RANGERS will have a new face in the dugout leading the team this weekend.
But it will NOT be Kevin Muscat.
Rangers sacked Russell Martin from his role after just four months in charge in the hours after the 1-1 draw at Falkirk a week ago on Sunday.
The axe fell on Martin after a record of just five wins in 17 matches.
Gers chiefs, led by chairman Andrew Cavenagh and vice-chairman Paraag Marathe, were once again back to the drawing board and the search for another new head coach commenced.
But after 11 days, there’s still no new boss in charge.
Former Gers boss Steven Gerrard looked set for a stunning return to Ibrox after holding talks with club supremos.
But he dramatically pulled out of the running on Saturday, with timing believed to be the issue at the heart of that decision.
Ex-Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl then emerged as a frontrunner but he too has now withdrawn from consideration.
That has left former Rangers defender Kevin Muscat as they clear favourite to succeed Martin.
But the 52-year old is still in post at Shanghai Port and his team are in the final stages of a title race that they currently lead.
It means Muscat will likely not be able to take up the role until next month.
Talk of a fresh interim appointment emerged – with Neil McCann floated for the role – but it’s being reported that NEITHER Muscat or McCann will be in the dugout this weekend.
Instead, it appears as though Steven Smith will lead Rangers against Dundee United.
The former Rangers defender, 40, has been overseeing first team training since Martin’s axe.
And the Rangers Review are reporting that Smith, who had two spells at Ibrox between 2002 and 2010 and 2013 and 2015, will be in the dugout this weekend.
Smith is currently the under-19s boss at Rangers.
He’s been assisted in first team training over the past week by fellow youth coach Brian Gilmour plus goalkeeping coach Sal Bibbo and head of performance Rhys Owen.
Smith previously worked with the first team during Philippe Clement’s time in as Gers boss
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