DANNY'S BAND OF MERRY MEN

Raskin insists Rohl has united Gers into a title force to fear

- BY SCOTT MCDERMOTT

DISJOINTED and disillusioned. That just about sums up the state Rangers were in at the start of this season.

As Russell Martin's team lurched from one dire result to the next, the campaign was in danger of totally unravelling.

Not only was his side failing to get results or produce performances, the then Ibrox boss managed to alienate prized asset Nico Raskin.

The Belgian midfielder felt harshly treated as Martin banished him from the squad for August's Old Firm derby.

Claiming Raskin's head had been turned by transfer speculation, the manager also said senior players had backed his decision.

At that stage, with Rangers toiling in the bottom half of the Premiership, the squad looked broken - on and off the pitch.

Now, it's a different story. Martin's successor Danny Rohl has rejuvenated a pool of players who looked lost last September.

The German has led a charge back up the league into second place and just four points off leaders Hearts with 15 games remaining.

Their 3-0 victory over Dundee last weekend was their eighth straight win in all competitions and fifth clean sheet in a row.

But aside from that, Raskin believes the most impressive thing achieved by Rohl has been uniting a club again.