Dramatic developments at Ibrox will have rivals quaking…

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Dramatic developments at Ibrox will have rivals quaking…


As we revealed last night on Ibrox Noise, Rangers are working on bringing in Southampton’s Ross Wilson as the club’s new Director of Football to replace Mark Allen, and it’s safe to say this is an appointment, two years in the making, that has the potential to take Rangers to a new level both domestically and in Europe.

There is no denying Mark Allen’s tenure at Ibrox divided fans – what was a former youth coach doing as Director of Football, and was his role any more than a glorified scout. But the club is on a better footing over the past two years, and that is in many ways thanks to him as well as Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard was of course exclusively Allen’s man, and it’s worked out better so far than previous incumbents post-2012 did.

But Allen was not Rangers’ first choice, and Rangers’ solid if slightly modest progress may be substantially down to not getting the preferred DoF the board desired.

Secure Ross Wilson, who comes with a fine reputation and who has done a stellar job at Southampton, and it is a massive statement of intent at Ibrox.

A statement of intent that Gerrard’s budget may well increase, a statement of intent that the club is ready to make the final step to overtaking Celtic that it’s been threatening to do for over a year now, but not quite been able to manifest.

Wilson was the first choice when King took over, and once the board had indeed decided to go the DoF route, he was the man they wanted, but were unable to bring due to his decision to remain at St Mary’s.

But with Allen gone now Rangers could well get their man, if he now believes the time is right, and Rangers would be looking at a long-term appointment with a man intending to come home to his native Scotland.

He was in place at Falkirk when Arfield was there, which certainly helps Rangers’ cause – such a prominent player and unofficial captain will have a big influence in Wilson’s decision, but it’s the impact on Scottish football such an appointment could have.

Gerrard has been slightly hamstrung by limited budget. While Celtic went after megamillions signings (They’ve signed two £7M+ players in the past two seasons) Rangers had to keep the spending a little more frugal, even if Gerrard was still well-supported.

But with Wilson, the first choice as DoF, there is a nagging feeling it’s a major sea change with Rangers now getting the man they wanted in the first place.

We’re not making knee jerk assumptions that Wilson will lead to glory laden years once again, but Rangers are setting the foundations for it – time will tell if the cash follows.

But it looks good.

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5 COMMENTS

  1. He has previous in finding, developing and bringing through young players, then selling them on for vast profit.
    Yes, I think we could cope with a bit of that!! We have some great youngsters, but they will need fed into the first team. Interesting times ahead.
    RTID

  2. I hope we get him, plenty of experience up here and down south. He should come with fresh ideas and new contacts

  3. Statement of intent- fk me if im not sick of hearing that pish being spouted all the time – bottom line is its finding someone who can actually do what they're being hired to do- only statement that matters will be our position in league end of season !

  4. Yes Rob, you are right. And if you know a certain way of ensuring that, please email Dave King. The rest of us, lacking your secret, will welcome news which we believe moves the club forward, thinking as Moa Tse Tung said "The Longest Journey start with but a single step". I am happy that we have made so many good steps and will welcome the last one, when a Rangers captain lifts the League trophy.
    But I do not believe it can happen without all the other steps happening first. unless you are Harry Potteresque and have a magic wand 🙂

  5. As a follow up, I remember seismic shifts in Scottish football, and getting Willo to Ibrox Park could be up there with Celtic winning the european cup in 1967, or the creditors meeting at Ibrox Park in June 2012 when shareholders were informed that no company stepped up to the plate to save the old gers after Charles Greens CVA was rejected.
    Getting Willo at the club is as huge as remembering new gers first match against Brechin. or sevco scotland. as they were then known, before changing their name a day later to the current name.
    Still, i'm sure it's still the same club, and they only called themselves sevco scotland against Brechin for a laugh.
    Willo will stop the ten after Celtic win the 9 in a few months time because he will have access to multi million players through funds that Dave has squirreled away from SARS.
    I feel the writer is too fulsome in his praise of Celtic though as I don't recall Celtic winning Div 4, div 3, div 2 and the Petrolfac cup

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