Jermain Defoe dropped from Rangers backroom staff as Giovanni van Bronckhorst outlines plan for former England striker

Jermain Defoe (left) and new Rangers first team coach Roy Makaay in conversation before Sunday's Premiership fixture at Livingston. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Giovanni van Bronckhorst has continued the shake-up of the Rangers backroom staff by confirming veteran striker Jermain Defoe will return to solely playing duties for the rest of the season.

Defoe was appointed as a player-coach with responsibilities for working with the Ibrox club’s strikers when he signed a new one-year contract under van Bronckhorst’s predecessor Steven Gerrard in June.

Since replacing Gerrard as manager last week, van Bronckhorst has appointed Roy Makaay as his strikers coach in a backroom team which also includes new assistant manager Dave Vos, strength and conditioning coach Arno Philips and analyst Yori Bosschaart.

Defoe made just his second appearance of the season for