RICHARD GOUGH's decision to leave Rangers at the end of the season is unlikely to mean that he will quit football.

The Ibrox captain, who celebrates his 10th anniversary at the club in May, a month after his 35th birthday, will probably spend the twilight days of a hugely successful career in the less rigorous environment of an emerging football country like Japan.

Gough refused yesterday to speculate on the future beyond the remaining six months of this season, but his manager, Walter Smith, touched on the likelihood of the player continuing his career elsewhere. That means away from Scotland, where there would be no point in playing for any club outside Ibrox. "I'm sure if he gets the chance to continue elsewhere," said Smith, "he will continue to be a success.

Gough, who has won 18 medals since he joined Rangers from Tottenham in 1987, revealed that he felt the time was right to go as he anticipated changes at Ibrox in the next two or three years.

"It's been a great era, the last 10 seasons" said Gough. "Probably the most successful lift, Rangers' history. I would love to think they could have another 10 years of it, but that will be extremely difficult.

"The manager seems likely to be changing quite a few things in the next two or three seasons and people have to realise that I will be 35 in May. Some people were calling time on me two or three years ago, but I always felt I would know when it was right to go.

"I always wanted to leave Rangers at the top of my game and in the last 18 months I have felt really good. I approached the manager and the chairman about a month ago and let them know how I felt and they appreciate my reasons for going.

"I told the players this morning and there was some surprise. But that dressing room of ours is no place for the faint hearted and I had to take the usual stick. Some suggested that I should have done it two years ago.

Gough will be in his usual place at Ibrox today, when Rangers attempt to end an unproductive league run in the match against Motherwell. They have dropped five points in their last two Premier Division matches.

Celtic missed an opportunity to take the lead last Sunday when they drew with hearts at Tynecastle and face another trip to Edinburgh, to meet a Hibernian team who beat Rangers two weeks ago. Stewart Kerr, the young goalkeeper who took the place of the suspended Gordon Marshall last weekend, retains the place, despite the latter's availability.

. Irish league chiefs have agreed in principle that last week's abandoned Premier Division clash between Portadown and Cliftonville must be replayed.

However, they will not be in a position to name a date until after further talks with the security forces.

But a spokesman for the management committee has insisted "the game will not be played behind closed doors."

Cliftonville play Crusaders today at their home ground and expect no trouble.