Sir Alex Ferguson to give Derek McInnes reference as Rangers manager development emerges
None other than Sir Alex Ferguson would supply Derek McInnes with a reference as speculation resurfaces to link the Kilmarnock manager with the new vacancy at Rangers.
The Times reported on Monday (2 October) that McInnes, 52, “would be a contender among existing Premiership bosses” at Ibrox now that Michael Beale has been sacked.
Beale, 43, was axed by the Light Blues on Sunday (1 October) after losing to McInnes’ former club Aberdeen just over 24 hours before.
McInnes, who led his current Kilmarnock side to a win over Rangers on the opening day of the Scottish Premiership season, has now been linked with the vacancy at Ibrox – again.
McInnes rejected the chance to replace Pedro Caixinha in the Ibrox hot seat in 2017 [Scottish Sun] and his name seems to crop up every single time there’s a change of manager in Govan.
But this time, the scars may have healed from that rejection six years ago and McInnes has gone on to prove himself as one of the best Scottish managers at Pittodrie and at Rugby Park, where he’s been in charge since January of last year.
This season, however, has been a tough one for the former Greenock, Rangers and West Brom midfielder.
That win against Rangers on 5 August is Killie’s only league win of the season. The Ayrshire club did, however, beat Celtic in the Scottish League Cup second round on 20 August.
McInnes would have an ally if Rangers came calling though and it’s not a bad ally to have.
Speaking in March 2021, as quoted by Sky Sports, legendary former Manchester United manager Ferguson said that he’d put in a good word for McInnes if he ever needed it.
“Derek is a top-class, experienced manager who still has the energy of youth,” Ferguson, who’s well known to be a boyhood Rangers fan, said. “He is capable of taking on a big job.
“If I was asked for a reference for him, I would gladly supply it.”
Having one of the greatest managers of all time in your corner isn’t bad and while McInnes’ merits should speak for themself, they do show that they are better than Beale’s ever have been.
McInnes would be an upgrade, that’s undeniable.
However, Beale has set a low bar to beat so a manager simply being better than Beale is unlikely to be enough to convince the fanbase because this next appointment has to be spot-on.
Right now, other than us having a good shot at winning the League Cup – thanks to, in part, McInnes – the season looks to be over thanks to the damage caused by the now-former management team.
Can McInnes save the season? It’ll be a tough ask for anyone, in truth.
In other Rangers news, this league-leading manager has emerged as a “live option” to be the next man in charge at Ibrox.