SAFE HANDS
McLeish the right man for Rangers role, insists Miller
KENNY MILLER has urged the Rangers board to place their trust in former boss Alex McLeish.
The Ibrox club are sifting through candidates for a new director of football post following the departure of manager Mark Warburton.
Managing director Stewart Robertson has compiled a shortlist for the new strategic role, with Rangers last night denying interviews have already taken place in London.
Southampton’s scouting director Ross Wilson is interested in the position.
Tottenham’s departing recruitment chief Paul Mitchell, Watford’s sporting director Luke Dowling and Huddersfield’s football operations chief Stuart Webber have also been linked, along with former Ibrox defender Craig Moore.
McLeish has yet to be contacted by his former club, despite publicly admitting he would consider an approach over an interim managerial role or the director of football post.
Claiming the former Scotland boss could be a safe pair of hands, Miller said: ‘There are some really good candidates among all the names that have been mentioned.
‘In terms of Alex, he has been here before, he has seen it and had a very successful spell here as a manager.
‘He worked with the national team and
did a very good job. I don’t think there would be any doubts about him. ‘I see the words “steadying the ship” being mentioned. I don’t think it would be steadying the ship. It is about having an impact on the team and I am sure Alex would have that. ‘He has been there, seen it and done it. There would be no doubts about his abilities to come in and do the job.’ Interim manager Graeme Murty has been placed in charge for the foreseeable future and will take tomorrow’s trip to Dundee. Warburton and his backroom team of David Weir and Frank McParland are seeking the legal backing of the League Managers’ Association after disputing Rangers’ claims that they resigned. Sportsmail understands the club have already ordered the trio to pack their bags and vacate club accommodation. Insisting the players were ‘shocked and surprised’ by Warburton’s departure, Miller has urged directors to aim high in the search for a replacement, saying: ‘You need to be a winner. ‘You need to be strong, you need to be thick-skinned. ‘To be a manager not just of Rangers, but of either of the Old Firm clubs, is a tough job. ‘When things are not going according to plan, you need to try to avoid getting too caught up in what is said about you. ‘You are under the microscope 24/7 and it’s important you stick to your plan. ‘There are a lot of really good qualities required if you are going to be successful.’ Emphasising the need for stability following the dispute over Warburton’s exit, Miller added: ‘The director of football and head coach has been mentioned and, if that’s going to be the route we go down, then it sounds to me like we have a plan in place. That sounds really positive to me.’ Miller admitted his contract situation has been put on the back burner until the new management structure is fixed, adding: ‘We need to sort out the club’s new path before any of that stuff happens.’