Glasgow, 07.11.2018, Ibrox Stadion, Fussball, Scottish Premiership, Glasgow Rangers Imago Images
Rangers legend Colin Hendry has thrown his full support behind the appointment of Derek McInnes as the club’s new manager at Ibrox.
Hendry, who captained Scotland and played alongside McInnes during Dick Advocaat’s treble-winning squad in 1999, believes the move signals a significant shift in direction for the club.
After years of appointing managers from across Europe, Rangers have turned to a homegrown figure who understands the club’s culture and values from the inside.
McInnes arrives at Ibrox having built an extensive 20-year coaching career at St Johnstone, Bristol City, Aberdeen, Kilmarnock, and most recently Hearts.
The new Rangers boss is replacing Danny Rohl and fulfilling what many see as a lifelong ambition to manage the club he supported as a boy.
Hendry believes the appointment carries real significance beyond just tactics, arguing that the Scottishness McInnes brings will resonate throughout the entire club.
He said: “It’s good to have that homegrown element because the Scottishness and the core and everything else starts with the manager.”
Hendry added that McInnes understands exactly what Rangers represents, saying: “He’s been there, played there long enough. He knows the values.”
Rangers have already moved quickly in the transfer market, securing Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland after he exercised a break clause in his Tynecastle contract.
Hendry believes Shankland’s arrival is just the beginning, saying: “They’ve already signed Shankland and I suspect he will be looking at other Scottish lads who can fit that bill too.”
The former defender drew parallels between McInnes and other players he shared dressing rooms with who went on to achieve major roles in the game.
Hendry pointed to Jason Wilcox, now Manchester United’s director of football, and George Donis, recently appointed Tunisia coach, as examples of teammates who carved unexpected paths in the sport.
He said of McInnes: “Even at Bristol City, back more than 10 years ago now when I was coach at Blackburn, and he was manager at Bristol City, he was learning all the time, and that would have been part of his learning curve for him.”
Hendry was also enthusiastic about what McInnes could do with highly-rated young Scotland international Findlay Curtis, who recently featured against Haiti.
He said: “Findlay Curtis is a very highly rated young player with a bright future, you would think,” suggesting the youngster may be an exception to any caution McInnes shows with youth players.
One concern previously raised about McInnes is that he has not always been willing to hand opportunities to developing talent, though Hendry expects that approach to be tested at Ibrox.
Despite the optimism surrounding the new era, Hendry acknowledged that Celtic remain the team to beat after winning the Scottish Premiership title.
He said: “Celtic are the favourites. You have to play to the final whistle, and that’s what they’ve done. And they’ll be fancied again next season, they should be the favourites because they’re the champions of Scotland.”
Hendry also spared a thought for Hearts supporters, noting that losing their manager, their captain, and the title on the final day of the season has been a brutal few months for the Edinburgh club.
He said: “So Hearts fans have taken quite a hit this last couple of months,” adding that it would be difficult for them to recover quickly heading into next season.
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