Some big news out of Ibrox this morning as manager Philippe Clement extends his contract - but what do you make of the news, Rangers fans?
Are you happy that the Belgian seems to be sticking around for longer, committing his future to the club?
Or have you been unimpressed by last season's late collapse and the relatively quiet summer so far?
Image source, SNSFormer Scotland striker Lee Miller believes the Scottish Premiership's opening fixture between Hearts and Rangers is the 'perfect game' to start the new campaign.
"Going to Hearts is such a difficult place to go," Miller said on the Scottish Football Podcast.
"Tynecastle can be one of the best stadiums for atmosphere and I'm sure the Hearts fans will get right behind their club.
"Although [Hearts] haven't had a great pre-season in terms of results and stuff, I'm sure they'll go into it full of confidence and looking to do something, looking take the three points.
"I speak to loads of Old Firm fans and the Rangers fans aren't that happy just now just with the lack of signings and the stadium.
"There's so many different things and negativity around the club but once that game starts on Saturday I'm sure they'll get behind their team and it's just such an interesting spectacle."
Listen to the Scottish Football Podcast on BBC Sounds or by clicking the link here.
Image source, SNSThis will be the seventh time that Heart of Midlothian have faced Rangers in the opening game of a league season; Hearts are unbeaten in the last three such occasions (W2 D1), most recently winning 2-1 to start the 2014-15 Championship campaign.
Rangers are unbeaten in 15 meetings with Hearts in all competitions (W12 D3) since suffering back-to-back defeats to them in January/February 2020 under Steven Gerrard.
Hearts have won on matchday one in each of the last three Scottish Premiership seasons, last failing to win their league opener in the top-flight in 2019-20, when they were ultimately relegated (lost 2-3 to Aberdeen).
Rangers lost 0-1 to Kilmarnock on the opening day of last season’s Scottish Premiership. The Gers haven’t lost on matchday one in successive league seasons since 1977-78/1978-79.
Heart of Midlothian didn’t lose any of their last 11 home league games of 2023-24 (W7 D4). Since the Scottish Premiership began in 2013, only from November 2017 to April 2018 (12) have they had a longer such unbeaten run in the division. The last side to beat Hearts at Tynecastle in the competition, though, were Rangers in December 2023 (0-1).
Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, Getty ImagesBBC Sport Scotland have been taking a look at the faces to watch out for in the new Scottish Premiership season.
Here's the one man to keep an eye on at Ibrox.
Whether by strategy or financial necessity, most of Rangers manager Philippe Clement's summer additions are young projects who might, or might not, prove shrewd future investments.
Vaclav Cerny, though, is well known to the Belgian from his time with Ajax, Utrecht and Twente and arrives on loan from Wolfsburg having played for the Czech Republic at Euro 2024.
The 26-year-old winger has already endeared himself to Rangers fans with a goal for Ajax against city rivals Celtic in 2015.
Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland commentator
Rangers' preparations for the new season have been some way short of ideal and it feels like supporters are bracing themselves for another year of disappointment.
Chairman John Bennett's address this week has not assuaged the concerns surrounding their ability to challenge Celtic for the title, with the added continuing uncertainty over when the team will actually be able to play home games at Ibrox.
There has been plenty of transfer activity at the club and the squad could look drastically different again before the end of August as Philippe Clement and Nils Koppen try to wheel and deal their way towards a collective that can wrest supremacy from their eternal rivals.
The tone for the season could be set in the first few days. A visit to Tynecastle is not an easy way to begin a title challenge, with a likely trip to Poland to play Dynamo Kyiv a few days later as they attempt to join Celtic in the Champions League.
Positive results from those games would go a long way to lifting spirits among the fans and paving the way for a promising campaign. On the flip side, a couple of early defeats could prove extremely costly and damage morale further.
Things are rarely straight-forward down Ibrox way, but are often interesting - and as they attempt to stop Celtic matching their record of 55 league titles, the stage is set for another captivating season.
Image source, Getty ImagesRangers have agreed to sign 30-year-old Twente captain Robin Propper, with the Dutch centre-half on his way to Glasgow. (Daily Record), external
Twente centre-half Robin Propper is in England for a medical, with the deal agreed to join Rangers, will sign on Friday and could face Heart of Midlothian this weekend. (Rangers Review), external
Celtic are on the verge of making an offer for 21-year-old Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, who has been strongly linked with Rangers. (Mosaique FM, external - in French)
Rangers manager Philippe Clement has been monitoring former Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel and could bring the 31-year-old to Glasgow now he is a free agent after leaving Vitesse Arnhem. (Scottish Sun), external
Rangers have had a second bid for Morgan Whittaker knocked back by Plymouth Argyle, who want £10m for the 23-year-old winger. (Football Scotland), external
Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.
