Derek Johnstone delivers scathing Rangers verdict, identifies what cost Warburton
By Harvey Byrne
Rangers great Derek Johnstone believes the current crop of players aren't up to the standards of playing for the famous side.
Additionally, he has shared that Mark Warburton's insistence on signing from the English lower leagues may have cost him his job.
The Ibrox giants are currently going through a poor spell which has seen them go on a three match winless run as well as dropping down to third place alongside Warburton's departure earlier in the month.
Now, Johnstone, who spent 13 years with Rangers believes that the current squad isn't up to wearing the famous crest.
"Whoever comes in at Rangers, this summer there is going to have to be a real clear-out, because quite simply, this squad just isn’t up to it," wrote Johnstone in his column for the Evening Times.
"It wasn’t the collapse I foresaw last summer when the various signings were being made to join a squad that had won the Championship title, playing good football, and with some ease, and, not only that, had reached the Scottish Cup final with that semi-final win at Hampden over arch-rivals Celtic.
"How wrong was I – how wrong were so many of the Rangers support?
"Instead of strengthening, Rangers now have a squad of players who are just not up to it. Not only that, unless they strike deals to move some of them on, they could be stuck with them for another year or longer, a huge drain on resources when you really don’t have anything in the way of financial clout.
"It did worry me, where Rangers were shopping, in the lower leagues in England. But you’ve got to put your trust in those making the recommendations, and spotting the talent.
"Maybe Mark Warburton did that a little too much – and it cost him.
"Next time, it can’t happen."
The Rangers board backed Warburton in the summer as they allowed him to make eleven signings.
However, Johnstone's criticism may be fair after Warburton decided to bring in the likes of Josh Windass, Clint Hill, Lee Hodson and Joe Garner from Accrington, QPR, MK Dons and Preston respectively.
Fans are now hoping the poor run the club is currently going through can be put to a swift end and bottom of the league Inverness on Friday certainly provides that opportunity.
A win at the Caledonian Stadium will put the Gers back within three points of second placed Aberdeen and in a good position before the Old Firm derby on March 12.
In other Rangers news, fans have reacted on Twitter to Claudio Ranieri's sacking.
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