Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Next man has got to be a Brit special
GERS WILL LOOK CLOSER TO HOME FOR NEW BOSS...AND ULSTERMEN ARE IN FRAME
RANGERS are ready to go back to basics and will keep the search for a new manager among British candidates.
The club’s new boss blueprint emerged as director Alastair Johnston revealed the dramatic events that sealed Pedro Caixinha’s fate.
Ibrox chairman Dave King led an emergency meeting yesterday morning where the board axed Caixinha following a disastrous seven-month reign in charge.
Managing director Stewart Robertson will draw up a list of candidates over the weekend after telling the Portuguese yesterday lunchtime his services were no longer required.
Rangers have no margin for error and Caixinha’s departure opens up the door for approaches to be made to targets including Derek Mcinnes, David Moyes and Alex Mcleish as well as Ulstermnen Tommy Wright and Michael O’neill.
King will pay compensation, if required, to land the new boss and he will also be handed a sizeable transfer kitty to bolster the squad in the January transfer window.
Rangers will move for someone who understands the club and will not be fazed at the idea of challenging Celtic.
Former Ibrox chairman Johnston took part in the board teleconference yesterday morning where the decision was made to sack Caixinha and two of his Portuguese assistants.
And Us-based Johnston has revealed the next manager will be expected to have the same impact on Rangers as Brendan Rodgers has had on Old Firm
rivals Celtic. He said: “We had a board teleconference this morning and the decision was made.
“I don’t think it was a fait accompli, there was a lot of sharing of opinions and viewpoints and lots of questions asked and answered.
“It wasn’t a quick three-minute call but the decision was obviously something that was under consideration for a while, we are not deaf and blind.
“My own view is that we have a better squad than people think and perhaps a new management team will get more out of them.
“A lot of Rangers fans thought the players we brought in during the summer were actually positive. I don’t think we have seen the best of them and I would like to think that the new management team will be able to get more out of them. In many ways that’s what Celtic did when they brought in Brendan Rodgers.
“They had good players but they brought in a guy who got more out of their players.
“They didn’t add too many players to their club but they got whole lot better results once they brought in Rodgers.”
Johnston acknowledged the financial implications of changing the management team but claims they were outweighed by the need for a new face at the helm following a dismal start to the season.
However, he believes Caixinha has left a squad which needs minor alterations rather than a major overhaul.
Johnston was not involved in the recruitment of Caixinha but confirmed that Mark Allen, appointed director of football in the summer, will have a hands-on role in finding the new boss.
Caixinha, assistant Helder Baptista and coaches Pedro Malta and Jose Belman signed three-year deals in March and have accepted severance packages.
Under-20 coach Graeme Murty has been put in temporary charge for the visit to Hearts at Murrayfield tomorrow.
King decided to act after watching Rangers unravel in the closing minutes of Wednesday night’s 1-1 draw against Kilmarnock.
Killie’s late Chris Burke equaliser and the indiscipline of Ryan Jack in picking up another red card was just the latest in a line of onfield debacles.