RANGERS are continuing talks with candidates for their manager’s job.
But it’s not words the Ibrox support want. It’s action.
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Whether it’s Davide Ancelotti, Steven Gerrard, Russell Martin, Brian Priske or someone else altogether, the time for an appointment is now.
There was an assumption the club were on the verge of an announcement when they let Barry Ferguson go.
But time has marched on and they still don’t appear to be close to parading anyone anytime soon.
Supporters can only hope they’re whittling it down to a shortlist, with more discussions planned for this week.
CEO Patrick Stewart and sporting director Kevin Thelwell better get a move on, though.
Rangers are back for pre-season next month ahead of Champions League qualifiers just eight weeks from now which are absolutely huge for the club.
I understand negotiations can take time.
But Philippe Clement was sacked in February, so the club has known for three months they had to get a replacement.
I just hope the fans don’t have much longer to wait for Mr Right . . .
Davide Ancelotti
His name was flagged up a few weeks ago, but was played down by Ibrox sources almost immediately.
It seemed like the club had backed away from initial reports in Spain linking the Italian with a move to Scotland.
Since then, it’s gathered momentum again, with Ancelotti appearing to be one of the genuine contenders.
But should he be?
For me, the biggest reason Ancelotti is being considered is his surname and the fact dad, Carlo, is one of the most successful managers ever.
That’s all well and good. Ancelotti Jr has worked at some of the world’s elite clubs as part of his dad’s staff.
But I’m not sure that qualifies him for a job like Rangers.
If we were just talking about someone not called Ancelotti, I don’t think there would be this clamour for him.
I respect the fact he’s coached at a high level, but it would be a massive gamble to name him the next manager of Rangers because he’s untested.
We’re talking about someone who has zero understanding of Scottish football, so it would be asking a huge amount of him to adapt to the culture instantly.
Some may argue Rangers should be adapting to his culture, not the other way.
But I’ve seen first-hand what it’s like when a manager comes here and tries to implement huge change overnight. It’s tough.
It’s not just players who need to change, it’s the supporters too. And I’m not sure Rangers’ season-ticket holders would have the patience required for an appointment like this.
I just think it would be a monumental risk, but I also appreciate there are examples of coaches who have left clubs to go their own way, like Enzo Maresca and Mikel Arteta.
But then I suppose there was also Michael Beale.
Russell Martin
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For a start, he’s played with Rangers, so he understands what’s excepted at Ibrox.
This is also a guy who has shown he’s willing to put in the hard yards demanded in management.
You have to respect a man who’s gone from MK Dons to Swansea to Southampton in a relatively short period of time, especially when he’s made that journey with a real identity.
The question is whether or not his blueprint is suited to Rangers.
Because one of the criticisms thrown at Martin is that he didn’t adapt to the Premier League when be won promotion from the Championship.
Would his philosophy work at Rangers? I think it would, to a certain extent.
But I also think he’ll have learned from his last job and will be a better manager now for being sacked.
And I believe he would know how to tinker with his system for when he needs to break down teams that come to Ibrox just to defend.
I’ve got to be honest, I’m not against the idea of Rangers appointing him. I really don’t think it would be the worst decision in the world.
For all that his last job didn’t go as he would have hoped, he has had success in the past and he has more than 250 games under his belt as a boss.
He knows how to cope with those lonely nights as a manager when things aren’t going well.
He’s been there and done it for three different clubs now.
I would definitely see his appointment as less of a gamble than Ancelotti.
Steven Gerrard
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Been there, seen it, done it.
We’re talking about someone who doesn’t just know what it’s like to be Rangers manager, but someone who knows how to win as Rangers manager.
Whether he actually wants a return to management any time soon, who knows?
But Gerrard’s name hasn’t gone away.
A lot of Rangers fans out there would welcome him back with open arms because he delivered 55.
Some folk point to how Celtic imploded, but people forget Rangers went unbeaten and that earned them that title. They were excellent and won the games they had to win.
Gerrard’s success last time would bring a huge pressure to repeat it.
He also wouldn’t get the time other appointments would get. There would be an expectation that he’d take charge and hit the ground running, simply because he knows the club.
You could argue he’d be under more strain than any of the others, not less.
I still have my doubts on this one happening.
Brian Priske
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Feyenoord sacked this guy because his results were too inconsistent. I’m sorry, that’s not what Rangers need.
OK, the Dane’s overall CV makes him someone the club has looked at.
If you look at his year in Rotterdam, he managed to pull off some big European results.
But domestically the team struggled too often, winning 20 out of 34 Eredivise games to finish third.
Maybe it was a hard act to follow, going in there as a replacement for Arne Slot.
But appointing a manager who has a track record of up-and-down results is the last thing Rangers want.
Under Clement, they were the kings of inconsistency.
This one is a non-starter in my book.
Others
Danny Rohl is a name that’s been mentioned and I wouldn’t be against him.
The biggest stumbling block appears to be the amount of money it would take to get him from Sheffield Wednesday.
But having talked to people down there, I see him as a top manager.
Another name who hasn’t been mentioned this time is someone who was reportedly down to the last two last time — Frank Lampard (left).
Maybe Rangers don’t want to pay the compensation that would be required to get him from Coventry.
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But the former Chelsea boss is someone I’d at least be having a conversation with.
Sean Dyche is another who has been mentioned because he already has a connection with Thelwell.
Maybe he’s eyeing a return to the English Premier League, but I could definitely picture him at Ibrox.
There are so many names being thrown around and I get that these things take time.
But I just hope the club pinpoints one and makes an appointment soon.
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