Rangers board now discuss Giovanni van Bronckhorst replacements as decision nears
Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s time as Rangers boss could be in its final throws with replacements now discussed by the board, the Scottish Daily Express reports.
The Gers limped into the World Cup break with more dropped points in a SPFL title race that may already be over after a 1-1 draw at St Mirren on Saturday (12 November), with many surprised that the Dutchman was even kept in place that far amid increasingly poor form on the pitch.
And while money is apparently now available to address the squad issues in January, it appears an answer over who will be the beneficiary of any spending is now close as the Ibrox hierarchy are now talking about candidates to come in.
The Express report says: “The Dutchman has now returned to his family in his homeland and the entire squad and backroom team is now on a two-week break but it is understood that the Ibrox powers-that-be have been locked in discussions over their next move.
“Scottish Express Sport believes replacement candidates have been discussed at board level and if a new man is in put in post during the World Cup break then he can expect to have the financial backing he needs to shake up the squad.”
Inevitable?
Gio is by no means a bad manager, and he provided some memories last season that will live long in the memories of the supporters from the Ibrox nights in the Europa League.
At this point however, it would be a major surprise if he is still in place when the World Cup is over, since the morale of certain players is visibly absent.
That is usually the sign that a change is imminent, with the squad sometimes aware that something is in the works before the news even becomes official.
The latest thrashing in the Old Firm derby, on top of repeated humblings in the Champions League, put the manager’s job into doubt, but dropping further points in the league when Rangers should be comfortable favourites is surely the final straw.
There has been a growing feeling that fans, media, and even the players themselves, are just waiting out the final days of the van Bronckhorst era.
If he does come back it will require a major change in some other capacity, possibly in the transfer market, to provide a psychological break from the first half of the season.
The weeks off feel like too obvious of an opportunity for a clean break to pass up, so a new man has to be the greater likelihood now.
In other Rangers news, an ex-FIFA referee has weighed in against Kevin Clancy for the controversial decision made at St Mirren.