As Rangers fans, we’ve watched from the stands and screens with growing frustration over the last few seasons. From Steven Gerrard’s departure to the tumultuous tenure of Michael Beale, the writing has been on the wall for some time: things need to change at the top level of the club. And no, we’re not just talking about a knee-jerk reaction or simply calling for investors to sell up. We’re talking about real, meaningful changes that can stabilise the ship and put Rangers back where we belong—at the top.
Fix the Roof While the Sun Is Shining
It’s hard to forget the day Steven Gerrard secured Rangers’ 55th title. His message was clear: “we need to fix the roof while the sun is shining.” And yet, the board didn’t back him the way he deserved. A few months later, he left for Aston Villa, leaving us all wondering what could’ve been if he’d received the support required to build a dynasty at Ibrox.
The mismanagement didn’t stop there. Giovanni van Bronckhorst came in, winning a League Cup and taking us to a Europa League final. But even he didn’t last long—barely a year—before he was out the door. And then came Michael Beale, a strange appointment backed by an even stranger decision: to give him almost unprecedented control over transfers. We spent £16 million in one season under Beale’s guidance, and what did we have to show for it? A bunch of high-paid signings who, let’s be honest, didn’t live up to their wages.
Dave King’s Take: Blame the System, Not the Players
Former chairman Dave King recently shared his views on Rangers’ struggles since title 55, emphasising that the blame doesn’t lie with individual players. He acknowledged the disappointment but pointed out that players were recruited by the club and are mostly doing their best. King highlighted that building a successful team requires a balance of technical ability, temperament, leadership, and character—factors the club has failed to align.
King also defended the captain, reminding us of his loyalty and contribution over the years. “Turning on our captain is the opposite of loyalty,” he said, urging fans to direct frustration at the system, not the players. Ultimately, King called for unity, stating, “Our club finds itself in a largely self-inflicted decline, but turning on our own players is not the Rangers way.” We need to pull together and focus on fixing the system rather than blaming those on the pitch.
We are all immensely disappointed at the performance of our team and its decline since title 55. That, however, is not the fault of the present team or the individual players who were approached to play for the club (not the other way round) and who are mostly doing their best. We all judge player performance – that is part of being an emotional supporter. We wish slower players to be faster, we wish less creative players to be more creative, etc. Ultimately it is the balancing of many factors that create a successful team. That is why player recruitment should assess multiple aspects, inter alia, the player’s technical ability, temperament, character (very important at Rangers), leadership, and team compatibility.
Different skills sets are required to ensure a balance in any successful team. Any player signed by Rangers must assume that he passed that standard and thereafter must perform in accordance with his abilities and the manager’s instructions for any given game. Individual players cannot be held accountable if the combined result of recruitment and team preparation results in poor performance.
Rangers supporters are loyal supporters. Turning on our captain, who has been 100 per cent loyal to Rangers and (memories are short) repeatedly saved us in key games for a decade, is the opposite of loyalty and I hope that most supporters will join me in condemning such behaviour. Supporter anger should not be directed at our team.
Our club finds itself in a largely self-inflicted decline but turning on our own players is not the Rangers way. I know John Bennett is devastated by current events and is working immensely hard behind the scenes. We have a challenging period ahead and need to pull together to get through it.
Former Rangers Chairman Dave King
The Board’s Failures Keep Piling Up
And it’s not just on the pitch where the cracks are showing. The issues at board level are glaring. From the embarrassing situation with Beale’s reign to the failure to replace critical positions like the CEO and Youth Academy Director, it feels like we’re stumbling from one mistake to the next.
Think about it: we’ve had no permanent CEO since James Bisgrove left for Saudi Arabia. The rumoured appointment of Jim Gillespie from St Mirren hasn’t exactly sparked excitement among the fans. And while some might say “give him a chance,” it’s hard to be optimistic when the track record of this board suggests otherwise.
Meanwhile, key roles like the Youth Academy Director remain vacant, the Copland Stand nightmare and money poured into Edmiston House. It’s these off-field blunders that feed into the frustration in the stands. It’s not just about the money not being spent—it’s about how that money is being used. Bennett and his board have put nearly £80 million into the club, and for that, they deserve credit. But being a Rangers fan and having business success doesn’t automatically make you qualified to run a football club. And that’s where the disconnect lies.
Changes Needed Now—But Not a Total Overhaul
Let’s be clear: we’re not calling for an immediate clear-out. The reality is, as much as some fans might want them gone, the current board isn’t going anywhere unless a significant share sell-off occurs, which seems unlikely. We don’t want to trade in people who care about the club, but are making mistakes for investors only looking for a quick return.
What we do need, however, are key changes at the leadership level.
Appoint a Proven CEO
This has to be priority number one. We need someone with a proven track record in football management, someone who can grow the club’s revenue streams, secure forward-thinking commercial deals, and most importantly, establish a solid player trading model. This person should work hand-in-hand with the chairman to ensure that both the business and footballing sides of the club are thriving.
The Chairman Needs to Step Aside
It’s time for Bennett to step down and make way for someone who has experience in football, preferably with deep ties to Rangers. This doesn’t necessarily need to be a seasoned businessman—that’s what the new CEO will be for—but someone who knows the club inside and out. While names like Graeme Souness, Richard Gough, and Ally McCoist come to mind, we need someone who not only understands Rangers but also the levels of success we should be striving for.
Appoint a New Academy Director
Our Youth Academy is a critical part of Rangers’ future, and it’s been neglected for too long. We need someone focused on developing young talent and getting them ready for the first team. This director should implement a plan that ensures our young stars are getting regular game time and a clear path to the senior squad.
The Right People in the Right Roles
Look, we all know the passion that comes with being a Rangers fan. But passion alone won’t win us trophies or balance the books. It’s time for the board to bring in the right people for the right roles, to make smart, informed decisions, and to ensure Rangers are not just successful on the pitch but also sustainable off it.
We don’t need a total overhaul of ownership—what we need is for the right voices to be heard and the right people to step up. The problems at Rangers aren’t unsolvable, but they won’t go away unless we start fixing the roof now, before another storm hits.
Let’s hope the board is listening—because the clock is ticking.