Tom English has taken a pointed swipe at Andrew Cavenagh following the confirmation of Danny Rohl’s exit from Rangers.
Rohl’s departure to Red Bull Salzburg was confirmed on Wednesday, bringing to an end a tenure that began with extraordinary promise before unravelling dramatically in the final weeks of the season.
Cavenagh had gone out of his way to publicly back the German in the face of significant fan pressure following four consecutive defeats in the post-split fixtures and a third-place finish – a stance that has now been exposed by the head coach’s swift exit to Austria.
For one of Scottish football’s most respected journalists, the sequence of events reflects poorly on the chairman, and English has not pulled his punches in saying so.
Now that Danny Rohl has left Rangers, how would you rate his time at the club?
English brands Rohl exit ’embarrassing’ for Cavenagh
Writing on BBC Sport, English delivered a measured but damning assessment of how the situation has played out, questioning both Rohl’s commitment to the Rangers project and Cavenagh’s judgement in backing him so publicly.
The BBC journalist suggested Rohl never truly appeared comfortable in Scottish football, which is a damning observation about a head coach who was given resources and public support to make the job his own.
English also questioned whether the former Sheffield Wednesday boss was ever genuinely happy at Ibrox, noting that he never gave the impression of being fully at ease with the demands of Scottish football, despite the club’s best efforts to accommodate him.
He went on to describe Rohl’s exit as “embarrassing” for Cavenagh after what he previously said, but his verdict on the replacement, however, was unequivocal, hailing Derek McInnes’ appointment as a “no-brainer”.
He wrote on BBC Sport: “Rohl’s exit is slightly embarrassing for Cavenagh as he’s gone out on a limb to defend the manager in the face of criticism from fans.
“I wonder if Rohl was ever really happy at Rangers. He never gave the impression he was totally at ease with the league.
“I think the club have done everything to try to put him at ease, and they gave him money to spend, but I’m not sure he’s ever been a natural fit for Scottish football.
“For Rangers, McInnes is a no-brainer, an obvious call.”
What would your concerns be about Derek McInnes replacing Danny Rohl?
What it means for Rangers
English’s “embarrassing” verdict will sting, but Cavenagh’s defenders will point to the outcome.
Rangers have received £2million in compensation for a head coach many fans wanted sacked for nothing, and replaced him with a vastly more culturally aligned candidate in McInnes.
Whether the process was handled impeccably or not, the destination is one most Gers supporters can live with, and that may ultimately be what matters most.
