If, as I strongly suspect, Hearts’ title bid has been quietly undermined by injuries, then Rangers will go on to lift the Premiership trophy — and for one very clear reason. They are now everything Celtic are not, as the balance of power in Glasgow continues to tilt.
Rangers made a carefully choreographed statement last weekend by unveiling three new signings in front of the Ibrox crowd ahead of their Scottish Cup clash with Annan Athletic. Two permanent recruits — Tuur Rommens and Tochi Chukwuani — alongside loan signing Andreas Skov Olsen, who arrives with an option to buy, were paraded for all to see.
It was a deliberate, legitimate piece of theatre designed to underline Rangers’ renewed financial muscle.
The message was unmistakable: Rangers can now flex in the transfer market again. And by extension, it shone a harsh light on Celtic’s familiar January-window uncertainty.
Watching from the main stand was Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh, who had travelled from Pennsylvania to witness his side face one of the league’s weakest teams. His presence symbolised boardroom unity — a stark contrast to the unrest surrounding Celtic, where fan protests and anti-board chants have become a regular backdrop to matches.
Will Celtic’s major shareholder Dermot Desmond be at Tynecastle this weekend for the season-defining clash with Hearts? History suggests that would be unlikely.
Behind Rangers’ recruitment push is a clearly defined structure. Head coach Danny Rohl works alongside technical director Dan Purdy and recently appointed consultant Stig Inge Bjørnebye, who is now based in Glasgow. Celtic, by comparison, rely heavily on Martin O’Neill and Sean Maloney to juggle transfer business alongside their coaching responsibilities.
Rohl inherited a Rangers side that had managed just one win in eight league games under Russell Martin. Since the managerial change, they have won 11 of their last 14 league fixtures. One contributing factor has been the influence of set-piece coach Scott Fry — a specialist role Celtic do not have.
Off the pitch, Rangers supporters and club officials recently reached agreement on redevelopment plans for sections of Ibrox, another sign of stability and forward planning. After years of ridicule over boardroom turmoil and stadium mishaps, Rangers now appear settled, unified and ambitious.
Should Rohl’s side defeat Dundee at home this weekend, they could move above Celtic in the table and further fuel belief that a title challenge once thought impossible is now very real.
Europe may still matter, but only one prize truly defines supremacy in Glasgow. Sunday has the potential to send a clear message about who is now setting the agenda in the city’s domestic power struggle.
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