THE demand was that it was time for change. The wish has come true for Rangers supporters and the opportunity that presents itself as a result cannot be squandered.
Douglas Park and Ross Wilson have gone and Stewart Robertson is going. The mistakes of the past cannot be taken back, but they can be addressed and the future will be shaped by those who, while perhaps guilty by association in the eyes of some, now have a chance to run Rangers their way.
Ultimately, their successes or failures will be defined like their predecessors. There is continuity in the process, though, after John Bennett replaced Park and James Bisgrove was appointed as chief executive officer.
In time, the position left vacant by Wilson, the former sporting director, must also be filled as boss Michael Beale attempts to build a squad capable of competing in Europe and winning at home.
There have been successes in recent seasons. But even those highs of 55, the Europa League final and a Scottish Cup win are not enough for a club like Rangers and the alterations in personnel that are now unfolding have been needed for some time.
Like the departure of Wilson to Nottingham Forest, the loss of Robertson comes at an opportune moment for all concerned. A new opportunity, one that is outwith football, has arisen for Robertson and it would have been folly for him to plough on at Rangers given his standing with the fans at present.
“As a lifelong supporter of Rangers, it has been a privilege to hold this post for the past eight years," Robertson said. "I’m very proud of what the supporters, the Board, the investors, the players, management teams, and our loyal staff, all working together, have achieved in that period. I would like to thank everyone for their incredible support, without which it wouldn’t have been possible."
The ambition when any key figure - be it a chairman or chief executive, a manager or a sporting director - is appointed at a club is to ensure it is in a better place when they leave than it was when they arrived.
In that regard, it is job done for Robertson. His Ibrox legacy is more nuanced than that, however, and the warm words from the boardroom will not necessarily be endorsed by those in the stands.
Bennett thanked him for his 'tireless work and commitment to the club' but fans will point to Celtic's domination in terms of trophies and Rangers' lack of influence in the corridors of power at Hampden and Holyrood as failings of Robertson. Closer to home, the issues regarding communication and engagement are more prevalent now than ever before.
The Sydney Super Cup - ironically a shambles that Bisgrove was sent out to try and justify - was a situation that Robertson was never going to recover from and he was, rightly or wrongly, seen as docile rather than dynamic. His image adorned the same banner as Wilson just weeks ago and those that held up the placards at Fir Park will feel vindicated.
Robertson's work is not done yet. He will continue in post until the end of July, by which time he will have had an important part to play in the recruitment drive that Beale is now overseeing.
It is the managing director that will help dot the i's and cross the t's in terms of the transfer deals that are completed sooner rather than later and the handover of power to Bisgrove should be straightforward as he moves up from his position as commercial and marketing director.
"In the past four years, I've witnessed first-hand what this great club means to our supporters worldwide, and, together with our Chairman, John Bennett, and the Board, we will work tirelessly to achieve the success Rangers supporters deserve," Bisgrove said. "My immediate priority is to ensure Michael Beale and his staff continue to have the resources and environment they require to put a winning team on the pitch and to deliver regular trophies for our supporters.
"This will be underpinned by overseeing the continuation of our positive financial performance and sustained profitability off the pitch. I'm personally looking forward to energising our engagement with all Rangers supporters and overseeing a strengthened and aligned culture.”
Fans should expect Bisgrove to be front and centre, to be more visible and ultimately more accountable. Too often in recent times, the main influences at Ibrox have been hunkered down in a bunker at moments when supporters demanded them to own their failures as well as their successes.
Bisgrove himself divides opinion amongst some but there is vast scope for progression and improvement sooner rather than later. It may have taken longer than some wished, but the time for change arrived at Ibrox.
