Michael Beale was trusted with the Rangers cheque book last summer when a full rebuild was needed from goalkeeper to striker.
The squad saw five key players depart which included the entire forward line and the £4m sale of Fashion Sakala.
The transfer window closed with doubts about a number of the signings but it has worked out ok for one former Rangers regular who never wanted to leave in the first place.
Bittersweet season after reluctant Rangers exit for Antonio Colak
Signed for £2.5m and sold for around the same, Antonio Colak came, saw, scored goals and left.
There were question marks about the all-round quality of his game, however, 21 goal contributions in 39 appearances is a decent return in a team that was struggling to create chances – a league return of one goal every 105 minutes.
He might not have been capable of creating his own, however, if the crosses or passes were accurate enough, the Croatia international seemed to be able to find a way of getting the ball into the net.
Colak offered something different to players like Alfredo Morelos and Kemar Roofe.
What was frustrating was watching Beale continue to trust Morelos even though he clearly wasn’t interested.
Despite barely starting in the second half of the season, Colak still finished as joint top goal scorer alongside James Tavernier.
The 30-year old was never fancied at Ibrox by the former manager and was sold to Parma, a move that Colak was reluctant to make:
“When I left Rangers and watched the highlight reel of my goals the club made, I was really emotional watching it with my wife
“When I arrived in Glasgow, I thought it could be the place I stayed for the rest of my career. But in football sometimes things are unpredictable.
“Of course, there was a moment where I was disappointed and said ‘I don’t want to leave’ but now I’m here in Parma having taken a new opportunity and life could not be better for me personally.
“My time at Rangers, however, it’s really, really unique.
“I still get messages every day from Rangers fans and that is crazy. Scoring at Ibrox was just an incredible feeling. When I look back at my goals and see the fans roaring, it still gives me goosebumps.
“I wish absolutely nothing but success for the club. It’s such a unique club and something you will never get out of me. Rangers will always be part of my life and I can always say I was part of this club.”
There will be a bittersweet feeling about Parma’s promotion to Serie A.
Antonio Colak has been used almost entirely off the bench, starting just five league games all season.
A promising early start saw him score three times in his first eight substitute appearances, but he just didn’t get the chance to show what he can really do.
Did Rangers miss Colak this season?
Rangers could have done with Antonio Colak this season.
Was he perfect? No, but he knew how to score goals if given the chances and that has been the biggest problem this season.
Under Philippe Clement, creativity hasn’t been the issue, it’s been not scoring the opening goal after dominating or failing to kill a game off after going in front.
This summer, it is a position that the Gers boss needs to address.
Only Danilo and Cyriel Dessers will be left and a natural finisher would compliment these two well.
What Clement should do, is what Beale should’ve done last summer when he let his best goal scorer go, sign Lawrence Shankland.
