Rangers next manager: Expert names ‘front-runner’ in three-man race
Rangers are still in search of a new manager following their decision to sack Russell Martin after what has been a disaster start to the season.
Steven Gerrard was initially seen as the front-runner, after Football Insider revealed that Gerrard had held positive talks with Rangers, but decided to snub a return to Ibrox.
Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl remains a strong contender, while Kevin Muscat and Slaven Bilic are both firmly in the running.
This comes after Football Insider exclusively revealed on 12 October that Bilic is under consideration for Rangers alongside their other candidates.
Fresh rounds of talks have been held at Ibrox in an attempt to accelerate the appointment, and it appears a new front-runner has now emerged.
Danny Rohl seen as the standout candidate for Rangers
Mick Brown told Football Insider on 6 October that Rohl is keen to take over at Rangers and is very highly-rated by the hierarchy at Ibrox.
The German manager’s work at Sheffield Wednesday has earned him a strong reputation, and there is a feeling he would be the right man to get the club back on track.
That is according to former Man United and Sunderland chief scout Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that Rohl is now the standout candidate and has tipped him to land the job.
“Danny Rohl has built a very positive reputation,” he told Football Insider.
“At Sheffield Wednesday, everybody rated him highly and spoke highly of the work he was doing.
“From what I hear, he’s going to be the front-runner now that Gerrard has pulled out, because he’s been a serious candidate since the summer.
“The dilemma for them really is about whether they want to bring in somebody who knows the club and the league, or if they’re willing to take another gamble.
“I don’t think it’s a massive risk, but it’s a difficult one for them because they have to get it right.
“If they bring in Rohl and he goes the same way as Martin, not that I think that will happen, but then it leaves them in a very difficult position.
“Based on what people say about him and the reputation he’s built, I expect Rohl would be a fine man for the job, but they have to hope he’s the right man.”
Brown first told Football Insider in May that Rohl was interested in the Rangers job as he prepared to quit Sheffield Wednesday amid concerns about Dejphon Chansiri.
Rangers manager timeline causes further complications
Football Insider exclusively revealed on 13 October that Rangers want to appoint their next manager quickly and will ideally have an agreement before the end of the week.
The international break was seen as the ideal opportunity to give them time to bring in a new boss without also having to worry about who would oversee their fixtures.
That time frame may pose an issue for one of the contenders, as Muscat’s Shanghai Port side are in a title race which will not conclude until the end of November.
Both Rohl and Bilic are currently out of work and would be available to start straight away, which is seen as a boost to their chances of landing the job.
Rangers will face Dundee United at Ibrox on 18 October and hope they will have a new manager in the dugout for the game to kickstart their season.
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