“I was disappointed with Rangers transfer window”- Stevie Clifford FURIOUS over Rangers January transfer amid expensive mistake made. What a blunt truth.

“I was disappointed with Rangers transfer window”- Stevie Clifford FURIOUS over Rangers January transfer amid expensive mistake made. What a blunt truth.

The January transfer window was, in hindsight, exactly what we should have expected.

Philippe Clement has been consistent for months, making it clear that Rangers simply don’t have the finances for major spending.

CEO Patrick Stewart echoed this sentiment in a media briefing earlier this month, indicating that only one or two players would arrive, with minimal financial outlay.

This leads me to two main questions regarding the lack of spending: how did we end up here, and what is the plan moving forward?

As I discussed with Joshua in Tuesday’s morning briefing, the answer is complex, and it’s important not to sugarcoat the reality.

The Rangers board allowed spending to reach unsustainable levels in past years, signing off on deals that haven’t proven successful. Money was spent—just not wisely.

The managerial tenures of Michael Beale and Giovanni van Bronckhorst were marked by significant outgoings.

The club operated without a sporting executive above the managers and made rash recruitment decisions throughout 2023. For too long, there was a lack of cohesive strategy, and the consequences are clear in 2024.

Contract costs reached unsustainable levels, and several key staff members departed behind the scenes.

Despite last summer’s spending, January arrived with the board having to make significant investments to address the reckless spending that occurred under their watch.

The blunt truth is that Rangers’ wage bill became astronomical, with many high earners failing to provide adequate value. Investors have been forced to cover the losses created by this widespread overspending.

You can assign blame where you want, but the current board is ultimately responsible for bringing us to this point. This is why many fans are disillusioned with the club’s management. Allowing this situation to develop was an expensive mistake.

That’s where Rangers find themselves now—attempting to recover and build a more sustainable future.

Since the summer, a major effort has been underway to reduce the wage bill, with millions being cut from playing costs.

Off the pitch, there’s a thorough audit of the club’s operations, with two key questions being asked: where are we not getting value for money, and why?

One thing is clear before this external review is even complete: Rangers cannot continue hemorrhaging money at this rate.

A healthy business plan is essential, and there needs to be a more unified approach across departments. Succession plans, clarity, and stability—basic business practices—were allowed to slip at Ibrox.

For the latter half of last year, Rangers had no chairman, no CEO, no commercial director, and no head of academy. Let that sink in. While these roles have now been filled, it’s clear that change doesn’t happen overnight.

This is the result of years of poor decisions.

So, what now? Patrick Stewart is here to oversee everything, with full operational control. This is a crucial detail. Stewart, as the lead executive, will spearhead the reset across the club, with several key positions beginning to be filled.

On the pitch, it’s all about value for money and building a solid strategy over multiple transfer windows. This won’t be easy, and it certainly won’t be painless.

High-earners who aren’t performing must still be moved on, as we saw with Rabbi Matondo and Kieran Dowell in January.

Big contracts won’t be repeated, and they certainly won’t be renewed—meaning Tom Lawrence will leave, and Ianis Hagi’s terms will need to be renegotiated if he stays beyond the summer.

The summer of 2025 will focus on securing permanent homes for players out on loan and those whose contracts are ending.

There are also players like Cyriel Dessers (31 next year) and Ridvan Yilmaz, who still hold market value. These are obvious names, but additional departures will be necessary to balance the squad and reinvest wisely.

Clement must continue to develop players like Jefte, Hamza Igamane, and Clinton Nsiala, while hoping to see form from others like Nedim Bajrami and Danilo.

He will also need to integrate Bailey Rice, Findlay Curtis, and Paul Nsio into the squad. All of this while still maintaining a winning mentality.

Rangers must ensure that any purchases are purposeful. Early signs under Nils Koppen have been promising, as he navigates the tricky balance of blending experienced professionals with emerging talent. When money is spent, the return must be high.

A clear recruitment structure is now in place, with arrivals like Nsiala, Jefte, and Igamane last summer, as well as valuable players like Mohamed Diomande and Nico Raskin. In less than a full season, Rangers have established valuable assets within the squad.

The next step is ensuring that players like Dujon Sterling, Oscar Cortes, and Danilo also deliver.

This is a massive task. Rangers were so poorly managed across the board that a reset was always going to be necessary.

It’s difficult to accept, but it’s a reality that will require a shift in mindset. This was never going to be easy, and more transfer windows will be required to get the club back to where it should be.