Philippe Clement promised there would be big changes at Rangers this summer.
The Belgian manager came into the club in October and initially hauled the Ibrox side into a treble hunt and qualification for the knockout round of the Europa League.
But as injuries began to take hold in the Ibrox squad – and the same old faces made the same old mistakes – a season which promised so much, delivered so little.
Now, on Clement’s head will rest the decisions taken this summer and we get the impression the ex-Genk, Club Brugge and AS Monaco manager is in no mood to lose his job.
And that’s precisely why Rangers could be about to change their captain for the first time in six years.
But only if a James Tavernier switch out of Ibrox is realised.
Rangers to lose captain Tavernier?
Football managers will often claim that the captaincy is more symbolic than literal.
It’s a claim usually accompanied by the suggestion that they have several on-pitch leaders who all do their bit.
But with the pressure rising on James Tavernier the situation had begun to become somewhat untenable.
Tav’s contribution is legendary but the right-back has overseen years of domestic shortcomings and, in the big moments v Celtic last season, let slip any advantage.
Now, the Daily Record are claiming that Philippe Clement could have the decision made for him in the coming weeks.
But only if James Tavernier agrees a move to Saudi Arabia with the man who made him Ibrox skipper – Al-Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard – interested in taking him to the Middle East.
This comes amid reports from one fan media publication that Tav has agreed a deal in principle with the Liverpool legend’s new club.
Next Gers skipper ‘fairly obvious’
Interestingly, the news suggests that if Tavernier is to stay at Rangers then Clement will back the skipper heading into the new season.
But should James Tavernier be moved on in the coming weeks, it raises the question of who will replace him as captain.
The Daily Record reckon there is only one choice.
With fellow Rangers stalwart and the club’s vice-captain Connor Goldson also linked with a switch to Saudi Arabia, the ex-Brighton man is ruled out.
It leaves Jack Butland as the frontrunner to receive the armband and the tabloid isn’t the only ones who think so.
We tipped the former England international to be handed the armband at the end of last season and Heart & Hand have confirmed the 31-year-old is firs on the list to replace Tavernier.
The fan media outlet also suggest that Clement will not change the captaincy whilst Tavernier is at the club.
It all depends on what happens with the Rangers captain in the coming weeks but for the time being, we head into the new season with the right-back very much holding the armband.
