Rangers

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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The mood around Rangers was not helped before kick-off with Saturday's news that chairman John Bennett, who has invested heavily in the club in recent years, had resigned as chairman for health reasons.

The Ibrox club were already seeking a new chief executive and a new academy director, while they have just returned to Ibrox after having to spend money hiring Hampden because of delayed renovation work.

Despite it all, manager Philippe Clement insisted in last week's question and answer session with supporters that he believes his side can still win the title and this was always going to be a severe test of those credentials given he was forced into a couple more changes.

Illness denied him of the services of Czech Republic international Vaclav Cerny and, with Rabbi Matondo injured, Kieran Dowell was forced into an unfamiliar wide role.

Rangers could not have asked for a better start as their early intensity forced Tom Lawrence's seventh-minute opener.

It is kind of game you would expect City rivals Celtic to dominate thereafter, but this Rangers side failed to build on that and never looked like one a class above their less expensively assembled hosts.

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Dundee United's Jim Goodwin names an unchanged starting line-up for a fourth game in succession as they look to build on their 1-0 win away to Heart of Midlothian, but it is a different story for Rangers in Sunday's Scottish Premiership game at Tannadice.

Visiting manager Philippe Clement has been forced into two changes, and made one other alteration, with Vaclav Cerny having taken ill after his return from Czech Republic duty.

Fellow winger Rabbi Matondo had already been ruled out through injury.

Oscar Cortes, the on-loan Lens winger, makes his first appearance since picking up an injury in the opening-day draw with Hearts at the start of August.

Tom Lawrence and Kieran Dowell come into midfield as versatile defender Dujon Sterling drops to the bench following the 3-0 defeat by Celtic last time out.

Nedim Bajrami, the midfield signing from Sassuolo, and Neraysho Kasanwirjo, the defender on loan from Feyenoord, could make their debuts off the bench.

Ianis Hagi is adamant that he will be given another chance to play for Rangers despite the 25-year-old Romania midfielder being frozen out because one more appearance will trigger a wage rise. (Play Spor via Sunday Mail), external

John Bennett, who has pumped around £23m into Rangers, will remain a supportive shareholder and significant investor despite stepping down as chairman due to health reasons, with recent criticism he faced having had a negative impact on his close family and personal life. (Sunday Mail), external

Rangers will earn between £1m and £2m extra per home game now that they have returned to Ibrox following the temporary use of Hampden during stand renovations, according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness. (Football Insider), external

A Rangers supporter liaison officer statement has claimed Dundee United refused to allow a full stand tifo by visiting fans at Tannadice for Sunday's Scottish Premiership match. (The Herald On Sunday), external

Scotland midfielder Ryan Jack has been pictured in training by Turkish second-tier club Erokspor, but the 32-year-old who is a free agent after being released by Rangers has not yet been announced as a signing before Sunday's match against Igdir. (Scottish Sun On Sunday), external

Former Rangers winger Vladimir Weiss believes his current side, Slovan Bratislava, can cause a huge Champions League upset by beating Celtic in their Champions League opener in Glasgow on Wednesday. (Sunday Mail), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Dundee United have everyone available apart from Ryan Strain, who has a hamstring issue.

Rangers striker Danilo is out for four weeks with a medial ligament injury.

Nedim Bajrami could make his debut and Oscar Cortes returned to training after recovering from a knee injury but Rabbi Matondo and Ridvan Yilmaz remain out.

Captain James Tavernier decided to remain with Rangers despite holding talks with Fenerbahce, Galatasaray and Istanbul Basaksehir, the prospect of a pay rise and the Ibrox club being willing to allow the 32-year-old right-back to leave if a sufficient offer came in. (HITC), external

Rangers could look to cash in on captain James Tavernier once the transfer window re-opens in January. (Football Insider), external

New Rangers signing Nedim Bajrami pushed for a permanent move from Sassuolo when it looked like it was just going to be a loan and the 25-year-old midfielder sought advice from former team-mate Josh Doig and Liam Henderson, with whom he played at Empoli, about the Ibrox club. (Football Scotland), external

Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Fabio Silva has insisted he was a success in Scotland as the 22-year-old was paraded by latest loan club Las Palmas following his spell with Rangers last season. (The Herald), external

Former Rangers winger Ryan Kent turned down 21 offers to leave Fenerbahce this summer, the latest four making approaches for the frozen out 27-year-old being Greek League clubs PAOK and AEK Athens and Belgian League duo Westerlo and Antwerp. (Lider Haber), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement has brushed off ugly scenes outside Ibrox earlier this month as being "in the heat of the moment".

Fans gathered to voice criticism against Clement and his players following Rangers' 3-0 derby defeat at Celtic Park.

