Rangers chairman Andrew Cavanagh has publicly acknowledged the club's long-standing issue of settling for second place or worse in competitions, stating that a culture of failure had permeated Ibrox for over 15 years.

Speaking this week, Mr Cavanagh admitted that this pattern of underachievement had begun to "seep through" every corner of the Glasgow club. The remarks highlight a stark self-assessment from the top of the Scottish Premiership giants, who have often found themselves in the shadow of rivals Celtic.

Failure had begun to "seep through" every corner of the club.

For more than a decade and a half, Rangers have endured a turbulent period, marked by significant financial difficulties that led to their demotion to the lowest tier of Scottish professional football in 2012. While the club eventually clawed its way back to the top flight, consistently securing the Scottish Premiership title has proved challenging.

Confronting a Culture of Underachievement

The chairman's frank admission points to an institutional mindset that prioritised stability over outright dominance, a marked shift from the club's historically high expectations. This period contrasts sharply with Rangers' storied past, which boasts more domestic league titles than any other club globally.

The struggle to consistently outperform their Old Firm rivals, Celtic, has been a defining feature of this era. Despite winning the Premiership title in 2021 under Steven Gerrard, breaking Celtic's nine-year winning streak, the club has since fallen back to second place in subsequent seasons.

Setting a New Trajectory

Mr Cavanagh's comments suggest a renewed commitment to eradicating this deep-seated acceptance of second-best. Such an admission from the chairman signals a potential shift in strategy and recruitment philosophy, aiming to instill a winning mentality throughout the club.

The challenge for Rangers now lies in translating this candid self-reflection into tangible success on the pitch, both domestically and in European competitions. Supporters will be watching closely for signs of concrete action to reverse the trend of underachievement described by their chairman.