Danny Rohl came under increasing pressure from the fans in the final weeks of the Scottish Premiership season after Rangers lost four of their last five matches, and the fallout over James Tavernier’s omission from the starting lineup only deepened scrutiny on the German manager.
But not everyone has joined the chorus of doubt. Keith Wyness, the former Aberdeen, Everton, and Aston Villa chief executive who now advises elite clubs through a football consultancy, told Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast that the Rangers fanbase should feel reassured rather than unsettled by what they have seen from their manager.
What did Wyness say about Rangers and Rohl’s dressing room stance?
Wyness argued, per Football Insider, that Rohl drew a clear line with every player in the dressing room by telling them, in effect, to either commit to his direction or accept the consequences. Wyness noted that words had been exchanged between Rohl and Tavernier and stated that Rohl had shown his authority as Rangers manager. That is exactly what the club need.
He acknowledged that a long-serving captain like Tavernier would naturally carry influence and expect certain treatment, but Rohl confronted that dynamic head-on rather than managing around it. Wyness added that with new players arriving in the summer, Rohl’s position in the dressing room will strengthen further, and he saw no issue with how the manager handled the entire situation.
“Rangers have got some challenges for next season, and Rohl is showing strong leadership. Rohl has taken on all the dressing room to a degree and said, ‘Right, you follow me, or you don’t’. He’s got the power to be able to do that now and move forward. With some new players coming in, that will help him with that as well.
“There was obviously going to be tension with Tavernier having been there so long. He will obviously command a certain respect and influence in the dressing room. Rohl had to tackle that full on, and he’s obviously done it. Rangers fans should be happy that they’ve got somebody who’s a leader and is prepared to show leadership and handle things like that. So, I have no problem with what he did.”
How can Rangers build something real around Rohl this summer?
The picture at Ibrox heading into summer 2026 carries genuine complexity, but also real opportunity. Rohl himself has acknowledged that Rangers need a personnel rebuild and more consistency, pointing out that repeated managerial turnover in recent years has disrupted continuity, and he has stressed that he has a clear plan alongside the club’s hierarchy and investors to reshape the squad. Chairman Andrew Cavenagh has confirmed he will sanction significant spending, framing the summer’s goal around finding leaders and the right mentality rather than simply hitting a transfer budget figure.
Should they stick with Rohl?
We feel that Rangers should stick with Rohl, and stick with conviction, not just obligation. The Tavernier episode, however uncomfortable it felt publicly, revealed a manager who refuses to let sentiment compromise standards. That quality is not easy to find, and it is precisely what a squad needing cultural renovation actually requires.
The defensive unit is thin, with only two natural centre-backs currently available ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, and Rangers clearly need quality players across multiple positions to compete for major honours. Rohl has earned the right to bring those players in on his own terms.
Replacing him now, after a season spent climbing out of Russell Martin’s wreckage, would reset everything. Rangers must back him properly, not with token signings, but with the calibre of squad that his leadership can actually build something lasting around.
