Rangers and the paradox of a painful exit that boosts their trophy chances

Rangers booking their place in the Tin Pot playoffs, earlier. Photograph: Kirk O’Rourke/Rangers FC/Shutterstock

AND NOW FOR SOME PERSPECTIVE

All new managers want to hit the ground running. But landing with a dull thud has never been a barrier to future glory, certainly not at Ibrox. Take Graeme Souness, whose start as Rangers’ player-manager put the ‘pish’ in ‘inauspicious’. On his league debut, away to Hibs, he was sent off in the first half after a revenge attack on the wrong mullet. Rangers lost 2-1 and were beaten in the third game as well. Graeme out! Rangers won the League Cup and finished the season as champions for the first time in nine years.