Rangers board should be on high alert as Giovanni van Bronckhorst loses grip on job
The Times journalist John Greechan has slammed Giovanni van Bronckhorst in his latest column and called for the Rangers board to be on high alert.
Van Bronckhorst’s side have suffered three defeats by four or more goals so far in the 2022/23 season and could be set for another when they travel to Napoli in their next Champions League fixture.
Greechan has suggested the Dutchman doesn’t seem like a man in control of his own fate after their latest thrashing against Liverpool at Ibrox.
He wrote (14 October): “His team’s most recent ritual dismemberment should put the Rangers board in a state of high alert.
“The Dutchman effectively waving a white flag in the face of a crisis — not for the first time — must surely loosen his grip on the job.
“Van Bronckhorst neither looks nor sounds like a man in control of his own fate. And that’s a very dangerous vibe for any manager, at any club, regardless of circumstances.”
One loss away
It’s not outrageous to suggest that van Bronckhorst is one loss from potentially being sacked by Rangers. You can’t be beaten 4-0 twice and lose 7-1 before the middle of October. The only reason he is still in the job is that the Ibrox board likely deem the opponents he’s faced beyond Rangers’ remit.
Furthermore, the board know they’re responsible for not backing the Dutchman in the summer window. There were obvious questions about whether Rangers would be playing in the Champions League, but considering the Gers reached a European final last season, it wasn’t a ridiculous expectation for more investment in the squad.
It feels as if the Rangers boss has lost a bit of his spark, particularly after the Liverpool game. Rangers fans want to hear what is going to be done about a catastrophic loss, not “we will take the criticism”.
Van Bronckhorst simply has to continue Rangers’ good recent domestic form if he wants to stand any hope of having a long-term future at Ibrox. A 100 per cent record up until the Celtic clash is probably a must.
In other Rangers news, an official partner of the club has called for van Bronckhorst and Ross Wilson to be sacked.