IF Rangers fail to prise the cinch Premiership trophy from the vice-like grasp of their city rivals Celtic come May it will, it is fairly safe to speculate, not go down especially well with their legions of supporters around the world.

But will fuming Bears, as was very much the case around this time last year when it became apparent the Ibrox club were going to end the season empty handed, turn on the occupants of the directors’ box to vent their fury? It will be harsh if they do.

Nobody will be able to point a finger of blame at the current hierarchy of the Glasgow giants and accuse them of not doing everything in their power to deliver silverware in the 2023/24 campaign if they are beaten to the line by the defending champions in the Scottish title race.

Significant strides forward have been made by Rangers both on and off the park since John Bennett took over from Douglas Park as chairman 12 months ago this week.

An early sign that better times lay ahead came when perhaps the most insane media policy in the history of world soccer was scrapped. Bloggers, podcasters and those scamps from the SMSMSM (sleekit and mendacious Scottish mainstream media) are all accommodated in a professional manner these days.

READ MORE: Why Philippe Clement wants Rangers to emulate London club in derby

More improvements soon followed. The squad was rebuilt last summer at a cost of nearly £15m and no fewer than nine new players brought in. When it became obvious that Michael Beale was not getting the best out of his charges his services were swiftly dispensed with and an experienced foreign manager with a track record of success at a high level appointed.

Installing Philippe Clement in October has proved to be nothing short of a masterstroke. The Viaplay Cup has been won for the first time in 13 years, a place in the Europa League knockout rounds secured and a credible challenge for the Premiership launched since he arrived. A world record-equalling eighth domestic treble remains a possibility this term.

The Herald: The Belgian has been backed in the transfer marker. He bolstered his squad with Oscar Cortes, Mohamed Diomande and Fabio Silva in January. No expense was spared on that trio. 

Supporters, too, have been kept appraised of behind-the-scenes developments every step of the way. James Bisgrove, who was installed as chief executive after managing director Stewart Robertson departed, has set up a fan advisory board and he and his fellow suits now meet regularly with punters to field questions, listen to complaints and provide updates. 

It is little wonder that Dave King, the former Rangers chairman who remains the major shareholder in the Ibrox club, waxed lyrical about the job which Bennett is doing in these pages earlier this week.  “I do feel that John is the right guy,” said King. “I am very confident with John there.  

“I think he is a mature businessman. I know him well, I trust him completely. He is a smart guy who will do the right thing. But it will be balanced and done with a level of maturity and thoughtfulness over the whole picture.”

READ MORE: Connor Goldson lauds steel of on-form Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers

Perhaps the most important change that Bennett, who has worked for over 30 years in the financial sector and has managed portfolios for retail and institutional investors around the world in that time, has presided over since taking office is Rangers’ attitude towards their age-old adversaries Celtic.

The Old Firm game which will take place in Govan tomorrow afternoon will once again, alas, not have any away supporters in attendance. The world-famous fixture has become a diminished spectacle because of their absence. Mercifully, that will end next season when the visitors will be given five per cent of the tickets for their followers. It is a sensible compromise which has pleased broadcasters, sponsors and traditionalists.

The Ibrox and Parkhead clubs would be well advised to maintain cordial dialogue, not aim infantile pot shots back and forth across the River Clyde in a pathetic attempt to curry favour with the more partisan element of their support and spare themselves from criticism, going forward given the considerable challenges they face in the increasingly commercialised modern game.

They have, contrary to popular opinion, long benefitted from doing so. Since way back in the 19th century in fact. Rangers provided the opposition when Celtic played their first ever game back in 1888.

Many of their players were close friends with their new rivals and were keen to see their endeavour succeed. They helped them get off to a positive, not to mention profitable, start. Numerous teams had been set up for the Irish poor in the city before that and they had all quickly folded due to a lack of funds. Being endorsed by their established neighbours enabled Celtic to flourish.  

Besties4ever? Not really. After that, a few decades after that, things got weird. Sectarianism has blighted their association for the past 100 years or so. The enmity that exists between the two shows no sign of abating, even with the introduction this week of new hate crime laws in this country, any time soon.

Rangers and Celtic should, though, continue to work together to maximise both their own earning capacity and that of the Scottish game as a whole at a time when the financial gulf between this country and the major football nations has never been wider.

The Herald: