Andy Newport spots some positives on the park as the boardroom saga continues off it

At each other’s throats off the pitch – shoulder to shoulder on it.

It’s just as well relations in the Ibrox dressing room aren’t half as bad as dealings between those in the boardroom and the club’s biggest single shareholder or Rangers might be in an altogether bigger mess. Dave King has swept back into the Govan melodrama this week swinging insults at virtually every blazer in sight while at the same time demanding they hand back his old seat at the top of the table.

As a negotiating tactic, well, it’s certainly bold. But the chances of it succeeding are about as bleak as Philippe Clement’s Premiership title hopes this season. King will be told thanks but no thanks, with the men he left to steer the ship when he unexpectedly quit at the height of the Covid pandemic instead setting their own course forward.

Whether it’s the same disastrous route they’ve been following of late or a passage through calmer waters, that remains to be seen. But there is a feeling around Ibrox right now that as bad as this summer has been for the club and its supporters – and it has undoubtedly been awful – they might just have found a way to plug the club’s numerous leaks.

Having got the summer stadium shambles at long last sorted, the club will also need to address the shaky foundations upon which Clement’s side are built. But as with the matters above, there are faint shoots of optimism emerging.

Of course they remain a long, long, way off Celtic. But if Rangers are to close the gap on their rivals then they have to start somewhere and Clement will hope his side have finally reached the turning point. There’s still little sign of a fluent style of play but with individual performances, there are a few signs of encouragement.

Brazilian left-back Jefte seems to have cut out the defensive lapses which caused alarm bells in pre-season.

And Saturday evening’s performance against Dundee showed plenty of promise in attack. Comfortable both travelling with the ball and linking up with team-mates, the 20-year-old former Fluminense defender should be confident of keeping his slot when Ridvan Yilmaz eventually returns from his latest lay-off.

Connor Barron continues to buzz about the midfield with an energy that’s been lacking in the Ibrox engine room for a good while. And Jack Butland stuck one of those giant thumbs of his in the eye of the critics who have been questioning his displays since this month’s Old Firm defeat with a couple of huge saves to preserve a clean sheet.

The first of those was an impressive double stop from point-blank range as Simon Murray tried to offer the Dark Blues a way back into the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final after the Light Blues had stormed two up on their homecoming run-out. There are a good number of Rangers fans who would have liked to see the tie used as an opportunity to test out new frontman Hamza Igamane after his bright Tannadice cameo the week before. But that starting slot is Cyriel Dessers’ for now and as long as he continues his scoring streak, Igamane will have to wait it out on the bench.

That might not be a bad thing for the Moroccan and will certainly ensure the levels of pressure and expectation weighing down from the stands don’t creep out of hand. But the fresh competition seems to be getting the best out of Dessers. It’s now seven goals in his last eight games after he book-ended a James Tavernier penalty with two clinical strikes. The first came 18 minutes in as he reset himself quicker than Dundee stopper Trevor Carson.

The keeper had done well to block an initial effort from the strike. But when Tavernier whipped the loose ball immediately back into the box, it was Dessers who was primed to strike as he flashed his finish past the Dark Blues’ Northern Irish keeper. Dessers was involved again as Gers doubled their lead, winning a penalty when Mo Sylla wrestled him to the ground at a corner five minutes after the break. If Tavernier had any nerves after his run-in with the furious fans who waited outside the ground for him after that derby defeat, he didn’t show them as he laced home his spot-kick with venom.

With Igamane warming up, Dessers gave the young pretender a glimpse of the standards he’ll have to hit if he wants his place on 66 minutes, adding a third with an expert finish from a difficult bouncing ball played in by Nedim Bajrami.

Rangers now head to Malmo for the start of their Europa League campaign but Dessers isn’t getting carried away. Asked if the Dundee win could be a catalyst to kick on this season, he said: “Yeah, maybe. It could be. Obviously it sounds cliché but we’re just looking game to game because we have so many games. But, yeah, it’s just a nice feeling to be back.

