NO player did more for Rangers during the four year journey back to the Premiership than Lee Wallace.

Some would do well to remember this.

He had been on a Premiership contract, having signed in 2011 from Hearts before the fan got covered in manure, and yet stayed at Ibrox when so many left once it became clear liquidation meant the club starting all over again in League Two.

Wallace was an ever-present in the four seasons it took for Rangers to return, captaining the club when Lee McCulloch retired after the first failed attempt to win promotion from the Championship via the play-offs.

The left-back was voted PFA Scotland player of the year in League Two, League One and the title winning Championship season.

This is because Wallace treated every match as if it was the most important he had ever played.

He didn’t mind running out at a wind-lashed Gayfield, bumpy Glebe Park or when Ibrox was half full with less than impressed punters. His always fancied it.

But his Rangers career is now probably over having been left out of the European squad in the same week the SPFL upheld his and Kenny Miller’s appeal over the disciplinary sanctions imposed by the club.

Nobody could have guessed this is how it would end for a player who could hardly have done more to drag that club back the top tier of Scottish football.

And, yet, there are supporters who view him as a bad guy. More than a few believe that he and Miller over-stepped a line when they went into the dressing room after Rangers capitulated to Celtic 4-0 in a Scottish Cup semi-final.

Depending who you speak to, these troublesome were out of order or it was only a dressing room argument which happens all the time.

Wallace was suspended and fined four weeks wages. The SPFL came down on the players’ side at the tribunal.

When it comes to Rangers it is unwise to fourth-guess what could happen but it is unlikely we will see the former captain in a blue shirt once again. The 31-year-old has said nothing about any of this. It will be interesting when he does. He did always speak well.

Whenever things went wrong it was Wallace who fronted up. During times when the Rangers’ PR wasn’t great, Wallace spoke well and openly to the fans.

And he was a terrific player during those four seasons.

“The supporters should not underestimate what Lee did for Rangers in the dark days when the club had to start in League Two,” said Kevin Kyle, a team-mate of Wallace’s back in 2012.

“Now I know he would have been picking up a good wage at Rangers, but he could have ripped up his contract and moved to a club in the Premiership or down south for the same money

“For whatever reason he stayed and that was great for Rangers because he was brilliant in those early days when it was a struggle and we were dropping daft points.

“Lee was in his mid-20s. He sacrificed Scotland caps and maybe even medals because he put Rangers before himself. I can’t speak highly enough of the guy.

“Any player who gave off the impression they were took good to be at Rangers at that time, playing at some of the grounds that we did, was quickly told what was what.

“I don’t know what happen with Lee and Kenny, although they have obviously been backed by the SPFL, but what I will say is that I find it difficult to think of Lee Wallace falling out with anyone. He’s such a good man.”

Wallace often would talk about wanting to become a proper Rangers captain, Richard Gough and Barry Ferguson always got a mention, by winning a proper cup. That meant a league or a final. He didn’t count the lower leagues.

“The great thing about Lee in the first few seasons is that he played every game like it was in the Premier League,” said Kyle. “He was never one who looked at the poor pitches and thought ‘this isn’t for me’.

“And he was great with the kids. Hard as well. Lee was a big one for time keeping and if one of the young lads were a minute late then they would get it.

“It's sad because Lee Wallace epitomised everything that was good at Rangers during that time.”

Rangers could, ironically, tear up Wallace's contract if his last game turns out to be as a last minute substitute at Fir Park last month.

"Lee would get a new club without a problem," predicted Kyle. "Whoever signs him is getting a top professional and a really good guy."