Rangers

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Rangers striker Youssef Chermiti says the side's post-split capitulation has put "fire in our belly" for next season.

Dane Scarlett's late winner for Hibs at Ibrox on Wednesday night consigned Rangers to their fourth defeat in a row for the first time since 1983.

Danny Rohl's side were already guaranteed a third-place Premiership finish following defeat to Celtic last weekend but are now facing the possibility of losing all of their post-split games should they suffer defeat at Falkirk on Saturday.

But Chermiti, who joined from Everton last summer, is hoping this season's disappointment can inspire Rangers to success next term.

"Yeah, obviously we know we haven't won for four games in a row," the 21-year-old said.

"We're really sad but I think that just gives us a fire in our belly for next season.

"Yeah, for sure, because this season was a fail for us, so obviously we need to improve better and we go again next season."

Rohl had clawed Rangers, who were 13 points adrift when he replaced Russell Martin at the helm, back into the title race but defeats to Motherwell, Hearts and Celtic ended their hopes of a first top-flight crown in five years.

After a difficult start to life in Glasgow, Chermiti is desperate to lift a trophy with the Ibrox club.

"I want to win the title, that's what I'm thinking about," he added.

"Obviously, the first few months in Scotland was a bit difficult for me but I've had some time to settle down.

"And as I said in a few [media] conferences before, I feel more confident in the team, in the country as well.

"Everyone gave me more confidence and even me, on the pitch, I feel more confident.

"This season has been sad for us. We had a goal, we didn't get it but this is football and we go again next season.

"Our target now is Falkirk, we're trying to finish the season well and we're trying to win the game against Falkirk."

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Was James Tavernier's messy Ibrox farewell on Wednesday night "an unnecessary fight to pick" from head coach Danny Rohl?

The captain withdrew from the squad for the defeat to Hibernian in what would have been his final game at Ibrox after being told he wasn't starting.

Tavernier received a warm ovation from fans when he took to the pitch pre-match to be presented with a commemorative shield marking his 11 years' service by Rangers legend John Greig.

But The Herald football writer Stephen McGowan thinks Rohl should have just gone with Tavernier from the start in what was a dead rubber game for the club.

"I don't really understand why he took the path he did," McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I think the path of least resistance was just starting James Tavernier. If you do want to see him off the premises, then do it with a bit of dignity. Do give him his place and let him go.

"It does make you wonder whether there's stuff going on behind the scenes we don't really know about because that just seemed an unnecessary fight to pick. I just didn't really get that one."

Rangers fans, we want to know what you made of Tavernier's absence from the squad on Wednesday night? Have your say here

Sportscene pundit Michael Stewart analyses under-pressure head coach Danny Rohl's future at Rangers after the club were beaten 2-1 at home by Hibs for a fourth straight post-split loss.

We asked for your views after Rangers suffered a fourth consecutive defeat, losing 2-1 at home to Hibs.

Here are some of your comments:

Diggers: No fight, no clue, no chance of winning anything. Another disastrous season for the ongoing psychodrama that is my beloved Rangers. Where are the heroes?

Norrie: Danny Rohl must fancy his chances at Wolfsburg or Stuttgart after four defeats in a row. Dead-end Ibrox. Even James Tavernier had one foot out the door.

Nick: Rohl was fourth choice for the job and he's gone on to finish third in a two-horse race. He's out of his depth and should not be in the dugout at the beginning of next season.

Ronald: Desperate defending again. The winner was schoolboy stuff. I would keep Danny on but he must get some far better players to work with.

Gerald: I'm totally dumbfounded at how to summarise the capitulation we have witnessed in our past four games. Just as well they weren't cup finals, tippy-tappy sideways and backwards football and yet again hit by the sucker punch. Unless good quality players are recruited it could be deja vu.

Colin: I think it time up for the Rangers manager. Get someone in that knows the club.

Chris: Rangers have absolutely capsized. We have taken 10 steps backwards, losing four games in a row post-split is just shameful. I worry knowing Rohl has the reins to spend in the summer and kept his job. Massively disappointing, his tactics are shocking.

Watch all the highlights as Rangers suffered a fourth successive home defeat for the first time since 1983 as Hibernian edge closer to confirming European football. Available to UK users only.

Midfielder Jose Cifuentes will return to Rangers after MLS side Toronto opted against making his loan deal permanent. (Daily Record), external

Everton and Scotland defender Nathan Patterson would benefit from a return to Rangers this summer, according to former Scotland striker Paul Dickov. (Daily Record), external

Derek Cornelius has played his final game for Rangers after the on-loan Marseille defender was allowed to join with Canada's pre-World Cup training camp in Charlotte. (TSN), external

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

Rangers slipped to a fourth successive defeat in their last home match of the season as Hibernian celebrated keeping their hopes of fourth place and European football alive on Wednesday night.

