Rangers great Ally McCoist labelled the club ‘weak’ on and off the pitch in a damning verdict on talkSPORT.
The Scottish giants are on the lookout for a new manager after they sacked Philippe Clement on Sunday.
GettyClement’s tenure at Rangers came to an end on Sunday[/caption]
Clement departed with Rangers sat 13 points adrift of Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic.
With Rangers so far off the pace, the Hoops are poised to win their 12th league title in 13 seasons.
It’s why McCoist knows his former employers cannot afford to get their next appointment wrong, although he conceded there aren’t ‘any glaringly obvious candidates’ at present.
It also seems Rangers are tempted to hold off until the summer to make a permanent appointment given American investors are in talks with the club over a multi-million dollar takeover.
As a result, talkSPORT understands that former Rangers midfielder Barry Ferguson is set for an interim role.
The 47-year-old, who made over 430 appearances for the club, has never managed in the Scottish Premiership.
When told about the Ferguson links, McCoist replied: “I’m a little bit surprised but we’ll see what happens.”
As for who the contenders for the permanent role would be, McCoist name-dropped three individuals.
Steven Gerrard, who led Rangers to their last league title amid an unbeaten season, is available having departed Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.
However, the Rangers legend believed Muscat, who was dubbed ‘the most hated man in football’ by former Birmingham City player Martin Grainger, could a potential candidate along with a Scottish Premiership boss who ‘knows the club.’
GettyA return to Ibrox could help re-ignite Gerrard’s managerial career[/caption]
“Stevie Gerrard would come into the equation obviously because of his success,” McCoist said on talkSPORT Breakfast.
“I would’ve taken a gamble on Frank (Lampard) as well before he’s gone to Coventry. But he’s doing well at Coventry, so I can’t see that happening.
“Muscat has done well. I think he might have won three leagues in three different countries, could be another option.
“Derek McInnes would come into the equation, who’s a fine manager at Kilmarnock. Knows the league, knows the players, knows the club.
“There’s definitely one or two options, but I don’t think there’s any glaringly obvious candidates right now.”
Muscat, who spent the 2002/03 season at Ibrox, has forged a strong reputation as a manager having won league titles in Australia, Japan and China with Melbourne Victory, Yokohama F. Marinos and Shanghai Port respectively.
In fact, the 51-year-old has won a trophy in every season since the 20/21 campaign.
He was linked with the Rangers vacancy after Michael Beale was sacked in October 2023, but was overlooked in favour of Clement.
talkSPORT Breakfast co-host Jeff Stelling also asked McCoist if he’d be prepared to give up his many, many punditry gigs if Rangers decided to offer him the role and the Scot offered a hilarious response.
“You know me, I’d drop everything for the Rangers,” McCoist said.
“Everything! You included!”
Regardless of who gets the Rangers job next, McCoist believes they have an almighty job on their hands to restore the club ahead of Celtic.
“Rangers, sadly, even including the very comfortable 3-0 victory against Celtic a few weeks back, are a good, good way behind Celtic on and off the pitch,” McCoist said.
The Scot added: “The gulf between the two clubs is massive. So anybody that’s getting in there will have to take the place by the scruff of the neck and give it a right good shake.
“And they’re going to have to get backed by new owners who would hopefully, financially back the new coach. Millions of pounds have been effectively thrown away. The players coming in have not been of a good enough standard.
“What the fans are finding it difficult to accept, and I’m with them 100 per cent, is a lack of fight and a lack of desire. The Rangers football team on the pitch is weak.
“It’s a team you’d love to play against because there’s a weakness about it on the pitch and sadly at this moment in time there’s a weakness off the pitch as well.”
Although Rangers have failed to win both Scottish domestic cups and are almost certain to fall short in the league, they remain in the hunt for the Europa League.
The new boss will have to hit the ground running though as Rangers face Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the round of 16.
Rangers travel to Turkey for the first leg on March 6 before welcoming Mourinho’s side to Ibrox for the second leg on March 13.
