Rangers board alerted as Steve Bruce ‘hopeful’ of chance to take over at Ibrox amid Frank Lampard and Kevin Muscat links
Steve Bruce is “keen and hopeful” of a chance to get the Rangers job despite being “unlikely” to be under serious consideration at Ibrox, according to Football Scotland.
The outlet reported via their website on 4 October that the Englishman has been “put forward” to the Gers board as a possibility to succeed Michael Beale, but they are not thought to be ready to put him in the running with Frank Lampard and Kevin Muscat still considered the favourites.
Bruce has been out of work since being sacked from a difficult period at West Brom last season, but has extensive managerial experience with the likes of Birmingham City, Sunderland, Newcastle and Aston Villa.
He also took Hull City to the FA Cup final and has won 133 of his 476 games in the English Premier League but appears not to have a realistic chance to convince the Rangers hierarchy.
Not going to happen
Bruce has his plus points but if he ends up anywhere near the Light Blues job at this stage of his career then the board will have found themselves in a desperate situation.
There are enough questions around the possibility of either Lampard or Muscat being brought in, but the former Manchester United captain will have the fanbase up in arms.
Bruce has managed to enrage enough sets of supporters along his managerial travels, being particularly unpopular at St. James’ Park, while having jumped across various rivalry divides, so he surely wouldn’t need more grief from his own fans by being dropped into a difficult situation in Glasgow.
It shows the size of the Rangers job that managers who are surely in with no genuine hope of consideration are chancing their arm, with Billy Davies also reportedly showing interest.
A clear style of play and a plan to get far more out of a struggling set of new signings are both going to be key reasons to decide on any of the current options.
Muscat has had success in Japan just as Ange Postecoglou did but if he gets the job he will forever be compared to his compatriot’s time at Celtic.
Lampard has name-recognition but doesn’t seem like a candidate with a track record to inspire confidence at Ibrox, so early indications aren’t going to delight supporters.
In other Rangers news, one possible option has ruled himself out of the running and giving his backing to a pair of rivals.