Graeme Souness has admitted he endorsed Frank Lampard for the Rangers job ahead of Philippe Clement.
Souness was involved in the process of helping the club find the next man for the job after Michael Beale was sacked and was a big fan of Lampard’s.
And he later admitted one factor working in his favour was the fact his wife Christine Bleakley is from Northern Ireland.
In the end it came down to a choice between Clement and Kevin Muscat but the Ibrox great was batting for the Chelsea legend after the interviews.
Ex Rangers candidate Lampard closing in on Coventry deal
Lampard is now close to succeeding Mark Robins at Coventry, according to the Mirror.
The 46-year-old is said to be at the top of the list of Sky Blues owner Doug King, ahead of Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield who was an early bookies’ favourite.
The report claims the former Blues and Derby County boss could even be in the dugout for Coventry’s next game which is against Sheffield United after the international break.
Robins had been in charge of the West Midlands club for six years and did very well to win them promotion from League One into the Championship and keep them there.
But he was sacked last week with his side sitting 17th in the second tier having lost 50 per cent of their games.
Lampard has been out of a job since his interim spell in charge of Chelsea in 2023. He previously managed in the Championship with Derby and almost won them promotion via the playoffs.
Why Souness wanted Lampard for Rangers
In Souness’ view, it was between Lampard and Clement for the Rangers job after being involved in interviewing the candidates.
His wife being from Northern Ireland gave him the advantage as it was felt that would help here prepare him for life in the west of Scotland.
“We interviewed about five or six of them,” said Souness. “I said, ‘it’s between those two (Lampard & Clement)’.
“The only advantage for me Frank has over Philippe is that he has some experience of the West of Scotland.
“His wife is from Northern Ireland so she will certainly know what it’s like.
“In terms of his CV, he has a very impressive CV as well Philippe. He’s done well in Belgium and then he went off to the south of France with Monaco.
“He had a little bit of a playing career at Coventry but nothing, no job in football management, prepares you for the West of Scotland. It’s another type of challenge.”
The former Gers boss later gave talkSPORT different reasons for favouring Lampard.
He said: “There were two outstanding candidates, Frank and Philippe, who got the job.
“The final say was not with me. For me, Frank had the edge because of this. Frank has a great deal to offer in terms of management. I think if you analyse him taking the Chelsea job when he did, it was always going to be very, very difficult.
“I think taking the Everton job is a basket case. Have they improved since Frank has left? Not a bit.
“So I would not be too harsh to judge Frank. I know you were critical of him, Simon, but I think he is a football man, through and through.
“The thing that encouraged me about Frank when I met him is that he wanted to do it, he doesn’t need the money, he wants to be a football manager, a successful football manager and he fancied the Rangers job.
“That is a hard place to work in the west of Scotland. Fortunately, it went well for me but I know how difficult it is.”
