Graeme Souness says Rangers need to have “football people making football decisions” if Derek McInnes is to shape his squad into one that can challenge for the title.
The Ibrox legend insists the club have not been getting recruitment right over recent years and making sure they rectify that will be key to ensuring McInnes is a success. Rangers are on the verge of their ninth deal of the summer with Daisuke Yokota almost in the door, but the manager has made it clear he needs more.
That would most likely be depth in defence after loan signing Ben Godfrey’s hamstring injury, picked up on the opening day against Dundee United, left them light, and more options on the wings even after Yokota’s arrival is made official.
Souness has previously acted as an advisor to the board and suggested they hired Frank Lampard as manager before they ultimately decided on Philippe Clement in 2023.
He still feels it is imperative to have people who know the game of football inside out making decisions such as that one, and in the recruitment of players.
“You've got to get it right on the pitch. And that's where Rangers in their recent history have got it wrong. Their recruitment's not been good enough.
“You get football people making football decisions. It's not rocket science. And they're not alone. Big clubs south of the border have done that.
“You've got a better chance if you've got someone with a footballing background making football decisions. And if you haven't got that, if you're giving someone that power who's never played the game, you're asking for trouble,” said the former player-manager.
He did, however, shut down any notion of taking up any sort of position at the club as a ‘football person’, adding: “No, I'm not interested in any role. I'm done with football. I'm too old and I'm enjoying myself too much.”
Rangers have once again had a busy summer in terms of player recruitment, bringing in Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin from Hearts, and another who knows the league and club in Ross McCrorie.
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From further afield, they’ve added goalkeeper Ivor Pandur, centre-backs Olwethu Makhanya and Ben Godfrey, and midfielders Dan Neil and Vanja Dragojevic. Yokota is expected to become their ninth summer arrival.
Fans were disappointed with the first competitive result of the season as they watched the newly put-together team draw 1-1 with Dundee United at Tannadice.
However, Souness says it is too soon to judge and insists there is every chance the recruitment this summer could in time prove to be better than previous seasons.
He said: “I've not seen enough of them. I know they've bought a load of players, and hopefully they work out for them, because that's what it's all about, having the best players.
“What you're attempting to do is push your players so hard to get them fit for the season without going overboard and breaking them. So at the start of the season, everyone's at a different fitness level. Some people will be ahead of others.
“For me personally, I reckon it was three or four games before I got up to speed. If you include your pre-season games, three or four fully competitive games before you got up to speed. And I would think that's still the same with all the players. So you'd be a brave man to make any calls from what you've seen in the first 90 minutes.”
As in previous seasons, Celtic have built up an early points advantage after their win over Dundee on Monday night. In those previous seasons, Rangers have never been able to recover.
However, the former Liverpool, Newcastle and Galatasaray manager doesn’t believe there was a big difference between the two teams last season, and believes that will remain the case.
He added: “I don't think it's enormous. I don't think it was enormous last year. And whether Celtic’s signings work out to be fabulous players, and Rangers’ don't, or the other way around, we'll have to wait and see. But I don't believe the gap was enormous last year.
“I would have made them (Rangers) slight favourites until they lost at home to Motherwell with how many games to go at the end of the season. I think that was the day it all fell apart for them. But to be fair, Motherwell are a decent team. I watched that game against Hibs at the weekend. They can sit in. Don't have to dominate the ball to win football matches. Makes them a dangerous team.”
Souness was promoting Premier Sports’ coverage of Scottish football, including more than 80 games in the Premiership, Premier Sports Cup and Scottish Cup. Fans can get a season’s coverage for £99 using promo code FITBA26.
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