MATCH REPORT

HAVE YOUR SAY

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Rangers manager Danny Rohl: "Today showed exactly why we need a strong, front-footed cut in the summer to change a lot of things on and off the pitch.

"That needs done and that is what we will do.

"When the opponent comes in our box three times and we concede twice and we have to work hard to create chances, this is not enough to keep us winning games.

"We said we have to be ruthless in both boxes.

"A lot of effort, but not enough.

"We have to demand more from ourselves, otherwise we will not achieve our big goals in the future."

Rohl spoke to supporters from the Union Bears fans group at full-time and says it is "important to show respect to the supporters".

He adds: "When I arrived, I showed leadership and I did this today as well.

"Even today, the atmosphere was good, they were not negative and were behind the team. It's important to listen to them because it shows respect. We spoke about what we want and which direction we want to go in the future.

"It is a good thing they are demanding because then they agree - we are both demanding.

"The last four games are not what Rangers should be. We have different standards and this is what we have to work on. We will go strong in the pre-season with a lot of things."

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Shortly before a suited James Tavernier walked out to bid Ibrox farewell, Rangers manager Danny Rohl explained the captain's absence from the matchday squad on his last home outing.

"He had a medical issue on Monday unfortunately and there was a question mark if he'd be available today," Rohl tells BBC Scotland.

"I made my decision he would not start today because he was not 100%. He stayed away from the team today."

Responding to rumours Tavernier had fallen out with Rohl, the German replied: "There was no conflict. Me as a manager has to make the decision for the starting line-up.

"It was very clear, I was honest with him to say he would get minutes today because he deserved a great goodbye - as a starter or a sub, it was my decision.

"It was my wish he played some minutes today."

Rohl adds he does not yet know if Tavernier will feature in the club's final match of the season at Falkirk on Saturday.

"The beginning of the week, there was a medical issue, he wanted to have an injection on Tuesday and I spoke with him and now he said he moved his injection to Thursday. I can't tell you more.

"It's a bit sad for all of us."

Danny Rohl may have "half a chance" of surviving as Rangers boss with a decent summer window, but are there worrying similarities with ex-head coach Philippe Clement?

Scott Cameron of the Rangers Journal podcast, external certainly thinks so and has concerns over the team's style and identity under Rohl.

Clement, now head coach of Norwich, was appointed at Ibrox in October 2023 and won the League Cup two months later but missed out on the league title by eight points after a string of poor performances during the run-in.

He was sacked in February 2025 following a humiliating Scottish Cup fifth-round exit to Queen's Park and 2-0 league defeat by St Mirren at Ibrox.

After Sunday's defeat at Celtic Park mathematically knocked Rangers out of the title race, Cameron questions whether Rohl is the man to lead the club forward.

"I've been here before and we've been here before as Rangers supporters," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I feel very similar to I did under Clement two years ago. The same red flags and the same concerns about the approach.

"Rohl's a nice guy but I just want a competent Rangers manager that gets us lifting trophies.

"He has to basically rip this squad apart. He talks about identity and leaders and every buzzword under the sun but Rangers need a strong spine with players that are brave in possession.

"It all comes down to recruitment. That's the issue for me. If we can recruit, he's got half a chance. Although I do have concerns over what his actual style and identity is.

"If Rohl had been appointed as an interim manager in October/November, would we be pushing for him to be given the job permanently?

"My gut instinct is generally right and I think you cut the cord and you bring somebody else in with a pre-season and the opportunity.

"I always refer to my wee boy. My wee boy has probably seen more Rangers managers in the near nine years of his life than I had seen in the previous 40.

"It's remarkable and I don't like this rinse and repeat cycle we're in but until you get the right person you're going to keep on this merry-go-round."

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

It has been a nightmarish couple of weeks for Rangers and their supporters. From a position of real strength coming into the post-split fixtures, they have frittered away the opportunity to claim the league title.

Three defeats on the trot for the first time in over a decade have ensured a third-place finish and nothing to play for in the past two games as Celtic and Hearts face off for the title.

It's an ignominious end to a season, which started dreadfully, picked up in the middle and briefly threatened to be incredible, but ultimately has been another barren campaign.

Almost inevitably, disgruntlement among supporters has led to some questioning whether Danny Rohl should remain in charge. The German said on Tuesday the club hierarchy want him to stay on, but that won't end the criticism of his handling of the team in the past few weeks.

