Rangers captain Nicola Docherty is confident that Leanne Crichton can change the mentality within the Ibrox dressing room as they look to claim the SWPL title this term.
Jo Potter’s switch to Crystal Palace opened the door to Crichton’s move to Rangers from Glasgow City little over a fortnight ago. And while she has had little time to get her feet under the desk, Docherty expects that her former team-mate at Glasgow City and Scotland has the ability to make Rangers ruthless.
The Ibrox side have lost out on the title on the final day of the campaign for the last three successive seasons, something that has rankled with Docherty.
“I have know Leanne for a long time,” she said. “We played together and I know that she is a winner. She is coming here to win things and make sure that we are going into games with the right approach.
“That isn’t just one off games or the big games but making sure we are turning up week in, week out. There is pressure when you play at a club like Rangers but that pressure is because we want to be winners.
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“That is the message that Leanne will get through. I think we have all had time to process it now but not winning the league but it was tough. We have to use it as fuel this season.
“We have come very close but obviously we want to go and cross that line and I think it means being consistent across the board.
“We were switched on last season in terms of goals and the possibility of the title going to goal difference but we fell short in certain moments.
“That’s what has to change.”
Meanwhile, Hibs striker Eilidh Adams has accepted that Grant Scott’s side will find this season a different challenge again as they look to defend a title that few expected them to claim.
They host Aberdeen at Meadowbank this afternoon with the striker determined that the Hibees can buck expectations again.
“It was incredible for us and if we were all being honest I think we would say that even we didn’t think we would go all the way and win the league,” said the striker.
“But having achieved it was just an amazing moment for us. It took a long time for it to actually sink in that we had done it but having had a taste of it we want more success now.
“We know that teams will write us off again this season but we feel that we have been over the course now and we are determined to go and challenge again.
“It is difficult – you can see that across recent years as teams have struggled to defend the title – but we are excited rather than intimidated by that. We are champions and with that comes a bit of pressure.”
Celtic had a season to forget last term as they finished fourth.
There has been chaos behind the scenes this summer with ten departures and only two arrivals to date.
They are away to Hearts today with Chloe Craig, who missed the season with an ACL, accepting that last term wasn’t good enough.
“On a personal level it was obviously tough but in terms of the team, just having to watch and not be able to influence was really challenging.
“We know what it is like to win silverware and titles so we are determined to be back in amongst it this season.”
Emma Brownlie has swapped Hearts for Glasgow City and is excited to make her mark at Petershill.
City have endured back-to-back seasons with no silverware, something they are out to arrest this term.
“100% we believe we are going out to try and be as successful as we possibly can be,” said she said. “I am excited to get started here at City and I feel that everyone is ready to go and challenge for the title.”
