RIO HARDY is targeting silverware and a return to Europe after sealing a move to Rangers as she became the club’s second signing of the summer transfer window.
After the Light Blues narrowly missed out on the league title last season the striker feels the opportunity to link up with head coach Jo Potter and to put that right in the new campaign were the key factors in her decision to make the switch to Glasgow.
She said: “After speaking with Jo she was obviously a big part of the reason that I wanted to come here and just work with her again, just to push on and try win the league and gain Champions League football for next season, that is what drew me to come here.
“It was an opportunity that I couldn't turn down, Jo is an amazing coach and just getting the opportunity to work with her again is just going to be really good so I am excited to get started back out on the pitch.”
Having spent time in her career playing in both Iceland and Cyprus the 27-year-old feels her experience playing abroad and in European competition previously will stand her in good stead for her Rangers career.
She continued: “They were quite different from each other, like the weather was obviously a big one, I think I gained a lot of experience in different ways from both clubs. Champions League experience playing in Cyprus that was really good and hopefully if we qualify I can bring that.
“It is just a different level, you have to really push yourself and be prepared because you could be up against teams that you have never heard of sometimes, so I think it just takes it to the next level when you have to prepare for things like that.”
Hardy admits it will be ‘special feeling’ to run out for the Gers for the first time as she hopes to bring goals to Jo Potter’s forward line as they go in search of trophies in the upcoming campaign.
She added: “It will be a special feeling playing my first game, I think all the hard work in pre-season comes down to that moment, it is definitely something that I am looking forward too.
“That is the main goal of everyone at the club and I think that my ambitions align with that so we are really ready to do that and that is what I have come here to do. I just hope to bring goals and winning matches, that is the most important thing and that is what I am here to do.”