Rangers are set to become a far more dangerous proposition next season, according to former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew.
Hearts manager Derek McInnes is poised to take over at Ibrox after Danny Rohl completed his move to RB Salzburg, leaving the Gorgie club without their most important figures.
McInnes, 54, is set to sign a three-year deal as he returns to a club he knows intimately, having previously been part of their legendary nine-in-a-row winning team as a player.
The experienced manager will also be reunited with Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland, who is following his boss down the M8 to join Rangers.
Mulgrew, speaking to BOYLE Sports, believes McInnes has all the credentials needed to end Celtic’s long period of dominance in Scottish football.
“Derek McInnes has done really well. He’s proven in management in Scotland. He knows the game inside out. He knows how to get results,” Mulgrew said.
“He’s been at Aberdeen and Hearts. Now he’s going to Rangers again, he’s been at Rangers so he understands the club. He lives in the area. He feels what Glasgow needs, what the intensity is here, and that is to win every week.”
Mulgrew pointed to the near-title success McInnes achieved at Hearts last season as evidence the manager can deliver at the highest level with limited resources.
“He showed at Hearts last year in terms of winning games and being consistent considering the budget they had. So now he goes to Rangers and yeah, he’s somebody that I think will have Rangers winning games consistently, which I think will be a big threat next year to Celtic,” Mulgrew added.
The former Hoops defender also believes the hunger generated by last season’s near-miss will drive both McInnes and Shankland to push hard for the title in the coming campaign.
“I think with him and Lawrence Shankland missing out on the title last year, they’ll be so determined to get that title next year. So they’re going to be a huge threat. I think it’s going to be difficult for Celtic next year,” he said.
Mulgrew did, however, acknowledge that Celtic manager Martin would not be standing still, with the Parkhead club expected to bring in fresh talent during the transfer window.
“But listen, Martin has the winning mentality as well, Celtic can spend a bit of money and get some players in because other players are going to be going. So I think they’ll bring players in and bring that freshness,” he said.
The double departure of McInnes and Shankland represents a significant setback for Hearts, who finished as runners-up last season after mounting a genuine title challenge.
Mulgrew is watching with curiosity to see how Hearts, backed by shareholder Tony Bloom and supported by Jamestown Analytics, respond to the challenge of rebuilding.
“Hearts are fascinating because they’ve got this new structure in place with Tony Bloom and Jamestown Analytics, and I think that they’ve got aspirations to be up there challenging for the title in the next five to ten years,” Mulgrew said.
He added that how Hearts deal with adversity early in the season could define whether they remain genuine title contenders or fade back into the chasing pack.
“There’s a lot to be done there. Their main striker and captain left, their manager’s away. They’re going to need to replace them, but they’ve proved it right and they do that quite regularly. So it’s a real interesting one for Hearts next year.”
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