Jack Butland is passing ultimate Rangers goalkeeper test but rest of transfer crew told to up the ante

Michael Beale is clinging to his job at Ibrox with his fingernails.

But Cammy Bell reckons the Rangers boss has keeper Jack Butland to thank for the fact he’s still got any grip on the situation at all. Out of the Champions League in humiliating fashion and four points behind a Celtic side that were struggling themselves before last week’s Old Firm triumph, it’s been a turbulent start to the new campaign. But were it not for his new No.1 things may have already reached breaking point, according to former Rangers stopper Bell.

It was Butland’s brave stop in Geneva that spared the club an even earlier exit from UEFA’s top tournament as they just about edged past Servette. The ex- England internationalist then put on a one-man show of defiance while those in front of him collapsed in the face of a pumping from PSV. And he was back at it making a couple of crucial stops last week as Brendan Rodger’s Hoops claimed first blood in the opening Old Firm showdown of the new season, sparking a bloodlust for Beale’s sacking just four games into the new Premiership campaign.

“It’s been a difficult start for Michael Beale and I’m pretty sure he will be thankful that Jack Butland has turned up and put in the performances they were expecting when he signed,” Bell told Record Sport. I always thought he would be a good signing for Rangers and so far he’s proving it.

“For me, he ticks a lot of boxes. With Allan McGregor retiring Rangers were losing a very experienced keeper who’d proved he can handle big occasions but Butland was someone who matched that.

“He’s been at big clubs, he’s an internationalist, he’s handled big occasions. He’s had a little bit of adversity in his career but that’s only made him into a strong character