NafisaDerek McInnes has made his position clear after Rangers suffered another damaging defeat, insisting he has no intention of walking away from the club despite the growing frustration surrounding his difficult start at Ibrox.
The Rangers boss watched his side fall to a dramatic 2-1 defeat against Hibernian on Sunday, leaving him without a win in any of his first three competitive matches in charge.
Yet despite the mounting pressure and furious reaction from sections of the Rangers support, McInnes delivered a defiant message after the final whistle.
Rather than discussing his future in terms of resignation, the 55-year-old insisted that he remains determined to turn Rangers into the team he believes they can become.
The defeat was another bitter blow for the Light Blues, who had already drawn 1-1 with Dundee United in their Scottish Premiership opener before suffering a 2-1 Europa League qualifying defeat to Jagiellonia Bialystok.
There was therefore huge pressure on Rangers to deliver their first league victory of the season in front of their own supporters.
Instead, they suffered another setback.
Josh Campbell gave Hibernian the lead from the penalty spot after Vanja Dragojevic was judged to have committed an offence inside the Rangers penalty area.
Rangers eventually found their way back into the contest when Hibs defender Miguel Chaiwa turned the ball into his own net.
But just when McInnes’ side appeared to have rescued a point, substitute Callum Wright struck in the third minute of stoppage time, with his effort taking a deflection before finding the net.
The reaction inside Ibrox at full-time told its own story.
Rangers supporters made their feelings known, with some fans staying behind to vent their anger after another disappointing result.
But McInnes refused to suggest that he was considering walking away.
Derek McInnes breaks silence on Rangers future
The Rangers manager acknowledged the frustration surrounding the club but insisted he understands the feelings of the supporters better than most.
McInnes pointed towards the long wait for another league title and the disappointment that has followed Rangers for years.
“I understand the frustration, I share the frustration,” he said.
“It’s 15 years of frustration here at this club. Nobody knows that more than me. We won one title (during Covid times). Fans didn’t even get to see the title win.”
McInnes believes that frustration naturally follows every Rangers team into the next campaign, particularly when results fail to match expectations.
“So every Rangers team is a by-product of that frustration,” he added.
“So the Rangers fans just want to see their team winning and so do I. And we will get there.”
That was arguably the clearest indication yet that McInnes has no intention of quitting.
Rather than asking supporters to give him more time, however, the Rangers boss accepted that the responsibility now rests firmly with himself and his players to produce results.
“I’m not going to ask the fans for more patience because I think the Rangers fans have been patient enough,” McInnes said.
“So it’s up to us to give them a winning team more often than not. And we will get there.”
The manager also admitted that Rangers could use some assistance in the transfer market as he attempts to reshape his squad.
“We could do with some help,” he said.
“And we’re working hard to try and get some bodies in. And we could do with a wee bit more luck than we got today, certainly.”
That final point could become increasingly important with Rangers still searching for attacking and defensive reinforcements before the transfer window closes.
Youssef Chermiti injury adds to Rangers misery
The defeat was made even more concerning by the injury suffered by Youssef Chermiti.
The Portuguese striker had been the subject of a reported £22million bid from Galatasaray, which Rangers rejected before Sunday’s match.
McInnes had already made it clear that the club wanted Chermiti to remain at Ibrox, but the striker’s afternoon ended prematurely when he suffered an impact injury and had to be carried from the pitch on a stretcher.
The Rangers boss confirmed that Chermiti left the stadium with his knee in a brace and is due to undergo a scan.
“The bid was rejected, which we are delighted about. We know it’s a big number that came in for him,” McInnes said.
“But we have got plans for Youssef to be with us this season and be part of something.”
The manager was particularly disappointed to lose Chermiti during the match, having felt that the striker had looked dangerous before his injury.
“Disappointed for the big fella that he has to come off on a stretcher. I thought he was looking bright and running gaps,” he said.
“He played with a bit of purpose. And there’s no doubt we missed that.”
McInnes confirmed that Chermiti left with his knee protected and that Rangers would wait for the scan before making any further assessment.
“But he’s left in a boot and his knee in a brace. And we’ll get him scanned tomorrow,” he added.
“So, we don’t want people to speculate. But hopefully we’ll get some luck on the scan tomorrow and he can be back in a Rangers shirt before too long.”
Rangers cannot afford another setback
The immediate pressure on McInnes is obvious.
Celtic and St Mirren have already taken maximum points from their opening two league matches, while Rangers sit five points behind the early leaders after just two games.
That is not the start McInnes would have wanted.
However, Sunday’s defeat does not appear to have changed his determination to succeed at Ibrox.
Instead, the Rangers boss has effectively accepted that the pressure is his to carry.
He knows the supporters are frustrated. He knows results have not been good enough. He knows Rangers still require additions to the squad.
But his message was unmistakable: he believes he can turn things around.
“We will get there,” he repeated.
For McInnes, the next few weeks will be crucial.
Rangers need victories, they need new signings to strengthen a squad that has already shown weaknesses, and they need to give their supporters a reason to believe that this season will not become another campaign dominated by frustration.
The manager may have suffered a miserable opening to life at Ibrox, but based on his own words after the Hibs defeat, resignation is not on his mind.
McInnes wants to stay, rebuild and deliver the winning Rangers team he believes supporters have been waiting far too long to see.
Nafisa
