RANGERS sacked manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst today following a run of form this season that has “not met expectations.”

The Dutchman, a former player at Ibrox, was appointed as Steven Gerrard’s successor a year ago and led the club to the Europa League final and a first Scottish Cup triumph in 13 years at the end of his first campaign in charge.

However, he has paid the price for a poor start to the current season in which Rangers endured humiliating Champions League group stage and fell nine points adrift of city rivals Celtic at the top of the Premiership.

A statement from the Ibrox club this morning read: “Rangers Football Club confirms today it has parted company with manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

“The board would like to put on record sincere thanks to Gio for all his efforts since his appointment as manager.

“Unfortunately, results and performances over recent months haven’t met expectations and the decision was made today by the board to terminate the contract of the manager. The search for the new manager is now underway.”

Rangers have just over three weeks to find a successor for Van Bronckhorst, with their first match after the World Cup break at home to Hibernian on December 15.