Pedro Caixinha faces a major dilemma at Rangers this summer which could prove impossible to solve.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha
Rangers will end the season in third place in the Scottish Premiership but could finish nearly 40 points behind their bitter rivals and champions Celtic.
Supporters had hoped to see Rangers provide the Hoops with a genuine challenge after their long-awaited return to the top flight.
But that hasn’t materialised and a change of manager, with Pedro Caixinha replacing Mark Warburton, has not inspired a change of tide either.
Caixinha has faced criticism over his tactics from some quarters but most supporters accept the squad simply isn’t good enough to compete with Celtic, a problem they hope will be addressed this summer.
But according to former Gers players turned pundits Kris Boyd and Terry Butcher and Celtic legend Chris Sutton, the Portuguese may find that nigh impossible to do thanks to poor recruitment by his predecessor Mark Warburton.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha gestures to his players
“Dave King (Rangers owner) has to do what he said he would do and give Pedro funds because a lot of these players are tied down long term, they’re not going anywhere,” Sutton told BT Sport during a lively discussion.
“Is it fair to criticise Pedro Caixinha? He’s been criticised for his tactics but he tried to be brave, he tried to play two up top, but they just can’t compete with Celtic man for man it’s as simple as that.”
Butcher, who played 127 games for the club, said: “He’s on a high wage bill already and he’ll have one in the summer of course because not many players are going so it all depends how much he can add to that.
Terry Butcher
“We’re talking about a big influx of players is needed, lots of money needs to be spent, but he’s got a lot of players there and he’s got a budget to work to,” Butcher told BT Sport.
“He’s already said he wants X amount of players out,” added Boyd, who scored 104 goals for Gers in 174 matches.
“You know these guys are on probably the most amount of money they’re ever going to get a week, where are they going to go? How do you get them out of the door?” Boyd said.
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd
Butcher then admitted he had a similar situation himself as a manager and learned to his cost how if can damage the club if it is not handled correctly.
“If you tell players they’re not wanted and they have to move on and they have a couple of years left they do down tools and it takes the whole morale of the squad down as well and that’s what happening here.”
King has revealed he will give Caixinha a war chest to rebuild Rangers this summer, as reported by the likes of The Sun.
But the Ibrox chairman has warned the new Light Blues manager he will not tolerate attractive football at the expense of winning.
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