A shakeup in the Rangers boardroom is needed to get the club back on a level footing with Celtic.

That's the view of former Ibrox hero Mark Hateley.

The ex-Gers striker has slammed the club's hierarchy for failing to improve the current squad to allow themselves to compete with their arch Glasgow rivals.

The Englishman has pinned the blame on the board for Rangers' failure in Sunday's Viaplay Cup final.

The loss means that the Light Blues have just two major trophies to their name in the last 11 years. In that time frame, Celtic have won 22.

And Hateley insists the club's fans deserve better from those at the top after sicking with the club through the lower leagues.

Speaking to Grosvenor Sport, he said: “The Rangers supporters have been let down again by Sunday’s defeat in the Viaplay Cup Final and they deserve better.

“The backing the fans have given Rangers since the dark days of 2012 has been nothing short of remarkable – unprecedented, really, in world football.

“They expected more and they deserved more after the title win in 2021. Of course, Rangers won the Scottish Cup last year and reached a Europa League Final but they have fallen behind Celtic again.

“They need to retain the Cup otherwise it’s another backward step.

“You have to be aggressive in everything you do in a final like that. You have to set the tone. Everything has to be at a good pace, running, passing the ball, closing the opposition down.

“You have to boss whoever you are playing against in every area of the pitch and I didn’t see any of that happening at all.

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“Rangers had a spell after they got the goal back, but that was all reactive. You have to be proactive in an Old Firm game.

“Steven Gerrard delivered the most important title of recent times and a man of his pedigree doesn’t rest on his last act. That’s why he stayed at the very top for so long.

“He wasn’t satisfied with one achievement and if you haven’t got a board that is compatible to a manager then that relationship is going to break – and it did do.

“Steven needed to strengthen after 55 to try to get into the Champions League. He wanted to go to the next stage, he wanted the backing and he didn’t get it and that’s why he left for Aston Villa.

“I think the board have done remarkably well over the period – but they are custodians of an institution.

“When you are in that position you need to know when you have done your bit and you can’t take it any further.

“You have to know when the time is right to let others come to the fore and make the club what it wants to be and what it should be.

“A lot has been made about the money Rangers achieved in selling Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey, but if they had been kept for this season they would be worth even more.

“They were Rangers’ best players and yes there was a great profit. But would it not have been more astute to keep these players for the Champions League and then look to sell with their values enhanced?

“For me that was a pivotal moment in terms of making the team better because I don’t think the team is any stronger now than it was two years ago."

Hateley believes one of the major issues at the Ibrox club is their recent recruitment.

He added: “The Rangers starting XI had seven players in it that started the 2019/20 final against Celtic and Ryan Jack came on to make it eight. Celtic, meanwhile, only had Callum McGregor from that game in their entire squad on Sunday.

“That’s the difference. You have to turn things over, keep things fresh. Fans don’t see it that way, though. When you’re in a final you need to win it by hook or by crook."