Gio returns to Holland with anticipation abound on next development

In a week that really mattered for Rangers, it ended more or less as it had commenced only with further pressure and doubt on the manager, Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Nine points from nine was the aim to go into the World Cup break with a sense of momentum and relative confidence but instead the team stumbled, aimlessly and without any sense of direction having secured just four points from the games against St Johnstone, Hearts and St Mirren. The damaging defeat in Perth was enough for most to condemn Gio’s ongoing prospects with Saturday’s draw in Paisley merely confirming it.

This is a team, rudderless, sorely lacking quality, belief and inspiration. It says it all that the likes of St Johnstone and St Mirren, as well as Livingston have all been relatively comfortable and confident in taking points off Gio’s side in recent weeks. Now, something has to give.

VitalRangers understands that the feeling inside the club has shifted, to a degree, inside the club following the latest disappointment at the weekend. As we now enter a shutdown in terms of competitive action for almost five weeks, there is plenty to unfold around the club with the manager under seripus scrutiny as well as the upcoming AGM on Tuesday 6th December.

The players and coaching staff are understood to have two weeks off, ahead of preparation for the practice game against Bayer Leverkusen on 10th December followed by the return to league business with the visit of Hibs five days later.

As planned, Gio van Bronckhorst has returned to the Netherlands but discussions are intended. The Dutchman said as much in his post-match interview with Sky Sports on Saturday but further than that, the dial has shifted in the wake of more dropped points and an increase in the pressure and feeling around the club, with the title all but gone now that Celtic have a nine point advantage.

Sources close to the club are awaiting further communication on the current standing with the club needing to speak out in some form sooner, rather than later in what is a high stakes, intriguing situation at the club.