JOHN COLLINS has revealed he could have signed for Rangers instead of Celtic - but with his father supporting the Hoops he insists he had no option.

The former Scotland international spent six years at Parkhead before having a stint as assistant manager to Ronny Deila.

But Collins, 52, has told how his career could have been so different.

Speaking on BBC Sportsound, he said: "I had a couple of opportunities to sign for Rangers.

"One before I signed for Celtic I was talking to Rangers as well.

"My dad was a Celtic supporter so you always follow your father."

After his spell at Celtic, Collins went on to play under Rangers legend Walter Smith at Everton.

Despite enjoying his time at Goodison, Collins admits he wasn't a big fan of Smith's managerial style.

He added: "I played for Walter at Everton, he was organised. He took on a tough job at Everton, we had been fighting relegation the year before.

"I’ve got to be honest that at Everton, the style of football wasn’t what I wanted to do or wanted to play. We had big Duncan Ferguson up front and we would go long too often.

"I went from Monaco where it was total possession and dominating games. At Everton it was never going to be quite like that, controlling games, but it was a little bit too direct going to big Dunc, then he got sold to Newcastle and we brought in Kevin Campbell.

"We were comfortably away from relegation in the two seasons then I had the opportunity when Jean Tigana came in for me when he came to Fulham, and I thought ‘I’m going to go back to the style I really enjoy which is getting it off the back four all the time and the game going through me'."