The game is on to secure the Rangers leader for the future with Andrew Cavenagh and the 49ers closing in on power
The hunt for the perfect next permanent manager of Rangers has been a regular occurrence over the past few years.
Yes, there have been moments to treasure, however, the galling reality of rivals Celtic standing on the brink of making it 13 titles out of the past 14 has the Ibrox side hunting for a permanent successor to Philippe Clement.
But this search isn’t like the others, far from it, with the club on the brink of securing a takeover led by the 49ers Group and USA businessman Andrew Cavenagh.
Barry Ferguson will continue his personal quest to land the job for keeps against Atheltic Bilbao as he aims to avoid stretching Rangers’ longest losing streak at Ibrox in club history to an improbable six games. The club hero was aghast after the 2-0 defeat to Hibs and he expects much more against the side aiming to win the tournament in their home stadium.
Former boss Steven Gerrard remains the favourite among the bookies but oddsmakers are pricing up the Liverpool legend all across the shop. Gerrard has been out of work since leaving Al-Ettifaq in January and was searingly honest on the Peter Crouch podcast when he admitted managing has never been able to replicate the buzz of playing.
Gerrard’s odds have been slashed but he’s not the only familiar name garnering attention in regards to the vacancy at St Mary’s. Sean Dyche – long mooted as a potential Rangers boss – is 12/1. Gary O’Neil is the same price as he looks for his next move after leaving Wolves.
Rangers’ arch-nemesis Peter Bosz – briefly linked Gers after compatriot Gio van Bronckhorst was axed in 2022 – has been feeling the heat in Eindhoven with the man who specialises in inflicting pain on the Ibrox side being openly called out by pundits for PSV’s ropey form.
Bosz won in Glasgow with Leverkusen and Lyon before wiping the floor with Michael Beale’s side in the Champions League playoffs.
The 61-year-old’s contract runs until 2026, however, sharp-tongued pundit Johan Derksen let him have it with Ajax primed to win their first title in three seasons.
Derksen fumed: “I’m getting a little tired of Peter Bosz. He sees it as a challenge to come second. No, it’s a disgrace, that’s not a challenge.”
Bosz has strongly hinted it will likely be Netherlands boss or bust after he calls time on his club career.
Russell Martin won back many cynics with his head-turning appearance on Monday Night Football earlier in the season and his searing honesty resonated.
Martin admitted another Premier League job next was unlikely but he is among the favourites to be next in at Leicester City if Ruud van Nistelrooy exits.
The former Ibrox defender brings attacking football and Saints successor Ivan Juric’s struggles have backed-up belief that Martin’s side were miscast as anything other than EPL fodder in their current guise.
Marco Rose has draped himself in a Celtic tammy and scarf in the past, however, the axed Leipzig boss has also spoken glowingly about Rangers and their iconic fans when his Dortmund team were dumped out of the Europa League.
And what about Jose Mourinho? It’s only a three game ban for the unsavoury incident involving Galatasaray rival but the Fenerbahce will miss a trio of matches with Fener hot on their rivals’ heels in the league despite coming up short in last week’s spiky Cup clash.
Alan Pardew rounds us off as he has been a vocal backer of Daniel Farke at Leeds weeks after putting himself forward for consideration from the 49ers and Co live on radio.
