Michael Stewart has voiced his frustration with Rangers’ summer transfer activity, especially after their 1-1 draw with Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership opener. Following the game, manager Russell Martin criticized his players’ mentality, echoing past concerns from Barry Ferguson during his time at the club under similarly tough circumstances.
While Rangers have brought in several new players in an attempt to turn things around after the turmoil left by former boss Philippe Clement, Stewart is particularly disappointed by their failure to secure a permanent move for Vaclav Cerny. The Czech winger, who was a standout performer during his loan spell at Ibrox last season, was reportedly close to a permanent transfer, with a fee already agreed.
Speaking on Sportscene (2 August), Stewart said:
“They had everything in place to sign Vaclav Cerny. I understand there were issues with the managerial structure at the time, but someone at the club should have realized how valuable he was. He was already there just get the deal done. Instead, they’ve ended up with Kieran Dowell out on the right wing, which simply won’t work.”
Despite Cerny’s strong performances 18 goals and 9 assists in 52 appearances the deal fell through, and Rangers have now turned to 17-year-old Mikey Moore, who has joined on loan. While Moore is seen as a promising talent, Stewart warns that expecting him to immediately replicate Cerny’s impact is unrealistic and could be risky given his age.
With pressure mounting after dropping points on opening day, Rangers will be hoping their transfer decisions pay off quickly.
