Scottish Bias

At the conclusion of last season, Andrew Cavanagh mentioned that our transfer strategy would shift. Moving forward, we aim to recruit players who are Scottish or have experience in the SPFL.

So far, we've welcomed Lawrence Shankland, Ross McRorie, and Cammy Devlin, who fit the profile Mr. Cavanagh described.

We've also been linked to players like James Penrice and Lewis Ferguson. Whether these signings will happen is still uncertain.

In previous successful periods, such as under Walter Smith, our team was filled with Scottish players or those with experience in our league. Players like Ally McCoist, Stuart McCall, David Robertson, Andy Goram, Iain Ferguson, Ian Durrant, and Gordon Durie could arguably have played at a higher level, like the English Premier League. Then there were players like Dave McPherson, John Brown, Alec Cleland, and Scott Nisbet, who weren't necessarily stars but were leaders willing to give their all for the team.

During Walter's second tenure, the team included Barry Ferguson, Lee McCulloch, Kevin Thompson, David Weir, Christian Dailly, Kirk Broadfoot, Kris Boyd, Kenny Miller, and Nacho Novo. Across Walter's two terms as manager, the team won 10 league titles, 5 Scottish Cups, and 6 League Cups, with notable performances in Europe. In 92/93, Rangers eliminated English Champions Leeds United to qualify for the first-ever Champions League, coming close to reaching the final. In 2008, Rangers had another strong run in the UEFA Cup, reaching the final but losing to Zenit St. Petersburg. The presence of many Scottish players was crucial to these successes, especially during the Champions League run, as clubs were limited to three foreign players in their matchday squad.

In the present day, we have a Scottish manager, Derek McInnes, who has gained experience in the Scottish League with St. Johnstone, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, and most recently Hearts. He played under Walter Smith during the famous nine-in-a-row run and likely benefited from Smith's advice. McInnes has managed over 800 games in the Scottish league, achieving promotions with St. Johnstone and Kilmarnock, winning the Scottish League Cup with Aberdeen, and being a runner-up in both the Scottish Cup and the league. Most recently, his Hearts team came close to winning the Scottish championship, a feat not achieved by any Scottish team in over 40 years. This experience positions him well for success with Rangers.

Returning to the transfer strategy,

Mr Cavanagh acknowledges that we can't field 11 Scots each week. However, when evaluating players, if two have similar attributes, we will favor the one with Scottish/SPFL experience. Not all players may be available in one transfer window, but over time, the squad will evolve as envisioned by Mr. Cavanagh, Jim Gillespie, and the team.

In conclusion, Rangers have made a promising start with their Scottish/SPFL focus. At the top, Jim Gillespie, a Rangers man, oversees the club, bringing his experience from successful stints like with League Cup winners St. Mirren. The club has also signed SPFL Manager of the Year Derek Mcinnes, Leading SPFL Goalscorer Lawrence Shankland, and Cammy Devlin, statistically one of the best midfielders last season.

also the re-signing of Ross McRorie, who knows both the league and Rangers, are significant additions. These players will restore an identity to Rangers that has been absent for a while, setting the standards for success and helping those from outside Scotland/SPFL understand what is expected when wearing the Rangers jersey.

Only time will tell if this approach will succeed, but the future looks promising. The positive atmosphere is gradually returning to Ibrox. Now it's up to Derek and his players to make Rangers the most successful team in Scotland once more. Let's bring back the good times for all the Bears traveling to and from Ibrox, ensuring the boats from Ulster are filled with joy and songs celebrating Rangers' successes once again.

Alan

HATW 1872