At least we now have confirmation, and you could even argue it shows strong leadership from Andrew Cavanagh. Last week, the chairman came out and told us that Danny Rohl is his man. He is the man the board and he believe gives Rangers the best chance of success.
Cavenagh thinks the squad is the problem, and that fixing it, along with a proper pre-season, is the real issue at Rangers.
In a way, I completely agree with his logic, even if I remain unsure about the decision.
I like Rohl. Up until the split, I thought he had done a good job, but two hugely damaging runs of form have cast doubt in everyone’s mind. The run of draws, including decision-making at Motherwell, a slack draw at Livingston, and failure to beat Celtic twice, really set alarm bells ringing.
Then came the run of four defeats and the capitulation in the title race. That naturally added to my concern, and I will speak only for myself here, not the fan base, and it created noticeable anxiety in the stands. His big-game record is poor, and his record against Celtic is not something to point to. Performances have declined.
Then there is the entirely avoidable James Tavernier situation, which, regardless of your view, was a fight he simply didn’t need to pick. He made a rod for his own back, and it was not worth the fallout. That situation wasn’t entirely on him, but when the captain and head coach collide, the only loser is Rangers. Ultimately, Rohl should always put Rangers first.
That said, it’s not all negative. He did galvanise the club and the fans. He has helped several players find form, from Manny Fernandez to Youssef Chermiti, both of whom are now significant sellable assets. It is not unreasonable to suggest he could help generate around £40million from those players when the time comes. He was also instrumental in helping Rangers retain two promising youngsters in Kyle Glasgow and Ashton Scally.
It hasn't all been bad - but Rangers still finished third.
My concern is that Rangers could start the season poorly and the noise will quickly grow again. I’ve already said that changing managers in October is a cycle we cannot keep repeating, and now that this path has been chosen, Rangers must be prepared to see it through.
Rohl has to find a winning formula and a system he sticks to. He also needs to foster a dressing room that understands what it means to lead for the greater good of Rangers Football Club, rather than one driven by self-interest, as may have been the case at times. Individual success is welcome, but the collective must always come first, and for too long that balance has been missing.
This is where the board must deliver a summer that is as close to flawless as possible in the transfer market. We have been told to expect “huge changes”, and once again we wait with anticipation, because we have been here before.
It cannot be another summer of projects. Even if last summer and Kevin Thelwell’s work may stand the test of time financially through player sales, the squad balance was completely wrong. It’s a mistake Rangers cannot afford to repeat.
There is also an irony that a player they could have signed last summer, Lawrence Shankland, is now set to arrive as the first signing. The proverbial “no-brainer”, even if nothing is ever guaranteed in football. Shankland brings leadership, desire, goals, and a clear hunger to play for Rangers. Naturally, questions are already being asked about whether he should be the captain.
He certainly brings those qualities, and it is exactly that type of profile Rangers must prioritise when building a new leadership group this summer. Shankland adds goals, potentially 20 a season, and Rangers must build a squad with more cutting-edge and more clinical finishers. Too often, they failed to kill games off, whether after equalising or taking the lead, particularly during the run-in. Shankland will help address that.
However, he must only be the start. Rangers need significant quality added this summer.
It is not unreasonable to admit that Rangers need strengthening in every position. More importantly, those additions must bring not only quality but the mentality required to thrive in an environment that demands resilience as much as ability.
And I agree with that. I cannot say Rohl overachieved in February - readers will remember my thoughts on this squad - and then be shocked when things fell apart, even if it did raise further doubts.
If we are saying every position needs improvement, then it is not entirely fair to simply blame the head coach.
But football is not that simple. I remain uneasy about the decision to keep Rohl because of the “what-ifs”, but Rangers now have to ensure it works. That means delivering a strong summer.
Cavanagh is under pressure. He is a good man with a clear drive to make Rangers successful, and he has said the right things. But mistakes have been made and there have been plenty of words without enough tangible outcomes.
Rangers still lack key executives off the pitch. We continue to hear about reviews and feasibility studies, which are welcome, but there comes a point where action is required. Where are the academy appointments? Surely those decisions should be made within a year.
Read more:
- Lawrence Shankland to Rangers latest with transfer state of play explained
- The two reasons Rangers are sticking with Danny Rohl and what Cavenagh's choice shows
I don’t want Rangers to become a club that speaks well and sets out grand plans but ultimately falls short. I need to see action. I need to see tangible results. I want to see real progress.
Words can inspire, but they must lead to outcomes.
I am waiting and hoping that those outcomes are coming, from top to bottom, and most importantly, on the pitch.
Third place is not progress and words will remain just words until Rangers prove otherwise, but signing Lawrence Shankland feels like a good start.
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