The Alex Rae story breaking the past 24 hours is a good indicator of where Rangers were, and where Rangers are now.
Now, we don’t pretend everything is fixed at Ibrox by any means, but the shambles over Rae’s sacking reminds us very much of Jim McAlister and his similar sacking.
And our point is that these two messes were both carried out by the former regime, run by Patrick Stewart and still headed by the Park family.
Compensation
In short terms, both men had their contracts violated and weren’t paid compensation. Rae was sacked and his contractual obligations weren’t fulfilled. McAlister was exactly the same.
Moreover both received around £13,000 in compensation in court.
And the big deal here?
New regime
Rangers are no longer run by the regime responsible for both of these.
Fundamentally Rae wasn’t our first choice as coach under former manager Philippe Clement. But the boy is a good Rangers man and always wants the best for the club. McAlister was an honourable and popular kit man.
Both were treated like garbage under the Park era, and with that era long gone, the 49ers, while clearly successful businessmen, do not strike us as the types who will violate contracts.
Thelwell
Obviously Stewart and Kevin Thelwell are both gone, and we highly doubt either man will not have been compensated correctly. That’s how sacking in football goes. Contracts protect the client.
McAlister and Alex Rae were badly treated, and we are glad to see the poorly-run nature of Rangers’ former era seems to be maybe coming to an end.
Basically the 49ers haven’t done too much wrong since appointing Rohl. It’s been a long way from perfect, no regime will ever get it all right. Their start to life at Ibrox with Russell Martin was a disaster.
But at the moment off the pitch is going alright now as well for once.