Rangers fans resoundingly chose Nico Raskin to be new Rangers captain. But having previously chosen Lawrence Shankland, it’s pretty clear Derek McInnes’ arrival changes things. Raskin v Shankland is intriguing.
Raskin was to be Danny Rohl’s new captain. Rohl had spoken him up as his captain, and was set to promote him.
But then the two had a big falling out over two incidents. Raskin disagreeing with Rohl on the issue of Rangers’ mentality. And then Rohl slagging off Rangers’ midfield as lazy which his ‘captain’ took exception to.
Raskin never played under Rohl again.
Rohl is now gone, however, but Raskin is seeking his own Rangers exit and has no intention of staying unless he doesn’t get the offer he wants.
Which means with McInnes’ arrival imminent, surely Lawrence Shankland has to be the captain?
Rangers, currently, have no leaders in that squad at all aside the ex-Hearts skipper. He’s grown up a tonne in Edinburgh and is now a much better leader than he was as a younger player.
But there’s no one else. Butland, Souttar and some flimsy shouts for Barron and Sterling are all Rangers have for the armband.
The other is of course the Belgian and if McInnes, under various circumstances, does choose him as Rangers’ new captain then Ibrox Noise will back that. Even amid Raskin v Shankland.
But he isn’t our choice.
Of the current squad, Shankland has to be the pick, especially given his incoming manager had him as captain at Tynecastle.
But as much as it looks like fate, it doesn’t mean Shankland is guaranteed the armband.
When McInnes arrives, we do hope he sorts that situation out fairly quickly.
Rangers have a big vacancy there and deserve to have a proper captain for the first time in many, many years.
Maybe that is indeed Shankland, but Del will have the final call there.