Complaints from ex-Rangers women players have popped up on social media this week, with some claiming that up to 15 players have been released from the female side.
Rangers this season announced plans to fully integrate the women’s side into the club’s footballing department [Rangers].
This would mean signing professional players, allowing them to train at the Hummel Training Centre and pouring more investment into the female side of playing operations at Ibrox.
There was even the decision to offer Modern Apprenticeships to young female talent [Rangers].
On top of that, Rangers appointed former left-back Gregory Vignal to the position of manager with former women’s coach Amy McDonald becoming his assistant.
After years of neglect, Rangers are finally beginning to take responsibility for their female side, signing a trio of European and Premier League talent.
Indian international Bala Devi Ngangom is also on trial at the club [Rangers].
Now, the likes of former women player Caitlin O’Hara has suggested 15 players had left Rangers, describing it as “disgusting” and showing a “lack of class”.
https://twitter.com/CaitlinOHara10/status/1199395197249036288
Others were more understanding.
https://twitter.com/ellisdalgliesh1/status/1199426225464369153
https://twitter.com/MAOrr29/status/1199081009838465032
Whilst there has been no official confirmation of players being released (at the time of writing), Rangers as a team have struggled in women’s football.
Vignal has been in charge since July and has clearly decided that the standard of player at the club is not good enough.
What more can you say about it?
Rangers are taking a cut-throat approach to bring success to the Women’s game at the club and part of that is releasing those players who haven’t performed.
Rangers finished fourth in the Scottish Women’s Premier League, 26 points off eventual winners Glasgow City.
There might be frustration on the part of those women who’ve been released but this feels like a necessary evolution in order to bring success to the club.
Bringing success to the women’s team is something that Dave King has placed upon his list of priorities.
“The women’s team, I think, was neglected. So I gave Amy assurances that we wanted to see Rangers women’s’ team being the best team in Scotland and we wanted them competing in Europe,” said King [Rangers].
“So we really are taking women’s football very, very seriously. It is expanding globally and I think it is going to be good for Rangers right across the club to have a strong women’s football team.
“It’s something which might be one of my legacies that I have pushed it very hard and will continue to do so as a shareholder.”
Whilst there’s an argument that these girls would’ve improved with the investment and better coaching, this looks like a step to achieving King’s ambitions.