The Belgian says he understands fans' discontent after such a defeat, but does not believe it is reflective of the fanbase as a whole.

"It's never a nice moment to lose against your rivals and for sure not 3-0," he said.

"So I understand the frustration; we had the same frustration and the anger inside of us so in a way you understand things.

"I've been now 10 to 12 days longer in Glasgow and I've met a lot of fans who reacted in a totally different way and were very positive and supporting the team and the club. So it's in the heat of the moment. It's not things that you like and that you love, but it happened."

Clement also thinks the club's temporary use of Hampden for home games has fuelled a negative atmosphere among Rangers fans, but believes the return to Ibrox will help restore unity.

"I know there's a lot of frustration," he added. "This stadium situation created a lot. There was a lot of negativity about that, so I'm really happy with the with the news that we can go back to Ibrox and everybody can feel home again.

"It was a really big thing. It's like being put out of your house without you being able to do anything about it. That was the feeling the fans had and it was a difficult one.

"So now the most important thing is to go back to Ibrox and focus on the results, and making the story better and better with the team."

Philippe Clement addresses "untrue" James Tavernier rumours after the Rangers captain was linked with a move away from the club.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership trip to Dundee United on Sunday.

Here are the best bits from his press conference:

• Says there were no bids in for James Tavernier amid reports that clubs in Turkey were keen on him.

• On the criticism and abuse Tavernier received from some Rangers fans after the Old Firm derby defeat, Clement says "it's not a nice thing", even though he understands the supporters' frustration.

• Believes Tavernier is motivated "to get the love back" from fans, and called him "a captain who stands in front of the ship".

• Clement says the two-week break allowed him to work with some of the new additions to his squad, but admits he wanted to return to action immediately after the loss to Celtic, not after two weeks.

• Striker Danilo will be out for around four week after he slipped and injured his medial knee ligament while sprinting.

• The Brazilian is not in Rangers' Europa League squad because he won't be fit enough, but Clement called him a "fighter".

• In other team news, Ridvan Yilmaz and Rabbi Matondo will also miss this weekend through injury.

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Jim Gillespie remaining in his post as St Mirren vice-chairman is a "huge bonus" for the club, according to manager Stephen Robinson.

Gillespie was reportedly targeting by Rangers as their new chief executive, a role vacated by James Bisgrove in May.

However, reports this week suggest that Gillespie will stay with the Paisley club, much to Robinson's satisfaction.

"I am absolutely delighted," Robinson said. "I think it’s a huge bonus for St Mirren, a real bonus.

"At every football club you need a driver. You need somebody that has an ambition, a vision and that's what sold me on the football club and he has been true to his word that he drove this football club.

"Previously, I believe that people would have been happy with going up and down and maybe finishing third from bottom.

"Now that is not even in our talk and all through this situation, I’ve spoken to Jim on a daily basis, and all we speak about is St Mirren and how we drive it forward.

"How we recruit in the next window, and how we do what we did again, and how do we better the facilities? How do we better the staff? So I think he's a vital, vital part in this football club, moving forward."

Robinson believes Gillespie was never tempted by a move to Ibrox and says work has continued as normal despite speculation.

"I know Jim's staying," Robinson added. "He never wavered from St Mirren the whole time that the stuff's been in the press.

"It's none of my business about other clubs or Jim's personal business.

"All I've ever spoken to Jim about is, as I said, making St Mirren better and giving him an update on things on the pitch and off the pitch every day.

"And I'm delighted for that, because you always have the fear that the person driving the football club leaves, what that comes next? So it's certainly a huge, huge plus for St Mirren."

Rangers' trip to face Dundee United on Sunday is "win at all costs" and one where "performance goes out the window", says former Motherwell skipper Stephen Craigan.

Listen to weekend preview on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast

Considering Jim Goodwin's United are newly promoted and lost their latest four meetings with Rangers when they were last in the Premiership, you would expect last season's runners-up to be strong favourites despite the game being at Tannadice.

But this is a different United - and a different Rangers.

This is the first opportunity Philippe Clement's visitors have had to redeem themselves after their shortcomings were exposed again by champions Celtic.

A crushing 3-0 defeat in the first Old Firm derby of the season not only leaves Rangers five points behind their city rivals and Aberdeen after only four games but also down in fourth place - one point behind Sunday's hosts.

They head to Tannadice without a win in their three away games this season - and have only won one of their last seven on the road in the Premiership stretching into last term.

Clement insisted in this week's question and answer session with supporters that he believes his side can still win the title - and fans currently appear more inclined to blame the Ibrox club's board for squad weaknesses.

