Credit: Imago

Edward Bazeley

Mon 28 April 2025 20:40, UK Updated Mon 28 April 2025 22:24, UK

Rangers are still on the hunt for their next permanent manager as interim boss Barry Ferguson hasn’t enjoyed a victory since a 4-3 win at Dundee.

The Ibrox giants have now endured a winless run of five games in all competitions ahead of Sunday’s Old Firm clash.

Bitter rivals Celtic will travel to Rangers in a buoyant mood after clinching the Scottish Premiership title with their 5-0 win at Dundee United on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Gers have set their sights on former Leipzig boss Marco Rose, who was sacked by the Red Bull club last month.

Rose interest compared to Philippe Clement’s Rangers appointment

Rose has won trophies in both Germany and Austria, including the 2023 German Cup with Leipzig.

The 49-year-old also steered Salzburg to successive Austrian Bundesliga titles in 2018 and 2019.

But Chris Jack fears that Rose’s appointment would be deemed too similar to that of Philippe Clement, who was sacked by Rangers in February.

Jack told The Rangers Review (28 April): “I think someone of that profile would be a slightly more difficult sell to Rangers fans just on the back of Clement. When he was appointed, there was a lot to like about what he had done, about what he said, about his track record.

“There was a lot to suggest that Clement was going to work and should have worked because he had won those league titles in Belgium, successive titles.

“He had built a title-winning squad, he had relative success in Europe. He spoke about his track record of developing his track record of developing younger players.

“If you forget what we saw with Clement over 18 months, someone of his profile, there was a good chance it was going to work.

“I think Rangers fans will still be stung by that, and as soon as a foreign manager of that profile is linked, they will just think back to Clement and how that unfolded.”

Rangers must beat Celtic on Sunday

Now that the Light Blues have been knocked out of the Europa League, while Celtic have already clinched the Scottish Premiership title, the Ibrox outfit have nothing other than pride left to play for.

But after a largely miserable campaign, Ferguson’s men should be keen to give supporters a strong end to the season with just four games remaining.

Pride is massively at stake when the Bears take on fierce rivals Celtic on 4 May, while Ferguson will be eager to achieve victory in what will likely prove to be his last Old Firm Derby in the Ibrox dugout.

Last time out against Brendan Rodgers’ side, the Bears clinched a 3-2 victory at Celtic Park courtesy of Hamza Igamane’s late winner after strikes from Nico Raskin and Mohamed Diomande had established a 2-0 lead.

Ferguson will be vying for more of the same when the Bears go toe-to-toe with Rodgers’ men on Sunday.