Kenny Miller gives Rangers sack deadline as Giovanni van Bronckhorst clings to Ibrox job
Kenny Miller believes Rangers must make a decision on Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s future at the club within 10-14 days if they want to bring someone else in.
The Gers fell nine points behind Celtic at the top of the SPFL after a 1-1 draw with St Mirren on Saturday (12 November), adding to the growing pressure around the manager’s job with The Sun claiming he is on the brink of the sack.
With a month-long break between games now due to the World Cup, Miller told BBC Sportsound (13 November) that a decision should be made quickly on whether he stays or goes so that if a new man does come in then he has a longer period of time to work with the squad.
“After last week you thought maybe Gio was on a shaky peg, then there was a bit of word (saying) ‘we are sticking by him, we will get to the break and get the players back and regroup’,” he said.
“Since then there has been more dropped points. I think that will be a topic of conversation at Ibrox at the moment as well. There needs to be some kind of decision. A real, clear decision. If that is the decision to go with Gio then there is a lot of work that needs to be done in this break.
“I think there is [a rush]. I think a decision needs to be made on way or another.
“If the decision is going to go one way and Gio was to leave then this break gives you the wee moment (to decide) if you are going to stick or you are going to twist.
“If you are going to twist then this break gives you effectively what is a pre-season again, which we have never had mid-season. Even the winter break is not this length of time.
“If there is a new guy he is going to need a bit of time to work, and it’s a completely different way, he needs time. It’s a fresh voice and it could make an impact.
“If the route forward is with Giovanni, that’s fine. If not they have 10 to 14 days to get someone else in.”
Preparation
Rangers are usually good when it comes to being prepared for big decisions, but in recent times that has really got away from them.
Contract situations have become increasingly crazy with players entering the final year of their deal regularly, including the likes of Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent this season, which is a symbol of that poor planning.
When Steven Gerrard left the club one year ago they managed to bring Van Bronckhorst in quickly and it allowed for a smooth transition, and the same will be needed here.
There is a chance to give any new manager a big window to work with the majority of the squad and implement his vision and system before we get back to work, when the team will need to go on a monumental run to find any success.
If they choose to keep him around the board simply aren’t fit for purpose, but if they sack him too late then it’s the same outcome in all honesty.
In other Rangers news, ‘Ange’s apprentice’ could take over from GvB according to Keith Jackson