Barry Ferguson is in the Ibrox hot seat until the end of the season, but significant changes are on the horizon.
With Shanghai Port on the verge of exiting the Asian Champions League, manager Kevin Muscat appears to have hinted at his loyalty to the club.
It comes as the Australian is tipped as one of the favourites to take over as Rangers manager permanently from Philippe Clement. Interim Barry Ferguson will remain in charge until the end of the season, with Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce next on the agenda – the Europa League being the Light Blues’ last realistic chance of silverware.
In the midst of a disappointing campaign, the attention of the Ibrox diehards has already turned to who will step into the dugout on a permanent basis. Record Sport understands that the consortium that is bidding to buy a controlling stake in the Light Blues – led by American businessman Andrew Cavenagh and Leeds United chairman Paraag Marathe, the main man behind NFL giants San Francisco 49ers’ investment wing – are already considering the next potential
It is known that the consortium intends to engage with candidates in the coming weeks following the conclusion of the takeover, which has been accepted in principle. Muscat was interviewed for the Rangers post when Michael Beale was fired after two successful seasons with Yokohama F. Marinos, but Ibrox’s decision-makers chose Clement.
Since then, Muscat has won a league and cup double in China, but he has intimated that his emphasis remains in Asia. The club’s defeat against Marinos in their final league phase game left them clinging to a Champions League qualification berth, with Pohang Steelers two points behind and one game remaining.
Speaking to Titan Sports after the 1-0 setback, the manager remained optimistic, saying: “Today, we generated chances, and we are making progress—we had not been able to create chances previously. Given the caliber of the opposition’s players, they are fairly formidable.
“But today we were able to generate opportunities. Now, we must remain focused on creating opportunities, as this is how we will score goals in the future.
Rafa Benitez is being considered by the consortium, although it may take some convincing after the Spaniard declared last week that he was waiting for a Premier League post. The Champions League-winning manager, who has been out of work since leaving Celta Vigo last year, told the Liverpool Echo: “I’ve received a number of offers this year.
“But I was always yearning for the Premier League since that’s the league I prefer. You have to choose the proper chance, which hopefully will come soon.”
