Rangers chief executive Jim Gillespie has disclosed that the departure of manager Danny Rohl to RB Salzburg was the club's decision, paving the way for the appointment of Derek McInnes. Gillespie described McInnes as the "only candidate" for the role, emphasizing his leadership and understanding of the club's football model.
McInnes: The Only Candidate
Speaking at McInnes's unveiling, Gillespie stated, "I think it’s self-explanatory the quality that Derek brings. He brings standards, he brings leadership and he brings intangibles which are important to carry the weight of not just being the Rangers manager - but to be part of Rangers at an executive level." Gillespie confirmed that McInnes had been identified as a future Ibrox figurehead before the opportunity arose.
Rohl's Exit Was Rangers' Choice
Just a month earlier, Gillespie and owner Andrew Cavenagh had publicly backed Rohl, with Cavenagh claiming he gave Rangers "the best chance to win the league." However, when RB Salzburg came calling, Rangers chose to let Rohl go. Gillespie explained, "The decision for Danny to move on was our decision, Rangers Football Club’s decision. Danny was contracted to Rangers and had no buyout, so ultimately we could have told Salzburg he wasn't for sale. But we decided that we wanted to bring Derek in."
Stability and Success
McInnes becomes the 22nd permanent manager in Rangers' history and the third under Cavenagh's ownership in just over a year, following Russell Martin (17 games) and Rohl (40 games). Gillespie acknowledged the need for stability, saying, "Any successful organisation has stability embedded in it, and we aim to get stability embedded in Rangers Football Club." He added that McInnes will work within the existing football model alongside Technical Director Dan Purdy and new Performance Director Stig Inge Bjornebye.
Demands to Win
Gillespie made clear that McInnes faces the same expectations as his predecessors: to win games and silverware. "Rangers’ DNA is to be successful and win the trophies," he said. However, he stressed that the club must provide the necessary resources. "What we need to do is ensure that the resources available to Rangers is allocated and distributed in a way that gives everyone the best opportunity of success."
McInnes, a boyhood Rangers fan and 9-in-a-row hero, represents a nod to the club's history while safeguarding its future, according to Gillespie. The CEO concluded, "It's really important to give the fans a club that they’re proud of."
