Rangers are once again on the hunt for a new manager as Philippe Clement is sacked at Ibrox.
It’s being widely reported that the Rangers manager has been relieved of his duties following the abysmal 2-0 Scottish Premiership defeat to St Mirren.
Philippe Clement ran out of ground over the weekend having held on to his job narrowly following the 1-0 Scottish Cup defeat to Queen’s Park.
With Rangers set to face Kilmarnock on Wednesday evening and a Europa League clash against Fenerbahce on the horizon, a new appointment is expected to be swift.
Rangers in ‘discussions’ with Steven Gerrard & Sean Dyche
Reports have suggested that Rangers will move quickly to replace Clement with discussions already ongoing with Steven Gerrard and Sean Dyche.
A return for former Rangers manager Gerrard would be a seismic move in Scottish football and once again send shockwaves around the British game.
Steven Gerrard led Rangers from no-hopers to Scottish Premiership champions but left in controversial circumstances for Premier League Aston Villa in November 2001.
Sean Dyche is one of the Premier League’s most experienced campaigners and has previously suggested he’d be open to managing Rangers.
Out of work since being sacked by Everton in January, the ex-Watford and Burnley manager is one of the most experienced coaches in the game down south.
Davis to Southgate: eight alternative options for Rangers
Beyond those two names, who are the clear frontrunners as things stand, there are some other options being mooted.
There have been murmurs of former Rangers stars coming in to steady the ship, with Steven Davis serving as interim manager when Michael Beale left the club.
The Daily Record tipped former Rangers star Barry Ferguson as being suitable for the role with Neil McCann as his assistant.
Other names doing the rounds include ex-Rangers defender Russell Martin, who had a torrid time during a loan stint at Ibrox but who has impressed as a young manager.
Earning promotion to the Premier League with Southampton last season, Martin has been out of work since being sacked by the Saints earlier in the season.
Former Wolves manager Gary O’Neil is also in the discussion online, whilst Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes is never too far from the headlines when it comes to the Rangers gig.
Options from further afield include, most prominently, Shanghai Port manager Kevin Muscat, with former Denmark and England managers Kasper Hjulmand and Gareth Southgate also available.
Rangers coy on Philippe Clement’s future
The fact that, at the time of writing at least, Rangers are yet to officially recognise that Philippe Clement has been sacked will have Gers fans taking note.
Despite news breaking from within Ibrox that Rangers had made the call on the Belgian gaffer, by 8pm Sunday evening there had been no communication from Rangers to confirm.
It’s led to suspicions that Rangers might well be trying to confirm Clement’s replacement before going public with the matches coming thick and fast.
Rangers must finish 2nd in this season’s Scottish Premiership to have a shot at the Champions League next season.
The club also has a shot at progressing in the Europa League in under a fortnight’s time when Fenerbahce roll into town.
There is still plenty to fight for and with US investment inbound this summer, the Rangers manger’s job is certainly still a very attractive one.
