Borna Barisic’s revelation that he employs his own physiotherapist is a worrying one and one that suggests Ross Wilson left Rangers in a poorer condition than when he found it.
The Croatian international had a difficult first season at Ibrox and whilst his quality never seemed to be in question, he just couldn’t stay fit.
Jon Flanagan and Andy Halliday often filled in at left-back and even kept Barisic out the side due to his poor form in 2018/19.
The 30-year old recovered though and is now averaging a healthy 10 assists per season since joining Rangers but Borna Barisic hiring his own physio points to a negligence on our former sporting director’s part.
Why is Ross Wilson responsible for Borna Barisic using his own physio at Rangers?
Speaking after Ross Wilson’s departure, Michael Beale explained in a bit more detail what his responsibilities had been.
Recruitment for the first-team will be the Gers gaffer’s remit for now but there is one area in particular where changes are needed that Beale claimed was Wilson’s job, via The Scotsman:
“Firstly, you’re disappointed to lose a good person. Ross was hugely positive in his day-to-day work here at the club and he brought a lot of the departments together.
“His job was to oversee first-team football operations, recruitment, medical, the academy, the women’s teams and bring all of that in line. We’ve seen good success in the time that he was here.”
If the medical department was best in class, as is the aim, our players wouldn’t need to look elsewhere for help and advice.
Rangers will, because of facilities and prestige, be an attractive option for practitioners and whoever replaces Wilson should make it a priority to get the structure right.
An academy doctor and head of academy medical services vacancy has been advertised for by Rangers but Jack Ade is currently on his own as head of performance for the senior team and there is no medical department equivalent.
Dr Mark Waller left last summer to join Leicester City and Arno Phillips, who arrived under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, is also away.
The quality of the squad is good enough to win the league, however, if half of them are fighting for a place in the treatment room then the manager will always be up against it.
Ross Wilson did a lot of good in his time at Rangers but failing to replace Dr Waller with another suitably qualified individual to oversee the medical department has been borderline negligent.