“We wanted to give something to the fans as well on the first night back at Ibrox. We’re excited about Thursday. We have a very beautiful but very difficult draw. Malmo away is not an easy start but these are the games you want to play in. Saturday can give us some confidence, a boost, and hopefully we can have a good performance there as well – and hopefully win.”

Rangers-only: Important update on Steven Gerrard this evening

Steven Gerrard could be set for a sensational return to Rangers as pressure mounts on Philippe Clement, sources have told Football Insider.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed the former Liverpool midfielder is a “potential candidate” to become the next Rangers boss due to his past association with the club.

The Light Blues are currently third in the Scottish Premiership and trail Celtic by five points after the opening five games.

That has placed Clement under serious pressure, and Football Insider revealed he is just one defeat away from losing his job after a tumultuous start to the season.

This could open the door for Gerrard to make a return to Ibrox, where he last coached in 2021.

The 44-year-old is currently in charge of Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq, a role he undertook in 2023 after his Aston Villa tenure ended.

Steven Gerrard could return to Rangers in the near future

The former England international enjoyed success during his time at Ibrox, guiding the club to a record-breaking season during the 2020-21 campaign.

Rangers claimed back-to-back wins over Celtic, topped their Europa League group, and went on to win the Scottish Premiership without losing a single league game.

However, right now at Rangers everything needs to get sorted at a boardroom level after chairman John Bennett stepped down due to health reasons.

The club’s finances are another key issue that needs to be resolved, as Clement was restricted in the transfers he could make in the summer because of this.

Gerrard won 125 of the 193 games he was in charge during his spell with the Scottish giants, boasting a 64.8 win percentage.

The Englishman is currently under contract at Al-Ettifaq until 2027.

Rangers star may be coached to feel better about himself Former All-Star midfielder

Rangers signed 20-year-old left-back Jefte from Fluminense in the summer as competition for Ridvan Yilmaz.

However, with Yilmaz’s injury, Jefte has stepped up and featured in the last three league games for Philippe Clement’s side.

McGinn pointed out that Jefte is a good carrier of the ball and he thinks that the Brazilian has done well to settle into a big club like Rangers quickly.

The ex-top-flight midfielder believes that the Brazilian has taken up his opportunities in the absence of Yilmaz and added that Jefte has attributes that can be coached to make him better.

When asked whether Jefte has impressed him, McGinn said on the Go Radio Football Show: “Yes, I think he carries the ball well.

“I think in the final third sometimes it feels like he is throwing balls in, but is it down to the system or his age?

“I think he has settled into a big club. Obviously with Ridvan’s injury, he is taking his chance.

“He looks like he has a lot of attributes to get better at.

“It can take obviously a few windows but it looks like he has the potential and can be coached to be even better.”

Jefte has picked up three cautions in his three appearances so far and will be hoping to impress Clement with his performances to take a permanent claim for a spot in the Belgian’s starting line-up.

Radio DJ praises the “impressive” Rangers supporters in a film that epitomises teamwork.

Rangers fans brought their vocal support to Tannadice this week as a rousing rendition of ‘Caledonia’ rung out against Dundee United.

The Gers support have adapted the lyrics to the famous 1983 Dougie MacLean classic in a special version of the song called ‘Ibroxonia’.

Rangers fans were in fine voice from the off in Scotland’s northeast as the some 5000 travelling supporters out-sang the natives in their own stadium.

But it was a Rangers rendition of the classic Scottish song which most turned heads with a clip of the travelling support belting out ‘Caledonia’ since going viral.

Rangers fans belt out ‘Caledonia’ chant

Rangers fans have been clipped singing ‘Ibroxonia’ in a stunning chorus at Tannadice.

“So let me tell you that I love you, and I think about you all the time.

“Ibrox Stadium is calling me and now I’m going home.

“To think of life without the Rangers, you know that it would make me more than sad

“Glasgow Rangers is everything I’ve ever had.

“We won 9-in-a-row and I’m still dreaming, of Brian Laudrup and Trevor Steven.

“Marvin Andrews said ‘Keep believing’, Davie Cooper’s on the wing.

“We remember Gazza with great affection, the day the helicopter changed direction.

