Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday 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 recent string of poor results does not rest with McInnes, but rather with deeper structural problems within the organization. In a candid interview with Sky Sports News, Halliday explained that McInnes is "doing the best that he possibly can with what’s at his disposal to try and get results." He emphasized that the manager is still in the early stages of shaping his approach, searching for a tactical formula and a group of players he can rely on.
Halliday noted that McInnes is experimenting with both personnel and formation, "scratching the surface" as he attempts to discover a system that can unlock the squad’s potential. The criticism surrounding McInnes has intensified after Rangers extended their winless run to four matches, culminating in a disappointing exit from the Europa League at the hands of Polish outfit Jagiellonia Bialystok.
The defeat has amplified scrutiny on the manager and his players, with fans and pundits questioning the direction of the club. Halliday, however, pointed to a more fundamental issue: the composition of the squad itself. He highlighted a "real lack of pace, a real lack of creativity, no one that can dictate the tempo of a game." According to Halliday, the current roster simply does not possess the attributes required to dominate matches or to adapt to different tactical demands.
This, he believes, severely limits McInnes’s ability to implement his ideas effectively. Rangers entered the summer transfer window with a flurry of activity, securing nine new signings. Yet, the club also experienced a setback when a £6.5 million deal for PSV winger Couhaib Driouech fell through after an injury was discovered during his medical examination.
The aborted transfer added to the sense of uncertainty surrounding the club’s recruitment strategy. Chairman Andrew Cavenagh attempted to defend the recruitment policy during a recent shareholder Q&A, insisting that the squad is stronger than it was a year ago.
He argued that the new arrivals have added depth and quality across several positions. Despite this reassurance, Halliday remained unconvinced, describing the situation as a "gross level of mismanagement." He argued that signing 27 players within a twelve‑month period inevitably leads to a number of poor decisions and an over‑reliance on similar player profiles. "If you’ve signed 27 players in the space of 12 months, then you’ve got so many decisions wrong," Halliday said. He illustrated his point by noting the imbalance in the current roster: only one left‑back, three centre‑backs, two wingers, and a surplus of central midfielders who share a similar skill set.
This lack of variety, Halliday contended, hampers the team’s ability to adapt to different tactical scenarios and to inject fresh dynamism into matches. The former midfielder warned that merely adding numbers to the squad will not solve the problem.
"They need an upgrade, and I think it’s hard to say they’ve done that," he asserted. Halliday stressed that any further signings must represent a clear step up from the existing players, otherwise the club risks enduring a prolonged period of mediocrity throughout the season.
In summary, Halliday’s defence of McInnes hinges on two main arguments: first, that the manager is operating with limited tools and is still in the process of finding a workable system; second, that the club’s recruitment strategy has been flawed, resulting in a squad lacking essential qualities such as speed, creativity, and a game‑changing presence. Until the hierarchy addresses these structural deficiencies—by securing players who can immediately elevate the team’s performance—McInnes will continue to face an uphill battle in delivering the results expected by Rangers supporters.
The situation remains fluid, and the upcoming fixtures will be a crucial test for both manager and players. If the club can rectify its recruitment missteps and provide McInnes with a more balanced, dynamic group of players, there is a realistic chance that the winless streak can be halted and the team can regain its competitive edge in the Scottish Premiership and European competitions.