Weekend Preview
This Saturday’s game sees Rangers host Hamilton for the second time in three games and the home side will be hoping for a repeat of the last meeting. At the start of March Hamilton visited Ibrox in the Scottish Cup Quarter Final and left with a heavy 6-0 defeat. Rangers are currently eight points behind Aberdeen in the table but with an inferior goal difference which means they will likely need to gain 3 wins more than their rivals before the end of the season. Hamilton’s only win in their last 6 games came at home to Aberdeen at the end of February and they are currently one point off the bottom of the table in 11th.
Goalkeeper coach Stewart set to be replaced
New Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha is expected to make changes to the clubs backroom staff starting by telling long term coach Jim Stewart that he will not be needed at the club. Former player Stewart has been on the clubs coaching team for the last 10 years and worked with many ‘keepers over this time. It is thought that Stewart’s involvement with the national side could be behind the reason for the parting of ways as he will miss important training sessions throughout international breaks.
New boss needs financial backing
Former player Maurice Johnston believes that hiring Caixinha is a gamble but that the Rangers board must now back him in the transfer market if they are to close the gap to Celtic. Johnston has watched Caixinha during his time in Mexico and agrees that he is a good coach, but is unsure of how he will handle the Ibrox role. “I think it’s a gamble for Rangers because he really doesn’t know much about Scottish football.”He then went on to voice concerns over the extent that Rangers celebrated the draw with Celtic, but given the points gap in the league it is understandable. “They really need to spend a bit of money, give the coach a little bit of finance and allow him to bring in better players to bridge this gap.”
Ladies suffer defeat in season opener
Rangers ladies lost 4-2 to Hibernian Ladies in their first game of the new Scottish Women’s Premier League. The away side rushed into a 3-0 lead before half time and then added a fourth before Rangers began their comeback. It was ultimately to no avail though as the game was far gone before they found their rhythm. Rangers travel to play Stirling University on Sunday looking for their first win.