Pedro Caixinha’s Rangers future in doubt as board meets to discuss the way forward

RANGERS board members have met to discuss the future of boss Pedro Caixinha in the wake of their latest setback.

Further pressure was heaped on the Portuguese coach after a troubled seven-month reign at Ibrox when his side followed up Sunday’s Betfred Cup semi-final defeat to Motherwell with a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Kilmarnock on Wednesday.

The Gers directors gathered at Ibrox on Thursday morning to talk through their next move. Chairman Dave King left the meeting early but Press Association Sport understands the rest of his boardroom colleagues remained to mull over their options.

King refused to comment as he rushed past reporters on his way out of club offices at Ibrox, but Caixinha’s position as Rangers manager looks increasingly vulnerable after his side somehow blew an injury-time lead over Steve Clarke’s Killie.

Caixinha left the club’s training ground on Thursday lunchtime insisting he was still in the job.

When asked if he was still Rangers manager, Caixinha said: “Of course I am.”

Caixinha had demanded a response after accusing his players of embarrassing the club with Sunday’s Hampden loss to Well, but they failed to build on Jamie Holt’s 44th-minute opener and Killie created a series of chances in the final quarter.

And Rangers spectacularly mismanaged the game in added time.

Daniel Candeias saw a poor spot-kick saved by Jamie MacDonald, although he was not helped by a long delay which saw his team-mate Ryan Jack sent off for appearing to push, knee and possibly even headbutt Kirk Broadfoot.

MacDonald then began a counter-attack which ended with Chris Burke converting Stephen O’Donnell’s cross to stun Ibrox and seal a 1-1 draw which saw Rangers drop below Motherwell into fourth place in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Caixinha watched the action from the stands, a few seats away from King, after accepting a one-match ban following his dismissal at Hampden following a clash with Fir Park counterpart Stephen Robinson.

Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha under pressure after his side blow injury-time lead to draw with Kilmarnock

The Light Blues boss cut a much more restrained figure after the match, saying he was happy with the players’ efforts.

Caixinha claimed he was not worried about his job, but, when asked for a message to supporters, the 46-year-old offered little of substance to reassure them that improvement was on its way.

“I say to the fans that they are the most loyal fans in the world,” he said. “They don’t deserve to pass through these situations.

“As I tell you all the time, we work for them. I’m more disappointed than them because, besides being Rangers manager, I am also a Rangers fan. I’m blue inside.

“When I come to represent one club, I represent it with every single thing I have to give, with my passion, my knowledge and my work.

“I’m doubly disappointed because I’m a fan and a manager at the same time, but I’m strong. I’m strong enough to take things forward and always look to put things in the right place.”