Not many people know McInnes better than Docherty, who worked with him at St Johnstone and Aberdeen for well over a decade.
The former Dundee boss believes it McInnes’ competitive edge would will help Rangers take the fight to Celtic – in particular – right to the end of the season.
When the split came around last season, Rangers were in second place, one point behind Hearts and in front of Celtic. Rohl said his side had “five cup finals” to play, and they ended up losing four of them to finish a distant third.
Questions about Rangers’ mentality have come up year after year, and Docherty thinks McInnes’ edge could help resolve them.
“Derek is a hugely competitive person,” he added. “You saw that last year, when people thought his team were going to disappear.
“Purely through him and the recruitment he did they were competitive right the way through.
“I’ve got no doubt having that edge and having played at Rangers and having that affinity with the club, it will be a fantastic appointment.
“It is that mentality, you saw it in abundance last year. You’ve seen it all through his career, the amount of second-place finishes to Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic with an Aberdeen team.
“And last year, every time Hearts were written off they would come up trumps.”
Former Rangers and Dundee striker Rory Loy believes Rohl moving on and McInnes coming in is the “perfect scenario” at Ibrox.
“To think three or four weeks ago, some Rangers fans – given the decline after the split – were looking to move him [Rohl] on,” he told the Scottish Football Podcast.
“To get money for him and to use that money to recruit Derek McInnes, I don’t think it could have fallen more favourably for Rangers.
“The one thing Derek McInnes will bring above all else is the one thing that’s been levelled at Rangers for the last decade – that’s what is between the ears, that’s mentality.”
