Rangers chairman Andrew Cavanagh believes the Ibrox side have become used to finishing second or worse over the last 15 years, and admits that failure had begun to “seep through” every corner of the club.

He was speaking at the club’s shareholders’ meeting, where it was also revealed they expect to add three to five more players this window, while Derek McInnes’ appointment was compared to that of former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

It was also confirmed that Rangers have asked for an explanation over Hibernian’s penalty in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat as refereeing concerns were raised.

Chairman Andrew Cavenagh, Paraag Marathe of the San Francisco 49ers [who are part of the US consortium who took over the club], executive director Fraser Thornton and chief executive officer Jim Gillespie addressed a number of club issues and answered questions from the floor.

Here are some of the key takeaways…

On Derek McInnes

• During the meeting, one shareholder asked why Derek McInnes, the man they wanted to ask questions to after a winless start to the season, was absent. Andrew Cavenagh explained that the panel had been arranged months ago and that McInnes’ focus was at the training ground to help prepare the team.
• When asked later about the process behind hiring McInnes, Jim Gillespie said you can either hire a ‘Klopp’ or a ‘Guardiola’ type. He said McInnes fitted the ‘Klopp’ type of being a manager who wants his teams to be agressive, on the front foot and attack the opposition.
• During the summer when McInnes was appointed, Sky Sports News revealed he was the only candidate who was spoken to, and Gillespie defended that by adding he was the only option Ibrox chiefs felt “ticked all the boxes”.
• Cavenagh reminded shareholders that “culture eats strategy for breakfast”, and when speaking about standards, revealed people had been late to training and not eating well. He went on to say he believed McInnes was the right man to address this.

On Recruitment

• Multiple shareholders raised concerns about player recruitment. However, Cavenagh defended the work in that department, adding he believes the squad is better than it was 12 months ago.
• He admitted the team still requires between three and five more players before the end of the transfer window.
• The meeting was called following a £16m share issue. Cavenagh confirmed that was needed to get the club through this “significant” summer transfer window. He added the club “will need more capital going forward”.
• Marathe insisted that they were “building something special” and referenced Youssef Chermiti’s performances in the second half of last season, after initially struggling with the pressure of his price tag and playing for Rangers.

• On Chermiti, the club hierarchy were asked why he was selected for Sunday’s match against Hibernian despite being the subject of a bid from Galatasaray. The striker was subsequently stretched off injured in the first half of that defeat.
• It was explained that to accept a bid, Rangers need their value of the player to be met, and for sufficient time to reinvest those funds in the squad to make it equal or better. They reiterated there is no pressure to sell.

On Refereeing standards

• Gillespie said that Rangers should be a leading club and want to have a constructive relationship with the Scottish FA and SPFL, while also holding both to account.
• He was interrupted by a shareholder who said: “It’s not working. It’s been going on for years, nothing happens.”
• Marathe replied: “You’re not wrong” but backed up Gillespie by saying, “we can’t make it worse, we can’t be in any more of what feels like a disadvantage”.
• Marathe added “he couldn’t believe” the decision to award Hibernian a penalty in the first half of Sunday’s match at Ibrox. Gillespie confirmed that Rangers have made contact with the Scottish FA to seek an explanation.

On Ibrox stadium

• Marathe – who has overseen stadium expansion at Leeds United and the 49ers – discussed possible changes at Ibrox.
• He said there would be news on that soon, while revealing one proposal is to lower the pitch at Ibrox, adding 5,000 to 6,000 seats.
• It was also revealed, following fan surveys, a number of other ideas have been through a feasibility group and seen by architects.

Call for unity

• Cavenagh, who was personally thanked for his communication and commitment by multiple shareholders while asking questions, closed the meeting by saying: “We need unity, we’re in this together, please remember that.”
• This came just after Marathe asked the audience for their support. “We need them [the team] to believe that you believe in them. Give them a chance, give these boys a chance.”

US President Donald Trump says it would be a “terrible mistake” if under pressure Fifa president Gianni Infantino was ousted from his position.

Trump’s backing followed Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation issuing an open letter accusing Infantino of breaking trust “through deception” with his aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.

FFE would have meant a new company being created to manage commercial and ticketing rights of all Fifa competitions, including World Cups, with 21% sold off to a private investment company.

“Fifa would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing president Gianni Infantino,” Trump wrote on social media.

“He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented. If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again.”

The 2026 World Cup was co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, this summer, with Spain crowned champions after beating Argentina in the final.

More to follow.

Scotland and the Netherlands have criticised the restructuring of next year’s 50-over World Cup, saying the changes “risk weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket”.

At last month’s board meeting in Edinburgh, the International Cricket Council announced the main part of the tournament in southern Africa will contain a dozen teams split into two groups of six.

There will still be 14 participants, but the tournament is slated to start with a preliminary round involving the three lowest-ranked qualifiers, with only one team progressing to the group stage.

A qualifying tournament will be held from February 22 to March 23 next year, with the winner going through to the main tournament and the second, third and fourth placed teams entering the first round.

In a joint statement, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) said they were “deeply disappointed” by the ICC’s decision, announced less than 18 months before the tournament is due to start.

The statement said: “At a time when cricket is seeking to expand its reach, attract new audiences and strengthen its position on the international sporting landscape, reducing meaningful opportunities for emerging nations sends entirely the wrong message.

“We have significant concerns about both the impact of these changes and the process through which they have been introduced.

“The changes risk weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket, and only highlight the importance of strong governance, transparent decision-making and effective engagement with members.”

Scotland and the Netherlands are currently 13th and 14th respectively in the men’s ODI rankings.

Monday’s statement follows the World Cricketers’ Association expressing its concerns about the tournament revamp although Cricket Scotland and the KNCB say they are “fully committed to working constructively with the ICC and fellow members to strengthen the global game”.

However, the statement added: “Following the announcement of the changes, Cricket Scotland, the KNCB and other associate members met twice with the ICC, seeking official written communication on the changes and greater clarity around the processes involved.

“We also requested positive action to strengthen future operational decision-making and an invitation to bilateral planning meetings with full members.

“Since the second meeting more than two weeks ago, there has been no further response from the ICC, which is disappointing and disrespectful given the significance of the issues raised.”

Sky Sports News has contacted the ICC for comment.