NafisaMany Rangers supporters have heard bold promises before. Every new managerial appointment tends to arrive with optimism, fresh ideas and declarations about restoring the club to the summit of Scottish football.
Yet the reality at Ibrox over the last decade and a half has been far more complicated, with periods of frustration often outweighing moments of celebration.
The expectation surrounding Rangers never changes. Regardless of league position, financial situation or squad rebuilds, the demand remains the same: challenge for trophies and compete for the Premiership crown. That pressure has swallowed up several managers in recent years, making every appointment a significant gamble.
This summer, however, there appears to be a growing sense that Rangers are attempting to reset the culture around the first team. The arrivals of Lawrence Shankland and other transfer targets have signalled an emphasis on players who understand Scottish football and the demands that come with wearing the famous blue shirt.
Supporters will also be hoping that the club’s hierarchy can finally provide stability after another campaign that ended without silverware. With Celtic continuing to set the benchmark domestically, Rangers know that simply competing is no longer enough.
Against that backdrop, Derek McInnes has officially begun his tenure at Ibrox and wasted little time outlining his ambitions for the club.
The 54-year-old became the 22nd manager in Rangers history after departing Hearts, succeeding Danny Rohl, who recently left for RB Salzburg following a third-place finish in the Scottish Premiership.
Having grown up supporting Rangers and previously played for the club, McInnes arrives fully aware of the scrutiny that accompanies the position. Speaking during his official unveiling at Ibrox, he admitted that the opportunity felt like the right moment in his career.
“It’s a very special moment for myself and my family and a lot of people I can think of on a day like this. Having known the club for a long time, supported the club, I’m well aware of the responsibility that being manager brings. I’m excited to get going.
“I feel as though it’s the right time for me. I feel ready for it. I feel as if I belong here and I’m ready to get going with it.”
McInnes also acknowledged the frustrations endured by the Rangers support and stressed his determination to build a side capable of delivering sustained success.
“I feel as though the Rangers fans have suffered for a long time. It’s up to us to try now and play a key role in driving the standards and getting a winning Rangers team on the pitch more often than not. I’ve got an idea of what my Rangers team needs to look like, and hopefully, it’s something similar to what the Rangers fans want as well.
“The fans need something to believe in, they need something real. A lot of managers have sat in this position first day and said they were going to do this and going to do that. It’s easy to say things, but it’s a lot harder to get it done. But there’s work to be done here, but we’re going to do it well.”
The new boss also highlighted the importance of recruitment, insisting that talent alone is not enough for players hoping to thrive at Rangers.
“We’re all going to work hard to bring the best players here because it does take more than just being a good player to play for Rangers and deal with what’s expected. There has to be a lot more under the bonnet to deal with that expectation. I feel that part of my job, and the staff’s job that we bring, is to try and make the most of the current squad, but also add players that can help us be successful.”
McInnes was realistic about the demands of the role, admitting that results will ultimately determine his future at the club.
“I’m not kidded. I know if we don’t win trophies, there’ll be somebody else sitting here before too long. But I come here with the confidence I know with the resources we’ve got, with the infrastructure in place, and the support we’ve got from people above us, that this should be a winning Rangers team and this should be a club that should be winning.
“Rangers give me the best chance to win, and that’s important. I know what I can bring to Rangers, but equally, I know what Rangers can give to me.”
When asked whether winning the Premiership title immediately was the objective, McInnes made his position crystal clear.
“The intention is to win the title as quickly as possible. Can we? Yeah, of course we can. It’s easy to say it, but the intention is to go and do that. We’ve got work to do as I’ve said, but the reason I’m here is because I believe we can.
“I want the players to feel that when you sign for Rangers it’s incumbent of them all that part of the reason when they sign here is to be successful. It’s incumbent of them, they’ve got to feel that responsibility. A lot of players will sign for a club for lots of reasons – location, financial reasons, all the rest of it. But there’s got to be a part that we all sign up here is to win trophies and be successful.”
For Rangers supporters, those comments will be encouraging. The challenge now is turning those ambitions into results on the pitch, with McInnes facing the task of ending Celtic’s domestic dominance and bringing major honours back to Ibrox.
Nafisa
