Derek McInnes has conceded that Rangers could do with “a wee bit of help” but insists the funds are available to make that happen, even after the club dropped out of the Europa League.
The new Ibrox manager has picked up two draws and two defeats from his first four games, leaving his side with just one point in the league and slipping into the Conference League qualifiers after losing to Jagiellonia Bialystok.
Thursday’s 1-1 home draw was not enough to salvage that European tie, and Rangers now face Czech side Jablonec across the final two Thursdays in August. Should they fail to progress, there will be no continental football or the revenue that comes with it for the remainder of the campaign.
McInnes has overseen a summer rebuild that has brought nine players into the club, but he believes more signings could still follow.
“It’s not been the start we wanted, but the intention is still to have the outcome that we want come the end of the season,” McInnes said before Sunday’s League Cup last 16 tie with St Mirren (16:00 BST).
“We’re still working hard towards that and we’ve got money to spend. We’ve got a lot of younger players and what we could do with is just a wee bit of help.
“We need to try and win games as we go along because if you don’t, everything becomes so much more difficult. Everything gets scrutinised.
“That’s not going to change. The only thing that has to change is getting more winning performances and hopefully we can have that Sunday.”
The manager admitted that injuries had forced him to use “square pegs in round holes” in Thursday’s 1-1 draw at home to Jagiellonia. He wants his team to give supporters “something to get behind” when St Mirren visit.
“They need to see action,” he added. “Nobody is sitting here and asking for understanding and patience. I quite understand the frustrations and it’s been more than just these four games where the frustration starts to build.
“They need somewhere to vent that but they should be seeing a better performance and we’ll aim to give them that.”
Former Rangers defender Richard Foster believes McInnes is still the right appointment despite the difficult opening.
“It’s been tough. The level of performance is the thing that they’re questioning but they’re also not winning games, they’re out of the Europa League.
“I do believe Derek is the right man. He’s not become a bad manager in four games.
“I think he will get Rangers to a place this season where they’re challenging for the league and the cup and they’re playing good football and they’re competitive. You’ve got to be patient.”
Former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday outlined the scale of the rebuild still required.
“It should be a combination of the footballing department and Derek McInnes [that sign the players]. A recruitment team should always identify targets that fit the profile that the manager wants and then the manager should have the final say.
“If you’ve signed 27 players in a year, something’s gone seriously, seriously wrong.
“They need a starting right-back, a starting centre-half, a starting centre midfielder, which is unbelievable to say considering they’ve signed three in the summer, and I think they need another two wingers.
“If Derek wants to continue with two strikers, they need another striker.”
Former Hearts manager John Robertson warned that time and further spending will be necessary.
“Everything is getting scrutinised. If you don’t win your first few games, you’re immediately under pressure. Derek McInnes is suddenly under pressure.
“He has to be given time to build his team, put his stamp on it. He needs to sort out the spine of his team and that’s going to take more money.”
The next opportunity to shift the mood arrives on Sunday, when Rangers host St Mirren in the League Cup last 16, and McInnes is looking for a performance that gives the home fans a reason to get behind the team.
McInnes will get another chance to change the narrative when St Mirren visit Ibrox on Sunday, and he is hoping the display offers the home support something to rally behind.
