Referee Steven McLean’s actions during Rangers’ 1-0 victory against St Johnstone on Sunday did not impress Edgar David.
In a stop-start show at McDiarmid Park on December 1, the match official only issued four yellow cards, and the Gers didn’t get their first warning until the 85th minute.
In spite of this, the creator of the Heart & Hand podcast called out McLean’s shortcomings throughout the Scottish Premiership match, with Light Blues supporters frequently feeling unfairly treated in terms of officiating.
“This referee appears to have a new whistle and he’s determined to use it,” Edgar wrote on Sunday, December 1, via X.
Rangers defeated St Johnstone thanks to a whistle-happy performance from Steven McLean.
Although the repeated whistles were not ideal, Philippe Clement would have preferred his team to zip the ball across the pitch and get in behind the Saints’ defense.
Nico Raskin would have been grateful that he was only carded in the last five minutes of play, given that the Gers committed 14 fouls compared to the Saints’ nine.
It is difficult to determine whether the referee’s actions were unjust because the Belgian was all over the field on Sunday, winning 75% of his tackles, drawing three fouls, and engaging in six ground duels [FotMob].
McLean’s major problem was causing the game to move much more slowly, which stopped the Gers’ offensive and allowed the Saints to regain their defensive form.
With the Gers attackers struggling in the last third, Clement’s team only managed to break through through an own goal from Jason Holt, but the manager will only be concerned with the three points.
Rangers are pleased to announce that Nils Koppen has been appointed Technical Director.
In addition to continuing to supervise the team’s transfer policy, Koppen, the current Director of Recruitment, will assume general responsibility for the men’s Academy, medical, football operations, performance, and analytical departments.
Manager Philippe Clement and Women’s Football Managing Director Donald Gillies will report to the newly appointed CEO while collaborating closely with Koppen on a daily basis.
Since joining earlier this year, Koppen has played a pivotal role in introducing a modern recruitment model, with Rangers aiming to establish a forward-thinking and sustainable football structure.
Koppen will continue as part of the club’s executive management team, alongside Chief Commercial Officer Karim Virani and Chief Financial Officer James Taylor.
Upon his appointment, Koppen expressed: “I am truly honored and excited to step into the role of Technical Director at Rangers. Winning is the core value of this club, and my responsibility is to ensure that every aspect supporting the men’s first team—recruitment, the Academy, medical services, performance, operations, analysis, and beyond—operates at the highest level. I am eager to tackle the challenges ahead and work tirelessly with the wider team to ensure this club competes for trophies on all fronts.”
Interim Chairman John Gilligan commented: “We are thrilled to appoint Nils as Rangers’ new Technical Director. His leadership skills have been evident across the club, fostering strong relationships on both the football and administrative sides. Nils’s expertise, experience, and vision for progress make him the ideal choice to guide our football department. We wish him great success in this new role.”
The defender, who left Rangers for £800,000 in 2018, is trying to get back to Ibrox this season.
Rangers fans may remember Welsh international left-back Declan John from his short stint at Ibrox during the 2017/18 season.
Previously with Cardiff City, John initially joined Rangers on loan, impressing enough to secure a permanent deal six months later. However, his time at the club was cut short when Steven Gerrard took over as manager, marking the beginning of the end of his tenure at Ibrox.
Now, John could make a return to Ibrox this season—but as part of the opposition. The 29-year-old defender has signed a short-term contract with St Mirren, one of Rangers’ Scottish Premiership rivals, following the departure of Jaden Brown. Released by Bolton Wanderers over the summer after a loan spell at Salford City, John is looking to rebuild his career in Paisley.
St Mirren manager Steven Robinson has expressed hope that John can make an impact and potentially earn a longer-term deal. “Declan is here on a short-term contract with the possibility of extending depending on his performances,” Robinson said on the club’s official website. “With our current situation, we lack defensive cover, and Declan brings a wealth of experience. He’s played at high levels and is no stranger to Scottish football.
“We’ve already seen his quality in training. He’s technically skilled, but he hasn’t had much game time recently, so we’ll need to bring him up to speed. Adding someone with his background is a fortunate move for us at this stage of the season.”
Rangers are set to face St Mirren in Paisley on December 26th and will host them at Ibrox on February 22nd. If John performs well enough to secure an extended contract, he could feature in both fixtures against his former club.
Excited to Return to Scotland
Declan John, who left Rangers in 2018 to join Swansea City in an £800,000 deal, is excited about being back in Scottish football. His time in England saw mixed fortunes, with loan spells at Sunderland and Bolton before joining the latter permanently in 2021.
Speaking about his move to St Mirren, John shared his enthusiasm: “I’m absolutely delighted to be here. It’s been a whirlwind few days, but everything feels positive. The atmosphere in the dressing room is great, and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into training and helping the team. It’s a fantastic opportunity, and I’m ready to make an impact.”
Former Rangers Boss Van Bronckhorst Reportedly Dismissed Following Surprising Board Announcement
Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the former Rangers manager, has reportedly been dismissed from his position.
Reports suggest that the Dutch coach has been relieved of his duties by Besiktas management.
Van Bronckhorst, 49, joined the Turkish club in June on a two-year contract with an option for a third season. However, Turkish outlet Fanatik claims that the manager’s tenure has been cut short following a board meeting held on Friday.
Negotiations regarding the terms of his departure are believed to be ongoing. The decision comes just a day after Besiktas suffered a Europa League defeat against Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
Currently, Besiktas sits sixth in the Super Lig standings and ranks 22nd in the Europa League phase standings.
While Van Bronckhorst’s departure appears imminent, Besiktas released an official statement on Friday addressing an unexpected change in the club’s leadership.
Club chairman Hasan Arat has stepped down, with Vice Chairman Hüseyin Yücel assuming his role temporarily.
The official statement from Besiktas read:
“The Beşiktaş JK Board of Directors convened on November 29, 2024, and made the following decisions:
– The resignation of our Chairman of the Board, Mr. Hasan Arat, has been accepted.
– In accordance with Article 25.4, subparagraph (b) of our Bylaws, the role of Chairman of the Board will be undertaken by Vice Chairman Hüseyin Yücel.
– Due to Mr. Arat’s resignation from principal membership, substitute member Mr. Kadir Kılıç will be appointed as a principal member of the Board in line with Article 25.3 of our Bylaws.
– The Beşiktaş JK Board of Directors will continue its operations without interruption until the next Ordinary Elective General Assembly Meeting.
We present this information respectfully to the public.”
The statement did not directly address Van Bronckhorst’s future, leaving room for further updates on the situation.
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