Rangers’ Struggles to Replace Creag Robertson Highlight Club’s Leadership Uncertainty
Aberdeen’s former chief executive Keith Wyness has raised concerns over Rangers’ ability to effectively replace Creag Robertson, the club’s head of football operations, due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the club’s ownership.
Robertson, who has played a pivotal role in Rangers’ football strategy and operations, recently stepped down from his position, leaving a significant void in the club’s structure.
Robertson’s departure has not come as a complete surprise, but it does highlight broader issues within the club, particularly regarding its leadership and ownership structure.
Wyness, who has worked at the highest levels in Scottish football, believes that the lack of clear ownership at Rangers could complicate the process of finding a suitable replacement for Robertson.
Leadership Instability at Rangers
Rangers has been embroiled in off-field challenges in recent years, including financial difficulties, ownership changes, and management shifts.
The club’s board has had to navigate a turbulent period, and the uncertainty regarding ownership has only exacerbated these challenges.
Without clear leadership at the top, Wyness argues that Rangers may struggle to implement long-term plans, including the hiring of key personnel like a head of football operations.
“Replacing someone like Creag Robertson isn’t just about finding someone with the right qualifications,” Wyness said.
“It’s about ensuring that the new person can work within a stable and well-structured environment. Unfortunately, with no clear ownership at Rangers, that stability is difficult to guarantee.”
The Importance of a Strong Football Operations Chief
Creag Robertson’s role at Rangers was crucial in bridging the gap between football management and the boardroom. He was responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, ensuring that the club’s footballing ambitions were aligned with its financial realities.
Robertson’s departure leaves a gap that will not be easily filled, especially when the club is operating in an environment of instability.
For Rangers, the appointment of a new head of football operations will be vital to ensuring that the club can continue to build on its recent successes.
The football operations chief must be capable of working with the manager, scouting team, and recruitment staff while also reporting directly to the board.
The Need for Stability
Wyness emphasized that, for Rangers to succeed in the coming years, they must resolve their leadership challenges.
Clear ownership will give the club the direction it needs to plan for the future, including securing top-level talent and leadership within the football operations team.
Without this clarity, however, Rangers may continue to face difficulties in navigating what is already a highly competitive football landscape.
The club’s future success will depend largely on resolving these issues and bringing stability to the top levels of management.