So now that another Old Firm defeat (or non-win) dust has settled, the question us Rangers fans must ask ourselves is ‘what now?’.

That Rangers have not won an Old Firm since August 2021, aside that cup semi, is a deeply worrying state of affairs that leaves us with one win in 6.

League-wise our green relatives have completely got the measure of us and no amount of ‘we should have won that’ statements or even whining about VAR (it was borderline cheating but we’ve covered that) will make a 3-2 loss turn into anything else.

So, what is the next step?

Well, let’s be honest, while our manager was excellent at Loftus Road and his record remains impressive at Ibrox too, he is still a rookie in this position and he’s learning how to be Rangers manager as he goes.

Do we trust Michael Beale? No, we don’t. Three Old Firm failures have led to that. A lot of fabrications and red herrings and patent claims which he didn’t follow through on have also led to that.

We also do not trust the majority of the squad, because aside a few clear exceptions, the bulk of the group isn’t up to the standard of surpassing Celtic. Yes, not matching, surpassing.

So what is the next step? Well, we’re not going to replace Michael Beale, who in fairness to him looks like he’s truly committed to this club and wants to make this work, so we have little option but to get behind the manager, regardless of our distrust of his word.

But the real next step is a gargantuan, ridiculous, massive clear out akin to the 20-man exodus we postulated a week or so ago, and which 60% plus of you thought was madness and over the top. You may still hold that view, and we certainly stand by ours.

We absolutely, 100% do not have enough good Rangers-level players, and Michael Beale has challenged Rangers’ board to support him with serious funding this summer.

Will that happen? Well, we need to sell some players, simple. Kamara has to go. Barisic may go. And there may be a few surprise exits. We won’t get a penny for the out of contracts, of course.

Michael Beale needs some major financial clout going forward into the summer – but the problem is without the sales he doesn’t have it.

Rangers do not have our disposal the funds Celtic have already in their bank – they not only have those funds at their beck and call, but they also already have an experienced title-winning squad with pretty fresh personnel.

Rangers’ players are tired and most of them have been at Ibrox too long. So not only do we not have the players at Celtic’s standards at the moment, but we don’t have even a fraction of the funds they do to strengthen.

So, again, what now? We’re really not sure.

Michael Beale has made an appeal to the board to support him this summer, and they may well have a few quid they can indeed give, but ultimately we’re not sure we have the tools at our disposal to bridge the gap to Celtic any time soon. Unless we make some superb sales.

It’s not exactly looking that promising, if we’re honest.

Surprise us Rangers.