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 representing the Glasgow side, argued that the blame for the team's recent struggles does not rest with the coach but with deeper structural issues within the organization. McInnes arrived at Rangers with high expectations, yet his first few months have been marked by a string of disappointing results.
The team has now endured four games without a win, culminating in an early exit from the Europa League at the hands of Polish outfit Jagiellonia Bialystok. The lack of positive outcomes has intensified scrutiny on both the manager and his playing staff, with supporters and pundits alike questioning the direction the club is heading.
In an interview with Sky Sports News, Halliday emphasized that McInnes is "doing the best that he possibly can with what's at his disposal to try and get results." He explained that the manager is still in the process of discovering a tactical formula that suits the squad, searching for reliable players, and experimenting with different formations. "He's trying to find a formula, he's trying to find a solution, he's trying to find players that he trusts. Whether that's personnel or whether that's shape, he's really scratching the surface," Halliday said. Halliday highlighted several deficiencies within the current roster that make the manager's job even more challenging.
According to him, the squad suffers from a pronounced lack of pace, limited creative spark, and an absence of a player capable of dictating the tempo of a match. These shortcomings, he argued, are not the result of poor coaching but rather stem from the composition of the squad itself.
Rangers' transfer activity over the past twelve months has been prolific, with the club bringing in nine new signings during the summer window. However, a high‑profile target—PSV winger Couhaib Driouech—was lost after a medical revealed an injury, causing a £6.5 million deal to fall through.
Fans have expressed unease about the quality and balance of these acquisitions, questioning whether the new players truly address the team's needs. Chairman Andrew Cavenagh attempted to reassure shareholders during a recent Q&A session, asserting that the squad is stronger than it was a year ago.
He pointed to the increased depth and the variety of options now available to the manager. Yet Halliday remains skeptical, suggesting that the sheer volume of signings—27 players in just twelve months—indicates a lack of strategic clarity from the top.
"A gross level of mismanagement," Halliday said when asked about the club's recruitment policy. He argued that signing so many players in such a short period inevitably leads to mistakes. "If you've signed 27 players in the space of 12 months, then you've got so many decisions wrong.
It is quite incredible that we've allowed this to take place. 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." The former midfielder warned that merely adding numbers to the squad does not guarantee improvement.
He stressed that any further signings must represent a clear upgrade over the existing personnel; otherwise, the club risks enduring a prolonged, difficult season. "They need an upgrade, and I think it's hard to say they've done that," Halliday concluded. Beyond the immediate tactical concerns, Halliday's comments raise broader questions about Rangers' long‑term planning.
The club's recent history has been marked by ambitious spending, yet the lack of a coherent recruitment strategy appears to have left the team with a surplus of similar‑type players and gaps in crucial areas such as speed on the flanks and creative midfield play. This imbalance hampers a manager's ability to implement varied game plans and adapt to different opponents. For McInnes, the path forward will likely involve making tough decisions about the current roster, possibly offloading players who do not fit the desired profile and targeting individuals who can inject pace, imagination, and leadership into the side.
It may also require a period of patience from the supporters, allowing the manager time to instill his philosophy and develop a cohesive unit. In the meantime, Rangers continue to compete in the Scottish Premiership, with matches broadcast live on Sky Sports and other platforms.
Fans can also engage with the club through interactive experiences such as the Super 6 competition, which offers a chance to win a £1 million prize. Overall, Halliday's defense of McInnes underscores a belief that the manager is not the root cause of the team's early struggles. Instead, he points to systemic issues in player recruitment and squad composition that need to be addressed by the club's hierarchy. Only by aligning the recruitment strategy with a clear tactical vision can Rangers hope to reverse their current fortunes and restore confidence among their supporters.