However, with the leading two playing a day earlier, Rangers could find themselves eight points adrift by kick-off in Tayside and pressure will only mount on the Belgian if they end the weekend further behind.

It is certainly not the ideal time to be visiting a side who are unbeaten in eight outings, winning their latest three, and who have not lost in 10 home games - five of them this season.

One thing both sides have in common is an eye for taking their chances.

Rangers' expected goals from non-penalty shots in the Premiership this season is the highest of any side at 0.148, with United in third with an average of 0.124, and such clinical finishing could make the difference.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

Rangers captain James Tavernier has turned his back on a potential Turkish exit to remain at Ibrox. (HITC), external

Former Rangers skipper Barry Ferguson says the abuse James Tavernier was subjected to by some fans after the recent Old Firm loss "went way over the score". (Daily Record), external

Rangers and Aberdeen are waiting for the SPFL to set a date for a compensation tribunal to settle a fee for midfielder Connor Barron, having been unable to come to an agreement over a valuation for the 22-year-old. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

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Rangers have confirmed the Copland Stand at Ibrox will be partially open for their League Cup quarter-final against Dundee on 21 September.

The Govan side have been playing home games at Hampden since the start of the season because of delayed construction works to that end of their ground.

Earlier this month, Rangers announced their return to Ibrox for the cup tie with Dundee, but said the Copland Stand would remain closed.

However, following "good progress in completion works", they have now advised that season-ticket holders can buy tickets for the front of the revamped stand.

The club statement added: "Supporters in the Copland rear, which will remain closed for this match as final concourse works continue, can select an alternative seat elsewhere in the stadium."

Rangers return to action following the international break when they play Dundee United in the Premiership at Tannadice on Sunday.

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• Dundee United have won three of their last six meetings at home with Rangers in all competitions, after winning only one of their previous nine against the Ibrox side at Tannadice (D3 L5).

• Rangers have won their last four Scottish Premiership games against Dundee United, last winning five league games in a row versus the Tangerines between September 2001 and December 2003 (eight in a row).

• Dundee United have won their last two league games; the last newly-promoted club to win three in a row in the top flight were Hearts in January 2022.

• Rangers have only won one of their last seven away league games (D3 L3) - their fewest wins over a run of seven away league outings under a single manager since September 2016 under Mark Warburton (also one in seven).

• The average expected goals of Rangers non-penalty shots in the Premiership this season is 0.148, the highest of any side, while Dundee United's average of 0.124 xG/non-pen shot is third highest.

Former England national team head of communications Adrian Bevington is open to talks with Rangers over their vacant chief executive position. (Scottish Sun), external

Rangers chairman John Bennett could be reluctant to turn to Adrian Bevington as their next chief executive because the Englishman played an introductory role in a failed £60m American cash injection led by businesswoman Kyle Fox. (Daily Record), external

Rangers chief executive hopeful Adrian Bevington insists his previous involvement with potential Rangers bidder Kyle Fox should be no impediment to landing a major Ibrox role. (Scottish Sun), external

While Rangers are aware of Adrian Bevington's desire to be chief executive, the Ibrox club also still hold an interest in Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

The Turkish Football Federation's decision to stick with a limit of 12 non-national players in domestic squads has ruled out the possibility of Rangers captain James Tavernier joining Besiktas or Trabzonspor this week. (Daily Record), external

Former Rangers midfielder Todd Cantwell claims his "maturity" led him to stick by his transfer request as he conceded moments of doubt over his Ibrox exit push before joining Blackburn Rovers. (Daily Record), external

Rangers winger Vaclav Cerny has blasted his own FA for allowing the Czech Republic's home Nations League game to be completely taken over by visiting Ukrainian fans. (The National), external

Former Rangers and Watford striker Dapo Mebude is training with Dunfermline Athletic as the 23-year-old looks for a new club after leaving Oostende months after suffering life-threatening injuries in a freak car crash and having trials with Livingston and Raith Rovers. (The Courier), external

Read all of Thursday's Scottish Gossip

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Scottish FA head of referees Willie Collum has highlighted three controversial incidents involving Rangers in the opening four weeks of the new season but concluded officials got the decisions correct.

But he was also critical of referee Matthew MacDermid's body language in the lead up to what he believes was a correctly awarded League Cup goal scored by striker Cyriel Dessers against St Johnstone.

Collum highlighted eight controversial incidents in The VAR Review, a new monthly show on the Scottish FA's YouTube channel, concluding that he was "content with the start we've made".

However, he said that Celtic should have been awarded a penalty in their 4-0 win over Kilmarnock, while Dundee United ought to have had a spot-kick for hand ball in their 2-2 draw with Dundee - both on the opening weekend.

