Jack Butland ‘position to be assessed’ as Rangers trial begins
Jack Butland could find himself on trial at Rangers as his performances may affect his position at Ibrox next summer.
The 31-year-old was impressive as the Gers beat Fenerbahce 3-1 in the Europa League on Thursday (6 March).
Butland wasn’t at his best against Motherwell, though, as he was culpable in conceding the first goal as the Light Blues lost 2-1 on 1 March.
With Barry Ferguson taking interim charge of the Bears, the shot-stopper may find himself fighting for a place in the starting lineup once next season starts.
Rangers need Butland to prove he is number one
Butland will be assessed by the next permanent manager at the Glaswegian outfit, Mark Guidi says.
The Scottish journalist believes the England international needs to prove his worth at the Gers before being handed the number one spot.
| Competition (2024/25) | Appearances | Clean Sheets |
| Scottish Premiership | 23 | 10 |
| Europa League | 9 | 2 |
Guidi thinks the former Manchester United ace is now on trial at the Light Blues and can’t take his position for granted ahead of next season.
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show (7 March), the Scotsman said: “I think he needs to show he’s a worthy Rangers number one. He can’t take that position for granted. Whether it’s Barry or someone else, he will be assessed now. The goodwill of the first nine months of last season is gone. He’s on trial. But he showed [against Fenerbahce] what a top goalkeeper he is.”
Ibrox to lose patience with Butland after consistent errors
Butland has been error-prone at Ibrox this season, and it isn’t surprising to see fans wanting a change in between the sticks.
Over the last two matches, the 31-year-old has shown both the good and bad parts of his game, leading to questions about his abilities.
The Englishman signed for the Gers in 2023 and has since been the first-choice goalkeeper, but that may change soon if his displays don’t get better.
Liam Kelly was signed at Ibrox last summer, and the 29-year-old has done relatively well whenever he has been called upon.
Andrew Cavenagh, along with the 49ers Enterprises, will arguably bring much-needed financial muscle with them to the Glaswegian outfit once they complete their takeover.
The Bears could be in for an exciting summer, with a complete overhaul of the team that find themselves 16 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership.
With the goalkeeping department not the best at Ibrox, whether the prospective new owners will want to bolster the position next summer remains to be seen.