Rangers

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Former Rangers striker Kemar Roofe has revealed the strong influence Steven Gerrard had in convincing him to join the club.

Together, the pair helped won Rangers win their 55th title, going unbeaten in the 2020-21 league campaign to ruin Celtic's bid for 10 in a row.

The current Walsall forward joined Rangers from Belgian side Anderlecht back in 2020, where he formerly played under current Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany.

"I spoke with Steven Gerrard on the phone and made up my mind then," Roofe, 32, told the BBC's Sacked in the Morning Podcast.

"It was the same moving to Anderlecht, when these sorts of players I've grown up watching and I've got so much respect for, Vincent Kompany, Steven Gerrard.

"When they're calling you and they're saying they want you, it feels special. And it's like, you can't turn this down cause of the respect that you have for these people.

"So as soon as he said I want you to come in, be my number nine, and we need to win this league, I said, 'Okay, let's do this.'

"Unfortunately when I signed it was Covid season. So there was no fans allowed.

"It was disappointing. But you turn up to the training ground, you've got the big Rangers gates at the training ground. It's impressive.

"You go to the stadium, very impressive. Huge. And you just know this is a proper football club. This is serious. And then we was able to have a fantastic season and be unbeaten and and win the league."

In the league-winning season Roofe scored 14 Premiership goals - 18 overall - and is proud of his contribution to what remain's the club's last title.

"Without sounding arrogant or whatever, I genuinely feel I was able to contribute a lot," he added.

"I had a different playing style to anyone else in the squad and team. And I spoke to Gerrard when I left Rangers and he said I was a massive part.

"It was an achievement to do that [winning the title]. The fans definitely made it clear how important it was to them to win the 55."

Rangers have started negotiations with Kazakhstan winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek, whose contract with Yelimay Semey ends next month, but clubs from eight countries are interested in the 22-year-old and the only concrete offer has come from Dundee United. (AS News), external

Reports from Kazakhstan linking Rangers with Yelimay Semey winger Galymzhan Kenzhebek are wide of the mark. (Daily Record), external

Former Rangers head coach Russell Martin is "open" to a return to Swansea City but has not been approached by the Championship club, who are seeking a replacement for Alan Sheehan. (Wales Online), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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Rangers have a new set-piece coach - but why do they need one and what will he bring?

Many aspects of modern football are met with eye-rolls from fans and pundits. Perhaps the idea of having a designated coach for set-plays is one of them.

But with margins becoming ever finer and the prominence of data in today's game, clubs are always looking to improve in every detail.

Set-pieces have taken a grip of the game again south of the border, with Premier League leaders Arsenal in particular benefiting from huge success.

It is from England where Rangers plucked Scott Fry, who left third-tier Lincoln City to make the move to Danny Rohl's Rangers set-up.

Jez George, the League One side's director of football, hailed Fry's influence at the club, highlighting his use of AI to improve their set-plays, which resulted in "outstanding outcomes".

Lincoln finished in the top half of League One last term, scoring 64 goals. A league-high 30 of them came from set-plays, meaning 47% of their goals came from set-piece situations.

Meanwhile, only four clubs in the 24-team division conceded fewer goals from set-plays.

This season, their set-piece record stands at five scored and four conceded from overall goals for and against tallies of 20 and 15 respectively.

Rangers, therefore, clearly believe Fry can improve their output from dead-ball situations.

The Ibrox side's expected goals (xG) rating from set-pieces this term is the seventh best in the league, yet they have managed four goals from corners - only Hearts have more - and six goals in total from set-pieces, which is joint fourth highest.

Rangers have created the second-most chances (22) in the Premiership from set-plays, but rank fourth lowest in shots (7) from such situations.

At the other end, their four goals conceded from set-pieces is the joint lowest along with Hibs.

Following Fry's arrival, how those underlying numbers adjust over the campaign is certainly something to look out for.

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• Rangers have never lost in 25 home games against Livingston in all competitions (W22 D3); it's the most they have faced a side at home without ever losing.

• Livingston have lost 20 of their past 22 meetings with Rangers in all competitions (D2) since a 1-0 league victory in September 2018.

• Rangers are unbeaten in 30 Scottish Premiership games against newly-promoted opponents (W26 D4), although their last defeat was to Livingston in September 2018 (1-0). At home, the Ibrox side have won 13 of their past 15 league games against promoted sides (D2) since a 2-1 defeat to Hibernian in February 2018.

• Rangers boss Danny Rohl has won his first three Premiership matches in charge. Of Rangers' past four permanent managers, (Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Michael Beale, Philippe Clement and Russell Martin) only Rohl's predecessor Martin failed to win all of his first four league matches.

• Livingston have won just one of their 12 league matches this season (D5 L6), the fewest of any team in the top flight and their second-fewest victories at this stage of a top-flight season in their history, ahead of only 2005-06 (0).

