During a recent internal interview, it took Rangers’ chairman, John Bennett, just 15 minutes to express an overly optimistic perspective that should be cautioned against by those at Ibrox. “This is a club that needs to achieve victories,” Bennett remarked. “That is something that will never change. Rangers are bound to win.”
Bennett might benefit from reviewing recent history. Since 2011, Rangers have secured only one Premiership title. Their League Cup achievements have been the same during that time. Moreover, they have succeeded in lifting the Scottish Cup just once since 2009. Despite this lack of silverware, Rangers continue to exist and operate, with tens of thousands of season ticket holders still supporting the club. We are currently in a period characterized by Celtic’s dominance in Scottish football. It is disappointing to see someone as astute as Bennett resort to invoking such worn-out phrases, as this could generate unnecessary pressure from fans eager for results.
As the Premiership season in Scotland is set to commence on Saturday, the main threat to Celtic appears to be themselves. Rangers, both on and off the field, are currently a far cry from being competitive. This assessment is underscored by Rangers’ need to temporarily relocate to Hampden Park for the initial stages of the season due to the mismanaged upgrade of disabled facilities at Ibrox. During the same interview, Bennett attempted to provide updates on three vessels transporting materials from the far east to Glasgow, humorously stating, “Vessel No 1 has arrived; we await vessels two and three.” This has a somewhat farcical air, as Rangers seem to be adrift.
Last season ended for them in expected style, finishing well behind their rivals. Their cautious spending strategy since is a prudent one—Rangers have a history of reckless overspending—but it will do little to close the existing gap. The club’s directors appear to be unwilling to address the financial shortfalls at Ibrox. There is also an ongoing court case concerning retail deals, poised to potentially cost Rangers millions. Renting the national stadium of Scotland adds another layer of significant expense.
Philippe Clement has acknowledged that the extent of the necessary overhaul at the club is more substantial than he initially expected upon taking over from Michael Beale. It’s surprising that the Belgian was taken aback. His current challenge lies in the fact that he lacks the resources to implement significant changes, while his chairman continues to reiterate tired phrases regarding the necessity of success. Rangers’ faith in Clement—who was recently awarded a contract that extends until 2028—is puzzling, especially considering the collapse from a promising position in the title race last season. So far, Clement has not demonstrated the ability to adapt his tactical strategies, and empowering him under these circumstances seems precarious.
Rangers fans are starting this season with tempered expectations, which is quite revealing. Although the lack of strength in the Scottish league might suggest a theoretical title race, it would truly be astonishing if Rangers could reverse the trend when it matters most. Only if Clement manages to lead Rangers through the qualification stages and into the Champions League could the atmosphere shift.
Celtic, on the other hand, possesses substantial financial resources; their coffers will soon benefit from this year’s Champions League revenue. Some fans of the Scottish champions express unease over the club’s reluctance to spend. This summer provides a crucial opportunity for Celtic to enhance their financial strategies, not merely with Scotland in focus, but in anticipation of a return to the Champions League.
From an optics standpoint, it would be catastrophic for Celtic to finish at the bottom or near the bottom of the Champions League in its newly formatted version. Being last among 36 teams carries significantly more negative connotations than struggling in a simpler four-team group. Celtic’s historical performance in European competitions has been disappointing; a primary goal for Brendan Rodgers when he resumed his role last summer was almost certainly to elevate the club’s standing in more prestigious competitions.
Consequently, Celtic has no justification for not pursuing multiple players in the £7m-£10m range to signal a desire to advance beyond Scotland. It has been six years since Celtic spent a record transfer fee. With Rodgers being the top manager in Scotland, overseeing the best squad in the league, it would be shocking if he displayed any complacency. He requires a similar level of ambition from the rest of the club’s hierarchy.
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It stands to reason that Aberdeen should see improvements with their new manager, Jimmy Thelin, despite the upcoming loss of their top scorer, Bojan Miovski. Hibernian’s partnership with Bournemouth’s ownership is already showing signs of instability. Kilmarnock’s simplistic play under Derek McInnes was again laid bare in their European defeat to Cercle Brugge. Meanwhile, St Mirren impressed in their dispatch of Valur; the challenge for Stephen Robinson, who has excelled in Paisley, will be to carry that form into the domestic league. Hearts face a similar challenge, especially with the additional pressures of European group stage play, but there will be little excuse if the Edinburgh club isn’t once more the best outside of the Old Firm given the resources at Steven Naismith’s disposal.
Scottish football could benefit from a collective moment of reflection after the national team’s disappointing performance at the Euros. The country is struggling to produce enough emerging talent capable of stepping up to aid Steve Clarke. Instead, Scotland’s Premiership continues on in a lackluster and largely non-competitive manner, where excessive praise is frequently bestowed and critical analysis of declining standards is nearly nonexistent. A reckoning will have to come at some point.
