Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday has stepped forward to back the club’s new manager, Derek McInnes, amid a difficult start to his tenure at Ibrox. Halliday, who spent five seasons playing for the Glasgow side, argued that the blame for the recent string of poor results does not rest with the manager but with broader structural issues within the club. He described the current situation as a case of "gross mismanagement" at the highest levels, particularly in relation to player recruitment and squad composition. McInnes, who arrived at Rangers with a reputation for getting the most out of limited resources, has yet to secure a win in his first four matches in charge.
The most glaring setback came in the Europa League, where Rangers were eliminated by Polish outfit Jagiellonia Bialystok. The defeat extended the team’s winless run to four games and intensified scrutiny on both the manager and the playing group. Despite the mounting pressure, Halliday maintained that McInnes is doing "the best that he possibly can with what's at his disposal" and is still searching for a winning formula.
In an interview with Sky Sports News, Halliday explained that McInnes is actively experimenting with different tactical setups and personnel combinations. "He's trying to find a formula, he's trying to find a solution, he's trying to find players that he trusts," Halliday said.
He noted that the manager is still "scratching the surface" of what the squad can achieve, suggesting that the process of building cohesion and identifying the right balance is ongoing. One of the core criticisms Halliday raised concerns the overall balance of the squad. He highlighted a lack of pace, creativity, and a player capable of dictating the tempo of matches.
"You look at the balance of the squad and there's a real lack of pace, a real lack of creativity, no one that can dictate the tempo of a game," Halliday observed. This deficiency, he argued, hampers McInnes's ability to implement his preferred style of play and to secure positive results.
Rangers have been active in the transfer market this summer, bringing in nine new signings. However, a high‑profile target – PSV winger Couhaib Driouech – saw his £6.5 million move collapse after an injury was discovered during his medical examination. The aborted deal has added to the sense that the club’s recruitment strategy may be flawed.
Fans have expressed concerns that the influx of new players has not addressed the team's most pressing needs. Chairman Andrew Cavenagh attempted to defend the recruitment efforts during a recent shareholder Q&A, asserting that the squad is stronger than it was a year ago. Nevertheless, Halliday remained unconvinced, pointing to the sheer volume of signings – 27 players in twelve months – as evidence of poor decision‑making at the top. "If you've signed 27 players in the space of 12 months, then you've got so many decisions wrong," he said.
He went on to illustrate the lack of strategic balance, noting that the club has signed multiple left‑backs, centre‑halves, and wingers, but many of these players share similar profiles, limiting tactical flexibility. According to Halliday, the club’s recruitment policy has resulted in a roster that lacks depth in crucial areas.
"Only one left‑back in the door, three centre‑halves, only two wingers, a whole host of central‑midfield players that all kind of fit the same profile," he explained. This redundancy, he argued, makes it difficult for McInnes to rotate his squad or adapt to different opponents. Halliday emphasized that while the club acknowledges the need for further signings, any new arrivals must represent a clear upgrade over the current options; otherwise, the season is likely to be protracted and fraught with difficulties.
Halliday’s comments reflect a broader frustration among sections of the Rangers fanbase, who feel that the club’s leadership has failed to provide the manager with a squad capable of competing at the highest level. He summed up his critique by stating, "It is quite incredible that we've allowed this to take place. They need an upgrade, and I think it's hard to say they've done that." The implication is that without decisive action to rectify recruitment errors and to inject genuine quality into the team, McInnes will continue to struggle to deliver the results expected at a club of Rangers' stature.
In summary, Andy Halliday’s defence of Derek McInnes hinges on the belief that the manager is working within the constraints of an ill‑constructed squad. While McInnes has yet to find the right combination of players and tactics to break the winless streak, Halliday argues that the root cause lies in the club’s overarching mismanagement, particularly in the area of player acquisition. The hope among supporters, according to Halliday, is that the hierarchy will recognize these shortcomings, make smarter signings, and ultimately provide McInnes with the tools he needs to turn the season around.