Rangers head coach Danny Rohl says he has brought in set-piece specialist Scott Fry from Lincoln City because of the amount of goals that are scored in modern football from dead ball situations. (The National), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Rangers are in "a good way" insists head coach Danny Rohl, although the German says there is still work to be done to eradicate "old habits".

The 36-year-old has won three of his six matches since replacing Russell Martin.

His 100% record in the Scottish Premiership has lifted Rangers level on points with third-placed Hibernian, with home games to come against promoted pair Livingston and Falkirk.

In between, Braga visit Ibrox in the Europa League, with Rohl having suffered sobering defeats to Bergen and Roma in the competition.

"We are in a good way but in some minutes of the game, you see old habits and we have to work on that," he told RangersTV, while revealing a frank exchange of views after his debut in Norway.

"In three weeks, we had six games, but we showed in the league that we are going in the right direction.

"You can't do less, you have to be on the front foot and do more because we want to win more games in the future.

"The reaction after the game in Bergen was crucial for us. We were honest with each other in the meeting room and we spoke about the basics and it's getting better and better.

"Of course, in all the phases of our games there's still space for improvements and that is important.

"We have increased the levels and intensity but of course we want to do more."

Alasdair Lamont
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Amid the joyous scenes at Hampden on Tuesday night, John Souttar joined in the on-pitch celebrations with his Scotland team-mates, but his withdrawal from the starting line-up moments before kick-off will have caused concern for his new club manager Danny Rohl.

Souttar is not a faultless defender but in a troubled team he has been one of the most reliable performers and Rohl will hope his absence is not an extended one as he seeks to get Rangers back on track.

They return with three home games - Livingston and Falkirk in the league with Braga visiting in the Europa League in between.

The European campaign is as good as dead and Rohl has to put everything into rescuing a league title tilt, with Celtic still not firing on all cylinders and Hearts' ability to maintain a wonderful start unknown.

Clearly six points from the two league games against the promoted sides are an absolute must but few supporters will see them as a given, particularly as Rangers needed an injury-time Max Aarons winner to beat Livi earlier in the season while the draw with Falkirk was the final nail in Russell Martin's coffin.

But there were positive signs just before the international break as Rangers swept Dundee aside at Dens Park and you imagine Rohl will have been using the last couple of weeks on the training ground with those players not involved with their countries to instill his ideas a little more firmly.

The Rangers support will be looking forward to seeing how that translates on to the pitch on Saturday.

Rangers are actively exploring the possibility of signing 20-year-old Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson as early as the January transfer window. (TeamTalk), external

Egyptian club Al Ahly have targeted 21-year-old former Rangers striker Robbie Ure, who had an impressive debut season in Sweden with Sirius, finishing as the sixth top scorer in the Allsvenskan with 11 goals, according to reports in Egypt. (Glasgow Times), external

Dynamo Dresden, who recently climbed back into Bundesliga 2 after a spell in the fourth tier, hope Rangers will accept their invitation to play a pre-season friendly as the Ibrox club's new new head coach, Danny Rohl, was born in the area. (Glasgow Times), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Philippe Clement is "really excited by this story and opportunity" after returning to management with Norwich City nine months on from his Rangers sacking.

The Belgian was dismissed at Ibrox in February when Rangers trailed Premiership leaders Celtic by 13 points having been knocked out of the Scottish Cup by second-tier Queen's Park.

Clement, 51, has now signed a three-and-a-half year deal to replace Liam Manning at Norwich, who are second bottom of the English Championship with nine points from 15 games.

"I've known of this club for a long time and, while we are not in a good moment at this time, we are excited to work together with the players and staff to turn things around," Clement said.

Read more: Norwich name Clement as head coach

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Rangers have bolstered Danny Rohl's backroom staff with the appointment of Scott Fry as the club's set-piece coach.

Fry, 47, joins from Lincoln City, who scored 30 goals from set-pieces last season - the most in English League One.

Rangers say head coach Rohl was heavily involved in a "detailed recruitment process that analysed teams across the UK and Europe who consistently outperformed in their set-plays".

Englishman Fry joined Lincoln from Wolves in summer 2022, initially as goalkeeping coach before overseeing set-pieces from the start of last term.

Lincoln say they will receive compensation from Rangers for releasing Fry from his contract.

Director of football Jez George said: "Scott leaves with our absolute best wishes. We went on a journey together in terms of our use of AI to improve our processes and design of set-plays, which resulted in outstanding outcomes and inevitably attracted the attention of other clubs.

"Scott made it clear that it would take a life-changing offer for him to leave and, while we have managed to rebuff a number of approaches, we respect that Rangers have provided him with an opportunity that he can't turn down."

