Hutton and others, we probably told him the same thing – to play on as long as he could.
"I’ve said to him myself that by staying at Rangers, he’s not dropping down a division or level. He’s not jumping from club to club.
"He’s exactly where he wants to be. And you’re a long time retired.
"For me, he’s still the Rangers No.1.
"The Scottish Cup Final, when he came on for the final few minutes, was a just-in-case scenario.
"A final bow in the event it was his last appearance for the club.
"But if I was him, I wouldn’t be retiring. I’d stay on for another year if possible.
"If Allan McGregor is still training and playing the way he always does a manager would be crazy not to play him.
"When you’ve got a keeper of that quality there, you pick him.
"With regards to a potential coaching role, that seems like a natural progression for Allan within the club.
"After everything he’s achieved there, it seems like the next step if it’s something he wants to get into right away.
"But I believe he’ll play as many games as he wants next season at Rangers if he decides to stay.
"Even now, he’s worth between eight and 10 points a season.
"He’s contributed massively in runs to two European finals, 14 years ago and then last term.
"He’s made saves at critical moments which, in my opinion, not all goalkeepers can make.
"If he wants to go out on top at Rangers, that might mean he wants to win the title back from Celtic.
"That’s on him. But I still think he has a lot to offer."
