Andrew Cavenagh has confirmed that Danny Rohl will remain at Rangers next season despite the German failing to deliver the title.
Appointed in October, Rohl brought the team back into contention and looked well placed to win the championship for the first time since 2021 just a month back.
But defeats to Motherwell, Hearts and Celtic in the post-split fixtures saw the Ibrox men fall out of the running, with a home loss to Hibs further ratcheting up the pressure on the manager.
While acknowledging that the season has been ‘rough’, Cavenagh feels it would be wrong to put the blame on Rohl’s doorstep.
Promising that the squad will be strengthened this summer to give the former Sheffield Wednesday manager a better chance of succeeding, the chairman said: ‘At this club, success is winning titles. You don’t win a title, you haven’t succeeded. And it can’t be any simpler than that.
‘And we will not stop until we have succeeded. As we look to next year, Danny is our coach. We believe that Danny gives us the best chance to win the league next year.
Andrew Cavenagh remains convinced that Danny Rohl can bring success to the club
‘We believe that there are two key elements that he needs to succeed, and that would be a revamped squad, which is probably the most important, and a pre-season.
‘We have a good squad, and we’ve proven that in fits and spurts throughout the season. But we don’t yet have a good team. And that is our focus this summer — building a winning team.’
Rohl’s future has come under scrutiny since the title bid floundered, with many supporters openly questioning if he’s now the right man to take the side forward.
While admitting that the German ‘isn’t perfect’, Cavenagh is convinced that he has the wherewithal to prove the doubters wrong.
‘We think Danny is a really good coach,’ he added. ‘And we’ve seen that throughout the year.
‘He’s not perfect. But when you think about what it takes to win, we think the most important change that we need to make is the squad. And with an improved squad, we think Danny will bring titles.
‘I think every manager needs to be given enough time with the right squad to develop, both individually and to develop the team. He hasn’t had this.
‘Coming straight into this is not easy and I think he needs time to get it right.’
Cavenagh was asked if part of the decision to stand by Rohl was based in the fact that the club have changed manager five times since Steven Gerrard left in 2021.
‘I don’t look at the past and say we need to do something today just different than the past, but I do look at and say we do need stability,’ he said.
Rohl has been left frustrated by his side’s capitulation in recent weeks
‘So, it’s driven by the need to build on what we have, as opposed to a reaction of what someone else has done in the past.
‘Certainly, Rangers is an emotional rollercoaster. And, a month ago, they were singing Danny’s name, and a month later, they’re frustrated with Danny.
‘And we completely understand that view on a personal level. We go through that same rollercoaster. But our job, as those who run this club, is to not let the club go on that rollercoaster ride.
‘We need to be even-keeled and make sure that we are step by step moving this club towards success. And again, we believe that Dan is part of that.’
Cavenagh insists he has no concerns over Rohl’s commitment despite him being linked with a return to Germany with Wolfsburg.
‘I would consider it bad for the club if Danny left,’ he added. ‘We believe that Danny gives us the best chance of winning the league next year, so we’d be incredibly disappointed if Danny left. I think Danny is completely committed and we expect him to be here.’
Cavenagh explained the key components of the summer rebuild of the squad.
‘Our focus will be less about sort of raw talent and more about things like chemistry and leadership steel and footballing IQ, if that’s a phrase that translates,’ he said. ‘We are excited to make those adjustments to the squad.’
Rohl was criticised for his handling of what was expected to be James Tavernier’s final home match against Hibernian. The skipper had told his children they’d be mascots only to learn that Rohl wasn’t starting him.
Having refused to sit on the bench, he did turn up at the ground to receive a presentation from club legend John Greig.
James Tavernier was in tears as he was received a special presentation from John Greig
Asked if he thought Rohl had handled that situation well enough, Cavenagh said: ‘I think we would all look back and wish the outcome was different than the way it was.
‘This should all have been kept behind closed doors and not have spilled out into the public because it’s a black eye for the club.
‘We’ll put a line under it and move forward in a positive way.
‘Tav is a legend, a Hall of Famer at the club and incredibly important to us. We knew it was going to be his last match for us, so the club prepared a series of events to celebrate his time at the club.
‘The decision to start or not start him was Danny’s. The club chose not to intervene.
‘In any organisation, sporting or not, you will have disagreements, and when you do, the first thing you do is talk about it and try to solve it before making decisions.
‘We’re not blind. Wednesday was not a good look for anybody. No one came out of that looking positive.’