We asked for your views on Connor Goldson's exit and how his six years at Rangers will be remembered.
Here's what some of you had to say...
Nigel: Sad to see him go and think it'll be years before we can replace him. Unfortunately this generation's fans have less patience and less respect for the club stalwarts and may not realise how big a loss he is until it's too late.
Dougie: Rangers squad requires a full overhaul with younger players. Goldson is part of that overhaul required.
Alexander: Goldson served the club well and this should be remembered, but Rangers were wrong to give him a vastly improved contract second time round. This is a decision that the club is now paying for.
Jud: The big man served the club well and we shouldn’t forget that, like all humans he made mistakes but I liked him and wish him well for the future.
Scott: Best centre-back we've had in the last six years! Hounded out by fans who are desperate to blame him and James Tavernier for our failures. The board, managers and strikers who can't finish their dinner are way above Goldson and Tav when looking who to blame. No doubt form dropped off, same as Tav, but the fans haven't helped. Who are we going to boo now?
Gary: A dedicated club servant, he faced significant pressure from fans, likely impacting his confidence from time to time. During his injury spell, we sorely missed him in the Champions League. However, his failure to clear the ball in the Europa League final will always remain a mystery.
Kevin: Was a decent player, reliable and always a danger in the opposition box. In the last two seasons he became a danger in our box, injuries seemed to slow him and wasn't the same level after he nearly left a couple of years back. Will be remembered but not always in the best way.
Allan: Goldson was the rock in the Rangers defence for years. He was a great servant to the club. But as his powers are on the decline, it is the right time to sell him. I wish him all the best.
Pedro: Gutted to see Goldson going. Solid, reliable centre-back who proved himself over the years. Worried about losing his experience in such a critical position with little cover. I hope we got good value for him.
Cameron: I think anyone who plays 300 times for Rangers should be treated as a fantastic servant to the club. But there is a time when someone should be moved on and his performances the last two seasons have been questionable. My worry now is replacing someone of his quality and ability to play 60 games a season!
Celtic are stepping up their pursuit of Rangers-linked 28-year-old Heart of Midlothian striker Lawrence Shankland as an agreement with Norwich City over a return to Glasgow for Adam Idah continues to prove elusive. (HITC), external
Rangers and Manchester United are in talks over a deal for midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, but while the English club want to sell the 21-year-old immediately, the Scottish Premiership outfit are seeking a loan deal with the possibility of buying him at the end of that. (TeamTalk), external
Aberdeen-born Australia centre-half Harry Souttar is seemingly being given the green light to leave Leicester City amid Sheffield United interest, but the Rangers-linked 25-year-old's representatives vetoed a move to the Blades on the final day of the last transfer window amid reports of Leeds United interest. (The Star), external
Scotland midfielder Ryan Jack has revealed he has held talks with a number of clubs in Scotland, England and abroad this summer, but the 32-year-old has not yet decided on his post-Rangers future. (Glasgow Times), external
Rangers agreed a fee of £1.4m plus add-ons for Tuesday's transfer of 31-year-old centre-half Connor Goldson to Aris Limassol. (Rangers Review), external
Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Image source, SNSRelive a classic meeting between Hearts and Rangers from 2015, before the sides meet on the opening weekend of the Scottish Premiership season.
Image source, SNSGoalkeeper Jack Butland says Rangers are a club that "needs to embrace being written off".
The Ibrox side head into the new Premiership season away to Hearts on Saturday amid a tumultuous summer.
Several long-serving players, such as Connor Goldson, Borna Barisic and Ryan Jack, have departed while eight new recruits have arrived.
Fans have become disgruntled at the club's transfer activity, as well as underwhelming pre-season displays and the temporary relocation to Hampden.
But Butland says the squad must put that noise behind them as they aim to deny title favourites Celtic a fourth straight top-flight crown.
"Words are words, we've got to go and show it now," the Rangers keeper told Sky Sports, external.
"You can paint any picture you like, pre-season is about getting people through it and getting fitness levels up, integrating the new boys.
"Yes, there have been changes, but that's football. It happens at every club, every summer.
"People always write us off. This club needs to embrace being written off, it has done. It comes down to what's in the changing room and in this group.
"The following we get from the fans is always going to be there and it's going to take a collective effort from everybody."
