Don't believe the noise about Danny Rohl being on the chopping block at Rangers. Despite Sunday's penalty shootout heartbreak against Celtic in the Scottish Cup and a six-point gap to Hearts in the league, the German boss isn't going anywhere.
Alex Rae has come out swinging in defense of Rohl, insisting the Rangers board will back their manager regardless of whether they win the title. And honestly, it makes sense when you think about it.
Rohl only took over in October after Russell Martin's disastrous stint. That's barely seven months to turn around a club in crisis. The German has steadied the ship, brought in four or five players in January, and made Rangers much harder to beat.
Summer Clearout on the Cards
Here's where it gets interesting for Rangers fans. Rohl is preparing a major squad overhaul this summer, and he's not afraid to move on players who don't fit his plans.
Rae explained it perfectly: "He will shake the bed sheets up if he feels these guys are not for us going forward." The manager wants to assess who's really committed to the Rangers project and who needs to go.
One position desperately needs addressing - that right-sided role. Andreas Skov Olsen has been linked, but at £8-9 million, it's a gamble based on what Rangers have seen so far. Expect Rohl to identify several options before pulling the trigger.
Former Scotland goalkeeper Alan Rough backed this approach completely. He pointed out that Rohl himself said identifying players he doesn't want is the major part of his job. The real judgment will come when we see who leaves and who arrives.
What This Means for Rangers' Future
The third-place Premiership position isn't great, sure. But Rohl has made Rangers more resilient and organized. They're not losing games left and right anymore.
The problem? They're not scary enough going forward. Being hard to beat is one thing, but Rangers need more goal threat to challenge Hearts and compete with Celtic long-term.
With nine games left this season, the title race looks almost done. But that doesn't matter for Rohl's job security. He's getting the summer to properly build his squad, bring in his own players, and implement his vision fully.
For those watching the odds, expect Rangers to be active in the transfer market. The summer window could completely reshape this team, which might make them much stronger betting prospects for next season's title race.
