Jack Butland captaincy role mooted at Rangers amid James Tavernier exit speculation
Kenny Miller has discussed the idea of Jack Butland becoming Rangers captain if James Tavernier leaves the club this summer.
Miller [29 May, 10m10s] said Butland would be an obvious replacement if Tavernier – linked with a reunion in Saudi Arabia with Steven Gerrard [Daily Record], who initially handed him the Gers captaincy – was to depart Ibrox.
The former Rangers and Celtic striker however claimed he wouldn’t be overly convinced on the idea of a Light Blues captain being a goalkeeper, and could only be provided Butland himself stays amid strong Premier League interest.
“There may be a situation where [Tavernier] is not at the club any longer,” said Miller on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (29 May).
“It would be natural that there needs to be a new captain. The obvious one is there in terms of Jack Butland, if he’s still there as well.
“For the goalkeeper, it’s a tough one. I believe that at Rangers, the captain should be right in the heat of the battle and able to reach his teammates all over the field.”
Rangers must hold onto dressing room leaders
Rangers’ revamp of the squad this summer could be so heavy that they could head into the opening weeks of the new season with an unrecognisable group of players to those which fell short in the league and Scottish Cup this year.
But the need to keep the leadership spine of the squad for Philippe Clement is perhaps even more crucial than strengthening key areas with exciting new recruits.
One would wonder where on earth Rangers could be next season without the likes of Butland, Tavernier and Connor Goldson – the latter duo could be offered lucrative Middle East switches to Gerrard’s management at Al-Ettifaq, whilst Butland’s desire to stay at Ibrox may have dwindled following his snub from the England Euro 2024 squad.
Experienced heads such as John Lundstram, Ryan Jack and Borna Barisic are all moving on, as is Kemar Roofe, and there simply has to be a structured leadership group in the dressing room weeks in advance of the 2024-25 campaign for Rangers to have any chance of keeping ground with Celtic early doors.
And Clement knows the buck stops with him.
In other Rangers news, David Edgar has given his verdict on Gers’ ended interest in Jose Cordoba.
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