Butland Warns Rangers’ Next Manager Will Inherit Hard Truths
Butland Warns Rangers’ Next Manager Will Inherit Hard Truths
Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland has delivered a blunt assessment of the club’s current struggles, admitting that the team has fallen short and warning that the next manager will face some uncomfortable realities.
The Ibrox side suffered a 2–1 defeat to Dundee United at the weekend, with youth coach Steven Smith stepping in as interim manager following Russell Martin’s departure. While Smith temporarily takes the reins, uncertainty remains over who will lead the team in their upcoming Europa Conference League trip to Norway — and whether the squad can regain its identity before the season slips further off track.
Butland didn’t hold back when addressing the team’s failings.
“We have to start putting in performances that the fans can align with, recognise as a Rangers team, and can get behind and believe in,” he said. “Too often we haven’t been, and that’s just a fact. So we need to get to that.”
The England international stressed that while the squad wants to salvage the season, there is no shortcut around accountability and improvement.
“As tough as it sounds and as hard as it is for me to say, that’s the reality,
” Butland continued. “We don’t want the season to drift away, but we have to be realistic about where we find ourselves right now. Thinking about where we can get to and what’s achievable is irrelevant. We need to start changing what we’re doing, taking on the lessons, and getting better. It’s as simple as that.”
Rangers’ recent struggles have left fans frustrated, particularly given the ongoing managerial uncertainty. Smith’s temporary appointment offers continuity, but he lacks senior managerial experience, and questions remain over whether the squad can respond in a meaningful way while awaiting a permanent replacement.
Butland admitted that this period of transition has been challenging for the players.
“It’s difficult.Some of us have experienced it before and some haven’t,” he said. “These moments test a group, but we need to stay together and maintain our standards, regardless of what’s happening off the pitch.”
He also warned that the next manager inheriting the squad will face tough truths.
“Of course the season can unravel,” Butland admitted.
“We’re better off not beating around the bush. We know what we want to achieve and what this club expects, but the reality is we haven’t shown that. There are issues that the next manager will not like to hear, and we must confront them now if we’re going to turn this around.”
Rangers now face a pivotal period in both domestic and European competitions. Their midweek trip to Norway could either spark a turnaround or deepen the crisis, depending on how the squad responds under Smith and eventually a new permanent manager. Supporters are demanding visible progress performances that reflect the standards traditionally associated with Rangers.
As Butland made clear, the time for excuses is over. The team must translate words into action and take responsibility, while the next manager will inherit a squad that needs focus, leadership, and a return to identity. The coming weeks could define not only Rangers’ European ambitions but also the trajectory of their domestic season and the future of key players and staff.
