Novo hurt as Gers snub ex-star’s bid to join team Pedro
SAYSFANS’HERONACHO
FORMER Rangers star Nacho Novo last night revealed his hurt after being snubbed over his bid to land a coaching role on Pedro Caixinha’s new backroom team.
The newly-installed manager is looking for a Scottish-based coach to help him navigate the choppy waters of Scottish football.
Ex-stars such as Barry Ferguson, Jonatan Johansson and John Brown have been mentioned as possible names to fill the role. Novo submitted a CV to register an interest in a coaching role, possibly with the youth set-up – but heard nothing back.
He said: “People like Fergie have more experience, which is understandable. My focus was to come back into the youths but it has never happened.”
NACHO NOVO fears a lack of coaching experience has counted against him after missing out on an interview to become part of Pedro Caixinha’s backroom team.
Boss Caixinha has held talks with the likes of Barry Ferguson, Alex Rae and Peter Lovenkrands as he looks to add a ‘local assistant’ to his staff.
Former Gers striker Jonatan Johansson and nine-in-a-row hero John Brown are also on the shortlist and Novo has thrown his hat into the ring for the Auchenhowie role.
The Spaniard is still playing for Northern Irish side Glentoran but is keen to make the move into coaching as he looks to the future.
Novo said: “I have not got an interview or anything. To be fair, there are many comments and things going on.
“It is not my decision. Yes, I sent in a CV but apart from that I don’t know what is happening.
“It is this opportunity to coach. The new manager is the one who is going to need to sort out everything, how they train, how they play. You are really just there to help the manager.
“I don’t have experience [as a coach]. I have got experience of training but more with kids and that is something I enjoyed.”
Novo became a firm favourite with the Light Blue legions during a successful six-year spell at Ibrox and would be warmly welcomed back to the club. The 38-year-old supported the fans during their lengthy battle against the former Gers board before Dave King, Paul Murray and John Gilligan rose to power two years ago.
On Saturday, he pulled on his boots to help raise funds for Fernando Ricksen’s Motor Neurone Disease charity as a Rangers Legends side faced an England Select in Fleetwood.
But it looks as though the striker won’t be making an emotional return to Rangers in the coming weeks as Caixinha considers his coaching options.
NOVO said: “I don’t really y want to talk about ut some parts. I am disappointed pointed about certain things, but not about the job.
“It is a big job and people ople like Fergie and Alex Rae have ve more experience, which is understandable. My focus was to come back into the youths,ths, that is the start that I wanted. d.
“Obviously it has never ver happened. I just need to keep ep working and we will see what hat happens in the future.
“Just now, it is something hing I really want to do. I havee got other things to prove in terms of experience but I have been with a lot of managers.
“You always get experience and you always see things differently. As a player, I always had hunger and I still do.
“I am thinking that if a job comes up I willl give a lot of my time. I want the best job I can can. It is all down to the manager at the end of the day and what h he thinks and what he wants. “And for Barry, Alex or whoever it interviewed, h how they feel about the mana manager and his opinions. I don don’t know because every everyone is different.” Caixinh Caixinha will take char charge of the Gers fo for the second t time this week weekend as he l looks to lea lead the Ligh Light Blues to a Premi miership vi victory o over Motherwell. The Portuguese got his Rangers reign off to a perfect start with a 4-0 win over Hamilton Accies before the international break.
And Novo hopes there is plenty more to come from Caixinha’s side ahead of a crucial run of league outings and the Old Firm Scottish Cup semi-final.
He said: “They had a good start against Celtic and Graeme Murty did a great job to be fair.
“From what I have seen, it was a totally different team. They were more aggressive, they pressed the ball and they could have won the game.
“Then they played Hamilton and won but that is just a start. We need to see if they can have some consistency week in week out. Hopefully they can do well.”