2011–12 Rangers F.C. season

Overview

Rangers played a total of 45 competitive matches during the 2011–12 season. Smith's deputy and Rangers record goalscorer Ally McCoist was appointed manager of the club. However, McCoist was hampered by a bizarre transfer policy the club utilised under Whyte's control. This resulted in protracted transfer negotiations with several targets but without significant recruitment and this probably contributed to Rangers being knocked out of both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League by the end of August, depriving the club of income that may have been anticipated. With the new ownership there initially appeared to be some financial stability of the club. A number of first-team regulars were secured on long-term contract extensions including Steven Davis, Allan McGregor, Steven Whittaker and Gregg Wylde. When McCoist entered the transfer market, his first signing being Almería midfielder Juan Manuel Ortiz, he soon encountered difficulties. A number of highly publicised failed transfers, including deals for Wesley Verhoek and Roland Juhász, led to many doubting Whyte's financial prowess.

Rangers' first Scottish Premier League match of the season was a home match against Jim Jefferies' Heart of Midlothian, where the league flag was unfurled by then chairman Craig Whyte, as Rangers were under considerable pressure for most of the first half but managed to salvage a draw. The following week, McCoist claimed his first competitive victory as manager with a win over St Johnstone. The season proved to be a baptism of fire for McCoist, by early October the club held a ten-point lead over Celtic, and on 5 November the lead stood at fifteen points over Celtic and twelve over second placed Motherwell. However, a draw with St Johnstone and subsequent defeats to Kilmarnock, St Mirren and Old Firm rivals Celtic, who then went on a run of twenty-one matches undefeated saw Rangers slip to second place where the club remained for the rest of the season.

Rangers' European adventure began in the middle of the final week of July, where Rangers were defeated by underdogs Malmö 1–0 at home and Rangers crashed out of the Champions League with a bad tempered 1–1 draw in Sweden in which both Steven Whittaker and Madjid Bougherra were both given their marching orders, and ultimately relegating the Gers to the Europa League play-off round, where they faced Slovenian team NK Maribor. In cup competitions the club fair no better, a third round defeat to First Division side Falkirk in the League Cup and a fifth round exit at home at the hands of Dundee United.

On 13 February 2012, Rangers filed legal papers at the Court of Session giving notice of their intention to appoint administrators. Rangers officially entered administration on the following day, appointing London-based financial advisers Duff & Phelps as administrators. Rangers entered administration over an alleged non-payment of £9m in PAYE and VAT taxes to HM Revenue and Customs. On entering administration, the team was docked ten points by the SPL, a move regarded as 'effectively ending' its 2012 championship challenge. A failure then to submit accounts for 2011 meant the club was not granted a licence to play in European football in season 2012–13. In April it was revealed that the club's total debts could be as high as £134m.

On 13 May it was revealed that Whyte sold his controlling interest in The Rangers Football Club Plc for £2 to a consortium led by Charles Green. Green offered the creditors a settlement, in the form of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), in an attempt to exit administration. On 12 June 2012, it emerged that HMRC would reject the CVA put forward by Green. Green's takeover of the club depended on the CVA being accepted by HMRC, which would have seen only £8.5m of the total debt repaid. The formal rejection of the CVA, two days later, meant that the Rangers Football Club Plc entered the liquidation process and the club would have to reform with new corporate ownership. The oldco's assets, including Rangers F.C., Ibrox Stadium and Rangers Training Centre, were sold to Sevco 5088 Ltd, a consortium led by Green, in a deal worth £5.5m.

Players

Squad information

Transfers

In

Total spending: £4.31m

Out

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Total income: £7.513m

New contracts

Squad statistics

Top scorers

Last updated: 13 May 2012

Source: Match reports

Only competitive matches

Disciplinary record

Last updated: 13 May 2012

Source: Match reports

Only competitive matches

Club

Board of directors

Coaching staff

Other staff

Matches

Scottish Premier League

Jelavić

Edu Edu

Lafferty Wylde

Naismith

Jelavić Lafferty Naismith El Kaddouri Mulgrew

Edu Naismith Naismith

Wylde

Jelavić

Jelavić

Jelavić Kenneth Wylde

Jelavić

Jelavić

Lafferty

McGowan McCulloch Goian

Aluko Craigan

Jelavić

Healy Aluko Davis

McCulloch Aluko Kerkar

Aluko Little McCulloch

Hamill

Daly

Little Wallace Bocanegra Wanyama Brown Rogne

McCulloch

Little Lafferty Tesselaar Little Little

Commons Hooper

Aluko Aluko Ness Bedoya

Aluko Aluko Aluko

UEFA Champions League

Hamad Jelavić Bougherra

UEFA Europa League

Velikonja

Scottish Cup

Wedderburn Jelavić Kerkar Russell

League Cup

El Alagui Millar Jelavić

Friendlies

Aydın Yahia Ballack Naismith Jelavić Hemmings Davis Sturridge Malouda Son McKay

Competitions

Overall

Scottish Premier League

Main article: 2011–12 Scottish Premier League

Standings

Results summary

Results by round

References

References

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3. (4 July 2011). "Allan McGregor and Steven Whittaker pen long-term deals". BBC Sport.
4. (25 August 2011). "Gregg Wylde agrees new Rangers contract". BBC Sport.
5. (6 July 2011). "Rangers sign Almeria midfielder Juan Manuel Ortiz". BBC Sport.
6. (13 August 2011). "Gordon Smith defends Ibrox transfer policy". STV Sport.
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22. Murray, Ewan. (3 March 2012). "Rangers face European exclusion for not meeting Uefa criteria". The Guardian.
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62. (31 January 2012). "Rangers pair Jordan McMillan and Kyle Hutton join Dunfermline". BBC Sport.
63. (31 January 2012). "Everton sign striker Nikica Jelavic from Rangers". BBC Sport.
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81. (23 February 2012). "Gordon Smith leaves Rangers' director of football post". BBC.
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83. (10 October 2011). "Donald McIntyre resigns as Rangers finance director". BBC.
84. (21 January 2012). "Andrew Ellis delighted to join Rangers board". BBC Sport.
85. (18 January 2012). "New Rangers director Misha Sher plans to take Old Firm derby on a money-spinning world tour". Daily Record.
86. (9 March 2012). "Gers administrators agree wage-cut plan to move club forward". BBC Sport.
87. (26 May 2011). "Rangers boardroom changes continue". BBC Sport.
88. (14 February 2012). "Rangers Football Club enters administration". BBC News.
89. [http://www.rangers.co.uk/articles/20110901/killie-game-confirmed_2254024_2438932 Original date was 6 August 2011 – rearranged as both sides opted to play friendly matches] {{dead link. (May 2016)