'Made me cringe' - BBC pundit issues Rangers verdict after what SPFL rivals chief said recently

Hearts are not closer to challenging the Rangers and Celtic duopoly in Scotland, believes Ryan Stevenson.

Speaking to the Daily Record (10 October), the BBC pundit reacted to comments made by Hearts’ Chief Executive Andrew McKinlay.

The Tynecastle chief recently revealed a new analytics tool which he claims will help his side close the gap on the two Old Firm sides.

Stevenson said: “Predicting challenges to the Old Firm in years to come is great – if you’re sitting where Aberdeen are right now. But the reality is that Hearts are heading in one direction as things stand. And that’s back to the Championship.

“I read Andrew McKinlay’s latest boasts about hoping the new analytics tool at Tynecastle moving them to a level where they might be able to make a title tilt. And I have to say it made me cringe. It’s as if the chief executive doesn’t realise the severity of the situation right now.

“Listen, what Brighton have done with data and analytics is brilliant. But you can’t be talking about splitting the Old Firm somewhere down the line when right now we have two points from eight league games.

“McKinlay and his board should have full focus on making sure they get the next managerial appointment bang on after sacking Steven Naismith. If they don’t then no supercomputer in the world will have them near Celtic or Rangers.”

Rangers must go for a more data-driven approach

Breaking the duopoly is easier said than done as the financial disparity is immense with the Old Firm sides having larger fanbases, commercial operations and revenue streams from European competitions, which analytics alone cannot immediately bridge.

The cultural legacy and fanbase size of the Old Firm provides a continuous influx of resources and talent, making it harder for clubs like Hearts to consistently attract top-tier players or managers without a substantial shift in Scottish football’s economic landscape.

For Rangers, adopting a more data-driven approach could indeed refine recruitment and tactical strategies, potentially enhancing their performance efficiency.

However, this requires not just an investment in analytics but also a cultural shift within the club to integrate data-driven decisions into every level of operation.

The Ibrox outfit have not been ideally run for years and it’s time there’s a serious push towards a more data-centric approach.

Hopefully, with the backroom restructuring, the club opt to prioritise this change.

In other Rangers news, an update has emerged on the club signing a new winger in the January transfer window.

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