Simon Jordan’s criticism of Rangers’ decision to appoint Derek McInnes has sharpened the first pressure point of the new Ibrox era. The talkSPORT pundit questioned whether McInnes can carry the weight of the job after Hearts missed the chance to finish ahead of Celtic last season, and that verdict will now sit in the background until Rangers results make it irrelevant.
The original talkSPORT discussion framed the appointment around one blunt issue: McInnes is taking over a club that cannot afford another season of nearly moments, soft stretches or excuses. Rangers finished ten points off Celtic, changed manager again and have now handed a three-year contract to someone who knows the club, the league and the size of the expectation.
Why Jordan’s Swipe Matters
Jordan’s view will not decide whether McInnes succeeds, but it does capture the scepticism the new manager has to answer quickly. Rangers supporters have heard plenty about structure, standards and fresh starts. The first question is whether those words turn into a team that looks harder to beat, sharper in possession and more ruthless when the title race begins to tighten.
McInnes does arrive with substance behind him. Rangers confirmed his appointment on a three-year deal, pointing to more than 800 matches of managerial experience and his previous five-year spell as an Ibrox player. The club also highlighted his recent manager-of-the-year recognition after his work with Hearts.
That background gives him credibility. It does not give him time. At Rangers, every early decision will be read as evidence: the captaincy, the first transfer calls, the shape of the midfield, the use of Lawrence Shankland and the tone he sets in pre-season.
The Real Test Is Speed
The danger for McInnes is not that one pundit dislikes the appointment. It is that the criticism becomes a ready-made headline if Rangers start slowly. The league opener, the first away tests and the early Old Firm marker will all feed the same argument: has Rangers appointed a manager ready to win now, or simply a safe Scottish-football operator?
- Immediate standard: Rangers must look more organised and aggressive from the opening weeks.
- Transfer pressure: New signings need to fit the demands of Ibrox rather than just fill squad gaps.
- Game management: McInnes has to show Rangers can close matches, respond to setbacks and avoid drifting through key spells.
That is where Jordan’s criticism may actually help McInnes. It removes any illusion that the appointment will be judged gently. The new manager already knows what the job demands; now the outside noise has made the challenge even cleaner.
If Rangers start with control, tempo and visible conviction, this swipe will fade quickly. If they do not, it will become the first line in a much bigger argument about whether McInnes can turn familiarity with Rangers into authority at Rangers.