Hearts 0-0 Rangers - 3 August

Hearts thought they should have had a penalty when Yan Dhanda's cross struck Connor Barron's elbow at Tynecastle.

Collum says this incident "shows the direction of travel we want to take with handball" since he took charge, highlighting the short distance between the two players and Barron's arm being tight to his body.

"There was a lack of understanding of many hand balls last season," he said. "Probably last season, that would have been awarded.

"But, for us, the key point is that the arm is tucked into the body. The player does not make his body bigger."

Rangers 2-0 St Johnstone - 17 August

Dessers' goal was controversial at the time, with St Johnstone players and manager Craig Levein claiming their defenders had been distracted by referee MacDermid signalling for a free-kick in their favour.

"Here, the referee probably doesn't display good body language," Collum admitted. "His body language when the challenge is made is edging towards a free-kick.

"But he correctly delays the whistle, he correctly communicates so the VAR is aware of what he intends doing if a goal is scored and, when the ball hits the net, he then blows his whistle for what he deems to be a defensive free-kick.

"VAR checks and realises the Rangers player hasn't committed a foul and they therefore recommend an on-field review.

"Apart from the body language, the correct process was followed and ultimately the correct decision was reached."

Collum also pointed out that the audio recording disproved claims that the referee had blown his whistle before the goal was scored.

Rangers 6-0 Ross County - 24 August

Another Dessers goal, with Ross County this time claiming it should have been disallowed because Rangers midfielder Tom Lawrence had fouled Connor Randall in the build-up.

"It is a clear foul for me the referee has missed on-field," Collum conceded. "It is a reckless tackle by the Rangers player. But VAR is not there to re-referee the match."

Collum points out that "there are far too many passes" between the foul and the goal, it therefore is not part of the same attacking phase of play and VAR was unable to intervene.

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Philippe Clement has had an opportunity to reset his squad over the international window after that harrowing defeat at Celtic Park and must hope they can come out of the traps hungry and firing when they visit Tannadice on Sunday.

His assertion in a fans' question and answer session that the league title is still achievable is a truism and nothing less than you would expect a Rangers manager to say at this stage of the season.

Now he and his team have to back it up with performances and, more importantly, results.

They already trail Sunday's opponents Dundee United by a point and clearly nothing less than a victory will do as they seek to make inroads into Celtic's early lead, albeit it is difficult to see where the champions are going to drop points at this moment in time.

The beleaguered Rangers support at least have the arrival of Albania international Nedim Bajrami to look forward to with a debut against United a possibility, although he will have had precious little time with his new team-mates having been involved in Nations League games against Ukraine and Georgia.

Nonetheless, Bajrami's signing along with the return to fitness of Nicolas Raskin and Oscar Cortes, who may also be available for the United game, will strengthen the manager's options just as injuries to Rabbi Matondo and Danilo diminished them.

Whichever team Clement picks on Sunday, they are under immense pressure to show they have the credentials and the mettle to rise to the task of challenging Celtic and ensuring the season doesn't peter out almost before it's begun.

It already feels like win or bust for Rangers this weekend.

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Ianis Hagi's hands must be on his head a lot these days.

Scratching his noggin that despite publicly proclaiming his desire to represent Rangers and consistently performing for his country, he's still out in the cold at Ibrox.

The Romania international has racked up 99 appearances for Rangers, but the century seems a lifetime away, as with that comes a reported pay rise the club seem reluctant to dish out.

Not for the first time this summer - and likely not the last - Hagi's future in Glasgow was discussed on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

Michael Grant, The Times' Scottish football correspondent, says that despite Hagi's "profile", he is "not the answer" to Rangers' issues.

"Hagi's had his moments, but he's also had a lot of underwhelming spells," he said.

"I don't think he's the answer to the issues they have, and far more importantly, I don't think Philippe Clement thinks he's the answer to the problems they have.

"I mean, it's just another poorly handled issue by the club, isn't it? He's still around, they haven't been able to move on.

"It ties into this kind of thing that Rangers just don't seem to be able to get value for players they are trying to move on. In fact, they can't move him on at all. So he's going to loiter around the club as we don't expect him to play in the first team again."

Former Ibrox striker Rory Loy added: "The way Rangers have handled so much over the last few years has been shambolic.

"If you look at players at the peak of their potential transfer fees - Alfredo Morelos, Ryan Kent - these players moved on for nothing. Then you've got Hagi there. There's so much mismanagement of players and business, it's quite incredible.

"It's highlighted even more and it comes into much sharper focus when your closest rivals across the city, Celtic, are so good at it."

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Captain James Tavernier's form this season is a "worry" and he looks ready to leave Rangers, says former Ibrox striker Rory Loy.

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