Danny Röhl spoke with the media earlier today ahead of David Martindale and Livingston’s visit to Ibrox and he discussed the evolution of his backroom team.
Head Coach Röhl insisted that Rangers are now better equipped behind the scenes after the arrival of specialist set-piece coach Scott Fry from English League One club Lincoln City, even as conversations continue about potentially adding another figure to his staff.
Röhl has been consistent since the day he arrived: he wants a coaching team with varied skillsets, distinct profiles and clearly defined roles adding to the additions of Assistant Coach Matthias Kaltenbach and first team performance manager Sascha Lense.
Rhys Owen and Sal Bibbo have remained from Russell Martin’s coaching team.
Fry’s appointment fits that vision perfectly. A set-piece specialist with deep data knowledge and a growing reputation in England, he was, by Röhl’s own admission, in demand elsewhere.
“There was a race for him - he had an offer from another club,” the Rangers boss revealed.
“But in the end we convinced him and he arrived.”
The importance of that hire becomes clear when Röhl explains how he views the modern game.
“Some players don’t like to train too much on set-pieces,” he said with a smile, “but it’s crucial.”
Under Fry, Rangers have already devoted significant time in recent sessions to structure, movement and detail - both in attacking and defending phases.
Röhl wants solutions, patterns and repeatable behaviours that give his team an edge while key players such as John Souttar and Mikey Moore remain injured following the international break.
“We worked on defence and offence to have more solutions,” he said.
“It’s about having a good structure against the ball.”
Yet Fry is only part of a broader conversation around staff building.
Röhl has openly spoken about the idea of adding a former Rangers player to his team - someone who understands the club’s culture and expectations.
However, the emergence of academy coach Steven Smith within the senior environment has changed that discussion.
Röhl has praised Smith repeatedly for his professionalism, insight and the bridge he creates between the first team and the academy.
“Stevie really stepped up in this role,” he explained.
“He knows the academy well, he knows the players and that gives us a good link.”
For now, that has been enough to pause any immediate external appointment.
Röhl is satisfied with his current group, though he stresses the door is not closed.
“At the moment, I’m very happy with my set-up,” he said.
“It doesn’t mean the door is closed for someone else. We always look at the market. It’s about content.”
That sums up Röhl’s approach: nothing is done for sentiment or optics, only for impact and performance. Whether it is Fry’s analytical focus on dead-ball phases or Smith’s growing influence as a conduit between squads, every appointment must add something meaningful.