Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday has stepped forward to defend 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 run of poor results does not rest solely on the coach but also on deeper structural issues within the organisation. McInnes arrived at Rangers with high expectations, yet his first few weeks have been marked by a string of disappointing outcomes. The team has now failed to win in four consecutive matches, a run that culminated in an exit from the Europa League at the hands of Polish club Jagiellonia Bialystok.
The early elimination added to the mounting pressure on both the manager and the playing squad, prompting intense scrutiny from supporters and the media. In an interview with Sky Sports News, Halliday offered a measured assessment of the situation.
He explained that McInnes is still "trying to find a formula, trying to find a solution, trying to find players that he trusts." The former midfielder highlighted that the manager is experimenting with both personnel and tactical shape, but that these efforts are still in their infancy. "He's really scratching the surface," Halliday said, suggesting that the process of building a cohesive unit takes time, especially when the existing squad lacks certain key attributes. One of the most glaring deficiencies, according to Halliday, is the lack of pace and creativity across the team.
He noted that there is no player currently capable of dictating the tempo of a match, a shortcoming that hampers the side's ability to control games and create scoring opportunities. "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," he observed. This assessment underscores the broader problem of squad composition, which Halliday believes has been mishandled by the club's hierarchy.
Despite these challenges, Halliday was unequivocal in his praise for McInnes's effort. "Derek McInnes is doing the best that he possibly can with what's at his disposal to try and get results," Halliday asserted. He added that, at this stage, the manager simply has not yet discovered the right solution, but that does not diminish the effort being put in.
The former player stressed that the manager's task is complicated by the current makeup of the roster, which he described as lacking depth in crucial areas. The criticism of the club's recruitment strategy is a recurring theme in Halliday's comments. Rangers have been active in the transfer market, bringing in nine new signings over the summer.
However, a high-profile deal for PSV winger Couhaib Driouech, reportedly worth £6.5 million, fell through after the player suffered an injury during his medical examination. This setback, combined with concerns about the quality and fit of other signings, has fueled fan frustration. 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. Nevertheless, Halliday countered this narrative by pointing to a pattern of what he called "gross mismanagement" at the top level.
He argued that signing 27 players within a twelve‑month period inevitably leads to a high number of poor decisions. "If you've signed 27 players in the space of 12 months, then you've got so many decisions wrong," he said. Halliday elaborated on the specifics of the recruitment issues, noting an overabundance of players in certain positions and a shortage in others.
According to him, the club has brought in only one left‑back, three centre‑halves, two wingers, and a large group of central midfielders who all share a similar profile. This lack of variety, he warned, means that the team does not have the necessary balance to compete effectively across a long season.
"They need an upgrade, and I think it's hard to say they've done that," Halliday concluded. The former midfielder's remarks paint a picture of a club in transition, grappling with the dual challenges of integrating a new manager and rebuilding a squad that may not yet possess the attributes required for success. While the immediate results have been disappointing, Halliday's defense of McInnes suggests that patience may be warranted, provided that the board addresses the underlying recruitment flaws and supplies the manager with players who can deliver the missing pace, creativity, and leadership on the pitch.
In summary, Halliday believes that Derek McInnes is operating under less‑than‑ideal circumstances, doing everything within his power to extract positive outcomes from a squad that lacks key qualities. The onus, according to Halliday, lies heavily on the club's hierarchy to rectify the recruitment strategy, secure immediate upgrades in critical areas, and ultimately give the manager the tools needed to turn the tide in the Scottish Premiership and beyond.