“Jimmy Baxter, he was pure perfection, Super Ally scores again.”

Imagine ‘impressive’ rendition at Ibrox

The Rangers version of ‘Caledonia’ gets louder by the match and with the club set to return to Ibrox next weekend, we suspect there will be more clips to come.

The Rangers support are also turning heads with their rendition, as Radio DJ Jim Gellatly praises the Ibrox fans for the ‘impressive’ chant.

Rangers manager Philippe Clement is buzzing for the club’s imminent Ibrox return and seeing all four stands belting out ‘Ibroxonia’ is a tantalising prospect.

Speaking ahead of the return, Clement also praised the travelling Gers support following the victory over Dundee United at Tannadice.

“It’s amazing,” Clement told Sky Sports. “It feels like it’s ten years that we were there.

“It’s amazing to go back there and you see already today our fans made it almost a home game with their support.

“At Ibrox it’s ten times more.

“All the time, all the staff, everybody in the club is looking really forward to feel this energy out of Ibrox again.”

Rangers boss claims Tavernier seeks to restore love of people at Ibrox

CAPTAIN of Club Brugge for a decade, Philippe Clement has a better understanding than most of how it feels to be James Tavernier.

The Englishman has made 467 Rangers appearances, scoring 125 goals. The highest scoring defender in British football, he has won the Scottish

Premiership, Scottish Cup and League Cup and led the Rangers team out at the 2022 Europa League final.

In any other footballing landscape that would be a record to cherish. In a city where rivals Celtic have won five domestic Trebles in eight years, Tavernier is now regarded as a poster boy for failure.

After the latest defeat to Celtic two weeks ago, images emerged on social media of one Rangers supporter abusing the skipper outside Ibrox.

Despite the suggestions that he’d had enough he stayed put, Clement insisting there was never any question of his on-field lieutenant performing a midnight flit before the Turkish transfer window closed last night. Despite intense speculation the Belgian now says there were no offers.

‘I don’t know what is real about all these rumours,’ shrugs Clement. ‘There were no offers in the club in that way.

‘So he’s been for sure the player in Scotland. And for me, in all my career, who made so many transfers already without anything. That’s for sure.

‘In eight months, I’ve never seen a player making so many transfers. Because I read so many times that he was going to go there and there and there.

‘And he’s still here and never came to my office saying “I want to go”.

‘And there was never an offer in that way towards the club. So let’s not talk too much about rumours.’

Forthcoming on the supporter abuse which followed the defeat to Celtic, Clement himself was forced to explain himself en route to the car park after the game.

Supporters seemed less concerned with possession stats and shots on target than the manager, preferring to focus on a performance and scoreline which left them five points adrift of Celtic. By 5pm this evening the gap could be up to eight and, for players like Tavernier, these are difficult times to be a Rangers player.

Asked how his captain had reacted to the abuse of one supporter spilling over, Clement praised Tavernier for a ‘mature’ response and shared his own experience of life as a club figurehead with his captain.

‘We talked about (what happened). It’s not a nice thing. If you’re a captain, you’re a symbol of a team. And people see you that way.

‘I had the same experiences before in Brugge. And I was there 10 years like Tav.

‘In the moments when it’s really good, it’s really nice to be captain. And in moments when the team doesn’t perform then it’s not — but it’s not only about you.

‘It’s about the team. And you don’t reach the expectations of the fans at that moment.

‘You’re the first one that they talk to or that they yell to at that moment.

‘So I had these moments also in my career. It’s part of being captain.

‘And I have to say he takes it really mature. And he’s very motivated to get really good results in the next couple of months. And to get the love back of everybody in the club. The love is from a lot of people still there.

‘And some people were very, very disappointed after the Celtic game. Which we can understand. Because we were also.

‘It’s easy to run away from your responsibility. He totally doesn’t do that. But he doesn’t need it also to have a fuel and motivation. So it’s somewhere in between.’

In the age of the digital phone every incident is magnified. A light is shone on events which used to slide under the public radar and high profile footballers are subjected to a savage scrutiny. Images showed Tavernier reacting to the grief from his abuser, but restraining himself from taking the matter further.