Former Rangers head coach Russell Martin could be in line for a return to management at former club Swansea City, who dismissed Alan Sheehan last week. (Daily Record), external

Former Rangers player Alex Rae does not believe sporting director Kevin Thelwell is pandering to supporters in taking the Scottish FA to task over recent controversies. (Daily Record)

Read all of Tuesday's Scottish Gossip

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Rangers head coach Danny Rohl would be reluctant to cash in on midfielder Nicolas Raskin in January, with Tottenham Hotspur one of the clubs interested in signing the Belgium 24-year-old. (Football Insider), external

Rangers should make captain James Tavernier an offer to stay at Ibrox beyond the end of his current deal which expires at the end of the season, says former Ibrox winger David Templeton. (Daily Record), external

Former Rangers forward Nacho Novo believes the club's recruitment chiefs are to blame for the pressure on forward Youssef Chermiti. (Record), external

Nicolas Raskin's father, Thierry, reveals the Belgium midfielder, 24, has no immediate plans to leave Rangers. (dhnet - in French), external

Former Rangers player Jon Daly is a candidate for the Waterford manager's job. (Irish Independent - subscription required), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell said he is "very pleased" with head coach Danny Rohl's initial impact after winning his opening three Scottish Premiership fixtures.

The Ibrox side are yet to pick up a point in the Europa League, however, with two defeats on Rohl's watch.

And the sporting director said Rangers "do expect to be fairly active" in the January transfer window with "Danny having the final say" on signings.

"I thought he's done really, really well," said Thelwell.

"We've made a good start, albeit we've not done as well as we would've liked in Europe so far. League form's improved.

"I still feel very confident. There's a clear difference in the way in which we're playing at the moment. Number one, we all understand that we have to win football matches."

Robbie Thelwell, son of Kevin, recently joined as head of recruitment, Jonathan Hunter-Barrett will start as academy director in early 2026 and Thelwell senior also commented on the appointment of Jaymes Monte, and other expected recruits.

"It's probably our first ever appointment in this data space," he said of Dundee native Monte.

"It's going to provide us with a lot of insight and a lot of specialism in relation to data, not only from a recruitment perspective but also from analysis of opposition perspective, analysis of our own game and then also medical and sport science and coaching.

"We're talking about making another appointment in a director of football operations role. That very much is focused on the way in which we operate on a day-to-day basis at the training facility. It's about the way in which we administer the transfer windows and it's about governance and process and strategy to make sure we're as organised as we possibly can be and as efficient as we possibly can be.

"We'd like to add some additional [coaching] support, perhaps someone who knows the Scottish landscape much stronger than [Danny Rohl] does and much stronger than we do. And then perhaps some additional specialism. Let's watch this space."

Out-of-favour Rangers midfielder Nedim Bajrami, 26, insists he is not thinking about leaving Ibrox in January - despite claims from Albania head coach Sylvinho. (Record), external

Meanwhile, Rangers head coach Danny Rohl is considering hiring a set-piece specialist to help combat his side's long-term failings from dead balls. (Record), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer in Athens

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John Souttar dreams of emulating his younger brother, Harry, who played for Australia at the last World Cup in Qatar, by reaching next year's finals.

"It's the pinnacle for everyone," the Rangers centre-half said on the eve of Scotland's seismic World Cup qualifier against Greece in Piraeus on Saturday night.

"We've got a long way to get there, but watching that [his brother in Qatar] a few years ago was amazing.

"My family was over there and it was a proud moment watching him play in that and also how well he done over there. I never made it over myself, but my whole family was there.

"It's probably the pinnacle for all footballer. What they dream of doing is going to the World Cup."

Souttar is on an injury-free run but has experienced horrendous injuries in his career and has lost seasons because of them.

"If you look through any footballer in the squad, they've all got their own individual stories, but all of our motivation is on getting the country to the World Cup and every one of us will be doing everything we can to do that," he said.

"Everyone's excited, everyone's looking forward to it and we've had a good week away, everyone together [in a warm weather camp in Turkey]. We got a lot of work done and everyone's ready to go.

"If we bring the best version of ourselves, we're more than capable of getting a result here. I'm sure that everyone's going to be high to get this result."

Souttar is too young to remember the last time Scotland played at a World Cup - he was only a child - but he has heard the stories and needs no telling about how special it would be if Scotland made it.

"My family went," he revealed. "My older brother and my dad, they went to the World Cup in France. My uncle as well.

"It was always a big thing for my family and there's always pictures and stories about people being there. Everyone knows how big a deal it is."

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Nacho Novo believes Danny Rohl "knows what it's all about" at Rangers and has already succeeded where Russell Martin failed by establishing a strong connection with the support.

Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Rohl has won all three league games and suffered three defeats - two in the Europa League, one in the League Cup semis - since replacing Martin.

"He's very good," former striker Novo said before playing for Rangers in the Scottish Masters - live on BBC Scotland tonight.

