Wayne Veysey

Thu 3 November 2022 7:00, UK

Rangers are putting out early feelers as they lay the groundwork for potentially appointing a new manager, sources have told Football Insider.

The Glasgow giants are licking their wounds after suffering the worst Champions League group stage campaign in tournament history.

Pressure is growing on the Rangers hierarchy from supporters to sack Van Bronckhorst on the back of their humiliating return to Europe’s top club competition after 12 years as well as little sign of domestic improvement.

It is believed that Rangers are paving the way behind the scenes for a potential manager change by doing background checks and compiling a shortlist of potential replacements.

They are set to make contact with some of those amid a growing sense that Van Bronckhorst will not be in charge after the World Cup when the Scottish Premiership returns on 15 December.

In turn, the Dutchman is believed to have told friends he is wary of being sacked following the latest Champions League embarrassment.

Rangers’ midweek 3-1 defeat to Ajax left them with a minus-20 goal deficit from their six matches, all of which were comprehensively lost.

Club chiefs did not expect Van Bronckhorst’s team to progress from what they saw as a nightmare group, which included last season’s finalists Liverpool as well as runaway Serie A leaders Napoli.

But they had hoped the team could put up far more of a fight on the return to Europe’s top table.

Van Bronckhorst will forever be fondly regarded in the blue half of Glasgow for last season’s remarkable Europa League run that came so close to ending in glory.

But there is great concern in the boardroom about the sterility of domestic performances, albeit there was a significant improvement in last weekend’s 4-1 win over Aberdeen.

One major criticism of Van Bronckhorst’s team is little sign of a defined playing style and the over-reliance on individual inspiration to overcome opponents.

In other news, Sources: Rangers set to make £80m+ announcement.