In May 2021, Rangers completed their journey as Steven Gerrard’s side were crowned Premiership champions and a historic 55th Premiership title was delivered to long-suffering supporters.
‘Going for 55’ – written by Herald and Times Senior Rangers Writer Christopher Jack - tells the story of the campaign, giving insight and offering analysis into how Gerrard revolutionised the club and restored Rangers to their place at the top of Scottish football.
With interviews from the money men who funded the rebuilding job, the staff and players that made the dream a reality and those in the press that saw history being made, this is a sporting tale like no other.
On day two of an exclusive serialisation, Mark Allen reveals the changes that Gerrard implemented at Ibrox and Auchenhowie to raise standards and lay the foundations for title glory.
LET’S GO. Two words were uttered but a thousand received by those inside the Blue Room. In the Ibrox stands, the people that Steven Gerrard was addressing waited to welcome him to Rangers.
The final answer of Gerrard’s first press conference as manager was delivered with an assertive nod and a determined look. Asked what his message would be to supporters, Gerrard’s reply of ‘let’s go’ said it all.
A marketing slogan was born in that instant, but Gerrard was there to win matches and to win trophies rather than sell jerseys and season tickets. His previous statements had been eloquent and enlightening but that short, sharp response was evocative.
The changes implemented by Gerrard and his staff are not merely cosmetic. A refurbished media and analysis room and new reception are the last areas seen by many visitors, while the corridors that link the Academy and the first team department are beyond doors that few outsiders enter through.
Another visible upgrade is the blue sheeting around the first team training pitch as, after stories and team selections were leaked, Gerrard sought to ensure privacy whilst Rangers were working.
In every aspect – from the gym equipment to the food on offer in the canteen – Rangers now operate at a higher level and those refinements undoubtedly played their part in taking them to the point where they were able to mount a sustained and ultimately successful title bid.
At Ibrox, a lounge for players to use before and after matches has been built after Gerrard took issue with his squad having to utilise various rooms in the stadium for meals and to spend time with friends and family.
The gains are marginal, but they all add up and each one percentage point can earn three on the park.
“I think it is an important part and environment plays a huge part in success,” Mark Allen, the former Rangers director of football, said.
“If you are looking to attract, retain and develop the best talent, the environment offers two things.
Steven Gerrard and the Rangers players celebrate their title win at the clubs' training ground after the team were crowned champions of Scotland for the 55th time. 🟦🏆pic.twitter.com/caEVqT0bQF
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 7, 2021
“Firstly, it offers a sense of where the club is and shows that you are a top club, that you do things the right way and we invest in the right areas, such as hybrid pitches, cryotherapy chambers, gym equipment.
“And secondly, it creates a no-excuse culture. We give the players the best that we possibly can and you take away as much of the noise, for want of a better description, and it is a case of ‘go on, you have no excuse but to go out and perform’.
“The canteen is a hub for where a lot of activity takes place in terms of communication and the more you can persuade the players to be in and around that area, the better that is for everyone.
"I have got several board presentations that talk about that and the need for a high-performance arena to attract high-performance players and it is an integral part of any successful side.
“People think it is all about the recruitment, and of course you need the right quality of player, but you need to know that once you have the right player in that once you have the right player in that they have the adequate environment in which to perform.”
*‘Going for 55’ is published by Polaris Publishing and priced at £17.99 RRP. Visit http://www.polarispublishing.com/book/going-for-55
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