Events elsewhere may have been in the headlines on Wednesday night, however the ongoing tension at Ibrox should not be overlooked, with Glasgow Rangers suffering their fourth successive Premiership defeat.
A few weeks ago, the Gers were solid at the top, just one point behind leaders Hearts, having lost two league games all season before that.
Now, that gap is 11, and Danny Rohl’s side have hit the nail on the head when push comes to shove, capping another trophyless campaign in Glasgow.
There may be a feeling that Rohl just needs to start over with a new team and a new season, but as winning begets winning, losing begets losing.
Why should Rohl’s position be in jeopardy at the Rangers
In a competition where finishing second is almost as good as finishing last, a third-placed finish to the season is very dangerous for those at Ibrox, as there were high hopes under Rohl that have all come to light this month.
As Wilfried Nancy learned at Celtic, losing four on the trot in Glasgow is regarded as abhorrent, with a miserable run having been fatal for the Frenchman back in the Autumn.
The Light Blues may not be quick to pull the trigger on Rohl, although questions will need to be asked about his big game acumen, with the evidence so far not promising.
Indeed, the 36-year-old has been relegated twice in cup competitions by Martin O’Neill’s men this season, who were also dropped by the veteran Hoops boss in last week’s Old Firm derby, with the gap between the clubs now 10 points.
Losing to Hearts and Motherwell, too, is one thing, but losing at home to Hibernian has brought Rohl down, and much of his good work since October has been quickly done.
|
Rohl’s record against opponents |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Celtic |
Hearts |
He’s beautiful |
|
3-1 (L) |
2-1 (L) |
1-0 (W) |
|
1-3 (W) |
4-2 (W) |
1-1 (D) |
|
2-2 (D) |
2-1 (L) |
2-3 (L) |
|
0-0 (2-4 Pens) |
||
|
3-1 (L) |
||
The former Sheffield Wednesday manager has spoken of the need for a “strong change” next season, amid the ongoing James Tavernier saga, but could find himself in line to replace him in 2026/27.
The next Walter Smith can now replace Rohl at Rangers
Speaking last week, amid interest from Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, Rohl joked that newspapers reporting he could have had “20 jobs” last year were rumors about his managerial future.
Danny Rohl is ready to leave Ibrox and leave Rangers in one situation
Possible contribution to the Gers.
He may be hoping one of those 20 turns up again before too long, and it wouldn’t be surprising if a change was made in the Ibrox dugout.
For all the brilliance of previous statements such as the 4-2 win over Hearts, which was crucial in the most intense phase of the season, Rohl failed to keep pace with Rangers’ title rivals.
Therefore, if the club’s management are to look for a suitable replacement, it would not be surprising to see Steven Gerrard enter the discussion again, with the Englishman said to have held talks before Rohl was appointed late last year.
No deal was reached at the time, with Gerrard believing the timing was wrong, although Sky Sports reported he would ‘welcome’ talks again at another stage.
Well, now could be the time for that second act, the former England international has already shown that he can lead the club to glory, as he did when they claimed their 55th league title in 2021.
The foundations were laid again for the following season, despite his early exit, as the Light Blues reached the Europa League final and won the Scottish Cup under Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
It hasn’t worked out for Gerrard since then, following memorable spells at Aston Villa and Ettifaq, but Rangers should welcome him with open arms, as they have done for the likes of Walter Smith in the past.
The old saying is ‘never go back’, however Smith bucked the trend following his return in 2007, going on to win three league titles in a row between 2008 and 2011.
Of course, the late, great Scotsman had achieved far more than Gerrard in his prime, achieving seven consecutive league titles, including 1990/91, while claiming a host of other domestic honours.
He was a hero, an icon at Ibrox, and Smith did no harm to his reputation by picking up where he left off on his return, with Rangers also reaching the UEFA Cup final in 2007/08.
Gerrard, although not at the same level, is a fan favorite in his own right, while, like Smith, he knows what it takes to thrive in a high-powered, pressured environment.
Successive managers have tried and failed to make it work at Ibrox before and during Gerrard’s tenure, the Glasgow outfit simply being a beast that none of those figures have been able to tame.
The retired coach has proven that he can do that, ensuring that he should be at the top of the list if Rohl is to be replaced this summer.
Rangers may sack Rohl to hire ‘Postecoglou-like’ match-winner
Rangers have a decision to make on Danny Rohl’s future after losing to Hibernian at Ibrox on Wednesday.
