John Bennett faces ‘make-or-break’ Rangers moment after UEFA development
John Bennett is facing a “make-or-break” moment at Rangers, according to Gary Keown.
Writing in the Scottish Mail on Sunday (page 96, 2 June), Keown claims that if Bennett wants to continue acting as a key figure at Ibrox, the club must get a team ready which is capable of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.
The Gers will take on the likes of Lille, Fenerbache or Red Bull Salzburg in a bid to qualify for the competition.
Qualification would be worth £40million, a cash injection Keown believes is vital if the club want to remain competitive with Celtic.
Philippe Clement must guide Rangers to the UEFA Champions League
Keown has criticised Bennett’s time as chairman.
While he recognised that the Ibrox official has helped the club financially, he isn’t so sure whether Bennett is capable of running a football club.
Keown believes his position is under serious scrutiny.
And if the Gers don’t qualify for the Champions League, that scrutiny will only increase.
Supporters at Ibrox will be desperate to close the gap on Celtic next season.
To do that, securing the financial benefits of the Champions League will be very important.
It is evident that Philippe Clement’s squad needs some work, and the club need money for that.
Their potential qualifying opponents are beatable, they just need to have the reinforcements for those matches.
Bennett must therefore do all he can between now and August to help build a team capable of reaching the Champions League.
As long as he does that, all the pressure will then be on Clement and the players to deliver on the pitch.
In other Rangers news, one player’s next club has been confirmed after his exit was made official.
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