---
title: "Rangers: Michael Stewart slams club’s leadership amid podcast controversy"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/rangers-gers-ibrox-steven-gerrard-michael-stewart-heart-and-hand/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "jonathan radcliffe"
section: "Features"
published: "2021-09-06T16:15:01Z"
modified: "2021-09-06T16:15:01Z"
---

# Rangers: Michael Stewart slams club’s leadership amid podcast controversy

**Scottish football pundit Michael Stewart has slammed Glasgow Rangers over their lack of leadership as the Heart and Heart podcast affair rumbles on.**

### **The Lowdown: Media crisis**

Earlier this year, the Gers made the controversial decision to start charging media outlets up to £25,000 to receive full access to the club ([The Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sportsnews/article-9777985/amp/SPORTS-AGENDA-Tottenham-close-agreeing-stadium-naming-rights-deal-club-lose-key-player.html)), while also making the Heart and Hand podcast an official media partner.

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However, recent sectarian and discriminatory tweets from the podcast’s contributors were publicised ([via The Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/rangers-new-media-partner-police-24896939)), which has unsurprisingly led to plenty of criticism of those responsible.

### **The Latest: Stewart hits out**

Stewart has been a [vocal critic](https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/football/5627638/rangers-fc-michael-stewart-transfers-ianis-hagi/) of the Gers in the past, and he made his feelings known in this situation as well. Taking to [Twitter](https://twitter.com/mstewart_23/status/1434500089951698946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1434500089951698946%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-9597921663748588983.ampproject.net%2F2108192119000%2Fframe.html), he said:

> *“Leadership demands the ability to make tough decisions and unfortunately it’s clear that @RangersFC lack any real leaders to deal with the problems they have.”*

### **The Verdict: Disaster**

Rangers’ media policy has backfired here in spectacular fashion. Clearly, there was a breakdown in the relationship between the media and the club, and the 55-time Scottish champions had somewhat of a right to be frustrated – for example, [they have been forced to demand changes to articles in the past](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/scottish-premier/rangers/gers-ibrox-daily-record-complaint/). However, such a radical move was never going to be smooth.

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To allow any outlet to become an official media partner without doing a background check is negligent at best and downright stupid at worst. They must now move as quickly as possible to right this wrong, otherwise Stewart may just have a point.

***In other news, [this Rangers man has been urged to leave Ibrox.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/rangers-fc-news/rangers-gers-ibrox-steven-gerrard-borna-barisic-nikica-jelavic/)***