Van Bronckhorst put on notice as knives are drawn over heart-less defeats

The knives are being sharpened for Giovanni van Bronckhorst just months after taking the Ibrox Tribute Act to the final of the Europa League followed by Champions League qualification.

Back-to-back 4-0 defeats are bad enough but when Ally McCoist and Barry Ferguson are questioning the attitude, commitment and fight of the players it takes the situation into an entirely different area.

No Surrender is the phrase that supporters cling to but the manner of the defeats to Celtic and Ajax have demolished that claim about the club.

Two years ago James Tavernier admitted that he couldn’t cope with pressure and expectations but Lockdown allowed that comment to be buried.

Chris Jack of the Herald/Times is closer to the Ibrox hierarchy than anyone else in the mainstream- when he points the blame at van Bronckhorst the Dutchman would do well to check through the pay-off details in his contract.

It remains to be seen if Van Bronckhorst will be the man to take them on those next steps and his future as manager is now very much up for discussion. Talks inside the Ibrox boardroom will determine his fate but the decision makers should look themselves in the mirror as well and question if they are the right men to lead Rangers.

The situation cannot simply focus on Van Bronckhorst and there are issues at all levels which need addressed before Rangers operate like a Champions League club.

Questions and concerns will continue to be raised about the strength and depth of this team and squad and the regression of Rangers should shame everyone on and off the park.

Van Bronckhorst defended his decision not to add to his ranks during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday evening and he needed his players to repay the faith. This was a performance devoid of nous but, more tellingly, one without heart.

Heartless is a claim that no loyal bear can ever accept, Napoli on Tuesday night doesn’t seem like the fixture to disprove those claims.