Rangers told to address ‘absolute shambles’ this summer as player exits inevitable
Rangers exits this summer are inevitable but the club must address their issues with recruitment that has been an “absolute shambles”, Derek Ferguson has said.
What looked like a hugely positive campaign just a couple of months ago turned into a damp squib of a season for the Gers.
They endured a poor end to the Scottish Premiership season to be beaten to the title by rivals Celtic, who also defeated Philippe Clement’s men in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday (25 May).
Ferguson, speaking exclusively to Ibrox News was asked if it meant the end of the road for players such as John Lundstram and Ben Davies.
While he concurred there has to be departures, he felt it was the process for incomings that has fallen well short of expectations over the past half a decade.
“They’ve (certain players) got to go, they’ve got to be gone,” he said.
“You don’t want to be sat here as an ex-pro just absolutely caning players but there’s got to be an honesty there and honestly I just don’t think we’re good enough overall, that whole squad.
“We need quality. The problem is quality costs money, we’ve not got money, so that’s where you have to recruit far better.
“Listen the recruitment has been criticised and rightly so over the last five, six years in fact it’s been an absolute shambles.
“I think we’ve seen it with the manager, he’s kind of started to say things in his press conferences then he’s backed off because he’s trying to curtail that a little bit. Well, for guys like me, ex-professionals, it’s been an absolute shambles and you can see that at the minute.
“They talked about these young players (against Hearts), they’re not young players they’re 21 years old, you’re not young at 21 in a football sense.
“I think once you’re over the age of 19 that’s it, you shouldn’t be classed as a youngster, these guys should have been maybe given their chance before they’ve had just now that’s because the manager has been trying to integrate them but you cannot do everything at the same time, that’s when you need to look at the past and that’s where the criticism comes from.”
Do Rangers have a recruitment issue at Ibrox?
One of the sticks that was used to beat former boss Michael Beale was the signings he made last summer.
There were nine in total and it is fair to say not all were up to the job and it was something that ultimately contributed to his demise.
Well, if Clement is going to bridge the gap to Celtic next season then frankly Rangers have to get their recruitment policy in order.
There has to be a focus on younger, hungrier talent with resale value so they can be more sustainable in terms of the quality in the squad.
In other Rangers news, Clement is now under “serious pressure” at Ibrox.
For more Rangers news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.