I've said on more than one occasion in this column that Rangers need stability and the constant hiring and firing of managers is no way to create a successful environment.

That said, there are elements of Rohl's management that leave me unconvinced as to whether he is indeed the man to bring back the good times to Ibrox.

He, like Philippe Clement before him, struggles to get a consistent 90-minute performance out of his team. The blame for that is not entirely on him, but it is his responsibility. Making tactical tweaks during games to combat threats or exploit weaknesses also seems to be problematic for him.

But on the whole, the manner in which he dragged Rangers back into title contention probably earns him the chance to try to mould a squad over the summer better equipped to challenge for the title and make an impact in Europe.

To do that, he needs to find players who not only possess the technical quality to improve the side but who have the mentality and leadership qualities, which have been lacking at Ibrox for a long time.

It's a grim time round Ibrox way and plenty of hard work behind the scenes is going to be required to change the mood.

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• Rangers have lost three consecutive league games for the first time since October 2000 - that run 26 years ago began with a 1-0 defeat to Hibs.

• Rangers have lost just one of their past 29 league meetings with Hibs (W19 D9), going down 2-0 at home in April 2025.

• All of Hibs' past five top-flight wins over Rangers have come away from home. However, Hibs have lost 12 of their past 13 league visits to Ibrox (W1).

• Excluding the curtailed 2019-20 season, Rangers have won their final home game in six of the last seven league campaigns (D1 – v Hearts in 2022-23) since a 2-1 defeat to Aberdeen in 2016-17.

• Including the curtailed 2019-20 season, Hibs have only won their final away game in one of their past nine top-flight campaigns (D3 L5), beating Aberdeen 1-0 in 2020-21.

• Hibs forward Martin Boyle has scored four goals in his last four Scottish Premiership starts against Rangers, this after only scoring one in his first 12 starts against them in the competition beforehand.

Rangers' Danny Rohl is among several names on Bayer Leverkusen's shortlist for a new head coach, but Bild suggests that Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner is the top choice and Girona's Michel is also a candidate. (Bulinews), external

Danny Rohl is not at risk of being sacked by Rangers and is unlikely to leave for Wolfsburg considering their relegation from the Bundesliga, but Union Berlin, in particular, and Bayer Leverkusen could be more attractive propositions amid Europe-wide interest in the 37-year-old. (Sky Germany), external

Celtic, Fulham and Rangers have made initial enquiries about winger Cameron Ashia, while Burnley, Cardiff City, Hoffenheim, Ipswich Town, Sheffield United and Stuttgart have registered an interest in the 21-year-old who could be available for as little as £500,000 despite Huddersfield Town taking an option to extend his contract by a further year. (Daily Mail), external

Rangers are ready to step up their interest in midfielder Bobby Clark, who has spent a season on loan to Derby County and with parent club Red Bull Salzburg ready to cash in on the 21-year-old. (Football Insider), external

Rangers will find it tough to pursue their interest in Plymouth Argyle forward Lorent Tolaj with a host of Championship rivals considering a move for the 24-year-old. (Football Insider), external

Former Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny, currently with Besiktas, has surprisingly been left out of the Czech Republic's 54-man World Cup squad. (The Herald), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Connor Barron has urged Rangers to use their title pain as "fuel" for making amends next season.

The Ibrox side have been consigned to third place after their quest for a first Premiership title in five years collapsed with post-split defeats to Motherwell, Hearts and Celtic.

The 3-1 derby loss at Celtic Park on Sunday means Rangers have lost three successive league games for the first time since 2000 under Dick Advocaat.

Prior to the visit of Hibernian on Wednesday night, 23-year-old midfielder Barron said: "It was really frustrating. Obviously we went into the game to win it, trying to pick up from the last two games.

"We didn't do what we wanted to do and it's a real sore one. It's hard to put into words.

"I think there are loads of things we could say. It's easy to say it's this or that.

"A lot of things come into play. Ultimately, we just haven't been good enough on the pitch in the last few games.

"It was crunch time and we didn't get it over the line in the end.

"It's so difficult to take, it's frustrating but we have to use this as fuel going into next season.

"We know how this feels now, it's painful and we've got to use it to push on and rectify our mistakes.

"Everyone's been low. It's never nice, not just Sunday's game but the Hearts and Motherwell games as well.

"Coming into the split, our aim was to go and win all the games and we haven't done it. It hurts a lot but we need to win on Wednesday now."

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Rangers head coach Danny Rohl could makes changes after his side were consigned to third place. John Souttar and Ryan Naderi missed Sunday's game against Celtic.