Jamie Currie
Fan writer
This pre-season was supposed to be about a great rebuild. The manager was pretty clear on that when he spoke after the Scottish Cup final, but it is not as far along as hoped at this point.
On the signings, Connor Barron looks the pick and Vaclav Cerny appears to the guy who will hopefully solve the right-wing issue, but there is lots of work to do.
With Connor Goldson now away, I feel we still need to add two first-choice central defenders, a proper defensive midfielder - who can sit and dictate - and a striker.
Hopefully we also get the return of Abdallah Sima from Brighton - but as it stands just now, the squad is a mess.
I don't point the finger of blame to the manager and director of football Nils Koppen; this is summer upon summer of poor recruitment in and out coming back to bite us.
In truth, the pre-season games have been a shambles and we do not look ready for Hearts on Saturday, never mind our foray into the Champions League qualifiers.
If you add all of this into the Ibrox refurb shambles and having to play our home matches at Hampden, I would say it has not been a great summer so far.
At the minute there is not much to be positive about regarding Rangers, sadly.
Predicted finish: Second
Standout player: Mohammed Diomande
Game most looking forward to: First game back at Ibrox
Image source, SNSConnor Goldson has said his Rangers memories will "never be beaten" after the centre-back left the Glasgow club to join Aris Limassol for an undisclosed fee.
The 31-year-old defender joined the Ibrox side from Brighton in 2018 under Steven Gerrard and went on to play over 300 games for the club.
"The time has come, it's my time to get off the train and the ride that we have been on together for the past six years," Goldson posted on Instagram, external.
"What a six years it has been and what a pleasure it was to be a pleasure it was to be a part of this amazing football club. We went through many highs and lows together but throughout the journey I can promise you that I gave this club everything I had.
"I tried to lead by example every single day I walked into that building and strived to make the football club a better place than when I signed, it wasn't perfect and neither was I but I can honestly sit here and look myself in the mirror and say I gave it my all and nobody cared more."
Goldson was an integral part of Rangers' 2020-21 Scottish Premiership title win, during which they did not lose a game and conceded only 10 goals over 38 matches.
He also played a key role in the side's journey to 2021-22 Europa League final before winning a Scottish Cup and League Cup.
"The league title, both cups. Do I sit here and wish we had won more together, of course. But I also sit here grateful for the memories we shared together and it's something that I don't think will be able to be beaten.
"Rangers will always have a place in my heart. I will always follow. And I will always cheer, because when you been a part of this special club I don't think it ever leaves you. Thank you and best of luck for the future, Connor Goldson."
The Englishman has signed a three-year contract with Cypriot side Aris.
Just over six years since arriving in Glasgow, Connor Goldson departs Rangers with three trophies and a memorable run to a European final to his name.
The English centre-back joined the Ibrox club from Brighton in June 2018 and quickly became a leader within the squad, captaining Rangers for the first time during the second league game of the 2018-19 campaign - in which he also netted his first Rangers goal in a 2-0 victory over St Mirren.
In his third season with the club Rangers secured their 55th league title - conceding just 10 goals and finishing the league campaign unbeaten.
Goldson featured in all 56 games Rangers played that season and was subsequently named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year.
The 31-year-old went on to win both the Scottish Cup and League Cup with the Ibrox club - playing every minute of both finals - while also reaching the 2021-22 Europa League final.
Is it the right time for Connor Goldson to depart Rangers, or will he prove too difficult to replace?
After six years at Ibrox, the 31-year-old centre-back has left to join Aris Limassol for an undisclosed fee.
Following his arrival from Brighton in 2018, the defender was a mainstay in the Rangers defence throughout his time at the club.
So with over 300 appearances to his name, plus Premiership, Scottish Cup and League Cup silverware, how will you remember Goldson's time at Rangers?
Click here, external to have your say.
Rangers are holding talks internally about a potential bid for 28-year-old Heart of Midlothian and Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland. (Daily Record), external
Hannibal Mejbri will leave Manchester United within days amid genuine interest in the 21-year-old Tunisia midfielder from Rangers. (The Debrief for Caught Offside), external
Negotiations between Strasbourg and Porto for the transfer of Portuguese winger Gonçalo Borges are in the final stages after the French club returned with a fresh £6.7m offer for the Rangers-linked 23-year-old. (L'Equipe), external
Sevilla midfielder Joan Jordan has not rejected an approach from Rangers as he and his agents had no knowledge of interest from the Scottish Premiership club in the 30-year-old, who has been told he has no future under new head coach García Pimienta. (ABC), external
Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full here.
Image source, SNS
