Mark Hateley believes the Rangers support deserve BETTER after falling behind Celtic again as he questioned whether it is time for an Ibrox board shake-up.
Michael Beale suffered his first defeat as gaffer as his side lost out to their arch rivals in the League Cup Final with Kyogo Furuhashi netting both goals for Ange Postecoglou's side. Alfredo Morelos was on the scoresheet but it wasn't enough as the trophy made its way back to Parkhead and into the cabinet once again.
Hateley believes the backing the Light Blues support have shown over the last decade and beyond is nothing short of remarkable and after finally getting that Premiership title win they craved under Steven Gerrard and ending Celtic's ten in a row bid they deserved and expected much better than what was delivered.
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He reckons not winning the Scottish Cup now would represent another backward step as he called on change at the top - citing a lack of backing from the board as the reason for Gerrard's departure for Aston Villa in the English Premier League.
He told Grosvenor Sport: “The Rangers supporters have been let down again by Sunday’s defeat in the Viaplay Cup Final and they deserve better.
“The backing the fans have given Rangers since the dark days of 2012 has been nothing short of remarkable – unprecedented, really, in world football.
“They expected more and they deserved more after the title win in 2021. Of course, Rangers won the Scottish Cup last year and reached a Europa League Final but they have fallen behind Celtic again.
“They need to retain the Cup otherwise it’s another backward step.”
He continued: “Steven Gerrard delivered the most important title of recent times and a man of his pedigree doesn’t rest on his last act. That’s why he stayed at the very top for so long.
“He wasn’t satisfied with one achievement and if you haven’t got a board that is compatible to a manager then that relationship is going to break – and it did do.
“Steven needed to strengthen after 55 to try to get into the Champions League. He wanted to go to the next stage, he wanted the backing and he didn’t get it and that’s why he left for Aston Villa.
“I think the board have done remarkably well over the period – but they are custodians of an institution.
“When you are in that position you need to know when you have done your bit and you can’t take it any further.
“You have to know when the time is right to let others come to the fore and make the club what it wants to be and what it should be.”
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