Joe Roberts

Sun 15 October 2023 7:15, UK

Rangers are set to announce their Michael Beale replacement with Philippe Clement and Kevin Muscat as the final two candidates, according to Chris Jack.

Writing for the Rangers Review (14 October), Jack claimed that the new boss will be revealed within the next 48 hours as the pair await a call from the Ibrox board.

The club have been without a manager since Beale’s departure on 1 October after the Englishman’s underwhelming start to the season.

As soon as possible

Rangers needed to get their new boss in before the end of the international break, and if Jack is to be believed they could have him before the weekend is over.

Clement and Muscat emerged as the two front-runners, but the new manager needed to be appointed as soon as possible to try and change the tide at Ibrox immediately.

While the success of any new Rangers manager is something of a lottery, both Muscat and Clement would join the club with plenty of experience. Both could prove impactful managers, but the Ibrox faithful will hope the board get this decision correct.

Rangers’ season could be dead and buried before it’s really begun. Their title hopes remain bleak with seven points separating the Gers and Celtic, while the Europa League could prove too difficult to win. The League Cup, after the Hoops’ exit, looks the safest avenue to secure silverware this season and perhaps the best chance to save their season.

Muscat knows what it takes to win silverware, having won a pair of A-League trophies with Melbourne Victory, but Clement’s hattrick of Belgian Pro League titles shows that he could have what it takes.

The new manager will be aware of the immense pressure that comes with the job and could face a difficult task getting the best out of the summer recruits, but the fanbase will allow him the time to impart his tactics into the squad before a full judgement is reached.

In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton has taken a swipe at Beale as Celtic were backed to effect the Gers’ manager hunt.