Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday believes being a brilliant coach is not enough to succeed at Ibrox, pointing to Michael Beale and Danny Rohl as examples. He argues that Derek McInnes, recently appointed as Rangers manager, brings the necessary characteristics to handle the club's demands.
Halliday Backs McInnes Appointment
Halliday, who never played under McInnes, knows the 54-year-old's style well. He highlighted the resilience and character of McInnes' teams, especially at Hearts, where they came close to winning the Scottish Premiership last season. McInnes will begin pre-season next week and face Dundee United on July 31.
Halliday said: "We've got two unique clubs in Scotland with Celtic and Rangers. The demands, the expectation, the pressure - you need to be more than just a brilliant coach. Danny Rohl proved that. Michael Beale proved that. By all accounts, brilliant coaches. But you need to be able to handle the expectations."
Mentality Issues Addressed
Halliday criticized Rohl for not acknowledging mentality problems at Rangers. "There was a couple of occasions towards the end of the season, I don't think Danny Rohl answered questions correctly. He didn't like the mentality question but everybody in Scotland could see there was a mentality issue, except for him."
In contrast, McInnes' teams are known for character and resilience. "How many times do we say it throughout the season where Hearts scored a goal in the last minute? Through desire, through character. I think Derek McInnes is going to play a huge role in improving that at Rangers."
Club in Better Shape
McInnes turned down Rangers nine years ago but now takes over under Andrew Cavenagh's US consortium and chief executive Jim Gillespie. Halliday noted the club is more professional now, with funds promised for squad rebuilding. "This is as low-risk an appointment as they've made for such a long time," Halliday added.
