What they said

GRAEME SOUNESS

“I’m sad for him. I’ve met him a couple of times. I wouldn’t say he was a friend of mine but I liked him.

But he’ll know that’s the price on the ticket when you manage a big club. Especially Glasgow Rangers where you know what it’s like... it’s rumour city and you just can’t be playing second fiddle to ( Celtic).

You go back a short five or six months and they got to the final of a European competition with a budget which was small fry compared to the other teams they were playing in the later stages of that tournament.

It just shows you how fickle football can be. You think you’re flying, you are looking forward to the new season because you got to the final of a European competition, could easily have won it and you end up being under all sorts of pressure because you lost a couple games to Celtic and some draws that would not be expected from Rangers.”

KRIS BOYD

“Rangers were riding the crest of a wave heading into the summer and there was the opportunity to build on things to take the club forward.

However, the business done was not at the level I expected it to be at. It was clear there was the need for three or four players who go into that starting XI, and while money was spent, I don’t think it was spent well enough.

I think when you’re spending the sums of money Rangers did, it needs to be on players who are guaranteed to make an impact and hit the ground running - they can’t be a gamble.

The next two transfer windows are two of the biggest in Rangers’ history. It is a crucial period coming up and it is vital those involved learn from what has happened.”

ALEX RAE

“The big question for me is who will be the guy to replace Van Bronckhorst? The way he started was very good, tactically very astute, but he also lost a lot of key players in the summer like Calvin Bassey. The signings this summer have not helped his cause, as much as the manager pays the price, some of these players have to up their game for the new manager.

There’s a big gap in the league at such an early stage, and it will be hard to turn around. Rangers have made the decision to end his tenure and the new manager will have a couple of weeks before the league resumes. It’s an opportunity for someone to come in and assess the squad. Recent reports suggested Van Bronckhorst was going to be given more time, you always welcome that, and it’s disappointing to see someone lose their job. But when you look at the fans, the majority are looking for a change.”