Tom Lawrence details ‘honest conversations’ with Rangers teammates and makes ‘not the club for you’ warning
Tom Lawrence has admitted there has been “a few honest conversations” among Rangers staff, but suggests players must “thrive” off the pressure.
As reported by BBC Sport (15 September), the 29-year-old claims he and his teammates must move forward after the Old Firm defeat left him and the Ibrox faithful “gutted”.
Boss Michael Beale remains under tremendous scrutiny amid a poor start to the season, but Lawrence pulled no punches when saying anyone who does not enjoy pressure that the Gers “isn’t the club for you”.
Lawrence said: “It’s been a difficult start to the season but we’re looking up now, we can’t look in the past. Everyone was disappointed, the whole changing room was really down after the game. There were a few honest conversations.
“We know what it means to the fans and we were gutted we couldn’t get a result for them, it’s always difficult, we know how big those games are, it hurts us and the fans. We’ve got a lot of new faces here and playing for this club is a big pressure but you have to deliver when you play for this club.
“If you don’t like pressure, this isn’t the club for you. You have to thrive off of that pressure, that’s something that I’ve missed so much after being out for a year.”
Honest
Lawrence does not hide away from the pressure of wearing the Rangers shirt, and his honest reflection of the start to the season could go a long way to helping offer some reassurance to disgruntled fans.
Performances must improve, but a relatively favourable run of fixtures awaits Beale as the international break comes to a close. An away trip to St Johnstone has rarely been such a high-pressure clash, and Beale will be fully aware that coming home without all three points will only see the scrutiny increased.
Lawrence has made just two substitute appearances this season – brief cameos in the Celtic and Ross County clashes but may expect more game time after coming back from a long-term Achilles tendon injury that ruined his debut season.
However, he is showing that he has the right mentality to help Rangers get out of this rut and back to the expected standards. Beale also noted the need to respond ahead of the St Johnstone clash, with fans continuing to turn on the boss.
A significant mentality shift is needed amongst the Rangers squad, and Lawrence will look to finally make a long-term impact when it matters most.
In other Rangers new, Dean Jones reveals the board’s view on Beale’s sack decision.