Rangers legend Kris Boyd has reflected on a difficult Europa League night for his former club and believes major changes are needed at Ibrox.
Boyd insists the Light Blues must begin the search for a new manager immediately, with their latest high-profile signing raising serious doubts about the club’s recruitment strategy.
Reduced to 10 men following Mohamed Diomande’s dismissal, Rangers slipped to a home defeat against Genk in their opening group-stage fixture. Already sitting 11th in the Premiership, pressure continues to mount on head coach Russell Martin, with recruitment once again coming under fire.
Boyd singled out Youssef Chermiti, the £8m signing from Everton whose deal could rise to £10m, arguing that the striker did little to justify the hefty price tag in his first start. Speaking on Sky, he said:
“After the Hearts game, many expected a change due to the negativity, but Rangers stuck by their manager. Right now, there’s no other option than to start planning for a new boss, and on top of that, the club’s entire recruitment approach needs a rethink.”
He added that Rangers cannot continue to overlook poor transfer business:
“When you pay that kind of money for a striker, he has to make an impact straight away, but Chermiti didn’t. Even before the red card, there was nothing to suggest he could be the player Rangers need. He’ll carry the weight of that transfer fee, but others in the squad also look well short of the standard required.”
Boyd warned that Martin will ultimately bear the brunt, but stressed that wider accountability is necessary:
“There’s a clear disconnect between the fans, the team and the club leadership right now, and it’s as bad as I’ve seen it.”
Reflecting on the match, Boyd noted that even before going a man down, Rangers were second best:
“Yes, Diomande’s red card and the penalty save from Jack Butland changed the flow, but Genk still created the better chances throughout. Even with 10 men, teams can make life difficult and stay compact—Rangers were the opposite. The 1-0 scoreline flattered them; it could easily have been three or four.”
Leave a Reply