Former Celtic star Charlie Nicholas expects Gio Van Bronckhorst to remain as Rangers boss despite mounting pressure for him to be axed.
A sizeable section of the Ibrox support believe the Dutchman's time is up in Govan as they trail rivals Celtic by nine points with the Premiership taking pause for the World Cup. Rangers don't play a competitive game until December 15 but Nicholas isn't convinced the Ibrox board will pull the trigger on the man who led them to a Europa League Final and ended a 10-year absence from the Champions League.
Rangers then secured the ominous distinction as the worst team in tournament history upon their return to European football's top table. And the pressure hasn't lifted since as several domestic stumbles have the Ibrox side way off Ange Postecoglou' s dominant champions. But a change in the dugout? Nicholas doesn't believe it will happen.
Speaking to the Express, he said: "Rangers won't catch Celtic in the title race but that shouldn't spell the end for Giovanni van Bronckhorst. I think Ibrox chiefs will show a bit more patience. Rangers can still get back into the Champions League next season with there being two slots available again.
"I can't see them qualifying automatically by winning the league because at nine points the gap is already too big. Van Bronckhorst might get some of his injured players back after the break but I just can't see them catching Celtic. This is now the ultimate test for the Rangers board. Are they going to give Van Bronckhorst the opportunity to sort things out?
"Do they back him or sack him? The good thing for them is that the club seems to be in a lot better position financially. They have paid off Mike Ashley and other debts and are now looking at more long-term projects on the transfer front. They didn't gamble by spending big going into the Champions League but at the same time they brought in a lot of money with player sales and qualification to the group stage."
"It is clear they spent on stopping Celtic's 10-in-a-row and since then they have been paying off that debt."
Nicholas doesn't think the mild-mannered Dutchman is too meek to command the Rangers dressing room and is convinced the Ibrox side will enjoy an upturn in fortune if they can get a host of injured stars off the treatment table.
He added: "I have heard people say he is too nice a guy. I don't believe that is an issue because you can be a good guy and a good manager. You also have to remember van Bronckhorst led Rangers to the Europa League final so if he was to leave then his stock would still be high. Situations such as Kent, Morelos and results have left him staring down the barrel just now. You would have thought in Van Bronckhorst's time his team would have an identity but it doesn't. It is running on empty and needs rebuilt.
"I accept there have been injuries to a number of key players and that has left the team short and struggling. Ianis Hagi, Connor Goldson, Ryan Jack, Filip Helander and Kemar Roofe will all be fit. That is just about half a team that starts. I think once the manager has a near full-strength squad that is when he really should be judged."
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