Neil McCann tips Kevin Muscat to take over at Rangers after Beale sacking
Neil McCann has tipped his former Rangers teammate Kevin Muscat as a “brilliant” choice to take over the vacant managerial position after Michael Beale was sacked.
McCann was full of praise for Muscat, suggesting his drive and passion would be exactly what this group of players needs, and that he would instil more fight into their game than they have shown so far.
He also shared that he would be surprised if Muscat didn’t go through the process to be assessed by the Rangers board, and that his personality and experience would tick all the boxes to take over.
Speaking on BBC Sounds’ Scottish Football Podcast [2 October, 17:30], McCann shared: “[He’s] a very intense character. As a player, he was physical, aggressive, overly at times. He had a steel about him as a character and a willing mentality which was absolutely evident.
“If I look at the group of players that’s there just now, there seems to be a lack of intensity and bite in the Rangers team right now as a group.
“I think the one thing about Kevin Muscat getting spoken about is that: he’s not new to management, he’s not a rookie, he’s got titles under his belt. It’s knowing how to win things when you get to the business end of the season, and he’s got his team over the line.
“As a character, I think he would be a brilliant acquisition. I don’t know personally how he works on the training field, but as a presence, he gets Scottish football. He understands the league, he understands the intensity, the rivalry and how to get the job done.
“All those ingredients for me, as a tick-box exercise, that’s there. Is he able to lead? I think he is. I’d be surprised if he didn’t get through the process [to get the job].”
A ringing endorsement
McCann has given pretty much as good of a character assessment as you’re likely to hear for any candidate, which probably suggests why many consider Muscat as the current favourite to take over at Ibrox in the coming weeks.
His experience at winning titles may be discredited due to the leagues he has managed in, but one would point to a certain Ange Postecoglou who, for better or worse, Rangers fans experienced first-hand as active proof that the experience in Australian and Japanese football can translate brilliantly to Scotland.
Muscat’s prior experience at the club will also do him some good in the application process. Understanding the club, the league, the rivalries and the way things work on the blue side of Glasgow are always important factors in taking over at Ibrox.
There have been suggestions that Muscat would be willing to entertain talks over the vacant role here, and after McCann’s assessment, it would be fair to say he could fit the role brilliantly.
In other Rangers news, a timeframe has been put on when interviews could begin.