Cammy Bell will watch two of his old clubs clash at Ibrox today knowing that supporters focus will be as much on both dug outs as on the park.
Dundee United may be managerless after a horror start to the season but caretaker Liam Fox is looking for a statement victory at Ibrox that could well make his interim spell permanent. Should that be the outcome and Rangers fail to win a fourth game in a row then the clamour for Gio van Bronckhorst ’s rein in Govan to be brought to an end might just reach the point of no return.
Bell might not agree with it. But he fully understands why the Dutchman’s head is on the block after three heavy defeats in succession left the club’s Champions League hopes on the brink and their Premiership title chances lagging after only six games. A questionable transfer window has come under increased scrutiny and memories of the thrilling run to the Europa League Final only four months ago have long since evaporated.
It’s crunch time for van Bronckhorst and Bell insists he needs a big result this afternoon. The former Ibrox goalkeeper said: “This is a massive, massive match for Giovanni van Bronckhorst and his future at Rangers.
“It’s a game they need to win but also with a good performance. The fans demand that but the players need that bit of confidence that comes off that too. Last season is forgotten about very quickly at a club like Rangers.
“They haven’t won enough games this season and suffered too many heavy defeats. That’s not acceptable at that club no matter the quality of opposition.
“I understand off the back of the Old Firm game why Gio is under pressure. The manner of that and the Ajax defeat days later were awful and way below the standards expected.
“But what I would say is that I still think the outcry is a little bit premature. Rangers are back in the Champions League where they’ve not been for a long time.
“The performance against Napoli on Wednesday was an improvement. They were up against a phenomenal side but there were good spells for Rangers in the game and individuals stepped up their performances too.
“They need to really go out and put their stamp on the game against Dundee United and make sure they get the three points off a good performance.
“United have come through a turbulent start to the season. That surprised me after they made some good summer signings. The manager lost his job and Liam Fox has come in and I think made the players take a bit of responsibility. So they’ll be up for the fight.”
Rangers summer recruitment drive has been at the centre of much of the Ibrox support’s anger with not one of the seven arrivals starting Wednesday’s defeat to Napoli.
John Souttar and Tom Lawrence remain injured while Antonio Colak can at least claim to have started well with seen goals from 12 appearances. But the lack of input from big money signings including Ridvan Yilmaz, Ben Davies and Rabbi Matondo has put not just van Bronckhorst but Sporting Director Ross Wilson under pressure too.
Bell knows Wilson well having leaned on him for advice after hanging up the gloves. And he is adamant the Ibrox club could hardly be in safer hands.
Bell said: “Rangers fans are demanding and rightly so. But you’ve got a guy there in Ross Wilson who is a phenomenal talent and done so well in transfer windows. Just look at the infrastructure of Rangers from where he came to the club three years ago and where they are now.
“They are a Champions League club again and fans need to remember that. They are now fighting with the elite clubs of world football. Rangers have continued to move forward in Ross’ time.
“I think Rangers possibly haven’t got the players in that they absolutely wanted to get in the window. Especially after they lost big players like Bassey and Aribo. They might look back and think they could have brought in another one or two, particularly experienced players. A lot of the guys they brought in are ones they’re probably looking to develop for the next year or so.
“But what I have to say is the players who are there from last season, who got them to the Europa League final, have not hit the standards of last season. They need to up their game dramatically.”
One man who certainly can’t be faulted is Allan McGregor who made a remarkable return between the sticks - saving two penalties - against Napoli. With Jon McLaughlin out through injury after an inconsistent start, Bell reckons veteran McGregor is back for keeps.
He said: “I hope so. I’ve said all summer he is he best goalkeeper at Rangers and I never quite understood why he wasn’t being played. The performance against Napoli proves exactly why he’s Rangers’ number one.
“He constantly comes up with big moments in big games. But what also gets forgotten is his presence. Allan is a demanding character and I don’t see as much as that from Jon on the pitch.
“Anyone who has the idea that he is happy sitting on the bench is very wrong. He wants that shirt back for good.”
Bell spent a season at Dundee United after leaving Rangers in 2016, a year best remembered for his remarkable hat-trick of penalty saves in a single game against Dunfermline. And the 35-year-old admits he thought McGregor was going to match his feat before Napoli's Matteo Politano finally netted from the spot at the third time of asking.
“I was desperate for him to save the third one. I knew he was going to save the first one - it was written in the stars that he would come back with a big moment. I could see how disappointed he was not getting the third one, he was so close.A wee bit of me was glad though .. it’s nice still having that honour on the mantelpiece!”
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