Sceptics believe Danny Rohl’s arrival at Rangers could bring a whirlwind of change, with festive hopes of a fresh start on the horizon.

For the section of the Rangers support that has never been fully convinced by Danny Röhl, the middle of June suddenly became a lot more interesting.

Football fans were already preparing for an exciting period. A major international tournament was about to begin, with Mexico and South Africa set to kick off a month-long celebration of the sport. Scotland supporters were also counting down the days until their nation’s first World Cup appearance in almost 30 years, adding further anticipation to an already busy football calendar.

Then came the report from Germany suggesting that Austrian powerhouse RB Salzburg had identified Rangers manager Danny Röhl as their preferred candidate to take charge.

For many supporters at Ibrox, that development was the perfect addition to what was already shaping up to be an entertaining few weeks of football viewing. Sitting back with the television remote in hand and watching international football suddenly became even more enjoyable for those who have questioned Röhl’s suitability for the Rangers job.

Rangers’ Danny Rohl meets The Union Bears

However, while some fans greeted the news with excitement, others may be wondering whether such a move could ultimately create more problems than it solves for the club.

Few figures in recent Rangers history have divided opinion among supporters quite like Röhl. To say that views on the German coach are mixed would be a major understatement.

At present, the Rangers fanbase appears split into two distinct groups. One side remains willing to give the manager more time, believing he deserves the opportunity to build his own team and benefit from a full pre-season. The other side has already reached a verdict and sees no reason to continue with him in charge.

Judging by reactions across social media platforms, the latter group seems to be particularly vocal.

It represents a remarkable change in mood compared to the early stages of Röhl’s tenure.

When he first arrived at Ibrox, supporters embraced him enthusiastically. Songs were sung in his honour, and there was genuine excitement surrounding his appointment. Optimism was widespread, and many believed he could be the man to restore Rangers to the top of Scottish football.

Yet that goodwill gradually disappeared as the season unfolded.

The collapse of Rangers’ title challenge proved particularly damaging to Röhl’s standing among supporters. What initially looked like a promising campaign eventually ended in disappointment, and confidence in the manager declined sharply.

For many sceptics, the decisive moment came during a disastrous run after the league split. Consecutive defeats against Motherwell, Hearts, Celtic and Hibernian reinforced concerns that had been building for months.

Those already uncertain about Röhl’s credentials viewed that sequence as confirmation of their fears.

Their argument is straightforward. They believe that a truly elite Rangers manager would have found a way to deliver success when the championship race remained within reach. According to this viewpoint, great managers overcome adversity, find solutions under pressure and guide their teams over the finish line.

Instead, critics argue that Röhl oversaw a dramatic decline, with Rangers slipping from contention and ultimately finishing third.

As a result, many supporters appear unwilling to reconsider their opinion. Their minds have been made up, and it seems unlikely that recent developments will change their stance.

Meanwhile, the supporters who continue to back Röhl often do so with a degree of caution.

For many of them, the issue is less about complete faith in the manager and more about avoiding another cycle of instability.

Rangers have become all too familiar with managerial changes in recent years. The club has appointed and dismissed managers at an alarming rate, creating a sense of constant upheaval.

Having gone through seven managers in the space of nine years, Rangers now face the possibility of appointing an eighth if Röhl departs for Salzburg.

Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh

Those in favour of allowing him to leave argue that this could actually represent the least disruptive outcome.

From their perspective, if the manager is going to leave eventually, it may be better for that process to happen now rather than after the season has started.

The upcoming fixture list provides some justification for that argument.

Rangers face a challenging opening period, including difficult away matches at Celtic Park and Tynecastle. In addition, they must navigate potentially demanding Europa League qualifying ties.

Any setbacks in those fixtures could quickly increase pressure on the manager.

Supporters have seen this pattern before. A poor run of results often leads to criticism, protests and growing calls for change. Those familiar “Ghostbusters” banners demanding managerial exits could soon reappear if performances fail to improve.

Because of that, some fans view Salzburg’s interest as a potential solution that benefits everyone involved.

Under such a scenario, Rangers would avoid the prospect of dismissing another manager only a few months into a new season.

Chairman Andrew Cavenagh would be spared the embarrassment of removing a second coach within a relatively short period, while the club would also receive compensation for Röhl’s departure.

For the manager himself, a move to Salzburg could be attractive.

It would allow him to leave Scotland on positive terms rather than risk further criticism if results deteriorate. He could preserve much of the reputation he has built during his coaching career while also moving closer to his family in Germany.

On the surface, the arrangement appears logical.

Yet there are significant reasons why reality may be more complicated.

One major obstacle is the stance already taken by Rangers chairman Andrew Cavenagh.

Speaking publicly last month, the American made it clear that he views Röhl as an important part of the club’s future.

Cavenagh openly stated that losing the manager would be harmful for Rangers and insisted the club believes Röhl provides the strongest chance of winning the Scottish Premiership next season.

He also stressed that Rangers would be extremely disappointed if the German left and rejected any suggestion that such a departure would be convenient.

Most importantly, he expressed confidence that Röhl remains fully committed to the project at Ibrox and indicated that the expectation was for him to remain in charge.

Those comments hardly suggest a board preparing contingency plans for life without its manager.

Instead, Rangers’ leadership team has spent recent weeks working alongside Röhl on preparations for the new season.

Chief executive Jim Gillespie, recruitment specialist Dan Purdy, technical adviser Gretar Steinsson and consultant Stig Inge Bjørnebye have all been collaborating with the manager to identify transfer targets.

Their efforts have already produced results.

Lawrence Shankland emerged as the club’s leading summer target, and Rangers moved quickly to secure his signature.

Although transfer activity has appeared quieter since then, sources close to the club maintain that significant work continues behind the scenes as recruitment plans progress.

Should Röhl leave now, however, much of that work could be disrupted.

A new manager would almost certainly have different priorities, different tactical ideas and different transfer preferences.

Consequently, Rangers might have to pause existing plans and potentially start large parts of their recruitment strategy from scratch.

Timing is another concern.

The squad is scheduled to return for pre-season training shortly, making this a crucial period in the club’s preparations.

A full pre-season was always expected to be vital for Röhl, giving him the opportunity to implement his tactical philosophy and establish a clearer playing style.

Many supporters struggled to identify a consistent approach during last season’s performances, and the coming weeks were viewed as an opportunity to address that issue.

If the manager leaves, those plans immediately become uncertain.

For supporters eager to move on from Röhl, allowing him to join Salzburg may seem like a straightforward decision.

Yet from the boardroom perspective, the situation is far more complex.

Rangers executives now face an important choice regarding the future direction of the club.

And if they make the wrong call, there remains a genuine possibility that another season could unravel long before the festive period arrives, leaving Rangers once again searching for answers before Christmas.