Edinburgh born Cummings first came to the attention of most Rangers fans during season 2014/15 as his Hibernian side found themselves looking to halt our return to the top flight in our attempt for a third successive promotion. It was a unique situation with Hearts also in the Championship and seeking an immediate return to the Scottish Premiership.
If Rangers manager Ally McCoist needed a reminder that this would be a far greater challenge to those previous two seasons, an opening day defeat to Hearts followed by an early Ibrox defeat to Hibs had alarm bells ringing. Cummings would score twice in a 3-1 win. By the time the two sides clashed again in the league, McCoist had served notice that he wished to resign his position and a reluctant Kenny McDowall watched on as Cummings scored again in a depressing 4-0 rout. Whilst Rangers would gain some revenge by way of a play-off victory over the Easter Road side, both sides would face another season in the Championship with Hearts cruising to the title.
It would be a much changed Rangers side (under new manager Mark Warburton) that would romp to title success the following season thus condemning Cummings to a third season in the second tier of Scottish Football. With 36 goals in his previous two league campaigns, he had certainly proved to be prolific at that level. A Scottish Cup win over Rangers in 2016 convinced Cummings to stay in Edinburgh and his 19 goals in 32 league matches helped secure the 2016/17 title and earn a big money move to Nottingham Forest who by now were under the guidance of Warburton.
An indifferent spell in England led to Jason’s arrival at Ibrox. One of four loan signings brought in to bolster caretaker manager Graeme Murty’s efforts during the winter transfer window of season 2017/18. Cummings made his debut as a substitute during a 2-0 win over Aberdeen at Ibrox on 24th January 2018 (Morelos and Tavernier on the scoresheet). He would score what would prove to be the winner on his next outing (a 2-1 victory over Ross County at Dingwall) before soon netting in a 6-1 Scottish Cup rout at Ayr United.
There was no doubting that Jason had ability and had demonstrated he could find the back of the net. However, his playing style and work rate seemed at odds with the formation being utilised and it seemed evidently clear he could not operate in the lone striker role. A hat-trick against Falkirk in the Scottish Cup was a rare highlight and his final goal came in a win over Hearts in April by which point it was clear that all was not well in the dressing room under Murty. Jason’s farewell appearance, ironically, came at Easter Road in an incredible 5-5 draw versus Hibernian with Jimmy Nicholl now in temporary charge.
It was no great surprise that Rangers decided against taking up their option to secure Jason’s services on a permanent deal as incoming manager Steven Gerrard looked to drastically overhaul a ‘broken’ Club.
In all Jason made 18 appearances scoring 6 goals.

by Rick Plews