The revolution is coming. Just who will be around in its aftermath remains to be seen.
Michael Beale has made no bones about the fact that the playing squad at Ibrox is in need of an overhaul. It’s a feeling supporters can sympathise with and their ire has been directed at the Ibrox boardroom in recent weeks as they have vented their frustrations at directors.
There is a sense that this is a team that has largely been at a standstill since that historic 55th league title was secured two years ago. The spine of the strongest XI remains largely the same, veterans like Allan McGregor and Steven Davis aren’t getting any younger and it is hard to escape the notion that an injection of fresh impetus wouldn’t go amiss.
To that end, Beale turned to the transfer market in January and recruited two midfielders: Nicola Raskin and Todd Cantwell. Both have been brought in to become first-team regulars and their early performances in Govan would suggest they are capable of doing just that. It was the first instance of Beale stamping his authority on the playing squad – and it won’t be the last, either.
“Our club has always recruited players in every window,” explained the Englishman. “The period between me coming in and the end of the season lets me decide exactly what I want to do.
“There are some ideas I want to implement in terms of shape that I haven’t been able to due to injuries. When I get to see that, I’ll have a clearer idea. I have my eyes on a lot of players but I have to make sure the balance fits right.
“When I was speaking to Nico and Todd it took a long time for me to make sure they’d fit in here. Where would they fit, where would they play?
“I had to see the group I was inheriting first but I’ve said all along there will be a 25 per cent turnover naturally. Then if we decide to sell one or two, we’ll replace like for like in terms of position.
“I don’t want to put a number on it but this is a significant summer for the club. Everyone can see that, in terms of reducing the squad size and upscaling in quality.”
One man whose long-term future is on the line is Ryan Jack. The Scotland internationalist’s contract is up at the end of the season and Beale is committed to waiting until the final ball of the campaign is kicked before making any decision with regards to an extension.
He remains impressed with the 31-year-old’s progress, both on and off the park, over the past few years and happy with his performances of late. There is just one issue with the midfielder and it is something that has dogged his career: maintaining his fitness and avoiding injury.
Beale said: “From the boy I met in 2018, to the one I worked with during Steven’s time, to the one I came back into - the way he’s flourished as a player and the level he’s been able to play at - it’s been fantastic to see Ryan’s journey.
“Injuries have been the thing that’s held him back. A fit Ryan Jack is an excellent player for Rangers and I thought he was fantastic in midweek [in the 4-1 win at Easter Road].
“I have to manage him at times to make sure he’s fit and available. He doesn’t like that. He trains the way he plays and he wants to play every week. He sets the standard for us and Ryan is certainly a player I want to work with moving forward here at the club.
“It’s just about making sure that he stays healthy for himself because it must have been difficult for him to miss the amount of football he has at times.
“He’s a young father and that helps you mature. The experience he’s had for Rangers and Scotland at European and international level has helped him grow his understanding. He’s a fine footballer and the only thing that has stopped him going even further are the injury spells he’s had.
“Every manager who has worked with him at Rangers, Aberdeen and Scotland has always had them as a key part of their team and changing room.
“We’ve had a couple of conversations. Like most players, he wants his future sorted out. If there wasn’t a change of manager in the middle of the season, maybe one or two things would have been sorted out.
“But it’s right that I’ve taken time to look, assess and see where the group is at. I had to see the scale of the change I want to make moving forward. It’s important we build a strong Rangers and don’t live in the past.”
