It’s rarely been the case that things were this uncertain at Ibrox.
Rangers cannot properly plan yet for next season simply because with four matches to go, the outcome of 25/26 still isn’t known.
It’s rare that we are into May and the title remains on a knife edge with three teams able to win the league.
It’s borderline impossible.
And it’s causing a bit of consternation for Rangers because the management, recruitment and scouting team cannot budget for next season.
That is, we don’t know if we’re winning the league. Or if it’ll be Champions League. Or Europa League or Conference League.
We have absolutely no idea about anything right now. While future players are of course earmarked, nothing can be done at all.
The only absolute certainty is that Rangers have secured third place and European football, but even the competition is up in the air. It could well be Conference League, it could be Champions League. And we still don’t know at what level of either competition.
In other words, planning for next season is completely on hold in terms of strategy – everyone is waiting to see how this season pans out.
Budgeting as uncertain at Ibrox
Usually at this point the league is long gone. Rangers are usually budgeting for Champions League qualifiers, or Europa League participation.
This time around, coupled with the loss of all direct Europa League spots (they are now a parachute for UCL fails) Rangers cannot plan any budget at all.
It’s a very curious place, and one we have never really been in before.
As we say, normally by this time we’re planning for either Europa League qualification or UCL qualifiers. But we know which and what and when. We’ve already started working on who to bring in and who’s going. Not this season; that stuff is now totally up in the air.
Never before have we known this little this late on. Uncertain at Ibrox? You betcha.
Very, very surreal.