Rangers legend Charlie Miller has struck a chord with the Ibrox support as he takes aim at the club’s board for the ‘diabolical’ mismanagement of the last few seasons.
The Gers failed to kicked on after securing 55 and have paid a heavy price with Celtic winning seven of the nine available trophies in the time since.
Rangers have gone on to bungle their way through four managers in the best part of three years, with Steven Gerrard’s impromptu exit to Aston Villa driven in part by a lack of boardroom ambition.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst – who got the club to the Europa League Final in 2022 – was then shunted out the door despite the transfer business under Ross Wilson letting the Dutchman down badly.
Backing Michael Beale instead, Rangers have squandered the fortunes gained by that Europa League run, a Champions League qualification and the sales of Joe Aribo, Nathan Patterson and Calvin Bassey.
Now, staring down the barrel of another season of tumult after a disastrous summer transfer window, the botched Copland Stand project and a collapse in the Champions League qualifiers, the Ibrox support is at boiling point.
And Charlie Miller has hit the nail on the head as he sums up the feeling of discontent which is washing over the Rangers legions in an interview with the Daily Record.
Miller nails Rangers Board
“In general, the last few years since Steven Gerrard left have been a shambles signing-wise,” started Miller.
“The club had a great opportunity after winning the league but didn’t take the chance to move forward.
“In fact they’ve stood still which is so disappointing. We should have backed Gerrard after winning 55 and allowed his side to kick on.
“The fans understand the situation. We’ve no money to sign players – but how there’s no money left I don’t understand.
“It’s only a couple of years since the run to the Europa League final and the Champions League groups.
“That must have brought in millions and millions. But it’s hard to see where any of that’s been reinvested in the most important thing, which is the team.
“If you have a winning football team, then everything else at a club takes care of itself.
“All these mistakes off the pitch add up and take away from money that could be better spent on it. How on earth do we end up in this situation with the stadium being out of use? It’s diabolical.
“You’ve got Edmiston House costing millions more than it should. How? HOW? Honestly it’s just been one thing after another and the fans are the ones bearing the brunt.
“They’re left with a team who while they do work hard, just simply aren’t good enough. It’s the fans I feel sorry for. They’ve put in bloody fortunes and this is how they’re repaid.
“The situation with the stadium, the whole thing is so amateurish. The fans have been treated like dirt.
“Most of all, I’m just so disappointed for them. Of course, expectations at Rangers will always be high – but the board can’t keep expecting the fans to keep digging deep without giving them a proper team to watch on the pitch.
“I believe in Clement, I’m sure he’ll get things right. I hope he does.”
Rangers fan apathy at all time high
It’s not so often you’ll find Rangers fans agreeing but almost to a person, those we’ve spoken to have read these comments whilst simultaneously nodding their heads.
Rangers have been badly let down by the board time and again, stretching all the way back to the 2021 summer transfer window.
Gerrard wanted investment and Rangers went in woefully underprepared for the Champions League qualifier with Malmo.
It was deja vu, only a slightly more nightmarish version, against Dynamo Kyiv in midweek.
That Rangers qualified for the Champions League under Giovanni van Bronckhorst looks more and more like a miracle with every doomed campaign.
Whilst Rangers have invested in a fortune, there are big questions marks over several in the Ibrox squad who are yet to prove that they have what it takes to play, and win, for the club.
Patience has finally worn thin and Rangers fans genuinely stand on the precipice of protest.
The club needs a greater degree of positivity and vision otherwise supporters are going to do start doing their talking with their feet.
Once they go, it’ll be increasingly hard to tempt them back.
