MICHAEL Beale tonight vowed to carry out the biggest rebuild at Rangers in years this summer and revealed that up to a dozen players could depart after a Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic.
The Ibrox club will finish a desperately disappointing 2022/23 season trophyless after losing the last four encounter to their treble-chasing city rivals 1-0 at Hampden this afternoon.
The defending champions, who fell behind shortly before half-time when they switched off at the back and allowed Jota to net, created a series of excellent scoring chances in the second-half.
However, Beale’s men were unable to capitalise on any of them and paid the price for their profligacy in the final third.
The Englishman, who took over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst in November, conceded that it could be the last time Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent, who are out of contract at the end of the season, play at Hampden.
"Some players are fighting for their futures, obviously,” he said. "It will be the biggest rebuild this club has seen in a number of years.
“You have to be respectful. You come in in November and you know changes will be made. I've got a group of players that I need to manage and keep moving forward and motivate for the games.
“It's obvious I'm not going to condemn people and send them away. But it's also obvious that we are getting to the summer and there will be some change.”
Beale added: “If you haven't heard any news about certain players, it will be amiss to not asking the same questions because if you don't hear anything, then people's contracts are running out and it gives you a good indication that there is change in the air.
“Our Rangers team has performed well today but where it counts in both boxes we’ve fallen short. In the summer, there will be fresh faces, renewed energy and renewed ideas with some of the boys that we’ve got now of course. We have to do better, all of us.”
Asked if Kent and Morelos will be moving on, Beale said: “Possibly, yes.”
Asked if there could be a turnaround of up to a dozen players, he said: “Something in the words you used because there is a number out of contract.
“The one or two I’ve mentioned are out of contract. Everyone else is in contract so they’re not going anywhere overnight. There will be change, we know that.
“Now is probably not the time to discuss that. Let’s deal with today. I thought the team in general performed quite well. They made a huge mistake in a game you can’t make it in. After that, they gave themselves enough opportunities to turn the game around and didn’t take them.”
Rangers made a series of defensive errors in a 3-2 defeat to Celtic at Parkhead earlier this month – and they allowed Jota to score what proved to be the winner at Hampden today when they waited for the whistle to blow after Nico Raskin had fouled Matt O’Riley just outside his penalty box.
“I am not angry,” said Beale. “I am disappointed, frustrated. I think the group has been capable of more. I think it’s clear come the end of the season when it’s written we haven’t been able to produce.
“Coming back into the club, I knew there was going to be change. We’ve been in need of the summer for a while to be honest, but certainly after today, that will come.
“I think it’s fair to say for the fans and the squad as well, we need some new faces and new energy. Some of the ideas and way we’ve played is good, we’re able to win a lot of games.”
