Six months after tipping title glory for Martyn Waghorn and Co, Derek Johnstone wants to see Mark Warburton’s squad cleared out!
Unfortunately for the Radio Clyde favourite, player contracts are harder to bin than those of managers, Fraser Wishart should be able to clarify that.
Among the many drawbacks for the next management dream team is the fact that all of Wardbo’s signings with the exceptions of Clint Hill and Pip Senderos are under contract for at least next season.
James Tavernier is under contract until 2019, Jason Holt and Andy Halliday until 2020, Rob Kiernan to 2018 and Wesley Foderingham until 2019!
Joey Garner is under contract to 2019 with Josh Windass and Matt Crooks until 2020.
Either the new man performs miracles or the club forks out to pay off the remainder of the contracts signed by Warbo’s starlets.
Admitting his own mistake at the start of the season Johnstone told the Evening Times:
“It wasn’t the collapse I foresaw last summer when the various signings were being made to join a squad that had won the Championship title, playing good football, and with some ease, and, not only that, had reached the Scottish Cup final with that semi-final win at Hampden over arch-rivals Celtic.
“How wrong was I – how wrong were so many of the Rangers support?
“Instead of strengthening, Rangers now have a squad of players who are just not up to it.
“Not only that, unless they strike deals to move some of them on, they could be stuck with them for another year or longer, a huge drain on resources when you really don’t have anything in the way of financial clout.”
Despite his praise for snapping up Arsenal targets Josh Windass and Matt Crooks DJ added: “It did worry me, where Rangers were shopping, in the lower leagues in England but you’ve got to put your trust in those making the recommendations, and spotting the talent.”