McInnes biggest factor in McCrorie's Rangers return

Ross McCrorie is adamant Derek McInnes has the qualities to be a success at Rangers, saying the manager was the number one reason he returned to Ibrox. The 28-year-old defender had options in England after Bristol City triggered a contract extension but the prospect of linking up with his old boss again proved decisive. "The biggest thing for me was the gaffer," said McCrorie, who played under McInnes at Aberdeen for three seasons. "I had a good few offers in England but as soon as the gaffer got the job here I knew he was the man to take this club forward." McCrorie first joined Rangers as a nine-year-old and made his debut in September 2017. He played more than 50 matches before making the decision to move on to Aberdeen in 2020, with some coaxing from McInnes. "The gaffer was the one who gave me that belief to step up and leave Rangers," recalled the Scotland international. "I wanted to be the main man and get games under my belt to unlock the talent I knew I had. "The gaffer came out to my house and persuaded me to go up to Aberdeen and I had a great three years up there." McCrorie made 115 appearances for the Dons, playing in a variety of positions and captaining the side on occasions before he left for Bristol City in 2023. Describing McInnes as a "great man-manager" and "a real leader", McCrorie remembered an "us against the world mentality" from his time at Pittodrie. "He makes you want to run through brick walls for him," he added. Could Rangers make Ferguson marquee signing? Rangers buy Hull goalkeeper Pandur for £6m - what will he bring? Midfielder Neil joins Rangers from Sunderland 'Rangers need ruthless edge' Under McInnes, Hearts were pipped to last season's title by Celtic on the final day, while the 54-year-old former Ibrox midfielder led Kilmarnock for more than 150 games after his eight-year reign at Aberdeen. "He knows the league inside and out," said McCrorie. "He's all about standards. "If you play for Rangers, any competition you're in, you want to win. That's the target. It's all about winning. You have to live and breathe it." In the six years since McCrorie left Ibrox, Rangers have collected just three trophies. "Watching as a fan, there's no getting away from it, it's not been good enough," he added. "I want to help create the standards that it takes to make Rangers successful." The club were the highest scorers in the Premiership last season but conceded more goals than champions Celtic, Hearts and fourth-placed Motherwell. McCrorie has been joined by centre-half Ben Godfrey and goalkeeper Ivor Pandur, while Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland and midfielder Dan Neil have also been recruited. "It's not just about quality, it's about character as well," he said. "We need to have that ruthless edge to us. "You need to have that quiet confidence that you match anyone on the day. "You need to create unity. That brotherhood in the changing room can go a long way." Visit our Rangers page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views Get Rangers news notifications in the BBC Sport app