Douglas Park must deal with £78m cloud over Rangers, unwanted Celtic scenario on the cards
It’s been a bad week for Rangers on the pitch – and the recent angst has led to many fans calling for a change in the boardroom after Celtic’s recent success.
The stark reality is that The Bhoys are now closing the historical gap between themselves and the Gers. It’s highly likely Ange Postecoglou’s men will close the league title gap to just two come the end of the 2022/23 campaign.
If Celtic win another treble this season, it will take them within touching distance of the Light Blues’ all-time trophy tally and also see them overtake Rangers’ seven domestic trebles.
After the weekend, it’s clear the Gers are heading in a different direction compared to their Old Firm rivals. The majority of the side which lined up at Hampden was present during the 2019 cup clash at the National Stadium. It’s clear that change is certainly required on the pitch and it does feel like that has begun to occur under Michael Beale.
Todd Cantwell and Nicolas Raskin were signed for a combined fee of £3.2million (The Times, 20 January) (Sacha Tavolieri, 31 January). So clearly, work has been ongoing to improve the squad, but, there’s a long way to go until they match Celtic on the pitch – and by the time that happens, it could be too late.
One issue which seems to be forgotten is the amount of money the Gers still owe investors and the impact that could be having on their future transfer business.
The Herald’s Chris Jack revealed (10 November) that Rangers still owe £78million to investors, after the board released their annual accounts. Scottish football is not the most profitable league in the world and it’s evident that Douglas Park and the board need to clear the debts behind the scenes before they can really push on.
It’s a tough reality to accept – but the mess behind the scenes could see Celtic surpass Rangers within the next couple of years. Beale will endear himself to the Ibrox faithful if he can deny Posetcoglou’s side from winning a treble this season.
The Scottish Premiership looks like a bridge too far at present, with the Scottish Cup now a must-win for the Ibrox side.
In other Rangers news, a contract has already been signed for an in-demand attacking player to join the club.