As alluded to yesterday, Rangers under Derek McInnes have not started terribly smoothly. A few fans have offered a conspiracy theory or two about what might be going on. Ibrox Noise understands that certain things have been happening at Ibrox for some considerable time. The fans have become incredibly frustrated with the situation. Derek McInnes’ Rangers hands may be entirely tied.
McInnes is manager in name only
As we discussed recently, Derek McInnes is technically not the Rangers manager. At least, he is not the manager Rangers fans were led to believe. However, the situation also goes considerably deeper.
No Rangers fan in their right mind believed that Rangers’ selection for the trip to Poland was correct. The starting XI was shambolic and the decisions taken on the night were not much better.
Consequently, a few conspiracy theories are ruling the roost at the moment. These theories concern McInnes’ own influence.
One or two suggestions claim that McInnes’ hands are tied, just like those of his predecessors. Ibrox Noise can confirm that, sadly, this is true.
Souness questioned Rangers’ decision makers
Graeme Souness set this ball in motion recently while speaking at a Premier Sports event. He discussed how non football people were making Rangers decisions.
Of course, we know that Jim Gillespie is a Rangers man. However, he has never played or managed the game. The same applies to vice chairman Fraser Thornton.
It also applies to many other staff members. Two of the big standouts, of course, are Dan Purdy and Robbie Thelwell.
They are significant figures within Rangers’ recruitment operation. Rangers also have other staff who have neither played nor managed the game. Think Mick Priest and one or two others.
Souness accused these individuals of making decisions at Rangers. They were making the wrong decisions because they did not understand what the club needed on the pitch.
Ibrox Noise understands, as discussed before, that Derek McInnes is manager in name only. Like Danny Rohl, Russell Martin and Barry Ferguson before him, he remains a head coach.
The same mistakes continue
Rangers fans could accuse Russell Martin and Danny Rohl of misunderstanding what Rangers needed. They could blame that for those coaches doing all the wrong things.
However, nobody can level the same accusation at Barry Ferguson or Derek McInnes. Yet both managers or coaches have made exactly the same ‘mistakes’ as those without Rangers connections.
This points towards influence from higher up at the club.
Indeed, much of this traces back to the diabolical appointments of Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell. Thelwell appointed his Everton ally Dan Purdy, who remains at Rangers.
He also appointed his son Robbie Thelwell, who remains at Rangers too. Furthermore, several appointments this summer appear influenced by that side of the club rather than the Rangers minded one.
Jim Gillespie is in place as CEO. We believed he would have significant influence in creating the Rangers fight that we needed.
Initially, that appeared to be happening, especially with the appointment of Allan McGregor and, naturally, McInnes himself. However, subsequent appointments and signings have suggested otherwise.
McInnes has his hands tied
Put simply, forces remain at Rangers who neither know nor understand what the club needs. Those forces continue to thrive.
Rangers have a Rangers inclined CEO and vice chairman. Nevertheless, those who do not grasp Rangers or football are making the decisions on the ground.
Those figures include Purdy, Thelwell and one or two others.
The problem Rangers currently have is that Derek McInnes’ hands are firmly tied behind his back. He must say things in the media which make him appear foolish.
He must justify what it seems he is doing. In reality, just like with many predecessors, the influence is coming from upstairs.
We will have more on this in due course. However, it is safe to say that not much has really changed at Rangers because Derek McInnes’ Rangers hands may be entirely tied.