Rangers have now crossed the 100‑day threshold of Derek McInnes' tenure, and the period has felt like an emotional roller coaster for supporters. The new manager’s opening four fixtures ended without a win, and the side suffered a painful exit from Europe at the hands of Jablonec.
Yet, as the squad reconvenes after the international break, the ambition is clear: to climb to the summit of the Scottish Premiership for the first time this campaign. That ambition is being fuelled by a refreshed roster and a string of six straight victories, which notably include back‑to‑back triumphs in the Old Firm derby. The atmosphere at Ibrox has shifted back to one of optimism and belief.
In this analysis we examine how a decisive summer transfer window helped lay the foundations for this dramatic turnaround – a foundation that McInnes will need to maintain as Rangers prepare to face Kilmarnock on October 10. Before diving into the minutiae, it helps to view the situation in a broader context. This was the second summer in a row that Rangers brought in fourteen new players, but the two windows could not have been more distinct.
To understand the contrast, rewind a year. A new era had just begun at Ibrox with Russell Martin appointed head coach, and the club overseen by CEO Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell. That fresh start quickly proved ill‑fated. Martin was dismissed after just 123 days, and Stewart and Thelwell soon followed suit.
Of the fourteen signings made under that regime, only four survived the purge. Chairman Andrew Cavanagh later admitted that mistakes were made, issued the proverbial P45s and then adopted a more hands‑on approach to club governance.
It would be easy to blame Robbie Thelwell, titled "head of recruitment," for the previous mis‑hires, but his role was largely confined to scouting rather than final decision‑making. The real overhaul came twelve months later, with a new senior team comprising CEO Jim Gillespie (who joined in March), outgoing technical director Dan Purdy, Paraag Marathe, former 49ers executive Gretar Steinsson, and former professional footballer Stig Inge Bjørnebye, who was appointed performance director in June after a stint as consultant. The revamped recruitment strategy broadened its scope beyond pure footballing ability.
The board now evaluates how a player will integrate into the dressing‑room culture, their injury history, resale value and other commercial considerations – factors that were previously given less weight. Purdy would identify potential targets, Cavanagh and Gillespie would sign off on the deals, and the entire process was backed by the 49ers investment and ultimately endorsed by the manager.
While any transfer campaign will produce both hits and misses, this time Rangers operated with a unified vision. The original aim was to bring in fewer players than the previous summer, but injuries and emerging opportunities pushed the total back up to fourteen.
The leadership group set clear parameters: a defined style of play for domestic and European contests, a target age profile, and a financial framework that allowed for strategic spending. The new decision‑makers then executed the plan, much as they did in January when Tuur Rommens, Tochi Chukwuani and Ryan Naderi earned permanent contracts. McInnes, a manager who knows the Scottish game intimately, set the season’s primary objective: to reclaim domestic glory. The blueprint for ending Celtic’s long‑standing Premiership dominance did not involve mimicking the Old Firm rivals’ possession‑heavy approach.
Instead, Rangers opted for a brand of football built on physicality, pace and intensity, believing that to beat Celtic they needed to be fundamentally different. The departure of long‑time captain James Tavernier, vice‑captain Jack Butland and other senior figures also created a leadership vacuum.
The club responded by injecting younger, hungry players capable of growing into leadership roles, thereby reducing the average age of the squad – a trend that began in earlier windows and continued this summer. Chairman Cavanagh signalled a willingness to spend on quality, but only on players who also possessed resale potential and could contribute to the club’s long‑term sustainability. This checklist was complex, and it was understood that a single window would not solve all issues; multiple transfer periods would be required to fully realise the vision. Early indicators are promising.
The average age of the lineup that defeated Celtic in the two pre‑break fixtures was under 24, compared with Celtic’s average of roughly 27. The starting eleven featured a new spine and six summer arrivals: goalkeeper Ivor Pandur, defender Olwethu Makhanya, midfield captain Dan Neil, James Penrice, winger Minsu Kim and striker Kevin Kelsy. In the League Cup quarter‑final, Rangers displayed a clear identity – they were robust, quick, and aggressive in winning second balls. That performance was echoed a week later at Parkhead, where Celtic appeared to be searching for answers that never materialised.
Both the January and summer windows have been guided by a coherent recruitment plan, resulting in a squad that combines speed, strength, ambition and the kind of talent that could attract interest from larger European leagues. This growing reputation is reflected internationally: thirteen players received call‑ups during the recent three‑week window, and twelve of those are 26 or younger, underscoring the youth‑focused shift at Ibrox. The current roster includes Ivor Pandur (26), Dujon Sterling (26), Emmanuel Fernandez (24), Olwethu Makhanya (22), Minsu Kim (20), Nicolas Raskin (25), Dan Neil (24), James Penrice (27), Djeidi Gassama (23), Ryan Naderi (23) and Kevin Kelsy (22), among others.
Significant reforms to Rangers’ recruitment process have already produced positive early signs, but September is far from a guarantee of success. The team must still overtake Celtic in the league and navigate a challenging fixture against Aberdeen to secure a place in the League Cup final, where they could meet Hearts or Hibs. Nevertheless, for the first time in many years, after an active transfer window and consecutive Old Firm victories, Rangers head into the autumn with a solid platform that could finally deliver the success their supporters have long awaited.