The 10-part plan to rebuilding Rangers

Critics. Analysts. Pundits. Writers, Bloggers. Commentators.

We’re an annoying bunch, aren’t we? We analyse and criticise and praise (occasionally) but we rarely offer many solutions to the problems we see. Indeed, it’s a criticism we get on the site a fair bit – negative this, grumpy that – but not offering our own way forward for Rangers.

So to buck the trend, and to coincide with today’s ST renewal plea, we would like to submit our 10–part plan to get Rangers on the right path, because right now it feels like no path at all.

Stage One:

By hook or by crook secure second. We don’t care how this is done, but none of the rest of our plan can happen ‘easily’ without second. We need the £2.3M, and we need the resulting Europa League cash. We don’t trust Graeme Murty or the team to deliver this, but we simply put our faith in the lap of the Gods and hope they do. Because without that second place, the rest is going to be very hard.

Stage Two:

Sell Alfredo Morelos. This one is critical. Regardless of securing runners up spot, we simply have to get the millions for the Colombian – for reinvestment. He doesn’t want to be here, and we can get a few squid for him. This sale is also a massive plan B to failing to get second and failing in Europe. And we need around £8M+ here.

Stage Three:

Secure Jason Cummings (£1M) and Jamie Murphy (£600K), and try to convince QPR to part with Goss.

Stage Four:

Get in a real manager. Graeme Murty has had his time, and hasn’t convinced anyone. We need a proper flipping manager at Ibrox – we haven’t had one since Walter retired. It’s half the reason we’ve bumbled around with six (count them) managers since 2010. We quite like the idea of Frank De Boer, and honourable mentions to go Steve Clarke, Steve Robinson, Tommy Wright and Stuart McCall. But whoever it is, a real manager please!

Stage Five:

Using the Morelos millions, fix that damn defence. There is a semblance of a good squad at Ibrox, but if one area of the pitch has been a disgrace since Dorin Goian and Carlos Bocanegra left, it’s central defence. It’s high time the new manager signed up three high quality CBs, between the ages of 25-33 (no left-field youth from ‘West Brom’s prestigious academy’ or washed up old mercenaries please), and got the rearguard sorted.

Stage Six:

Improve the scouting network. It was installed in October last year yet we’ve brought in only one notable player (Glenn Middleton) in that time. If we need more staff to cover more (youth) matches, so be it. Bring in more scouts, and start truly unearthing talent that is ready and fit for first team/squad deployment.

Stage Seven:

Better transparency – in simple terms Rangers’ communication with fans is absolutely horrendous. The chairman rarely furnishes fans with anything other than annual hogwash prior to renewals, and less and less do supporters really know what’s happening. Abolish the Club1872 links – how exactly has making one supporters’ group officially endorsed helped the running of the club or enhanced communication? It didn’t work the last time we had a fan board (remember that?) appointed by the club, and it isn’t helping now. The club simply needs to directly communicate better with supporters on an official basis without gimmicks – and today’s cryptic ST renewal piffle is the perfect example of how not to do that.

Stage Eight:

Clarity on the shares issue – ties in with the last one – it’s about time the chairman and the board came clean on their exact intentions with regards a share issue and floating. We’ve had smoke and mirrors, and it’s high time new shares were issued and the club was put back on the AIM. King always said he didn’t want to, but it shouldn’t really be up to him. Investment won’t happen unless the club gets on an exchange.

Stage Nine:

Secure a club-exclusive TV rights deal in an Asian country. The SPFL woke up to China and got themselves a TV deal to expose the league to 1.4 billion people. Asia is where the money is – Rangers need to get a broadcast deal with an Asian nation (Indonesia could be a great bet), grow our exposure there and increase the fanbase.

Stage Ten:

Ties in with Nine – enough of the trashy pre-seasons at West Highland Warriors in three-part shambles or visits from Dumbarton Juniors to Auchenhowie – we need to get out there – to Asia. EPL clubs cottoned onto this decades ago – remember that Arsenal bus propaganda video in Vietnam during pre-season tour there in 2013? Brilliant work from the Gunners to propagate their brand – it’s why they’re one of the world’s biggest clubs. They sussed the Asian market forever ago. Rangers need to go to these places, pick up new supporters, spread the brand and get the money in.

And that’s yer lot to start with. Ten stages (there are many more) of ways we can get our Rangers to grow on the right path.

Any more you good folk have?