Michael Beale is facing a major summer that could make or break his Ibrox tenure.
But if Davie Robertson has one piece of advice for the Rangers gaffer as he weighs up the big decisions that will determine whether his team have a realistic shot at chasing down Celtic next year it’s this - ‘do what Walter would do’. Beale may be under the cosh but even so it’s unlikely he’s operating under the strain placed on the Smith as he chased down the club’s nine-in-a-row dream.
But Ibrox legend Robertson was always impressed by the way his manager seemed to make the right call even when the pressure was at its most suffocating peak. For example, few would have had the bottle to stick Andy Goram on the transfer list at a time when the Goalie was rated among Europe’s best shot-stoppers. But Smith was brave enough to issue his explosive threat in the summer of 1994 and vindicated when the Scotland keeper responded to that rocket up the bahookie in the manner he was hoping for.
There’s unlikely to be many second chances handed out by Beale this summer as he draws up his own list of those surplus to requirements. But Robbo just hopes the current Ibrox boss is as ruthless as his late, great former gaffer was.
He told Record Sport: “Michael Beale has his own ideas on who he wants to bring in but there’s no doubt a massive clear-out is needed. And the manager has to be ruthless with that.
“He has to do what he thinks is best because at the end of the day it’s his job that’s on the line. There’s no place for sentiment at Ibrox. I remember a game at Ibrox when Walter was in charge.
“We were 3-0 down in a game to Dundee United after about 20 minutes and he took off both Richard Gough and Dave MacPherson. These were two big names at that time but he didn’t care. It was all about Rangers and what was best for the club.
“He showed that with Andy Goram too. He was one of the best goalkeepers in Europe but the manager decided to transfer list him. That sent a major shock through the dressing room. Andy himself was pretty upset by it. He was reduced to tears even.
“He knew he’d let Walter down and in fairness it got the reaction Walter was hoping for. He knuckled down and got back into the team, becoming as good as ever. But I just wonder if the same were to happen to some of the current squad if they’d even be too bothered about it.
“I just think Beale has to take the same approach as Walter. Of course it’s not easy to say goodbye to players who have been there for a long time and served the club well but managing Rangers requires tough decisions and that’s what Beale has to be prepared for.”
As well as helping the Light Blues to their record-equalling run of consecutive title wins after doing Gers from Aberdeen in 1991, Robertson three Scottish Cups and three League Cups during his six-year stay in Glasgow.
He puts that down to the relentless hunger for medals he found inside the Ibrox dressing room of the 1990s - something doesn’t see much of in a squad who, by Connor Goldson’s own admission, failed to kick on after their 2021 Premiership triumph. He said: “The hardest part about playing for Rangers is to keep going year after year.
“The team I played in had a lot of longevity in it. Ally McCoist, Ian Durrant, John Brown, Richard Gough, Stuart McCall. All these boys were there for years.
“But they all realised that once you’d won a big game you had to forget about it. It was all about the next one. You win one title, then it’s onto the next.
“There’s no respite at that club. But I look at today’s squad and it looks like some of them have decided it was OK to win just one title.
“I’m not saying they’re not hungry but you have to have that desire to keep going because at Ibrox, one is never enough. I remember feeling so much joy after winning my first title at Ibrox - but after that it was more relief when we won a league or a cup because it was always about going for the next one. You have to have that mindset.”
Beale is preparing to rip up his squad and start again, with up to a dozen new recruits on the manager’s wish list. And Robbo hopes the new-comers show more enthusiasm for the task than some of those heading for the exit.
He said: “Some players have been there a bit too long and have become a bit stale. They may need a new challenge - but I find it hard to understand that you can allow enthusiasm levels to drop when you have the privilege of playing in front of that big crowd every week. But there certainly has to be a lot of players coming in.
“And Beale has to find players who will run through a brick wall for that jersey, guys who are desperate to play for Rangers. I look at today’s team and some of them I just don’t think get it or have that real feeling for the club.
“Look at Alfredo Morelos. He’s been at the club for a long time and I don’t think he’s ever once came out and said he loves playing for Rangers. It’s easy me or someone like Bomber to say that because I’m Scottish and he grew up a Rangers supporter.
“But I look at other guys down the years from abroad, people like Arthur Numan or Jorg Albertz who played for big clubs and yet Rangers is now THEIR club. They knew straight away here you have to win and keep winning.”
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