George Overhill

Thu 20 April 2023 12:40, UK

To say the situation at Rangers is in flux currently would be an understatement with a summer of further change still to come.

And after a campaign where the semi final Old Firm derby on 30 April could end the Light Blues’ chances of any silverware there needs to be more change.

But painful as it might be for supporters of the Ibrox club, they only need cast their minds back less than seven months to when CEO Stewart Robertson was calmly assuring everybody that everything was fine, when the season was already falling apart around him and events since have largely proven his words meaningless.

In a Rangers Review exclusive back on 1 October the Light Blues chief attempted to quell mounting disquiet over the summer’s transfer business, or lack-thereof once Champions League qualification was secured, while playing down concerns over Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent’s contract situation.

The interview came out at a time where the wheels were already coming off the campaign as September saw a 4-0 defeat at Celtic, followed by back-to-back 4-0 and 3-0 defeats to Ajax and Napoli respectively to start what would become the worst ever Champions League group stage campaign in history.

Jonny McFarlane “conservatively” estimated Kent and Morelos’ value at £30million in a “normal scenario” amid the threat they could “walk through the exit door for nothing”.

Robertson played down such fears, saying: “With Alfredo and Ryan, those discussions are happening. The guys have got until the end of May in their existing contracts. We will try to engage with players when we want them to extend. Some will want to take time because it’s a big decision for them.”

Well, fast forward to now and it does indeed appear that both will be departing for zero return, with Mail+ reporting on Wednesday (19 April) that the Colombian is “expected to leave” this summer and that Burnley have “made their move” to pick up the Englishman on a free transfer.

Robertson had pointed to Connor Goldson’s last minute extension as why there was no need to panic, saying: “Connor signed for us once again in the summer and it was a big move for Connor. He’s from the Midlands, he’s got a young family, his support network is down there. I understand why players have multiple reasons why they may not want to extend their contract at the end of the day.”

At this stage it would take a surprise turnaround that far surpasses the injured defenders return to see Kent or Morelos in a Rangers shirt next season, and there is a fair argument that neither should be brought back, but letting them walk for nothing weakens the rebuild.

Robertson noted the signings of Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey as examples of the club taking advantage of contracts running down from a buyer’s side, and yet when around £30million was secured with the sales of the duo to Southampton and Ajax respectively last summer the squad saw nothing like that reinvested, and still requires major work.

Perhaps the Rangers CEO would point to the January signings of Nico Raskin and Todd Cantwell – both bought six months before their deals were up but essentially out in the cold at Standard Liege and Norwich respectively.

But the Light Blues have been forced to target these sorts of deals because they don’t have major spending power so losing out on £10million in sales is a blow, let alone £30million. Michael Beale needs a lot more this summer and indications are that he doesn’t have anything resembling a war chest to land it.

So the words of reassurance ring hollow with millions set to leave that the club never sees a penny of, and when millions have come in it disappears into the Ibrox ether to finance debts, loans, or whatever else, but the less-than forthcoming hierarchy never really make clear except to suggest fans’ transfer hopes are unrealistic.

That is not to say the club suits are a nefarious group secretly working against the Gers’ interests, but they bristle at criticism, as they did at what proved to be a surprisingly light grilling at the AGM on 6 December, and brush off fan frustrations as Robertson did in the 1 October interview.

What he said has been shown to be meaningless as not only are the two most valuable assets now on the brink of exits for free, but since he spoke all of manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst, chairman Douglas Park, and sporting director Ross Wilson have all left one way or another.

And still there hasn’t been much in the way of communication at all from new chairman John Bennett.

Change is inevitable at any club but clearly things aren’t moving forward in serene fashion. That was obvious in October when Robertson was downplaying the situation, it was obvious at the AGM when the board rejected criticism of their work, and it is obvious now when the third share issue in as many months has been made [Daily Record, 18 April].

In other Rangers news, one exit-bound ace may be set for a surprise stay based on Graeme Souness’ assessment.