"At least he's getting them to win games, whereas before they would win and then lose or draw," the Spaniard added.

"He's got a good connection with the fans, I think he knows what it's all about. We need to support him and hope he's doing well.

"Rangers fans are the best in the world but they need to get something back from the players and the manager and the club.

"He's going to need his own players as well, I wish him every success but it's too early [to assess his impact]. He's jut arrived, won a few games, but let's see if he can get that consistency in the team."

Novo was recently appointed manager of West of Scotland Football League side Darvel. And the 46-year-old is excited about his first managerial job.

"I'm really enjoying it," he said.

"Darvel are a good family club, a great community. I've got the support from them so now it's time to work and hopefully we win our first game this Saturday.

"In Scotland I've never had the chance [to manage], I just want to do well and I'm very enthusiastic. Hopefully I'm going to do well with Darvel."

We asked you to tell us the one thing you would change at Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Elaine: I wish we had gone for Danny Rohl before Russell Martin. I believe we wouldn't have been in such a mess with Danny as manager. Looking forward, let all our loan signings (with the exception of Mikey Moore) go back to their parent clubs and get rid of Kevin Thelwell. He's been a disaster.

Chris: Should never have sold Cyriel Dessers. He did miss some sitters but he always managed to get into goalscoring positions. We may well have got a few bob for him but we added more to it and wasted it on Youssef Chermiti who seldom gets into good positions and when he does he misses.

Jim: For me, it would be going back and finding new investors. That way we'd have no 49ers, Martin, Thelwell, Patrick Stewart or the worst team I can remember in 60 years of supporting.

Allan: Quite simply, the expectations of the fans. Patience is required to build a team. Any change takes time to evolve. Rangers have had changes right across the club, from the boardroom to the coaching staff, to the players. The fans expect instant results, which is not really feasible. We have released too many managers over the past few years, let's give this one a real chance.

Jim: I wouldn't change anything right now. Rangers need to be settled on and off the park in order to achieve anything. Thelwell and Stewart haven't had the greatest of starts to their tenure but I'm not convinced anyone else (that would want to be at Rangers) would have done better in the same situation.

The Doc: Everything to do with Thelwell.

Brian: I would choose a different captain, we need a stronger man to wear the armband. James Tavernier has been captain too long. I feel that he blames too many of his team-mates for his mistakes.

Top Serie A clubs have joined Rangers, Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign 19-year-old Nigerian midfielder Sani Suleiman, who currently plays for Slovakian club Trencin. (Rudy Galetti on Substack), external

Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Rangers contacted his agent about their head coach role, but he did not get round to speaking to the Ibrox club before the appointment of Danny Rohl. (Stick To Football podcast), external

Read Friday's Scottish gossip

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Following a summer of heavily criticised recruitment, Djeidi Gassama has emerged one of the only bright sparks for Rangers.

That said, it is perhaps a surprise the exciting winger only notched his first Scottish Premiership goal when he rounded off his team's 3-0 win at Dundee on Sunday.

Despite the curling finish at Dens Park being his only league strike for the Ibrox club, he now has six goals in all competitions. No Rangers player has more this term.

An early-season flourish of four European goals in his first four club appearances was followed by a strike against Europa League opponents Sturm Graz last month.

And the 22-year-old's underlying data suggests more goals are on the way.

Gassama has had by far the most shots (25) of any Rangers player, although those efforts have generated an expected goals rating of just 1.53, which suggests he has had few clear-cut chances.

However, the attacker still ranks top among his team-mates for touches in the opposition box (60) and dribbles completed (20).

Meanwhile, only James Tavernier and Nico Raskin have registered more successful passes in the final third and Gassama has created 10 chances from open play.

The forward's defensive work is also eye-catching, with defensive duo Tavernier and John Souttar the only Rangers players to win back possession more often.

Gassama previously worked with Rangers head coach Danny Rohl when the pair were at Sheffield Wednesday.

The winger thrived under the German manager in the English Championship and it would be no surprise to see that continue north of the border.

A semblance of calm is taking hold at Rangers after months of turmoil.

The ill-fated reign of Russell Martin left the club in the lower reaches of the Premiership, but there are encouraging signs under new boss Danny Rohl.

Dissatisfaction remains among the support at those in positions of power, with recruitment a particularly thorny issue.

The international break provides the chance to pause for breath and reflect after a turbulent few months at Ibrox.

So, if you could change one thing about Rangers' season so far, what would it be?

Let us know here.

Rangers midfielder Nedim Bajrami is dissatisfied with his current role at Ibrox, says Albania head coach Sylvinho. (Sun), external

Scottish FA head of refereeing Willie Collum backs Nick Walsh's decision not to send off Celtic defender Auston Trusty in the recent Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers. Trusty appeared to catch goalkeeper Jack Butland's head with a foot. (Sun), external

Read Thursday's Scottish gossip