PARDS KEEN SAYS GRANT
FORMER Celtic star Peter Grant reckons a return to management with Rangers would appeal to Alan Pardew.
The ex-Crystal Palace, Newcastle and West Ham boss was linked with the Ibrox hotseat last week following the dismissal of Pedro Caixinha.
Grant, 52, worked as a coach with Pardew at Reading and the Hammers.
He admits the Englishman taught him how to handle big personalities in a dressing room such as Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano and Teddy Sheringham.
Pardew, 56, has also previously worked with Rangers interim coach Graham Murty.
When asked if he thought Pardew would be interested in the Rangers job, Grant said: “Absolutely he would. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at West Ham.
“I loved working with him and the only reason I left was because I got the chance to manage Norwich.
“We had some wonderful players at the club – Tevez, Mascherano, Sheringham and I saw how he handled top players. He did that exceptionally well. I’ve got great respect for him as a manager.”
Meanwhile, interim boss Murty admits he didn’t enjoy his dugout return – despite claiming a 3-1 win at Murrayfield.
The Ibrox development team head coach admitted after last weekend’s victory over Hearts he would find it difficult to turn down the top job should he be offered it full-time.
But, asked if he had enjoyed being in charge as much as he had last season, the 42-year-old said: “No. I was always wanting to know if I had done enough – had I covered that in pre-match? Had I done this? Had I done that?
“I eventually managed to let it go and let the players go and do their thing and trust the players to go and carry it out. But on the sidelines it is always a test for the emotions.
“I didn’t enjoy it but I was satisfied by it. There were a couple of passages of play that pleased me, even at 1-0 down.
“So although it wasn’t enjoyable it was satisfying.”