BACK IN THE GAME
That Rangers have improved under Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, inset, is not up for debate – but the honeymoon period is well and truly over.
The Ibrox club needs to add quality to the first XI rather than squad players. Despite the joint-best defensive record in the league last year, a familiar failure to find a way through limited but organised defences cost Rangers dear.
With Alfredo Morelos set for the exit door and Jermaine Defoe nearing 38, two new strikers are needed as a minimum. Much will depend on the talented trio of Joe Aribo, Ryan Kent and new signing Ianis Hagi if a 55th title is to arrive in Govan.
Stuart Kettlewell finds himself flying solo as Ross County manager following Stevie Ferguson’s decision to take up a chief executive role at the club.
The pair had done a brilliant job together; firstly winning promotion back to the Premiership at the first time of asking and then keeping the Staggies in the top-flight.
However, closing the back door will be Kettlewell’s main aim – County conceded 60 league goals last season which was the most in the Premiership.
The experienced Carl Tremarco, inset, may help having joined from Highland rivals Inverness while midfielder Stephen Kelly arrives on loan from Rangers having earned rave reviews with Ayr last season.
Jack Ross was a popular appointment last autumn after Hibs decided enough was enough and axed Paul Heckingbottom.
The club only missed out on a top-six finish by the points-pergame average method used to settle the season in the wake of the COVID-19 lockdown.
But that hasn’t stopped Ross splashing the cash with Dunfermline Athletic striker Kevin Nisbet a £250,000 buy.
Alex Gogic and Drey Wright look useful recruits from Hamilton and St Johnstone, respectively, while Hibs will be monitoring ex-loan star Greg Docherty’s, inset, progress at Rangers in case there is a chance to bring him back to Easter Road.
The Buddies have lofty ambitions for the season ahead.
Both chief executive Tony Fitzpatrick and manager Jim Goodwin, inset, have made no secret of the fact they are targeting a top-six spot.
To do so, they will need to both improve their meagre domestic goal tally – they managed just 24 last season, the lowest in the division – and maintain their impressive defensive efforts.
Recruitment has been strong at the back, with both ex-Motherwell defender Richard Tait and former St Johnstone stopper Joe Shaughnessy astute signings.
Ex-Rangers goalie Jak Alnwick has big gloves to fill after the Saints lost star man Vaclav Hladky, with Goodwin still needing reinforcements up front.
Tommy Wright’s lockdown departure had certain quarters of the St Johnstone support hovering over the big red panic button.
Those quivering into blue-andwhite scarves voiced concerns about who would replace a man with legendary status in Perth.
But the appointment of former player and assistant boss Callum Davidson has brought a renewed sense of excitement ahead of the big kick-off.
He has moved quickly to welcome Millwall loan pair Isaac Olaofe and Danny McNamara, inset, to a young squad that was in very productive form before football’s shutdown in March.
Under the radar again? It would be no surprise.