Rangers’ partners HSV have failed once again to secure promotion back to the Bundesliga.
The Gers have had a connection with the Hamburg club for many years and a formal partnership was struck in February, much to the delight of supporters.
A long-term friendship becomes official 🔵⚪⚫
Built on the close ties between the two sets of fans which have existed since the 1970s, HSV and @RangersFC have now entered into an official club partnership 🔷#nurderHSV pic.twitter.com/4vMLMwwGKH
— HSV English (@HSV_English) February 10, 2021
Right now, the two clubs are at very different points in their history, though.
After a decade of hurt, Rangers are back on top of the domestic game in Scotland having romped to the Premiership title.
RONALDO NEEDS TO STOP WHINING.
Contrastingly, 1982/83 European Cup winners HSV are in the second tier of German football having been relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in the competition’s history at the end of the 2017/18 season.
It was hoped that they would go straight back up the following season but a 3-2 defeat at lowly Vfl Osnabruck on Sunday confirmed that they would remain in the 2. Bundesliga for a fourth consecutive campaign.
HSV looked well-placed to secure one of the two automatic promotion spots for the majority of this season but a dire run of three draws and two defeats from five fixtures in April cost manager Daniel Thioune his job and saw them slide down the table.
Daniel Thioune was sacked as Rangers’ partners HSV collapsed again in 2. Bundesliga. (Photo by Roland Krivec/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Club legend Horst Hrubesch was placed in charge for the final three matches in a last-ditch push for the third-place playoff spot and his reign began perfectly with a 5-2 win over Nürnberg.
However, Sunday’s defeat at Osnabruck ensured that promotion slipped out of their reach with one fixture remaining.
In the end it wasn't to be. A 3-2 defeat in Osnabrück means we can no longer make the playoff. Congratulations to Bochum, Kiel and Fürth. #OSNHSV #nurderHSV pic.twitter.com/0W7YWBMfS8
— HSV English (@HSV_English) May 16, 2021
HSV finished fourth in their first two seasons in the second tier and are on course to come fifth this time around, with no end to their current struggles in sight.
In other news, a player has posted on Instagram confirming he’s left Glasgow as his Rangers stint comes to an end.