We're halfway through June but for the Danny Rohl sceptics in the Rangers support, today must have felt as if all their Christmases had come at once. With only hours to go before Mexico and South Africa kick off a month-long jamboree of football, and just a couple of days remaining before Scotland get their first World Cup in almost three decades underway, things were already looking up. But then came the news from Germany that Rangers gaffer Rohl was being targeted by Austrian giants RB Salzburg. For a large swathe of the Ibrox faithful, this was the cherry on top of what was already looking like a tasty few days sat on the sofa with the remote in one hand, a can of lager in the other. But might this surprise turn of events leave Gers suffering a nasty hangover?
To say the German divides opinion in Govan is a little bit like saying Nigel Farage can be a tad controversial. As things stand, there are only two camps amongst the Gers support - those willing to tolerate him a little longer and those who are already done with the former Sheffield Wednesday boss. And if social media is anything to go by, it's the latter that is in the majority. It's a far cry from the days when Rohl was being serenaded to the tune of Daddy Cool. That disco ditty faded from the Ibrox hymn sheet almost as quickly as the collapse of their team's title hopes.
The dismal post-split run of four straight defeats to Motherwell, Hearts, Celtic and Hibs was the final confirmation for those fans already suspicious about Rohl's credentials for the top job at Ibrox. With a championship there to be won, a real Rangers manager worthy of the position - they claim - would have found a way, any way, to nudge his side over the line first. As for Rohl, well he somehow managed to stumble from one disaster to another, only to tumble home in third. Those critics have made their minds up and it seems there will be no budging them from it.
As for those willing to stand by Rohl a little longer, it seems most of them are only giving Rohl that reprieve due to a reluctance to be flung around in a dance that has become a dizzying regularity down Edmiston Drive lately. A club that has worked its way through seven managers in nine years now has to decide if it's going to wave goodbye to an eighth. Fans delighted by news of Salzburg's approach for Rohl will argue that if the 37-year-old is going to depart, this is the best way for it to happen. By allowing him to start the season, Rangers would risk another spin around their rinse-and-repeat cycle. With trips to Celtic Park and Tynecastle due amongst the first round of league fixtures, not to mention two tricky Europa League qualifying ties, defeats in any of those would inevitably lead to the old Ghostbuster banners being dusted down and another early-season sacking.
But news of Salzburg's interest offers a face-saving alternative that could suit all parties. Andrew Cavenagh would be spared the indignity of having to axe a second boss only eight months after firing his first, with the added incentive of a few quid in compensation cash. For Rohl, it would allow him to walk away from Glasgow with his head held high, able to cling onto his coaching reputation while returning close to his family in Germany. Of course that all makes perfect sense on paper. But in reality, there are several holes in the theory. Not least that Cavenagh has already made plain his thinking on such a scenario.
“I would consider it bad for the club if Danny left,” said the American last month during a sitdown with the Scottish media. “We believe that Danny gives us the best chance of winning the league next year, so we'd be incredibly disappointed if Danny left and wouldn't see it in any way as convenient. But I think Danny is completely committed and we expect him to be here.” That doesn't sound like a chairman who has spent the summer drawing up a list of potential candidates to replace Rohl.
What the manager, new chief exec Jim Gillespie and recruitment chiefs Dan Purdy, Gretar Steinsson and Stig Inge Bjornebye have been doing is spending the last few weeks working on their top targets for this summer's transfer window. Lawrence Shankland was the No1 pick identified and the club worked smartly to get that deal done early. It's all gone a little quiet on that front lately but Ibrox sources insist the club are busy working hard to get the recruits in that Rohl has pinpointed. However, if Rohl leaves, all that work will have to be paused, if not scrapped altogether, with a new list of signing targets to be drawn up for his replacement.
And then there's the fact that the Rangers squad are due to report back for training a week on Monday. This pre-season was always going to be huge for Rohl as he looks to finally implement a style of play many struggled to identify in Gers' drab performances last term. If he's allowed to leave, all of that would be put back into doubt. So while for many fans, giving Rohl the green light to join the Red Bulls might seem like an easy choice, it's understandable why the board might think differently. They now face a huge decision. And if they get it wrong, there's every chance Rangers may yet have another campaign finished by Christmas.
