Sir Kenny Dalglish says now is not the time for Rangers panic - as the board are told to believe in Michael Beale's process.
The fans made their voices heard during Saturday's 3-1 win over Kilmarnock by telling the club's hierarchy that they took their eyes off the ball after title 55 two seasons ago. They trail Celtic by six points in the Premiership ahead of the Hoops' match with St Mirren and were beaten 2-1 by their rivals in last Sunday's League Cup final.
Scotland icon Dalglish gets the pain surrounding the loss and the anger that has come with it, but insists it's a time to band together and focus on supporting a boss who has won all but one league game - a draw with Celtic - since arriving in December to replace Giovanni van Bronckhorst. He wrote in his Sunday Post column: "Everything Michael Beale did and said during and after last Sunday’s League Cup Final has been dissected and debated.
"I watched the game, and believe Celtic deserved to retain the trophy. They were the better team. The Rangers manager has been criticised in the wake of his side’s 2-1 defeat to Ange Postecoglou’s men at Hampden.
"Principally, it was the manner in which the Light Blues lost that has led to questions being asked of Michael. Some wanted to see Rangers being more aggressive and more creative, the fans, and some former players, also wanted to see him make changes at half-time.
"Since he succeeded Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the early signs had been promising, and it was his first defeat since he took the job. Things can still work out very well for Michael in the coming 18 months but there is now pressure on him to deliver the Scottish Cup.
"Whether he does or doesn’t win the silverware, he will still need to make a few changes in the summer. For sure, he needs to bring in better players than what he has at his disposal right now.
"Michael also admitted that while a rebuild is required, he doesn’t have a fortune to spend. So let us see what he is allowed to do in the summer transfer window, and then a proper assessment can be made.
"But this is definitely not the time to be judging him. It is far, far too early for that, Rangers need to show unity and collective strength in the coming months, on and off the park.
"This is not the time for knee-jerk reactions and panic. There needs to be a period of calm and understanding, the hierarchy needs to believe in Michael, and ride with him, they can’t sack a manager when one or two results don’t go to plan.
"Rangers will never get the level of success they crave on a regular basis if they chop and change the manager every season. It must also be remembered that they are up against an excellent Celtic side.
"The Hoops are a well-oiled machine, on and off the park. They will not be removed easily but there are demands on Michael to find a way and that’s how it should be at Rangers."