The flip side of the big salary and the top of the range car, Clement acknowledges that the customer pays his money and takes his choice. These incidents now come with the territory.

‘It’s a thing of society,’ added the Belgian. ‘It’s not only a Rangers thing. It’s in society. It’s all over the world like that.

‘And the captain and the manager are the symbols of that. And they get the most stick in those moments. So that’s part of our job and our life.

‘Not only here. In a lot of teams in the world. Is it a nice thing? Is it a good thing? Is it a thing you love? No, totally not. But it’s a world we live in.’

One of the criticisms levelled at Tavernier, in particular, is an absence of mental strength. An inability to stand up and be counted when the heat intensifies. Clement believes that’s unfair, making the point that no one could be a captain of Rangers for five minutes if they were mentally weak.

In adversity — and he has seen plenty in recent years — Tavernier has continued to show and has never gone looking for a move, despite persistent links with Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

‘It’s easy to be a captain in the moments that you win or when the club, everything goes really well, to be a symbol of that,’ added Clement.

‘The real captains are the ones who stand in front of the ship and to keep everything in a good way in the moment that it’s difficult. So that’s what he’s been doing.

‘He’s been focusing on himself, on the team. Training really hard. Playing in this Motherwell game also with the right mentality.

‘Helping the new guys in their integration here. Helping the young guys. So I didn’t see a difference in that.’

Chief of Scottish FA referees acknowledges two incorrect judgements in initial VAR review

Willie Collum believes Celtic should have been awarded a penalty against Kilmarnock and Dundee United should have had a spot-kick against Dundee; he also questioned the referee’s body language before Rangers’ winner against St Johnstone in the League Cup

The Scottish Football Association’s head of referees Willie Collum believes Celtic and Dundee United should have been awarded penalties following his early-season assessment of VAR.

Collum also criticised referee Matthew MacDermid’s body language before Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers scored against St Johnstone in their Premier Sports Cup win at Hampden Park last month.

Former referee Collum, who took charge of Scotland’s officials this summer, explained some big decisions from the first four weeks of the season in ‘The VAR Review’, a new monthly show on the SFA’s YouTube channel.

He reviewed the controversial incident at Celtic Park when Hoops striker Kyogo Furuhashi touched the ball past Robby McCrorie before colliding with the Kilmarnock goalkeeper.

Referee Don Robertson and VAR officials concluded that “the goalkeeper just makes himself big”, but Collum said: “We believe this was the wrong decision. We have coached the referees and the VARs that a penalty kick should have been awarded here.

“It is an unexpected free-kick with the way the ball is chipped. It catches the on-field referee by surprise and it’s very difficult for the referee to find an angle round that wall to get a proper view.

“The Celtic player clearly gets ahead and touches the ball past the goalkeeper and we then think the goalkeeper’s actions are reckless. An off-field review should have been requested and the referee asked to come to the monitor.”

Collum also highlighted the incident when referee David Dickinson turned down Dundee United claims for a spot-kick after the ball struck the arm of Dundee defender Luke Graham.

“This was a missed handball,” said Collum. “The ball firstly travels from distance, from a corner kick.

“The Dundee player, when he jumps, his arm is in an unnatural position and he’s not jostling with an opponent.”

Collum also cleared up a contentious Rangers goal against St Johnstone when Dessers netted after dispossessing Saints defender Jack Sanders.

Some of the players and manager Craig Levein suggested their defenders had been distracted by MacDermid signalling for a Saints free-kick.

Collum revealed an audio recording confirmed that the official had not blown his whistle before the goal was scored.

“Here, the referee probably doesn’t display good body language,” said Collum. “His body language when the challenge is made is edging towards a free-kick.

“But he correctly delays the whistle, he correctly communicates so the VAR is aware of what he intends doing if a goal is scored and, when the ball hits the net, he then blows his whistle for what he deems to be a defensive free-kick.

“VAR checks and realises the Rangers player hasn’t committed a foul and they therefore recommend an on-field review.

“Apart from the body language, the correct process was followed and ultimately the correct decision was reached.”

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