MADRID, SPAIN - JULY 17: President of Real Madrid Florentino Perez (R) pose with Toni Kroos during his official unveiling as a new Real Madrid player at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on July 17, 2014 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Real Madrid via Getty Images)
Rangers have a new manager, and Derek McInnes has wasted no time in setting out his ambitions for the club after being unveiled at Ibrox.
The 54-year-old was presented to the media alongside new chief executive Jim Gillespie, who described McInnes as the only candidate for the position.
McInnes famously turned down the Rangers job in December 2017, citing concerns about working under then chairman Dave King and the circumstances at the time.
Almost nine years on, with new ownership in place under Andrew Cavenagh, the lifelong Rangers supporter was not going to say no a second time.
“I feel as though it’s the right time for me and I am ready for it,” McInnes said. “Rangers fans have suffered with winning one title in 15 years and it’s up to us to play a key role in driving the standards and getting a winning Rangers team again.”
McInnes came agonisingly close to delivering Hearts a first title in 66 years last season before two late Celtic goals on a dramatic final day at Parkhead handed Martin O’Neill’s men the championship.
He departs Tynecastle with a proud record, going unbeaten at home across 19 league games, accumulating 15 wins and four draws throughout that remarkable run.
Gillespie confirmed that the decision to part ways with predecessor Danny Rohl was entirely Rangers’ own, with the German having no buy-out clause in his contract when RB Salzburg came calling.
“We gave Danny our backing in May but things evolved and the decision to move him on was Rangers Football Club’s decision,” Gillespie said at the press conference.
On the subject of transfers, McInnes confirmed that recruitment work is already well underway, with a deal for Bristol City’s Ross McCrorie understood to be close to completion for around £1.5 million.
McCrorie, a Scotland international, has completed his medical and is set to sign a three-year deal with a further 12-month club option, reuniting with a manager who once called him a dream signing.
McInnes was clear that squad quality alone would not be enough, stating it takes more than being a good player to represent Rangers given the weight of expectation at the club.
When asked directly whether Rangers could win the league this season, McInnes did not hesitate, insisting “the intention is to win the title as quickly as possible.”
On the topic of raiding his former club for players, McInnes said: “As it stands, we are not looking to buy anyone from Hearts. There have certainly been no conversations about this window.”
McInnes also faces a potential touchline ban for the opening Premiership fixtures after receiving a notice of complaint for describing a late penalty awarded to Celtic at Motherwell as “disgusting,” with a disciplinary hearing scheduled for July 16.
His first competitive outing will come before then, with Rangers hosting West Ham in a pre-season friendly on Sunday, July 26, giving Ibrox supporters their first look at the McInnes era in action.
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