Rangers don’t half like heaping the pressure on themselves, do they?
Not only has the club’s stuttering contract model resulted in the bulk of the side’s playing assets from the Steven Gerrard era leaving for nothing.
But static activity in the transfer market has left Philippe Clement & Nils Koppen picking up the pieces of a player trading model than only ever existed in theory in the Rangers boardroom.
The state of the Ibrox squad is disastrous if not catastrophic and it’ll take quite a few months of wheeling and dealing to turn the team from inglorious failures to genuine title challengers.
It’s not impossible but it’s an almighty challenge we need to face head on.
But with Rangers’ ‘World’s Most Successful Club’ legacy literally on the line this season, chaos off the park is only adding to a feeling of insecurity on it.
Transfer uncertainty at Ibrox
Whilst it is an undeniable fact that transfer windows are best judged when they slam shut, such is the pressure at Rangers this season we’re not sure the club are going to get such a luxury.
With an overhaul of the squad there is chatter a aplenty about comings and goings which is shredding the nerves of supporters already.
John Lundstram and Borna Barisic started bolting for the exits mid-title race whilst Kemar Roofe’s depressing contribution last season will not be repeated this campaign.
Ryan Jack – another who has been routinely injured for years, never mind months – has also left the club at the end of his contract.
These four names follow Filip Helander, Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos out of Ibrox without so much as raising a penny in transfer fees.
Throw into the mix the incessant rumours surrounding James Tavernier – one leading tabloid having to backtrack on claims the right-back has been stripped of the captaincy – and the uncertainty in the playing squad is rife.
As for incomings, Rangers failed to secure high-profile early target Jose Cordoba whilst new signings Jefte, Clinton Nsiala and Connor Barron and all very young and untested at this level.
The club’s activity in emerging markets has meant transfer leaks are a continuing problem and we’re seeing so many of Rangers’ active pursuits playing out in public.
There are still over eight weeks to go in the window but it remains unclear how the club’s squad and leadership structure is going to be set up next season.
Rangers boardroom overhaul
Then there’s the small issue of Rangers losing their CEO to Saudi Arabia.
The club confirmed that James Bisgrove would be leaving Ibrox this summer after only one season in the top director role at the club.
The ex-UEFA exec and the club’s former director of commercial and marketing has since confirmed his arrival at newly promoted Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah.
Rangers have been clear that they’ll be taking their time over the appointment with chairman John Bennett stepping in to execute the club’s transfer strategy this summer.
The Daily Record are reporting that Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay – who was named the SPFL’s CEO of the year last season – is on the Gers’ radar.
Let’s just say it’s not an ideal scenario with this constant upheaval at the top of the marble staircase certainly not contributing to any success on the field.
Ibrox stadium closed indefinitely
As if transfer uncertainty, squad overhauls and our CEO moving to the Middle East wasn’t enough to raise tensions heading into next season, the Chinese steel industry also has a role to play.
In an utterly ridiculous turn of events, Rangers’ renovation plans to the Copland Stand have been met with delays as the club wait on the raw materials from Asia.
What this means is that the construction of a new cantilever, and the introduction of more disabled seating, has been pushed back until such a time as the materials arrive.
As a result Rangers will not be kicking off the season at Ibrox with the as of yet undetermined delay also set to impact the Champions League qualifiers.
At a time when the club needs its new players to gel with the fans and find rhythm, it is an avoidable nonsense which has even seen one senior staffer sacked from his job at the club.
There’s been a suggestion James Bisgrove might’ve got the chop had he not done the bunk to Saudi Arabia beforehand.
As the Scottish Premiership fixtures for the new season are released, Rangers’ first home game is scheduled against Motherwell on August 10th.
At the time of writing, we have no idea where that’s going to be played.
Before we’ve even kicked a ball in what is going to be a crucial season at the club, a perfect storm is already brewing.
