THE search for the next manager of Rangers continues. The days since the departure of Giovanni van Bronckhorst have seen many names ruled out and several potential candidates emerge.
But who will make the key call that will shape the rest of the season and the years to come for Rangers? It is a choice that the Ibrox hierarchy simply cannot afford to get wrong.
Herald and Times Sport revealed on Wednesday night that their work has almost been completed. Michael Beale was identified as the prime candidate this week and is now on the brink of a return to Ibrox as Rangers seek to finalise arrangements with QPR.
Here, Herald and Times Sport looks at the main decision makers in the process that is expected to deliver a new boss sooner rather than later as Rangers prepare to return to training next week.
ROSS WILSON
There has been plenty of focus on the successes and failures of Wilson during his three-year reign as sporting director and questions over his position have not gone away in the aftermath of Van Bronckhorst’s sacking.
It was Wilson that headed up the process that resulted in the Dutchman being appointed as Steven Gerrard’s successor last November. That appointment may ultimately have failed in the long run, but it cannot be written off as a wrong call at the time and there were few dissenting voices when Van Bronckhorst returned to Ibrox and signed a three-and-a-half year deal.
Wilson earned his reputation with Falkirk, Huddersfield Town and Southampton before joining Rangers but supporters remain unconvinced by his work in the transfer market. The sales of Nathan Patterson and Calvin Bassey stand out but there are more black marks than ticks when it comes to the incomings and there is now pressure on Wilson to prove his worth once again after a handful of less than impressive transfer windows.
Getting the right man in the door would quieten some of Wilson’s critics. But he must then back up that move with a string of transfer coups if he is to win over the majority of supporters.
STEWART ROBERTSON
The search for a manager has become something of a regular part of Robertson’s working life at Ibrox and he finds himself on the hunt once again as Rangers seek to appoint their seventh permanent boss in as many years.
Robertson was named as managing director in the aftermath of regime change in 2015 and Mark Warburton was the first gaffer he worked with as he landed the top job ahead of Stuart McCall. Pedro Caixinha and Graeme Murty followed before Steven Gerrard finally delivered the success that Rangers had been working towards.
Robertson was able to reap the rewards in a business sense of Van Bronckhorst’s efforts as Rangers reached the Europa League final and won the Scottish Cup and then went on to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League this term.
Now he has joined Wilson in London to oversee the hiring process that will see another name on the office door. Like Wilson, there is personal pressure on Robertson to back the right man as fans critique his role in the running of Rangers.
He has represented Rangers on SPFL boards and committees on several occasions and was at the heart of the cinch row that saw the Ibrox hierarchy launch a legal fight against their Hampden counterparts.
DOUGLAS PARK
The move to name Van Bronckhorst as boss was Park’s first managerial appointment as chairman. Time will tell if the next man in the door proves to be his last one.
He is joined on the board of RIFC plc by deputy chairman John Bennett, Julian Wolhardt, Alistair Johnston and his son, Graeme. Once Wilson and Robertson have confirmed their preference for the position, it will be down to the top table at Ibrox to sign off on the deal.
The Park’s of Hamilton founder has come under repeated attack from predecessor Dave King in recent months as the former Ibrox chairman has raised wide-ranging concerns over the running of Rangers and the leadership that Park has shown. As the figurehead of the club and a dominating voice, Park naturally has a significant say and his standing amongst supporters is intriguing right now.
King confirmed this week that he will vote against the re-election of Park to the board when Rangers host their Annual General Meeting in Glasgow next month. Unless there is a situation where he jumps before being pushed or those around him make- unexpected moves to oust him from the chair, Park will continue to lead Rangers into a third year and make it eight as a director since regime change.
