Danny Rohl has stood by his controversial decision to drop outgoing captain James Tavernier during Rangers’ 2-1 William Hill Premiership defeat against Hibernian on Wednesday night.
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The 34-year-old right-back refused to sit on the bench after being told he would not start what would have been his farewell game at Ibrox after 11 years at Govan, despite showing up for a scheduled ankle injection to allow himself one final game.
Rohl said after the fourth consecutive defeat after the split: “My job is to make decisions, who starts. I made my decision, I didn’t hide anything from him.”
Ahead of the final game of the season at Falkirk on Saturday – where Tavernier will be absent after taking a delayed injection – the former Sheffield Wednesday boss looked again at the issue which has divided Rangers fans.
“I think I was very clear and open with him in the first half, and I think that’s why it was my wish and suggestion that he say goodbye on Wednesday,” said Rohl.
“But also at this time I always said to him, ‘he might be starting, he might be coming off the bench’.
“It’s not the point, if you ask me what was going through my mind that day, it was taking the three points, I won the game, I saw Tav and his family come in, take the plaque he deserves, walk around the field and finally get a few minutes on the field.
“If it’s a starter or a sub, this was mine. In terms of how I talked to him, it’s clear that I gave him a proposal.
“He asked me if I was a starter and I said, ‘if nothing changes overnight, you won’t start, but you will get your minutes on the pitch’.
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The Rangers star has said Scottish football has become a ‘ridicule’.
“I think my team knows that. My final decision, and this is the reason we said ‘if’, it’s always the day of the game I decide my team, three hours before the game, not overnight. As a manager, you make decisions with emotions and sometimes you have to sleep on your decisions to make the final decisions. It was a normal process.”
Rohl will overhaul parts of his squad this summer, with Ben Davies also set to leave the club, and the Gers have identified a promising young defender to arrive when the transfer window opens.
Guardians are willing to send an application for Akpe Victory
According to reporter Ben Jacobs, Rangers are in talks to sign 19-year-old defender Akpe Victory from Zalaegerszegi in Hungary.
The Nigerian defender is being eyed by clubs in Germany, Spain and France, but it is Rangers who are taking the most advanced steps in signing him.
Indeed, the Ibrox outfit have made way and are ‘close to making an offer’ which would require the region to pay €5m (£4.3m).
Interestingly, the youngster is already represented by a major European agency, HCM, who represent big names such as Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres and Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong.
Perhaps seeing a rising star emerge, they also partnered with Scottish teams, prompting Benjamin Nygren to move to Celtic last summer – the Swede has scored 16 goals for the Hoops in the Premiership this season.
Time’s up: Rangers could sack Rohl by hiring the next Walter Smith at Ibrox
Danny Rohl’s future could be bleak following his fourth straight loss on Wednesday night.
