Rangers boss Danny Rohl isn't going anywhere, even if the Ibrox side finish the season empty-handed. That's the word from Alex Rae, who's adamant the German manager will get time to reshape the squad this summer.
It's been a tough week for the Light Blues. They crashed out of the Scottish Cup on penalties to Celtic last Sunday, and now sit third in the Premiership. With Hearts six points clear at the top and just nine games left, the title looks like a long shot.
Rohl came in after Russell Martin's disastrous spell and initially turned things around. But recent results have put him under pressure. Losing to a weakened Celtic side, then blowing a two-goal lead against them the week before, hasn't gone down well with the fans.
Board Still Backs the Boss
But according to Rae, the Rangers board won't pull the trigger on another managerial change. "Does he have to win the title to keep his job? No, not at all," Rae told PLZ Soccer. "If you're giving a guy from October to the middle of May, that's no time at all."
The former Rangers player reckons Rohl has done the basics right. He's made the team harder to beat and steadied the ship after Martin's mess. Yes, they need more attacking threat, but the foundation is there.
Rangers brought in four or five players in January, though none have really stood out yet. There's talk about Andreas Skov Olsen coming in permanently, but at £8-9 million, that's a gamble based on what we've seen so far.
Summer Clear-Out Coming
Former Scotland keeper Alan Rough agrees that Rohl deserves time. "I think he will be questioning some of the players," Rough said. "He said 'the major part of my job is identifying players who I don't want here next season'."
So expect a serious shake-up when the transfer window opens. Rohl has been assessing his squad, and plenty of players won't make the cut. The real judgment on this manager will come when we see who he ships out and who he brings in.
For punters looking at next season's markets, this summer rebuild could completely change Rangers' prospects. If Rohl gets the players he wants, they could be genuine title contenders again. But if the board doesn't back him with proper funds, it could be another frustrating campaign at Ibrox.
The bottom line? Rohl's safe for now, but he knows this squad needs major surgery. The next few months will tell us whether Rangers can close the gap on Hearts and get back to winning trophies.
