Rangers manager hunt: Michael Beale replacement shortlist in place | Football News

Sky Sports News understands Rangers have a shortlist of candidates in place to succeed Michael Beale.

The 43-year-old was sacked on Sunday, however, as part of the club’s succession planning process an evolving list of options has been in place for a number of months.

It is understood Rangers’ planning was not related to performances or results under Beale, and is normal practice for clubs to be prepared for any eventuality.

CEO James Bisgrove will remain in the UK this week to continue working on the process to find a new manager, rather than attend Thursday’s Europa League game at Aris Limassol – and is working on the hunt alongside chairman John Bennett and senior club executives.

Several candidates are believed to have shown interest in the role, including the likes of Kevin Muscat, Pascal Jansen, Frank Lampard and John Eustace – however – it remains to be seen if any will be approached by the club.

It had been reported former Gers defender Muscat and AZ Alkmaar boss Pascal Jansen would be interested in speaking to Rangers, but one source in Holland has suggested it would be very tough for Rangers to land Jansen – with the Dutch side second in the Eredivisie.

Sky Sports News can confirm the likes of former Chelsea boss Graham Potter and Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe are not under consideration.

No appointment will be made before Sunday’s game at St Mirren, live on Sky Sports, as the club focus on finding the correct long-term fit for the club.

Rangers are now looking for a fourth different manager in two years, following Steven Gerrard’s move to Aston Villa in 2021, and the dismissals of Van Bronckhorst, then Beale in the years thereafter.

Steven Davis is currently leading an interim management team, alongside former players Steven Smith and Alex Rae, plus Brian Gilmour and goalkeeping coach Colin Stewart.

‘It takes a lot to manage Rangers’

Sky Sports Kris Boyd says it is vital the board get the next appointment right with future recruitment key to any success:

“The recruitment has not been good enough, it hasn’t been good enough for a number of years and that side has got to be better.

“They have been all over the place at times and it seems to be that everything has been off the cuff, hoping for individuals to do something and that’s failed to materialise.

“They’ve spent in the region of £14m this summer and I don’t think there’s anyone you could bring on and sell for a profit.

“The atmosphere within the stadium on matchdays is toxic, the fans had enough and there had to be change.

“It takes a lot to manage Rangers and maybe now people will understand the job that Steven Gerrard did.

“Michael Beale did a lot of the training but Gerrard was able to manage the players and that isn’t easy.

“Going forward Rangers have to find an experienced manager.

“I think since Walter Smith moved on years ago there have been appointments you would question.

“Steven Gerrard himself was given time, but you look at the Covid situation and maybe if that hadn’t happened he might not have been given the chance to go for 55 [titles] but he did.”

‘Expectation is bigger than I have ever seen’

Former Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson on Sky Sports News:

“When you look at the club and how big it is, I’m pretty sure that all the big-hitters and all the big names will be getting their agents to get on the phone to the Rangers board to make sure they try and stake a claim to get in front of the board to try and prove to them that they could be the next person.

“I’d hate to throw individual names in there because I just think you’re almost second-guessing really. But what I would say is it is a prestigious job, it is as good as it gets, a massive club, an opportunity to win silverware.

“The expectation and demand is bigger than I have ever seen. I think the club are in a good position. There are selling points; they have got a cup semi-final coming up, there is still the Scottish Cup to play for, they are still in Europe.

“There are opportunities there. I think it is a brilliant club, with brilliant fans, with the expectation to try and win silverware and play at an elite level there for all to see.

“I’d be really disappointed if the club didn’t have massive names in the hat to then pick who they think is the best candidate.”

Next manager needs to have ‘proven track record’

Kenny Miller believes appointing an inexperienced team to take interim charge is a risk, but he insists the board needs time to make sure the next manager is one who will mount a title challenge:

“It’s a huge gamble [appointing Steven Davis] but when clubs get thrown into these situations they have to have someone in charge.

“Steven’s a really good guy to have, he’s calm and knows everything about the club, he’s been in as a player for a long, long time and been part of some really successful teams.

“He’ll be able to front it in the short term, but this next appointment is really important for this board that they get the right guy.

“They need someone with a proven track record of having some kind of level of success and they maybe need the personnel in character to stand in front of these 50,000 fans every week even when it’s not going well and fronting it up.

“They have to have broad shoulders to take the responsibility and manage this wonderful club.

“It’s a big few weeks coming for the board because you don’t want to rush it and make a knee-jerk appointment, but Steven and the management team are really.

“They’ve got the international break so they’ve got a little bit of time to do the work.

“The season isn’t lost, this can be salvaged so I would like to see the right appointment made as soon as possible.”

Davis ‘honoured’ to be appointed interim boss

Davis declared himself “very honoured” after getting a call “out of the blue” to take charge of Rangers on an interim basis following the sacking of Beale.

The 38-year-old Northern Irishman, who had two fruitful spells as a player at Ibrox, was invited by the Gers board on Sunday evening to take the reins until they appoint a new permanent boss.

Speaking to Rangers TV on Monday, he said: “I’m very honoured. The call came out of the blue a little bit. I wasn’t expecting it but I’d just like to try and repay the trust the club have shown by putting me in this position.

“Obviously it’s not a position we would like to be in, we’re disappointed with where we’re at at this moment in time but I’m really looking forward to the challenge.

“I’m delighted to get the opportunity. I believe in the group we’ve got. Things haven’t gone the way we would have liked and we find ourselves in this situation but I’m sure with ourselves and the fans pushing in the same direction we can go on and get some good results.

“Ultimately we have to get results first and foremost at a club like Rangers. I just want to try and get some pride back in terms of the way we play and try and get the boys’ confidence back as well.

“We’ve got a really good group here. I see the level of application here, I’ve been in and around it long enough with the majority of them, so I just want to get that belief back in the team and give them a platform to go and show their best performances.

“Management was something I’ve considered for further down the line. I wasn’t expecting this opportunity, it hadn’t crossed my mind, but it was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.

“It’s going to be a great experience for me and I’m really looking forward to the challenge. Everybody knows what the club means to me. My approach is just going to be the same as I was as a player, and that’s just to give it my best. Hopefully that will be good enough.”

Rangers’ next five fixtures

October 5: Aris Limassol (a), Europa League, kick-off 5.45pm

October 8: St Mirren (a), Scottish Premiership, kick-off noon – live on Sky Sports

October 21: Hibernian (h), Scottish Premiership, kick-off 3pm

October 26: Sparta Prague (a), Europa League, kick-off 5.45pm

October 29: Hearts (h), Scottish Premiership, kick-off 3pm

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