adminRangers have reportedly decided against making an immediate change in the dugout despite growing pressure on manager Derek McInnes following the club’s embarrassing European exit.
The Ibrox side suffered a hugely disappointing night against Czech outfit Jablonec on Thursday, losing 1-0 before eventually being beaten 4-3 on penalties after the tie finished 1-1 on aggregate.
The result means Rangers have been eliminated from European competition and will now have no continental football to look forward to for the remainder of the season.
McInnes has come under intense scrutiny following the defeat, with the Rangers boss admitting afterwards that he was “embarrassed” and “mortified” by his team’s performance.
The manager accepted responsibility for the display and admitted that Rangers were well below the standard expected of the club.
Despite the growing criticism, reports indicate that Rangers are not currently planning to sack McInnes.
One report claims that the club’s hierarchy is unlikely to panic and make a managerial change in August, particularly after backing McInnes heavily during the summer transfer window.
Rangers brought in around 12 new players during the transfer window, with McInnes having significant influence over the recruitment process. Removing him just weeks into the new campaign would therefore represent another major change in direction for the club.
However, the pressure on the manager is clearly increasing.
McInnes has recorded only two victories in his opening seven matches in charge, while Rangers have now been eliminated from two European competitions during his short tenure.
The poor performances have also intensified criticism from supporters, with some fans already calling for the club to make another managerial change. Others, however, believe Rangers must finally show patience and allow a manager time to build a team rather than continuing the cycle of dismissals.
The debate has become particularly intense because Rangers have gone through a succession of managers in recent years, with supporters increasingly divided over whether another dismissal would solve the club’s deeper problems.
Former Rangers players and pundits have also criticised the team’s display against Jablonec, adding further pressure on McInnes.
For now, the indication is that the Rangers hierarchy will give the manager more time rather than immediately ending his tenure.
But the situation could change quickly if results fail to improve.
With European football now gone, Rangers have no room for further major setbacks domestically. McInnes will therefore be under enormous pressure to turn the team’s fortunes around and produce a strong run of results.
The coming weeks could prove decisive.
If Rangers begin winning consistently, the club’s decision to stand by McInnes may eventually be viewed as the correct one. But if the poor performances continue, the pressure for a change at Ibrox is likely to become impossible for the board to ignore.
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