Wilson eyes promotion with Rangers

A defiant Danny Wilson saw no reason to justify his decision to stay in the Ladbrokes Championship after completing his move to Rangers.

Wilson was back in a Rangers strip on Tuesday morning weeks after invoking a clause to terminate his Hearts contract with a year remaining having captained the Edinburgh side to the title and promotion, finishing 24 points above the Gers.

The Scotland cap has joined 24-year-old former Wigan defender Rob Kiernan in signing for new Rangers boss Mark Warburton and 35-year-old former Derby and Watford midfielder John Eustace could join them soon after flying into Glasgow for talks.

Wilson's move will see him fighting it out in the same division again but the 23-year-old is adamant that the doubters will understand his switch one day.

"At the end of the season I felt like I wanted a change of club,'' said Wilson, who left Ibrox for Liverpool in a £2million deal in 2010.

"Hopefully we won't be in the Championship for too long. I've signed for three years and I certainly don't plan on playing those three years in the Championship.

"I don't need to justify my decision to anybody. It's my decision, it's my life. I'm quite happy with the decision I've made and hopefully I can be part of successful times here.

"People can be surprised if they like but at the end of the day I'm playing for Rangers. Hopefully we won't be playing in this league too long.

"Hopefully we'll gain promotion this year and be back challenging and maybe people who have been a bit sceptical will understand my reasons why.''

Celtic manager Ronny Deila previously admitted that Wilson was on a long list of potential transfer targets and reports of the Scottish champions' interest lingered, but the centre-back refused to reveal how far it went.

"I don't really want to talk about that,'' he said. "I'm here now and that's what is important.''

Wilson also insisted he had no move lined up when he decided to quit Tynecastle after two-and-a-half years.

"When I terminated my Hearts contract I hadn't really thought about my next move, I just knew I wanted something else. The decision was made at the time and I said I would take time to make a decision.

"It's two months since the season finished, near enough, now I've come to this decision and I'm very happy with it.

"There were other options but I just felt this suited me where I am just now. I've still got a lot of progressing to do, I'm only 23, I want to be playing and playing in a style that suits me. I spoke to the manager and it seems his style will.''

Wilson also played down the influence of assistant manager David Weir, who partnered him in central defence when he broke into the Rangers team as a 17-year-old.

"He had a big influence on me when I was young,'' said Wilson, who made 24 appearances for Rangers.

"But, speaking to the manager and him as well, had I not known Davie before I would still have been impressed by what he had said.

"I'm looking forward to working with them both. I only spoke to the manager briefly but in that time he outlined how he sees the team playing and how he wanted me to fit into that. Hearing that from him I was very impressed and eager to sign.''

Wilson does seem to feel he has unfinished business at Ibrox after being sold with the club in desperate need to reduce their debt.

"I was young at the time and there was a bit of pushing from both sides to get the deal done,'' said Wilson, who won the last of five Scotland caps almost four years ago.

"It was the timing rather than anything. If it had been different maybe I'd have been here a bit longer but that's the past and I'm here for the future.

"I'm a bit older and a bit wiser now. I've had experiences in football and experiences in life. I feel like I'm better player now than I was when I left. I need to go out and show that when I'm given the opportunity.''