Bringing Steven Naismith Back To Ibrox Would Make Sense… But There Would Be A Rangers Fan Backlash!

If reports are to be believed then it seems that Norwich City could be about to sever all ties with Scottish forward Steven Naismith.

The Daily Express has gone one step further and suggested that Naismith would be happy to rejoin Rangers this summer.

Now a few hurdles would need to be cleared before the international attacker could move back to Ibrox.

Firstly he will have to come to terms with the Canaries on a deal to leave Carrow Road on a free transfer. Then the Gers board and the player’s representatives will need to agree upon a deal that suits both parties. For Naismith to sign for Rangers, he’d need to accept an offer that falls way short of the £50k a week he’s been used to at Norwich. Plus he may also have other suitors that may offer him a better financial package.

Let’s say that both Steven and Rangers can clear those hurdles, they would then have to deal with the Ibrox faithful!

Many of the Gers support took exception to the striker and how he left the club, when the company changed hands and Charles Green took over in May 2012. A fairly big majority felt the player deserted the club when they needed him, or the possible transfer fee he’d command, the most.

During his press conference, where he explained his decision to leave, he used the words ‘Sevco’ and ‘new club’. Those are terms that still rankle with Gers supporters today.

Up until this new rumour, linking him with a move back started, Naismith’s name was still mud to a lot of the fans that head to Govan on a regular basis.

Bringing the player back to the blue half of Glasgow would need to happen with a careful PR spin.

That being said the tide has already started to turn in the Scotland international’s favour.

While supporters may not forgive Naismith for the way he handled his departure, a significant number can see him as being a better calibre of player than those that currently wear the light blue jersey. The last two humiliating defeats to Celtic and the fact that Rangers are in third place basically mean that the Gers faithful can’t be particularly choosey when it comes to recruiting a better class of footballer.

The forward has a CV that includes important goals and he’s a player that works extremely hard for his team. He’s without doubt a moaner but he’ll not shirk away from an opponent or a feisty challenge. Plus the thirty year old also possesses plenty of experience, especially in Old Firm clashes, which could prove vital as Pedro Caixinha looks to improve on performances against Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side next season.

Ultimately Steven Naismith has a battling spirit that this Rangers squad desperately lacks at the moment.

Of course tough questions will come with any potential return: ‘Are Rangers a new club?’ will be the first of many.

He will obviously say that they are indeed the same club he played for between 2007 and 2012. He will still have critics from some in the home end at Ibrox and he will have plenty of Hoops fans that will happily remind him of things he has said in the past.

But in that regard Naismith just needs to look at Kenny Miller and use the veteran as a prime example of being able to win the fans round and shutting up his critics.

If he can find the net regularly next season and help Rangers become a significantly better side, then you’d soon find it hard to find the opposing voices.

One Response to “Bringing Steven Naismith Back To Ibrox Would Make Sense… But There Would Be A Rangers Fan Backlash!”

  1. WE NEED TO LOOK FORWARD AND NOT BACK.

    NAISMITH SHOULD NEVER RETURN TO RANGERS AS A PLAYER OR IN ANY OTHER CAPACITY. I WOULD RATHER SEE YOUNG RANGERS PLAYERS GIVEN A CHANCE AND LEAVE NAISMITH IN THE WILDERNESS
    WHERE HE BELONGS AND CHOSE TO GO.

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