Question: Will you still do your BBC work as well?
Answer: No. When you look at the job and the magnitude of the job, the full focus will be on Rangers Football Club and working in this capacity. It’s excellent to have an opportunity to put yourself out there in the media and work across other aspects of the game, whether it be national team games and the coverage of Scottish football, both men’s and women’s. I think for the profile of the club, to have a Rangers manager across that will be really good, but no, the focus will be fully on my job as Rangers head coach.
Question: I can’t imagine there would have been too many clubs that you would have left Glasgow City for.
Most Read on FollowFollow.com The FollowFollow.com Friday Preview – Hearts at Home Dessers Departs – A look back at Cyriel In The Eye Of The Storm – Rangers 0-0 Celtic
Answer: No, you’re right. When Rangers posed the question, that becomes the consideration. Glasgow City is an unbelievable club, and people know that in terms of my affiliation there. I’ve had some unbelievable memories there over the years. I see them now in terms of their vision and the work that they continue to do for the women’s and girls’ game in Scotland. They’ve been outstanding over the last two and a half decades. To work at that type of club and then to speak to Rangers and understand what that vision looks like and the opportunity to go and grow that and develop that… there’s not many clubs that can offer the same. I think that’s where a lot of the real excitement for me is around the job.
Question: There seems to be a real ambition within the club of growing the women’s game here. How excited are you, as a Rangers fan, to be at the forefront of putting this club and the women’s side on the map?
Answer: It’s huge. The growth of the women’s game over the last decade has been a slow burner, but over the last five years, it’s gone at a rate that I don’t think many of us thought it really would. For me to be here and have the opportunity to drive that and use the expertise that I already have in the game and my passion for delivering a successful team is significant. The alignment with people like Kevin Thelwell, understanding that vision, having the support and the backing, and then with that, the fans as well, are so important. I know they’ve been behind the club already. I still think we can grow that more. I think being here at Ibrox and having more games here this season and having this as a home for the women’s team is really important. The fans see themselves as Rangers fans, and Ibrox is their home. I’m really excited to see them getting behind the team this season and the players having that platform to show how good they can be.
Question: You were here on Tuesday night. When you see the stadium like that and the energy within the stadium, is that the ultimate ambition—to have a stadium full of energy, excitement, and optimism for the women’s team?
Answer: I was here on Tuesday night, and I don’t think it’s too far away. I think we need to keep driving it as much as we possibly can. I look back over the memories in my playing career, walking out at stadiums whether it was Wembley in the Euros or the World Cup, and I know how much that meant to the players to be in that environment. It certainly does enhance the quality on the pitch. I think the players really buzz off of that. I want the players to thrive in the pressure and the expectation of being Rangers players that are expected to win and perform with a fan base right behind you.