Credit: Imago

Daniel Lewis

Wed 6 May 2026 8:10, UK

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl is already facing a few questions regarding his future, but the board clearly do not have concerns amid an update from Alex McLeish.

Rohl’s side lost 2-1 at Hearts on Monday to see their Scottish Premiership title hopes come to an end, even if not officially yet.

Rangers have been playing catch up for the vast majority of the campaign, with the Light Blues nowhere near contention when Rohl replaced Russell Martin in October.

However, the German is not devoid of blame as Rangers have fallen short too often when the pressure has been on to get a result.

Fans are not happy with the club’s current standing following defeat to Hearts, but McLeish has now offered an insight into what the board think.

Alex McLeish reveals talks with Rangers board member Fraser Thornton

Rangers red flags have emerged over Rohl on the back of defeats to Motherwell and Hearts since the Scottish Premiership resumed.

The brutal reality is that finishing anywhere other than first, let alone third, will be considered a massive failure for the German.

That is despite the fact Rohl did so much good work in getting Rangers into title contention in the first place.

He is certainly not the biggest factor behind this season’s pretty disastrous campaign, but he does have to take some of the blame.

Rangers fans will be angrier with the Ibrox board over some questionable decisions since the 49ers and Andrew Cavenagh came on board.

But as per former Gers boss McLeish, those high up are clearly not concerned.

“I was at a dinner in London last week with Fraser Thornton, who sits on the board,” McLeish told the Daily Record.

“He’s adamant they’ve got the right ideas and that they’re headed in the right direction. We have to trust that.”

Thornton would have been speaking prior to the Hearts loss – and maybe even the Motherwell one – so the mood is understandably different now.

The right ideas they may have, but executing them has been another matter entirely. Lessons quite simply need to be learned.

McLeish hits nail on head with Rangers appointment hint

McLeish added in the same interview that Rangers have lacked a “mentor figure” behind the scenes in recent years.

Given the 67-year-old’s success in the dugout, he is worth listening to. McLeish mentioned how he had a certain Walter Smith to lean on when he was in charge.

Rohl and Martin, two young coaches, have not had that figure. Smith is no longer around, of course, but there are others who can be leaned on.

While not exactly vastly experienced himself, Barry Ferguson is someone a figure like Rohl could perhaps work closely with.

‘Knowing the club’ is as big a cliché as there is, but there is some truth to it. Too many managers do not get the importance of simply winning game after game.

These are the small factors the Rangers board need to pay closer focus to on the back of a dismal 2025-26.

Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from the heart of Govan.