Ryan Lowe plays down Rangers links as his ‘sole focus’ is Preston North End
Ryan Lowe has played down links between him and the vacant Rangers manager job, saying that this “sole focus” currently is Preston North End.
The North End boss was linked with the open position at Ibrox by the Daily Record on Monday (2 October) after CEO James Bisgrove held tentative enquiries, but according to the Lancashire Evening Post (3 October), the Deepdale club are yet to have received an approach from the Light Blues.
Lowe’s side currently sit third in the Championship having impressed throughout the early stages of the season and the 45-year-old has played down any suggestion that he will make the immediate move to Ibrox, suggesting there will be plenty of other managers linked with the vacancy.
As quoted by Lancashire Evening Post on Tuesday (3 October) he said: “I was aware of it this morning actually on the way in, my lad told me, again, I don’t do social media, I don’t know. But, I think I’ve been linked with many jobs since I’ve been a manager. I think, when your team is doing well and you’re doing well, you’re obviously going to get linked.
“But, I am the Preston North End manager and it’s a privilege to manage this football club, working with Peter Ridsdale and the Hemmings family. Whether it is true or it’s not true, I don’t know. But, as far as I’m concerned, this football club and the fans have stuck by me.
“I think I will probably be one of 20 or 30 people to be linked with a fantastic opportunity to manage someone like Rangers Football Club. But, my sole importance is Preston North End and there will probably be another manager linked with it this afternoon, tomorrow and whenever.
“I am probably just one of 25 or 30 names, so it’s nothing to me. My sole focus is PNE.”
Wait and see
The nature of such a high profile position such as the Rangers job becoming available is that names will be linked to the vacancy whether there is any truth in them or not, especially when a manager has started the season as well as Lowe has done.
Admittedly contracts and talk aren’t worth anything in football and there is every chance that Lowe would quickly change his mind should a genuine concrete offer be presented to him in the coming days or weeks to allow him to takeover at Ibrox.
Rangers are likely to take their time with this appointment so you wouldn’t imagine it would be the first name that is linked with the job who ultimately gets given it, as Lowe says there will be 25 or 30 names suggested by the end of the week and plenty more to come.
If he is being targeted by the Light Blues, he represents an attractive prospect, with his teams typically playing effective football that has provided reasonably strong results both with Preston and Argyle. But for now, it doesn’t seem like this one is moving anywhere anytime soon.
In other Rangers news, to secure Kevin Muscat as their new manager the Gers may only have to pay two months’ compensation