20Feb

Rangers in crisis: Our demise can’t be blamed on chasing Europe

by Ali Hunter

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I had rather considered starting this piece with a bit about how Rangers supporters might have never had a week quite this bad. But then my mind drifted to that famous Shankly quote and ultimately rested upon thoughts of the 2^nd of January 1971. While Rangers Football Club might be currently in the grips of its most tumultuous years, there is no denying that tragedies passed have more significance than the challenges faced in these few weeks. Perhaps, though, I might offer another thought. In the aftermath of that day the supporters of this great institution rallied to emotional heights – and unity at the club may never have been stronger. This past week has stirred remnants of that accord, perhaps not quite as strong, but unanimous nonetheless.

In the depths of my despair at the state of Rangers this week, I read a rousing article about the ‘Rangers Standard’ being raised. It was a battle cry of almost epic proportions, calling Bears worldwide to come forthwith and show everyone that “we don’t do walking away.” It etched a smile upon my face and instilled an encouraging feeling of hope – something perhaps in short supply this week. But it soon got me thinking about how this call, in itself, was a sad indictment of Scottish football. The article howled out, as though to awaken a sleeping monster in some far-off cave. I asked myself, has it taken financial ruin to reignite interest in Rangers? Is it only now that we must fight for survival that the collective fans of the club shall rise and take stock? Certainly the monster didn’t seem so asleep in the 1990s when Rangers were one of the biggest clubs in Europe. Though, recently, we, as supporters, have been somewhat pilloried for being “distracted” by how well our team were doing. Apparently, we should have been closely watching the management of the club’s finances, rather than dreaming big of European glory. Well, no one told me…

The fact is we should not be blamed for chasing the impossible dream of European glory. I ask you; would it not be a far greater crime to just accept continental mediocrity? The mismanaging of the club’s finances is regrettable, and of course damning, but blaming the club’s demise on a rudimentary ambition to climb the football ladder is sacrilege to the basic instincts of sport. While some may argue that we could have handled both in the way most of Europe’s elite do, I say, we are not Europe’s elite. The restrictions in size and quality of the Scottish game mean it is almost impossible to sustain a European challenge. Short bursts at the top, such as Ajax, Benfica and Malmo’s are all from clubs in small, uncompetitive countries. And, in fact, as we now move into an era where only the top clubs in Europe are generating the big bucks, it’s becoming far less likely for these feats to be emulated.

The underlying point is; Scottish football – in relation to the rest of Europe – is inherently structured to spend the majority of its time as second fiddle. Chasing the demands of the club’s supporters, who perhaps ignorantly demand success in all corners of competition, killed the cat. But for that, I am not sorry. Yes, I’m unhappy at Sir David Murray’s incompetence, yes I’m unhappy at the misleading reign of Craig Whyte, yes, of course I’m unhappy that it has got to the extent that our club’s very existence is being threatened. But no, I don’t regret chasing the European dream. Because it was great and it has given the club’s fans memories they’ll all remember. There’s a great saying being banded around among Rangers supporters at the moment. “If they play on the streets, we’ll watch from the pavements.”

Well, amen to that.

Posted by Rangers fan Ali Hunter

Follow Ali on Twitter @AliHunter1