‘Barry Ferguson to get rid of Robin Propper after Rangers appointment’
Robin Propper could be one of the first names out of the Rangers exit doors if Barry Ferguson’s position is made permanent at Ibrox.
The Dutchman arrived on a multi-million-pound deal from FC Twente during the summer, coming in to replace the outbound Connor Goldson and create a water-tight defensive unit.
His time at Ibrox has been far from ideal, with Philippe Clement often trusting full-back Dujon Sterling out of position instead of trusting the natural centre-back to remain calm under pressure.
It was no surprise to see the 31-year-old slammed and ripped to shreds by the media during Clement’s reign, though with the Belgian seriously underperforming, any of the players could have been criticised.
James Tavernier and Cyriel Dessers, both of whom are heavily linked with Rangers exits, were made to be scapegoats by the supporters whenever a shock defeat occurred in Scotland, and Propper can certainly be involved in that too.
Barry Ferguson cannot hide from previous comments about Rangers ace
While there has now been a change in managers, Propper’s hopes of moving forward at Ibrox have taken yet another dent, having been hammered by the very leader he has now.
Speaking in December ahead of the Gers’ Europa League clash with Tottenham, via the Go Radio Football Show, Ferguson called out the defender for having “no pace”.
That does not seem like the worst insult for a centre-back, but with Ferguson now preferring 36-year-old Leon Balogun instead, it speaks volumes about the manager’s trust in his own player.
Robin Propper’s struggles continue at Ibrox
Propper should have been substituted at half-time during the 4-2 win over Kilmarnock, with Clinton Nsiala sacrificed instead, and then he was replaced after 45 minutes in the 2-1 defeat to Motherwell.
To compound his bad fortune in the last few weeks, the 31-year-old was taken off against Fenerbahce after just 28 minutes, doing very little to persuade Ferguson that he is a stable defender.
| Robin Propper’s last five appearances | Minutes played |
| Fenerbahce 1-3 Rangers | 28 |
| Rangers 1-2 Motherwell | 45 |
| Kilmarnock 2-4 Rangers | 90 |
| Rangers 0-2 Kilmarnock | 90 |
| Hearts 1-3 Rangers | 13 |
While no decision has been made yet on the interim manager’s future, with the club waiting until the summer before a permanent name is brought in, Ferguson could remain at Rangers beyond the summer.
That would certainly be bad news for Propper, who could be heading for an early exit unless he can prove himself at Ibrox during the final few weeks of the 2024/25 season.
In many ways Propper’s struggles have proven to be emblematic of the fall of Clement’s reign so he may be struggling to maintain his future in Glasgow whoever is in charge, but the current interim boss certainly doesn’t seem a fan and a permanent appointment would surely force the Dutchman out.