Keith Jackson has flagged emerging behind-the-scenes problems at Rangers amid the bust-up between Danny Rohl and James Tavernier.
Tavernier’s final appearance at Ibrox turned controversial after he refused to be on the bench for the clash with Hibernian on Wednesday in an act of defiance against Rohl.
The 34-year-old was not pleased about not starting the game and left Ibrox altogether before returning for his presentation by John Greig.
However, he did not change his mind about being a substitute and was left out of the matchday squad as a result.
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Jackson hits out at Rohl over Tavernier controversy
Reacting to Wednesday’s controversy, Jackson has suggested that tensions are boiling over behind the scenes at Rangers.
He pointed out how Tavernier had claimed that he was in the dark over his Ibrox future just two days before announcing his departure on 22 April.
The Daily Record journalist insisted that he sensed something was wrong in the Gers dressing room at the time and has even more reason to believe there are problems within the squad.
In his view, Rohl may be keen to push the old guard out of the club this summer to refresh things ahead of next season.
Jackson feels this is the right time for Tavernier to leave the Govan outfit, but is not a fan of how he was treated on his final Ibrox appearance.
Speaking on Daily Record’s Hotline Live, he said: “There was something very curious going on when on the Monday Tavernier came out and said, ‘Oh, I don’t know what I’m doing yet. I haven’t even planned my summer holidays.’ And then on the Tuesday or the Wednesday, ‘That’s it. I’m leaving, folks’.
“That smacked, and I said it at the time, something didn’t pass the smell test there. I think there are problems behind the scenes. I think that Danny Rohl, and maybe rightly, is wanting to move on the leadership unit, and recalibrate the whole thing.
“Maybe he’s quite right to do that. I think it is the right time for Tavernier to move on, but I don’t think he should be moving on the way that he’s had to leave there tonight.
“I think that that’s poor, that’s poor management.”
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All in all, it is crazy how the Gers’ season has gone from being exciting to a shambles in less than three weeks.
As recently as last month, the Glaswegian outfit were competing for the title, and now they find themselves stuck at third place, having lost four games in a row.
Rohl deserves credit for pushing Rangers to the top of the table after taking the reins from Russell Martin in October, but losing four of the five post-split games so far is a dismal record.
With nothing left to play for, the Govan club will be looking forward to ending their season on Saturday, when they face Falkirk.
Rohl appears to have the backing of Andrew Cavenagh and Co. for the time being, but it would not be surprising if they reconsider their stance once the season draws to a close.
