James Bisgrove already makes crucial Rangers manager decision as Frank Lampard news emerges in last 24 hours
Rangers chief executive James Bisgrove is already making moves in their search for Michael Beale’s successor at Ibrox as a crucial decision has been taken on Frank Lampard.
Steven Davis has taken charge at Ibrox on an interim basis after Beale was sacked on Sunday (1 October) following the 3-1 defeat to Aberdeen on Saturday (30 September).
The race for the Ibrox managerial hotseat has certainly been heating up over the past few days with a whole host of names in the frame to replace Beale.
AZ Alkmaar’s Pascal Jansen, Yokohama F. Marinos boss Kevin Muscat, Preston’s Ryan Lowe, Frank Lampard, Philippe Clement and Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes.
However, in a new update from Sky Sports News on Friday evening (6 October), the former Chelsea and Everton boss is no longer in the running to take the Rangers manager hotseat at Ibrox.
The former Derby County, Everton and Chelsea manager was widely considered to be one of the leading candidates to succeed Michael Beale at Ibrox.
In an update provided live on air by Adam Leventhal and Jasper Taylor on Friday evening (6 October), it was reported Lampard is now no longer being considered.
“Rangers expect to hold the final round of interviews next week as they finalise their shortlist for a new manager,” they said.
“Frank Lampard will not be in the mix, despite initial conversations.
“There have been plenty of names linked. But it is not Frank Lampard in contention, as we understand it.”
If previous reports are to be believed, Lampard, Clement, Jansen and Muscat were the four men on the Gers’ shortlist to succeed Beale.
Assuming Lampard is now out of the running, then it leaves three candidates left to choose from.
However, given Jansen’s position at AZ and their high-flying progress in the Dutch Eredivisie, he certainly looks an unlikely candidate as he will certainly not want to leave them at this moment in time, which could leave just two candidates in Muscat and Clement.
It is perhaps no coincidence that reports of Lampard being out of the running which came on the same day that Clement has flown into Glasgow to hold talks [Voetbal Nieuws].
It certainly seems as if the Ibrox bosses have already identified the kind of candidate and the kind of playing style they want at the club which is critical in any new managerial process and the Rangers faithful will be hoping that a talented, sustainable coach with a penchant for winning football matches via an attractive brand of football is the one who walks through the doors.
Either way, there has now been a crucial development of some sort and it looks like a decision will before the end of the international break once all those talks are held [Chris Jack, 6 October].
In other Rangers news, Bisgrove may have to let the cash fly for one exciting trophy-winning managerial candidate who looks a certainty to succeed at Ibrox.