I'LL GET TOUGH IF YOU DON'T GET HUNGRY

Gio vows to crack the whip on stars who aren't up for a fight

- KEITH JACKSON

GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST swept into power yesterday at Rangers and immediately vowed to get tough on any player who doesn't have the stomach to be a winner.

The Dutchman officially became the Ibrox club's 17th permanent boss after putting pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year deal to become Steven Gerrard's successor.

But van Bronckhorst's appointment came less than 24 hours after he watched his new team being humiliated by Hibs at Hampden in a Premier Sports Cup semi-final.

The 3-1 rout led to vice-captain Connor Goldson admitting too many of his team-mates have lost their hunger for winning trophies.

And the Dutchman who described himself as a disciplinarian - then insisted he'll crack the whip if he believes there are players hiding in his dressing room who have lost their desire to succeed.

Van Bronckhorst said: "I expect that everyone is on board with me. It's my duty to prepare players for games. I will prepare them in their attitude, their hunger, whatever.

"For me, as a coach and a player, I think the hunger has to come from within yourself.

"It starts with that. That would make it a lot easier as a coach.

"Being involved in football all my life, I know what needs to be done and what you have to do to be successful.

"That message I got across as a coach from when I started. I will keep doing that. If something or some player thinks otherwise, they will have a tough manager in me."

Van Bronckhorst revealed he plans to talk to Gerrard over the coming weeks as he familiarises himself with a squad built by the previous boss.

But he's seen enough already to identify weaknesses that he plans to urgently address.

He added: "I've seen footage of the team and games they have played this season. It's a great squad, they won the league last year.