Neil McCann admits the current Rangers interim coaching staff would not shirk the challenge of being appointed permanently at Ibrox.
McCann was recruited by interim boss Barry Ferguson to be a part of his backroom team alongside fellow former Rangers stars Billy Dodds and Allan McGregor.
Steven Gerrard, Rafa Benitez and Russell Martin among others have all been linked with the permanent gig ahead of the new ownership taking its majority stake in the Ibrox club.
Of course, the US-led consortium of Andrew Cavenagh and Paraag Marathe will have the ultimate say in who becomes the next boss, with Ferguson doing his all at the moment to convince them he is the right man.
Ferguson has been backed by Lee McCulloch to be the next Rangers boss, while Cammy Bell thinks the former club captain is well in the frame.
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McCann on ‘in-house’ Rangers talks over interim coaching staff’s future
But what does McCann think and what has been said inside the walls of Ibrox and the Rangers Training Centre about the current interim staff’s ambitions to stay put beyond the summer?
McCann stood in for Ferguson at the pre-Hibs press conference on Thursday and was asked if he thinks Ferguson is ready to step up and become permanent Rangers manager.
The former BBC pundit replied: “In-house, speaking to Fergie and as a coaching staff, none of us are frightened of a challenge. Not one of us.
“And if it was to be presented to us I don’t think there’d be any of us would say, ‘no, it’s not for us’. But as I said it’s too far of a distance to even encourage that.
Asked more specifically about his own future at Ibrox, McCann said he hasn’t thought that far forward yet. He said: “I haven’t even looked.
“Listen, this is a coal face. Every footballer will probably tell you. Well, not every footballer because a lot of people actually don’t want to have a go at this.
“I love it. There’s nothing better than being on a touchline, on a training ground, preparing for a game. There’s nothing better.
“I loved my time at Dundee. I loved my time at Inverness. It’s taken a different avenue afterwards. I haven’t looked any further forward. You can’t because the contract is a contract. We’re in here to do a job.
“As I’ve said, we’re working very, very hard at it. What we’re charged with is making improvements to the group, making improvements to the individuals, getting the fans back seeing a team that is really, really fine, showing all the qualities you have to have as a Rangers player.
McCann insists Barry Ferguson has proved people ‘wrong’
Ferguson, prior to taking the interim Rangers manager role, had only managed as high as Scottish League One when he was boss at Alloa Athletic.
His previous full-time roles came at Clyde and Kelty Hearts, so there was understandably some surprise when Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart called upon Ferguson.
McCann understands that, but he believes Ferguson – who has already beaten Celtic and progressed to the Europa League quarter-finals – has proved many people wrong about his managerial ability.
Asked about Ferguson’s long-term Rangers manager credentials, McCann said: “Honestly, it’s not my place to tell – if it is a new ownership coming – if he should get the job.
“What I would say is that I’ve been very impressed by how he wants to work. He’s shown a willingness to allow Doddsy and I a lot of say on the training field and in matches.
“A lot of people maybe thought from his coaching CV that he maybe wouldn’t even be ready to even take this position. I think he’s proved that wrong.
“So it’s not my place to say but I don’t think anybody in this building will tell you anything different.”
