Rangers Football Club currently finds itself in the midst of a critical transition. They’re currently in a coaching search after Danny Rohl is said to have pulled himself from consideration for the head coach position. As smithonfire writes, this development has brought all the attention onto Steven Smith, the current U19 coach. He is now in charge of first-team training as the club prepares for its important fixtures on the horizon.
Earlier this week, Rohl officially told the Rangers front office of his decision. He stated definitively that he would no longer be seeking the head coach position. This announcement didn’t come in a vacuum, rather following months of conversations about the long-term vision and path forward for the team. Rohl has receded to the background, permitting Smith to assume control during training sessions. His attention is now fully on getting the squad set for their Scottish Premiership trip to Dundee United on Saturday.
Smith, well known as a player for Rangers, has strong connections to the club, having spent two periods at Ibrox. His deep understanding of the team’s culture and expectations will no doubt offer a feeling of continuity in a new and transitional time. Smith imagines the inaugural team operating with one key goal. He hopes to develop an attitude of competitiveness in the squad ahead of their matches next month.
Rangers’ schedule is a strenuous one, beginning with the home game against Dundee United on Saturday. That’s before a tricky away league fixture against Brann on October 23, too, in the Europa League. The team will then return home to play Kilmarnock in another Scottish Premiership fixture on October 26. Their next road match takes place in Hibernian on 29 October. You can watch all the action live and exclusive on Sky Sports! The month concludes with a crucial League Cup semi-final against fierce rivals Celtic on November 2.
The club’s coaching search has been a wild ride with numerous candidates being targeted and quickly crossed off. This leaves Graham Potter and Bo Svensson out of the running for the new head coach position. In other manager news, Ralph Hasenhuttl remains in the frame for the vacancy. Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer held talks with Rangers hierarchy, though it’s unclear where he stands in the race.
In addition to these developments, former Rangers captain Steven Gerrard has stepped away from negotiations to return as head coach. His exit from the negotiations has sent fans simmering with speculation to the core. They want to know more than anything who will fill the void as the club desperately seeks stability after firing Russell Martin on October 5.
The possibilities are numerous, and the Rangers have many different directions they can go. Whoever does arrive must act quickly, with the U.S. women players entering a critical stretch in their competitive calendar — Olympic qualifying. The club aims to bolster its performance and regain momentum in the league while pursuing success in cup competitions.
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