Rangers appointed former Hearts manager Derek McInnes as head coach, making him the third boss at Ibrox in twelve months. Chairman Andrew Cavenagh pledged a “summer of substantial change” after a disappointing 2025‑26 campaign that saw the club slip to third place. McInnes inherits a side that lost the title race after four consecutive defeats to finish behind Celtic overall.

Key tasks centre on restoring belief and tightening the back line. New signing Lawrence Shankland arrives as a proven scorer and likely captain after James Tavernier’s exit, providing a focal point up front. Defensively, Rangers conceded 43 goals last season; additions such as Emmanuel Fernandez and Tuur Rommens must gel quickly to slash that tally and improve overall stability dramatically.

Pre‑season begins this week with a training camp in Austria, giving McInnes limited time to trim a bloated squad and integrate newcomers. Players like Emmanuel Fernandez, Nicolas Raskin and Findlay Curtis are expected to stay, while fringe figures such as Nedim Bajrami and Danilo face exits. The club’s owners will be watching closely for an immediate lift in results this.