EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - MAY 04: Rangers head coach Danny Rohl (L) and Sky Sports pundit Kris Boyd before a William Hill Premiership match between Heart of Midlothian and Rangers at Tynecastle Park, on May 04, 2026, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Kris Boyd is delighted to see that the Close Season Cup remains at Ibrox.
Two days after Celtic won a real trophy all bets are off over the Close Season Cup with Lawrence Shankland about to move to Ibrox.
The misery of four consecutive post-split defeats and Celtic’s double success has almost instantly been wiped from the memory of Ibrox fans.
For three solid weeks they were angry bears. At best Danny Rohl had 10% backing in votes conducted by fans.
That has now changed with the imminent arrival of Shanks, a stranger looking in would think that Harry Kane was about to be paraded on the marble staircase.
Shankland will become first choice striker, penalty taker and also take on the cherished armband that used to be the property of James Tavernier.
— ?Celt For Life? (@CeltForLife_) May 24, 2026
At the age of 30 Shanks has won less trophies than the departing skipper but does fall into the key recruitment category.
Shankland is a bear. One of their own, he gets it.
And on that basis the Close Season Cup will remain at Ibrox for another summer.
Back in 2015 Mark Warburton claimed the trophy by signing Tavernier, Martyn Waghorn and Andy Halliday.
A year later Joey Barton, Nicky Kranjcar, Josh Windass and Pip Senderossent shock waves across the football world.
EMOTIONAL BOYD GETS MISTY EYED OVER DREAM SIGNING
Boyd has saluted every signing over the last 11 years as an inspired move.
Sharing a similar DNA profile as the Scotland star, the former Portland Timbers striker is ecstatic about the Shankland news.
Explaining to Sun readers that more than just next season’s Balon d’Or winner will be arriving at Ibrox in the coming days Boyd said:
Shankland brings so much on the pitch – but his influence behind the scenes could be just as huge.
Rangers at this moment in time need men to lead the group and Shankland will do that.
There has to be a mentality shift and he’s the type or character who can change that.
He has been Hearts captain but he’s the type of player who doesn’t need the armband to motivate the people around him.
He also understands what Rangers football club is all about.
I have absolutely no doubt he will score goals for the team too.
Shankland has the knack of finding the net out of nothing even when the team isn’t playing particularly well. Hearts managed to grind out so many wins and he was key to that.
All of that and more will be required if Danny Rohl is to survive into the winter.
Pre-season training begins at Murray Park on June 19 with Shankland on Scotland duty at the World Cup Finals.
A shortened pre-season won’t do the former Ayr United striker many favours with the SPFL starting on August 1/2 with an away match for Rohl’s side.
A Europa League Third Round qualifier on August 6 and 13 will be testing with trips to Celtic Park and Tynecastle expected in the first round of fixtures.
Sky Sports, Radio Scotland, TalkSPORT and BBC 1 are all providing live coverage of the signing ceremony with Jim White making a guest appearance to conduct the media conferences.
Good on RFC!! They moved and snapped him up whilst Man City, Real Madrid and a host of Top Clubs slept off their Trophy Winners Hangovers! And FOC!! Brilliant!
Only in Scotland would this be given the extraordinary Big Licks from the MSM. The Laptop Loyal Lapdogs will go to town on this free transfer of a Bang Average Player!