Question: Is it a relief to finally get started after all the build-up and administration?
Answer: That’s it exactly. It’s obviously been in the pipeline for a number of weeks, so there’s been a focus on professionalism. To walk in the door on Tuesday and meet the playing group and the staff was brilliant. I’ve already got the cogs turning on what needs to happen and how we can get things going as quickly as we possibly can. I’m delighted to be here.
Question: Given the challenges, such as competition from England draining talent, what is your blueprint for making Rangers a place where players want to progress their careers and stay longer?
Most Read on FollowFollow.com No change of Heart – Rangers 0 – 2 Hearts The FF Weekly Quiz Rangers quotes from the Brugge game
Answer: The growth of the women’s game over the last number of years has been astronomical, and the finances are escalating daily, which at times is hard to keep up with. We understand the movement and how the game might change quickly for players and staff. The focus will be here, in the here and now. For me, it’s about the empowerment and evolvement of people as much as players. I’ll be coming in the door and looking to get on a level immediately with the group of players, providing them an understanding of what my philosophy will be, how we’ll play, and the excitement around the team. My vision for the next three years is to grow the team and have that investment.
I have a real passion for what the Scottish game looks like. When you produce really strong domestic teams, that enhances the profile of the national team, and if the national team does well, that enhances the profile of the domestic game. My experience has been a lot broader than a lot of head coaches might have been. I’ve worked across the game at many different levels with different experiences, and all of that will put me in a better place to guide and drive the team.
Ultimately, it’s about success on the pitch. You can’t get away from that when you operate at a club like Rangers. Fans demand success, and the club is expected to deliver; second best is not good enough. I do believe that my understanding of the Scottish game across the board, the structure, and the people within it makes me the right person for taking this job on.
Question: Without getting too far away from the Rangers role, will you use your profile to influence administrators to create more European opportunities for Scottish clubs, which Rangers unfortunately missed out on this year?
Answer: The alignment from the club is absolutely there. I’ve already had a number of conversations with Kevin Thelwell, and we understand what that looks like. Rangers already is a global brand. For me, just now, my role will be about delivering domestic success in Scotland with the players that we have, looking to branch out and strengthen the squad where possible. European football then becomes the lure. We understand that Hibs and Glasgow City will take part in those tournaments, which comes with finishing first and second in the league campaign. That will be the short-term goal: to get ourselves to the top of the tree, deliver a league title, and ultimately with that then comes the opportunity to go and get a crack at Europe. That’s when you can go and grow the brand even more than it already is.
Question: Why was this summer and this opportunity the right one for you to take the next step in your own career as a manager?
Answer: That’s the beauty of football; you don’t really know where the opportunities will come from, and things can change and move really quickly. I’ve always been a person that’s pretty agile and ready to move. I think you can see that in terms of my career and the doors that have opened up beyond football. Throughout my playing career, I was already working through my coaching badges. That has continued beyond, in terms of my coaching career and stepping away from the playing side of the game. I have a young family as well, and I’ve managed to couple having a young daughter with the completion of my UEFA Pro Licence.
I’ve always very much been moving forward; I don’t think in my life I’ve ever stood still. As a driven and ambitious person, that’s what you need to be, and you’ve got to be ready. I don’t think anybody will ever say they’re ready for a job. I think we all suffer from a little bit of imposter syndrome at certain points. But the reality for me is, I feel I’m ready now. When you look at the pros and cons, there aren’t many cons to come and manage Rangers Football Club. The excitement around the team, the success that was already here, the group of players that exist just now, and the opportunity to go and enhance that and add to that gives me real excitement. That ambition and that burning desire to be successful has always been there. So now it’s about taking on this new opportunity, and it’s one that I’m really excited about. Ultimately, it’s a no-brainer when it’s a club of this size.