Hibs are set to welcome Josh Mulligan back after almost four months out with an ankle injury, while Rocky Bushiri returns after a minor hamstring issue. Jamie McGrath is still suspended and Rudi Molotnikov (ankle) remains out.

Danny Rohl is confident the Rangers board will bankroll his squad revamp this summer because they "see the potential at the moment".

The German, who says he has been given assurances over his Ibrox future by chairman Andrew Cavenagh, knows change is needed after Rangers were consigned to a third-place Premiership finish and trophyless season.

The Rangers board have spent around £40m on the squad this season and Rohl was asked if they are ready to invest significantly again.

"I cannot guarantee you how much, but I can guarantee you that they are really open to go again forward because they see the potential at the moment, they see really what we missed, and what we can do with the right signings," he said

"I'm confident in this. I think this is again the great set-up because I like it at the moment here, because we are ambitious, we are honest to each other, but we want to move forward.

"I think there will be changes, and we have to change. We started in January, we made some good signings.

"And in the summer we want to move forward, bring quality in and bring leadership in. It's both things we have to bring together in the right balance.

"We have not a team, we need a team. The team must be very strong and for this we need different profiles.

"We were clear before the split what we want, what we have to do, and we are clear now as well what we want to do.

"In case of influence, we knew exactly the profiles we want. I think the main topic in the last days and games was then again how we have to find the balance between going back to new leadership, because we lose some leaders, and this is a part as well for the recruitment. Set standards, high standards, on and off the pitch every day for this club."

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Danny Rohl has been speaking to the media before Rangers host Hibs in the Premiership on Wednesday.

Here are the key lines:

• Rohl insists he will definitely still be Rangers head coach next season and says the criticism he is facing is a "motivation to do it better and find solutions".

• The German says he has received assurances from the hierarchy he will remain in charge: "The last 48 hours was unbelievable, the support from the board, everyone around me, seeing a lot of positive things. But we are also critical of ourselves. I think there's no question mark."

• Rohl says it is "normal" he is facing questions on his future after losing "three games in an important time of the year".

• ⁠He is planning a lot of change in the summer and says Rangers need to bring quality players in and "more leaders" to "set standards "on and off the pitch.

• He adds: "The team must be very strong and for this we need different profiles, and we are very clear in which direction we want to move forward."

• The Ibrox boss is optimistic the owners will invest again in the summer, having spent significantly already: "I cannot guarantee you how much, but I can guarantee you that they are really open to go again forward because they see the potential at the moment, they see really what we missed, and what we can do with the right signings."

• Rohl admits he is hurting amid the three-game losing streak that has consigned Rangers to a third-place finish, noting the contrast from a couple of weeks ago: "Maybe 16 days ago the full stadium was in my name and at the moment it's a bit less. But I understand also the big disappointment, especially when you come so close to a point where everyone believes and we are confident that we can win something, and then you drop in this moment like this, then it's hard."

• Rangers are unhappy with refereeing decisions in the Old Firm game - they believe Celtic's equaliser should have been ruled offside and Alistair Johnston sent off for his challenge on Mikey Moore - and are speaking with the Scottish FA today.

• Rohl adds: "They have conversations with the federation, with the refs. I think this is important and this is also where we have to be, we cannot accept everything in these moments, two decisions with big impacts in this game."

• Rohl knows this season has not been good enough, with Rangers having too many "ups and downs", but is "convinced" he can make them winners.

• He stressed the importance of winning the remaining two games: "The last impression before summer break should be a very positive one."

• Rohl wants a "great goodbye" in the final home game for departing skipper James Tavernier: "He deserves it. He did a lot of things for the club."

Jamie Currie
Fan writer

Here we are. Another big game, another complete failure.

And we went ahead after eight minutes as well. Two things can be true: Rangers' performance at Celtic Park wasn't good enough and neither Nick Walsh nor John Beaton had good games either.

For Celtic's equaliser three players were offside yet the goal stood - see Mikey Moore's goal at Dundee.

Then Alistair Johnston's tackle on Moore merited a red card - see the previous weekend with Jamie McGrath on Johnston.

However, for Rangers this season has been a shambles. Finishing third when you had it in your hands before the split, no cup finals, European embarrassment.

A clearing of the decks is required in the summer and experience is required right through the spine of the team. I feel if Danny Rohl is to stay, that is ultra critical for next season.

Yet again it's another failed season.

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Rangers are ready to reignite their interest in AEK Athens left-back James Penrice, formerly of Hearts and Livingston. (The Herald - subscription required), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.